April 3rd Update
This certainly has been an interesting week! The Tax Reform package public hearing was on Thursday, April 2nd. Reading the media reports this morning was certainly interesting. The media is reporting that the Governor is unhappy with the bill. I think the bill has it’s merit. It lowers the income tax and brings our hospitality taxes closer but still far below the rest of the nation. The place where it needs work is around the transportation taxes. Here is a link to a website that was created to help explain the bill, www.mainetaxreform.org.
Boy, are those Senate chairs comfy. This week I visited Senator John Nutting in the Senate to discuss the Dairy Tier Program and someone took our photo. The chairs are much more comfortable than the chairs in the House!
My political sign restriction bill was killed in Legal and Veterans Affairs this week. It was voted Ought Not to Pass because sign restriction on vehicles is already covered by the Obstruction of View laws on vehicles. You know, I just wish that they would be enforced. During campaign season, I see so many people with banners, plywood signs, etc. covering their vehicles, they are a danger to themselves and others on the road.
I was disappointed to see that the food stamp bills did not pass this week. One bill restricted food stamp recipients from purchasing soda and the other restricted recipients from purchasing taxable foods. With 2 out of 3 people either obese or overweight in our great country, I thought that these were important bills.
This upcoming week, we will start having session and committee three days a week. I will have session and be in committee on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Talk at you soon!
