Les Otten Sums It Up

AI: How do you view the legacy of the Baldacci Administration?

What legacy?

Read the gubernatorial candidate's entire interview with the Augusta Insider here

Peter Vigue Sounds Increasingly Like A Candidate

On the same day that Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell (D-Vassalboro) shocked the state by declaring her candidacy for Governor, Cianbro CEO Peter Vigue gave a speech in Waterville that outlined his plan for Maine's economy.

The (presumed) Republican was in the backyard of likely primary opponent (and Republican Punk's favored son) Paul LePage, talking about his long-desired East-West highway, extending I95 up to the Canadian border, increased rail use, improved energy infrastructure, a $300 million "revolving capital loan" to attract business, and turning Maine into the "food basket" of the east due to Maine's proximity (one day's drive) to 2/3 of the U.S. population.

While his plans seem to be a little convuluted at times, he is a very intelligent man, strong leader, and has the business acumen and fiscal and regulatory conservatism that Maine needs. It seems unlikely that he'd be on this (decidedly non-Cianbro related) tour if he didn't have something up his sleeve. We'll keep our eyes out.

Interview With Matt Jacobson, Republican Candidate for Governor

Here is a good interview with 2010 Maine Gubernatorial candidate Matt Jacobson, a businessman and interesting upstart campaigner.

http://www.asmainegoes.com/audio/090908jacobson_matt1.mp3

Highlight: Concerning LURC's Plum Creek hearings:
"Why were these hearing held in Portland? Isn't Greenville adult enough to make their own decisions? Should state pier hearings be held in Millinocket?"

A candidate talking openly about how the south dictates northern Maine. Let's see if he can follow through.

Strange Bedfellows: Republicans Are Joined By Greens In Opposing Maine Tax Reform

If the endorsement of the Wall Street Journal editorial board and The Economist magazine weren't enough to let the Maine Republican Party know they were wrong in opposing the Democrats' tax reform, this should be the final sign needed. The GREEN PARTY...yes, the party of Ralph Nader, Jello Biafra, and Pat LaMarche...is joining the Republicans in opposing the reform by calling it a "flat tax."

A quick recap of the reform: it would simplify the current four-tiered progressive income tax code that ranges up to 8.5% for the top bracket by cutting it to 6.5% for families earning under $250,000 and 6.85% for everything above that. To make up for the lost revenue, it expands the sales tax to cover previously exempt favored industries such as amusements, repairs, tourism, etc. and raises the tax by 1% on lodging and meals. So basically, it makes the tax code simpler, flatter, and broader. In essence, more fair and a step in the direction Republicans supposedly want.

Lower and flatter income taxes are always a good thing because it creates incentive for workers to keep working. Broader taxes mean that the state will avoid the trap seen in California, New York, and some European countries, whereby all the taxes come from a small percentage of the population and once a recession hits, revenue plummets.

Republican opposition to this package is based solely on politics. They smell blood, thinking that the Democratic control from top to bottom within the government during a recession will allow them to retake the Blaine House for the first time in 16 years and the legislature for the first time in 30+ by whipping up populist rage. And it is this kind of petty, anti-ideological politics that explains why they haven't.

Read More: http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/6664630.html

WTF, Peter Mills?

What is Peter Mills, a Republican state senator and candidate for Governor of Maine in 2010, doing speaking at an Obamacare rally. He starts by stating that he is "offering a different perspective" and he didn't say anything that directly relates to the House very liberal plan, but he also didn't say anything remotely close to Conservative reforms (portability, moving tax benefits to individuals instead of tying them to jobs, entitlement reform, pooling, etc. al.) While it is nice to see someone standing up for what they believe in even if it opposes their party, he adds "bipartisan" legitimacy to a very partisan process thusfar (with a quick shoutout to Max Baucus in the Senate, who is trying against all odds to make it bi-partisan). Mr. Mills, while a very smart and honorable man, faces quite a challange explaining things like this to primary voters, especially if either an electable conservative (Paul LePage, mayor of Waterville, for example) or a more popular-with-conservatives moderate (Peter Vigue, CEO of Cianbro, for another example) runs.



Hat Tip: As Maine Goes