Maine lawmakers will vote on a budget plan Friday that includes a tax hike to pay for increased education funding, and the result of the vote will determine whether the government shuts down.
The two-year $7.1 million plan introduced Wednesday includes a 1.5 percent increase in the state’s lodging tax to pay for a $162 million increase in education funding. The plan also repeals a 3 percent additional tax on Maine residents making over $200,000 annually.
Maine Governor Paul LePage has threatened to enact a government shut down in response to any tax increase.
“I will tell you this: If they put a tax increase, ready for a shutdown. End of story,” LePage said in a Thursday interview on Maine’s WGAN radio.
“They’re playing chicken at 100 miles per hour, and I’m telling you something: You want to play chicken, let’s play chicken, ” LePage said referring to lawmakers’ efforts to stall the budget process. “A shutdown is necessary for the future of Maine,” he added.
Read more at:
http://dailycaller.com/2017/06/30/maine-gov-a-shutdown-is-necessary-for-the-future-of-maine/
