StillFedUpWith Taxes Press Conf., Fri. Cross Bldg., 2 pm, 9/11

NO ONE among the Dems expected Charlie Webster to pull this off. Their increasing hysteria about the tax revenues they will lose in this stealth tax increase is almost comical to see.

When did you last see the opponents of ANY petition drive actually try to block the tables of petition gatherers? Not even the Gay Wars referendums brought out that level of childishness.

There were opponents to the water tax referendum who went out and tried to convince voters not to sign.

For the record, I wrote here before the decision was made to start the veto effort that I thought the effort was unwise and would not be successful. I shut up after the decision to move forward was made. I will be happy to say that my original assessment was wrong.

I am astonished and pleased at Dan Billings' reversal. Is this a first on AMG?:-)

If its the first time Dan admits to being wrong its probably because its the first time he has been wrong. There is no point in admitting mistakes until you actually make one.

Or, alternativly, be there AND be square.

I tip my hat to Webster and company for pulling this off. I was in agreement with Dan but kept my mouth shut. The job got done and praise to all involved. I would imagine we will see an ethics complaint by Debra Hutton or Seth Berry or some other Democrat in short order and the televisions will be awash with negative commercials showing the elderly dying on the street and children left without food if the State of Maine is denied this revenue stream.

This is the first nail in the coffin of the Democrat Welfare State. Working people vote Republican!

knowing how hard getting signatures it is the people involved definetly should be congradulated. Does anyone know the number collected yet?

An e-mail that I just got from the party says over 60,000.

Please note ~ I could be mistaken, but I don't think Dan said he was wrong just yet.

I will be happy to say that my original assessment was wrong.

To me, the word "will" denotes that if and when the petition is certified, THEN he'll be happy to say his original assessment was wrong. "Successful" = "certified" in petition-land.
lol

Received via email:

STILL FED UP WITH TAXES

THE WORKING PEOPLE OF MAINE HAVE WON

Today is a monumental day in Maine history as we enthusiastically submit over 60,000 certified signatures to repeal LD 1495 the infamous sales tax expansion law passed by the Democrats in the final hours of the recent Legislative session.

I stand before you, as the Chairman of the Maine Republican Party, to humbly thank the hundreds of volunteers in our party who worked so diligently to give Maine voters the opportunity to vote on repealing this new tax. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the activists in the Maine Green party who worked with the campaign to help us place this issue before the voters next June.

I believe that this law is an outright attack by the Democrats on Maine's working people.

I join with at least 60,000 Maine people today as we present these names to the Secretary of State.

The voters will now have their say and I am absolutely convinced that the working people of Maine will overwhelmingly reject these new taxes.

I also want to thank those 250 plus Mainer's, individuals, everyday Maine people who have never been involved in a political event, who contacted us at the Maine GOP and worked with the "Still Fed Up With Taxes" campaign to repeal this legislation. They share our view that this law unnecessarily places new taxes on Maine's working people.

At a time when Maine people are having a difficult time simply paying their bills, the Democrat politicians, on a virtual party line vote, on the last day of the Legislative session, in the middle of the night, without a public hearing argued for and passed this new tax legislation.

Over the weeks and months ahead, I enthusiastically look forward to a meaningful discussion on this important issue. I do feel strongly that its important to state today that as far as I'm concerned I refuse to debate with anyone the argument made by the Democrats that this new tax somehow lowers Maine's state income tax. The simple fact is that these new taxes passed by the Democrats, are at best a temporary short term reduction in the state income tax, but everyone agrees this legislation results in a permanent expansion of the Maine sales tax.

An increase in the sales tax is especially harmful to our senior citizens, our young families, and our working class. I am proud to be involved in an effort to represent their interests.

We have run a truly grass-roots campaign, as thousands of names were gathered by auto mechanics, truck drivers, and plumbers. Working people who joined together in one LOUD voice saying loud and clear enough is enough.

I still find it hard to believe how many regular Maine people, non political activists, who by any stretch of your imagination, simply stepped forward, and I might add in a HUGE way to say we vehemently oppose this new tax and we've had enough.

On a final note I want to praise Senator David Trahan for his strong and tireless leadership. His amazing leadership ability has landed us here today on these steps and has given the voters of Maine the opportunity to have a voice, and through the Peoples Veto process, the ability to repeal the actions taken by Maine's liberal Democrat party.

Maine Republican Party | Phil Roy, Jr., Treasurer | 9 Higgins St. | Augusta | ME | 04330

Congratulations! I'm voting for Veto - too bad we have to wait until June.

No offense, but that press release is almost completely incomprehensible.

"I do feel strongly that its important to state today that as far as I'm concerned I refuse to debate with anyone the argument made by the Democrats that this new tax somehow lowers Maine's state income tax."

Come again?

Offically we turned in 60,473 signatures this afternoon. We were expecting addtional signatures that were delivered to the office later today. One town could not provide us with signuatures when we went to pick them up last night because of an illness/injury in the town clerk's family and the office will not be open till after 5 pm tonight. We are only counting certifed signatures in our count which the SOS tells us makes him confident that the 60,000 should be enough to cover any problems they may find.

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com

We had great coverage on all three TV stations!

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com

Did the Maine Green Party help with the signature collecting?

skf

Yes.

They collected about 9,000 signatures which was one of the larger collective efforts.

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com

In my years as a member of the republican party I have never felt as proud of my party as I was yesterday. For the party to do something to stick up for the working people, to return to the basics of being for the little guy, to limit the power of government and its never ending quest for people money and their freedom. This is a very defining time for us.

The democrats protests are as hollow and fake as they can be. They really messed up with this issue and showed what they really are.

I give all the credit to Charlie Webster. He is a real leader, he was not only willing to push but was also willing to get his own hands dirty.

The Green Party may have been one of the larger group efforts, but Steven Scharf has to be right up there among the greatest individual efforts.

Waytahgo, Steven!!!

Senator Trahan on 56 AM WGAN right now.

Great job to Charlie Webster and every person involved in this effort. I too, am proud of the MaineGOP for getting involved in this issue that affects every single average, every day Mainer.

I am glad all members of my family signed at least now we can vote on this.

Is that Senator Paul Davis above?

Mel,

Once upon I was a senator.

Paul is being modest. He is now a state rep.and a dam good one.

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com