Gov. Paul LePage recently addressed the Legislature and residents of Maine. He introduced his agenda for this year and beyond, which included elimination of the state income tax. Since that time, we have learned that, in order to achieve his goal and continue to fund programs that Maine people support, we would need to replace those lost dollars with dollars from other sources, most likely, through an increase to the sales and property taxes.

When the governor set forth his proposal to eliminate the state income tax, he also said he looked forward to working with legislators from both parties to accomplish his goal.

There is much concern and conversation in Maine and the nation these days about bullies and how to address this serious issue. It is, indeed, a sad state of affairs when the biggest bully in the state occupies the Blaine House.

Since addressing the Legislature, LePage said he plans to target any lawmaker who votes against his effort to eliminate the income tax: “I will spend the rest of my days going after those people.” Furthermore, he reportedly has said that any Republican lawmakers who vote against him are not really Republicans. This isn’t the first time the governor has resorted to such tactics, and we believe it won’t be the last.

We wonder what he has in store for the average Maine resident who publicly disagrees with him on this or any other issue?

Sharon Benoit

Keith Weatherbie

Monmouth

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