There is no question that millions of our state tax dollars are being improperly spent. I know this first-hand because I am the only gubernatorial candidate who is a former employee in Maine’s executive branch. I saw waste, inefficiency and misspent public monies. For example, Governor LePage did not want the DEP to do environmental enforcement. For me this meant going in to work every day for five years with little or no work to do. Hundreds of thousands of public dollars were spent just on me with little to show for it. There was certainly much work to do but LePage simply didn’t want it done. I was not the only DEP employee relegated to doing little or nothing during LePage’s tenure.
I have been asked what I will do to increase state revenue. Their assumption is that state revenue needs to be increased. In my opinion, that remains to be seen. The two equally important sides of this equation are revenue and spending. I have already stated that there is much government waste. I also believe many state tax dollars need to be redirected to help those who need help the most. These include, but are not limited to the elderly, the poor, the homeless, the hungry, the mentally ill, etc. I also support maximizing government efficiency and effectiveness, and I will work towards this end.
On the revenue side, I support a progressive tax structure in which those with higher incomes pay more in taxes and those with lower incomes pay less in taxes. I support identifying and eliminating tax loopholes and tax exemptions for the wealthy and the favored special interests. I support revamping property tax formulas to shift most of the burden on younger and newer homeowners. Property taxes should be largely based on whether or not it is a primary dwelling, how long they have occupied it, and the owner’s age. Tax rates for primary dwellings should decrease based on owner’s age and length of occupancy. I also support expanding the Sales Tax Fairness Credit for older Mainers.
The gap between rich and poor is widening. This is undermining the very foundation of our country. We all must pay our fair share. Tax loopholes for the wealthy are simply not fair. A progressive tax structure is a necessary way of bridging this gap in order to help to restore faith and confidence in our government.