Taxpayer Bill of Rights

YOU decide whether politicians can pass a new tax or tax increase

YOU decide if state spending should balloon above inflation plus population growth

YOU decide if the gasoline tax should increase every year

YOU decide whether your property taxes should grow faster than your paycheck

YOU can see how your town or city is spending your tax dollars and compare your town’s spending to other towns in Maine

 

Key Research on Question 4 (TABOR)

Question 4 will Provide the real tax relief that politicians have promised but have not delivered: 300 Million reasons why Maine taxpayers need TABOR Now more than ever

 

Question 4 will Stop wasteful government spending: 2009 Maine Piglet Book - $2 Billion in Government Waste

 

Question 4 will Boost the economy, like it has in Colorado: Setting the Record Straight on TABOR in Colorado

 

Question 4 has Helped Education in Colorado: Setting the Record Straight on Education and TABOR in Colorado

 

Question 4 will Control excessive property tax increases: Maine property taxes skyrocketed by $45 million last year

 

Question 4 Opponents benefit from government overspending: Who is Afraid of Question 4? Follow the money...

 

Question 4 Limits out-of-control government growth: Since 2000, government jobs have grown by 3,400 while 13,000 private jobs were lost

 

Question 4 has National Implications: Wall Street Journal says Maine TABOR vote is critical to the nation

 

Click here to view the latest updates on the Auto Excise Tax Cut

Here are the latest updates on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights:

GUEST COLUMN: Ending Maine's Tax-and-Spend Culture
By: Stephen Bowen
November 1, 2009

In the BANGOR DAILY NEWS guest column, Stephen Bowen of MHPC describes the advantages of TABOR that will create a prosperous , sustainable economy.

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Wall Street Journal article touts critical TABOR vote in Maine
October 24, 2009
Blue States Vote on a Taxpayer Bill of...
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BallotPedia Interview with Tarren Bragdon
By: BallotPedia.Org
October 22, 2009

This national news organization was in Maine to cover the fall issues, and spoke at length with Tarren Bragdon, CEO, The Maine Heritage Policy Center

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Setting the Record Straight on TABOR and Education in Colorado
October 21, 2009
Colorado Education outcomes are equal to or a bit better than those in Maine - and Colorado spends significantly less money per pupil.
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EDITORIAL: Question 4: The Time for TABOR
By: Lewiston Sun Journal
October 18, 2009

The Lewiston Sun Journal endores Question 4: The Taxpayer Bill of Rights

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2009 MAINE PIGLET BOOK
October 18, 2009
2009 Maine Piglet Book The 2009 Maine Piglet...
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Setting the Record Straight on Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights
October 11, 2009
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights helped Colorado grow its economy very well - in good times and in slow times.
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Taxpayer Bill of Rights (Question 4) Needed Now More than Ever: Between FY 2008 and FY 2009, 58 percent of Maine's towns lost a combined 3,056 people while those towns increased property taxes by $45 million.
October 5, 2009
More than half of Maine's town actually lost population in the last year, and still increased taxes: a double-whammy with higher taxes on few people!
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Who's Afraid of Questions 2 and 4? Follow the Money to See Who Benefits...
September 30, 2009
Who’s Afraid of Questions 2 and 4? Follow...
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AUDIO CLIP: "Welcome Back Tax" Interview with Arnie Clark
By: WGAN Radio
September 21, 2009

The recent tax reforms created a "Welcome Back Tax" that impacts new residents, Maine natives coming home and non-resident taxpayers. This is not only bad policy - it apepars to violate the U.S. Constitution.

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Give Checkbook Back to Taxpayers
By: Tarren Bragdon
September 20, 2009

This MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM guest column by Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, makes a strong, brief case in favor of TABOR (the Taxpayer Bill of Rights).

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"Welcome Back Tax" Comments by Tarren Bragdon
September 16, 2009
The recent tax reforms in Maine create a constitutional question because of the different treatment of Maine taxpayers based on their residency. It...
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"Welcome Back Tax" Comments by Arnold Clark, Esq.
September 16, 2009
Attorney Arnold Clark, director of the Center for Constitutional Law at MHPC, addresses the specific areas when Maine's Tax Reform law appears to...
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"Welcome Back Tax" Comments by Troy Dennon
September 16, 2009
Mr. Troy Dennon is the first plaintiff in the constitutional challenge of Maine's tax reform law. Mr. Dennon works in Maine, and wants to move his...
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"Welcome Back Tax" Comments by Scott Moody
September 16, 2009
Scott Moody, chief economist at The Maine Heritage Policy Center, describes the significantly higher income tax burdens shifted to new, non- and...
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The “Welcome Back Tax” Created by an Unconstitutional Tax Reform Law
September 15, 2009
The recent Tax Reform Law (LD 1495) creates an unconstitutional
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A Brief Guide to Question 4 (TABOR) on the November 2009 Ballot
September 11, 2009
A Brief Guide to Question 4 (TABOR) on the...
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Time for TABOR
By: Steve Bowen
September 10, 2009

Steve Bowen of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, has a VILLAGE SOUP column explaing the need for a Taxpayer Bill of Rights in Maine.

