https://youtube.com/shorts/OtuISGZSuzg?feature=share

By Sen. Bruce Bickford

This week, the legislative majority pushed through yet another tax and spend budget that continues to grow state government at the expense of the taxpayer. