Two elected officials that most personify liberal tax and spend policies in Augusta are State Rep. John Piotti (D, Unity) and State Senator Joe Perry (D, Bangor). Both men are in competitive State Senate races against viable, well-liked opponents- Rep. Mike Thibodeau (R, Winterport) and Nichi Farnham (R, Bangor). Voters of Waldo and Penobscot counties will help decide the balance of power in the Maine Senate with these two critical races, and their choices- as in many races across the state- couldn’t be more stark.
Representative Piotti worked for many years as the chief architect of what ultimately became LD 1495, a tax shifting bill (scheme) that was finally passed by the Legislature in 2009, only to be resoundingly overturned by the people’s veto vote this past June. This bill amounted to giving Mainers a little more cash on one end, just so we could cough it back up to the state on the other end.
Senator Perry, who as Chairman of the Senate Taxation Committee also championed LD 1495, has never found a tax “reform” idea he didn’t like. In 2008, perhaps most infamously he and his committee were the key players in writing the first tax bill that Mainers were “fed up” with, this being the added taxes on beer, wine and certain soft drinks in order to pay for Governor Baldacci’s miserably failing Dirigo Health program. Mainers wised up to this bill, using a people’s veto in 2009 to send it to a watery grave- a grave that would later include LD 1495, and in a few short months we will be burying Dirigo Health there, as well.
These tax shifting schemes are common practice by Piotti, Perry and the rest of the Maine Democrats- including those that came before them in the Maine House, one being former Speaker of the House Libby Mitchell. When economic times are tough, the funds available for liberals to spend start to dry up because revenue coming to the state decreases as Mainers incomes decrease. So with Mainers making less money and spending less, Maine democrats offer to “lower” our income taxes in an attempt to pull the wool over our eyes, but then make up the shortfall in revenue by broadening the number of goods and services we pay sales taxes on- then try to pass it all off as “revenue netural.” But the only problem is when we are making less money (income), new income tax relief is not significant enough to cover the losses in our wallets needed to pay all the extra new sales taxes.
While Maine voters have been successful in vetoing policies that come from the likes of Joe Perry and John Piotti in successive years, voters of Maine Senate Districts 23 and 32 will have the honor of personally vetoing Piotti and Perry in their bids for the State Senate on November 2nd. With the Senate balance of power currently at 20 Democrats and 15 Republicans, the GOP has to hold onto their current seats and flip 3 to gain control 18-17.
Senate Candidates for Districts 23 and 32 (article continued below)
Senate District 23, encompassing the 4 corners of Waldo County- Winterport, Belfast, Palermo, Unity/Burnham- and every town in between, is a seat held by terming out Republican Senator Carol Weston. This seat is a critical “must hold” for the Republicans. Representative Mike Thibodeau (R, Winterport) is looking to keep this seat for the Republicans, and defeat Piotti in his bid to move into the Senate. Both men are popular in their respective hometowns of Winterport and Unity, with each vying for the “middle ground” of Waldo County.
Thibodeau is a common-sense conservative who simply believes we “have a Government that we cannot afford.” He wants to bring our welfare benefits in line with the national average, eliminate non-essential functions of state government and cut unnecessary red tape that is discouraging private sector investment in our State. Before entering public service, Mike helped run the family business Thibodeau and Sons with his father and brothers. This private sector experience has been invaluable during his time in the Maine House, and this practical business savvy will serve Mainers well in the Senate. Voters of Waldo County would do well to cast their lot with Thibodeau, and veto John Piotti once and for all.
Senate District 32 is made up of Bangor and Hermon, the regional center of Penobscot County. Senator Perry is up for re-election here, being challenged by well known Bangor resident Nichi Farnham. This seat is seen as a “must flip” in the Republicans bid to take control of the Senate. Nichi’s public service to Bangor and the surrounding community is extensive, serving 7 years on the Bangor City Council (1 year as Mayor), 3.5 years on the Bangor School Board, and fostering many connections though involvement in local organizations and boards. Her husband’s family has owned Getchell Bros. of Brewer since 1888, and her involvement helping to run the family business has resulted in experiencing the hardships businesses go through in Maine firsthand. Farhnam wants to go to Augusta “to make sure every business has the best chance it can to thrive in our state.”
Farnham’s involvement in local government has taught her how to build consensus with all sides of an issue without sacrificing core principles. Joe Perry has had his time in Augusta, and while he’s a nice guy, his ideas have been rejected time and time again. Like Piotti, Perry needs to be rejected permanently from his role in Augusta, and Nichi is the viable alternative for Bangor and Hermon voters to do just that.
The Maine Democrats have had a stranglehold on power in Augusta for far too long. Maine is now the 50th “best” state for businesses and careers as ranked by Forbes Magazine. No need to do the math on that one- we are dead last. We didn’t get there by accident. We got there by persistent liberal philosophies prescribed to by the likes of Joe Perry and John Piotti. They mean well with their actions, but the results just don’t back it up. Mainers can’t keep relying on the people’s veto to stop bad ideas, we have to put people in place to stop these bad ideas before they start. Voters of Senate Districts 23 and 32 can contribute in this effort by helping to shift the balance of power in the Maine Senate.
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Aaron Prill lives in Winterport calling Senate District 23 home. He works in Bangor in Senate District 32, and also lived and owned a home there before moving to Winterport.
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