TABOR was a good idea in 2006... and Maine needs it even more today!

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300 Million Reasons Why the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Helps Maine's Beleaguered Taxpayers
September 10, 2009
Since the fall of 2006, when Maine voters gave elected officials one more chance to control state spending by narrowly defeating TABOR, the...
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Question 4 (TABOR) Info Card
September 4, 2009
Maine's habitual overspending has created an environment where private sector employment is down, government employment is up and state spending has...
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Taxpayer Bill of Rights Needed Now More Than Ever: 3,400 govt jobs added & 13,000 private jobs lost
September 3, 2009
Taxpayer Bill of Rights Needed Now More than...
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VIDEO: TABOR Debate
By: Andreoscoggin Chamber
August 20, 2009

TABOR II Debate, featuring Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center and Kay Rand, former chief of staff for Governor Angus King.

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Saving Our Future Requires Tough Choices Today
August 20, 2009
Mr. David Walker, President and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and former Comptroller General of the United States, presented a fascinating,...
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A Fiscal Wake-Up Call
August 20, 2009
Mr. Robert L. Bixby, Executive Director of The Concord Coalition, presented a Wake-Up Call in Maine on August, 19, 2009. His is a dramatic challenge...
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LD 1495: Frankenstein Tax Reform
July 7, 2009
The tax reforms of LD 1495 are quite complex, and not beneficial to Maine taxpayers! While planned to be "revenue neutral," the bill expands sales...
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AUDIO CLIP - TABOR Review on WGAN Radio
By: WGAN Radio
April 18, 2009

Communications Director Martin Sheehan was a guest on Inside Maine Satuday morning, discussing the new Taxpayer Bill of Rights and the attitudes of Maine People on higher taxes.

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PORTLAND: Luncheon Presentation by Scott Moody of The Maine Heritage Policy Center
Location: DiMillo's Floating Restaurant, Portland
Date: April 16, 2009, 3:00pm - 4:00pm

The Maine Heritage Policy Center's chief economist, Scott Moody, will review the latest Tax Reform ideas being considered in Augusta.

Will we see real tax reform or a sifting and shifting of taxes without any relief for struggling taxpayers?

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TESTIMONY: Tarren Bragdon on LD 976 TABOR
April 16, 2009
Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, testified in support of LD 976 - An Act to Provide Tax Relief. Also known as the Taxpayer...
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PRESENTATION: Bragdon on TABOR, 041609
April 16, 2009
Tarren Bragdon, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, testified in support of LD 976 - An Act to Provide Tax Relief. Also known as the Taxpayer...
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LD 1088: The Illusion of Tax Reform
April 16, 2009
LD 1088 proponants claim it lowers state income taxes and "shifts" $75 million in taxes to tourists and seasonal residents. Scott Moody, chief...
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PRESENTATION: Is LD 1088 Good Tax Reform?
April 16, 2009
LD 1088 is being billed as Tax Reform for Maine; which will be revenue neutral while lowering Maine peoples' taxes by exporting the taxes to...
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Questions and Answers on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)
April 15, 2009
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, TABOR, is a good idea to control the unsustainable spending that has put a large present (and larger future) burden on...
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Tax Reform - Scott Moody's Testimony on LD 1088 Proposal for Maine Tax Relief
April 2, 2009
Maine Tax Relief or Tax Reform does not make Maine a more competitive state without Tax Cuts. Exchanging Income Taxes for Sales Taxes will cut...
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Maine Property Taxpayers Should Have Paid $188 Million Less (10%) in Property Taxes in 2008
March 26, 2009
In 2004, Maine voters approved a measure that increased state Education funding; and was supposed to result in a 15% Property Tax Cut (remember...
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Keeping The Promise of Real Property Tax Relief for Maine Families
March 26, 2009
This presention accompanied Tarren Bragdon's testimony before the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation on March 26, 2009.
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Other states envy TABOR
By: John Andrews
March 9, 2009

Seems that other states with budget problems wish they had a Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Colorado, which has TABOR in their Constitution, is fighting a governor who side-steps TABOR spending/taxing controls.

