7/28/2019 Beth O'Connor Letter to Maine Republican Caucus

1/2

June 24th 2013

Dear Fellow Republicans.

First, thank you for stepping up to the plate to represent the citizens of Maine and your respective

districts. I do know that your job is difficult and sometimes thankless.

I am very concerned about the Republican Party here in the state of Maine and fear for its future

existence.

I will cut to the chase. The present budget is a mess for many reasons. The most notable are the

increased taxes.

I work in the private sector at a small family restaurant. The vast majority of our customers are

on fixed incomes. When the food and lodging tax is raised from 7% to 8% the people hurt will be

the servers. It may not sound like much, but this tax increase will average about a $25.00 a week

deduction in gratuities for a full time server at the establishment that I work.

Also, relying on high sales taxes is regressive because low-income families spend so much more

of their incomes on basic necessities than do better-offhouseholds. Even increasing this tax by a

mere % will push many poor people further into the dismal abyss of poverty.

I could not sleep at night knowing I was instrumental in raising the taxes on the working poor.

Resorting to a sales tax increase one more time just puts off the task of fixing Maines

oppressive unfair, broken tax system. The proposed increases are supposed to be for a limitedperiod of time. But there has never been a temporary sales tax increase in the history of our state.

Maines tax structure forces the poorest to pay more of their income. This means fast-food

workers, teachers, home care providers, and single parents pay more of their income in taxes

than Stephen King.. The very people whom social service providers aim to help are hurt the most

by sales tax increases. But wealthier individuals who can afford to pay for personal and

professional services are benefited by the exemption of many services from sales tax.

The instability of sales tax as the foundation for the state budget is shown by the downward

spiral of sales tax revenue as the economic crisis continues. Look at our revenues . The only

one up is income tax it was the only tax that was lowered.

Last but not least, as the Vice Chairman for the Maine Republican Party I know that we will

have a very, very hard time raising funds if these tax increases are passed. The investors are

watching to see what this elected body will do. If we, the party of fiscal responsibility, do not

hold the line on increasing taxes there is no reason for many of our investors to support the party

7/28/2019 Beth O'Connor Letter to Maine Republican Caucus

2/2

and they wont. I know because I am one of the people out there trying to entice membership as

well as raise donations. We will see another decade of Democrat control.

Again, thank you for your service and for taking the time to read this.

Please sustain the veto on LD 1509.

Sincerely,

The Honorable Beth A. OConnor

Vice Chair, Maine Republican Party

Chairman Maine Taxpayers United