Issue Position: Budget and Taxes

Issue Position

I believe that Maine's legislature is responsible for developing a budget that is adequate and equitable.

We have a duty to promote the general welfare; this includes helping those who cannot help themselves.

I will work to protect programs that are efficient and effective at maintaining quality of life for the people of Maine. At the same time, I will do everything I can to lower our tax burden.

I support progressive taxation. Under this system, those with the most money pay the most taxes. This a fair and common sense approach. Most importantly, it ensures that no one has to pay more in tax than they can afford.

Along with implementing a more progressive income tax, I support reducing property taxes. We can do this by ensuring that our state tax revenue is adequate to support the programs mandated by state law. Reducing our state income tax rates without a plan for paying for government services simply forces local town councils to raise property taxes to make up for budget shortfalls.

I support efforts to tax pollution, wasteful consumption, and unhealthy products in order to secure essential revenue for government, while allowing us to reduce income and property taxes.

The bottom line is that we must balance our budget. We can't afford an inefficient government, but we also cannot afford no government.

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