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FISCAL SANITY Issue Eight: 220 Reasons Why The Taxpayer Bill of Rights Helps Maine's Taxpayers
February 23, 2009
Since the 2006 vote for a Maine Taxpayer Bill of Rights failed to pass by a slim margin... the Legislature has increased the Tax Burden on Maine...
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FISCAL SANITY Slide Presentation
January 26, 2009
These are the slides from the Portland Fiscal Sanity Tour Presentation by J. Scott Moody and Steve Bowen of The Maine Heritage Policy Center.

They...
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FISCAL SANITY Issue Four: Putting the State Budget Deficit in Perspective
January 14, 2009
Maine's state revenues are down, but the figure is still more than it was in 2006!

The reason for the huge deficit ($840 million and counting) is...
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FISCAL SANITY Issue Three: Where The Money Is: Top 40 Fastest-Growing Maine Programs
January 8, 2009
As Maine's overspending threatens to pass $840 million in the next two-year budget, analysis by The Maine Heritage Policy Center idenifies a Top 40...
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FISCAL SANITY Issue One: Maine Spends Too Much... But Where?
November 12, 2008
Maine state & local governments spend $8,139 for every man, woman and child in the state. The state alone spend $5,035 for each person; which ranks...
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Maine's Dwindling Private Sector Economy
October 31, 2008
The Private Sector share of Maine people's personal incomes is on a downward trend, reflecting the less receptive climate for private businesses...
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A great divide? A look behind Maine's salary spread
By: Kathryn Skelton, Sun Journal
June 15, 2008

"Present-day Maine, where the average person makes 76 cents for every $1 pulled in by a state worker. Only four other states in the country have a gap that severe."

Scott Moody of the Maine Heritage Policy Center says state workers not only earn more...benefits that are nearly twice as generous..

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Maine People's Tax Burden Now The Highest Ever!
June 9, 2008
New figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the difference between the average tax burden and the Maine tax burden cost every man, woman, and...
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Lawmakers reneged on vow to cut spending
By: J. Scott Moody, Kennebec Journal op ed
May 12, 2008

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights was narrowly defeated in November 2006. It was on the ballot to allow voters to put a speed limit on the growth of state spending, with a long-term goal of gradually reducing our tax burden.

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Governor and Legislature, Heal Thyself Why the State House is a good place to look for budget savings
March 25, 2008
With rich benefits, high office expense, duplication of services and dozens of staffers and advisors with six-figure compensations packages, there...
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Transparency-Shedding Light on Government Activities II: The Hidden LD 1 Cost-Shift
March 13, 2008
The passage of LD 1 promised to increase education spending and lower property taxes - instead, costs have been shifted among budget categories to...
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2006 Maine State Government "Gravy Train" Update
October 25, 2007
Maine has too many state employees (28,101 in 2006) and pays them too generously - which results in an average compensation package for a state...
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Taxpayer Bill of Rights
September 10, 2007
Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

This bill proposes to restrain the growth in state and local government by imposing expenditure limitations on state...
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State and Local Expenditure Growth Surpasses Personal Income and Population Growth
August 21, 2007
Maine state spending (and Maine taxes) are growing more rapidly than personal incomes and the population growth. The charts and tables in this...
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A Plan to Reform and Reduce Maine's Taxes
June 5, 2007
Maine people need real tax relief, but instead keep getting offers of "reform" that is revenue-neutral.

Instead of picking around the edges,...
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Maine's State and Local Tax Collections: Fiscal Year 2005 Update
May 23, 2007
Maine's taxes are high, at the state and local levels. Spending is also high and growing and private-sector incomes are dwindling. This is a bad...
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A Taxpayer Bill of Rights: Improving Mainers' Incomes
September 12, 2006
Using the Beacon Hill Institute's STAMP analysis, passage of Maine's Taxpayer Bill of Rights means more money in Mainers' pockets. Workers in...
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A Taxpayer Bill of Rights: The Cure for Maine's High Taxes
May 5, 2006
Voters get to decide whether or not to reign in state and local government spending by enacting a predetermined growth allownace. From a tax...
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Beyond the Supplemental Budget: What About State Debt, Per Capita Tax Burden, & the Structural Gap?
March 29, 2006
Whether it is the ballooning debt, the expanding per-capita tax burden, the anemic reserves for rainy days, or the ominous structural gap forecast,...
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State and Local Tax Collections - How Does Maine Compare?
February 1, 2006
In the last few decades, Maine has shifted from a low-taxed state with above-average incomes to a lower-income state with high taxes. This report...
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