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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 19, 2009        


CONTACT:
Arden Manning

(207) 622-6233

Maine Dems Comment on Maine GOP People's Veto Effort

 
AUGUSTA-   This week the Maine Republican Party announced its intention to run an effort aimed at overturning portions of a tax reform package which cut the top income tax rate from 8.5% to about 6.5%.  If successful, this people's veto effort would result in rolling back tax cuts for Maine families.  Republicans hope this question would join other Republican Party-backed initiatives, such as TABOR and a proposed ban on civil marriage equality, on the November ballot. 
   
Arden Manning, Executive Director of the Maine Democratic Party, thanked legislators and the Governor for the passage of the tax reform bill and acknowledged the hard work of the past session.  "I would like to thank our legislative Democrats and our Governor for passing and enacting a smart tax reform package which lowers Maine's income tax rate from 8.5% to around 6.5%.   This tax reform package cuts taxes for Maine families and ensures that visitors to Maine pay their fair share."
 
 Responding to news of a Republican-led effort to overturn the tax reform package, Manning expressed surprise that the Republican Party would launch an endeavor which would result in rolling back tax cuts.  "For years Republican talking points have said they are the party of smaller government and cutting taxes.   The truth is that this session it was Democrats in Augusta who cut spending and income taxes.  And in response, the Maine GOP has launched an effort which will result in rolling back those tax cuts. "    
 
 Manning concluded, "The Republican Party, like many of its candidates, is simply out of step with the mainstream.   It seems the GOP is veering further to right, catering to the Party's ultra- conservative activist base and leaving moderate Mainers out in the cold.   It's clear that the Maine Republican Party is in danger of following its national party's lead and becoming the Party of 'No'.