The following is a press release from the Maine Taxpayer Bill of Rights campaign (TABORNOW), issued today to the media.
AUGUSTA – The chairmen of two citizen initiative campaigns on the November ballot have filed requests for public information under Maine’s Freedom of Information Act for all documentation and communications related to the Legislature’s consideration of Questions 2 and 4. The requests were prompted by Senate President Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell and House Speaker Hannah Pingree’s alleged unethical use of taxpayer-funded state resources to engineer the defeat of the initiatives. That was 50 days ago. These requests remain unfulfilled.
Question 2 would reduce Maine’s seventh-highest-in-the-nation auto excise tax and create tax incentives for those who choose to purchase a new fuel-efficient vehicle. Question 4, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, limits increases in state government spending to the rate of inflation plus population growth. Voter approval would be required to exceed that limit, as well as passing any state tax increase or local property tax increase beyond about four percent.
On August 12, a closed-door meeting organized by Rick McCarthy, a lobbyist for Maine Tomorrow, a left-wing, for-profit consulting firm hired to oppose ballot Questions 2 and 4, was held at the State House. The secret meeting, hosted by President Mitchell and Speaker Pingree, included special interest organizations that had publicly declared opposition to the ballot questions.
“The President and Speaker have every right to take a position against reforms that create real tax relief and limit their ability to overspend our hard earned wages. In fact, most of Augusta’s entrenched political class has,” said YES On 2 Chairman Chris Cinquemani. “But no elected official can abuse the power of their office by spending taxpayer-funded state resources to engineer the defeat of the growing movement to pass Questions 2 and 4. We want answers, but it seems President Mitchell and Speaker Pingree have too much to hide. ”
Since the closed-door meeting, individuals and organizations in attendance have executed a coordinated opposition campaign. For example, John O’Dea, Executive Director of the Associated General Contractors (a featured guest at the meeting), had been a consistent voice of opposition until video footage captured his controversial comments comparing Maine voters to fools.
“Ignoring these requests for public information under Maine’s Freedom of Information law will not make this issue go away,” said YES On 4 Chairman David Crocker. “How long do the people of Maine have to wait before our lawmakers comply with the Maine law and give us some answers?”
For more information on the Maine Taxpayer Bill of Rights, please visit the TABORNOW website.
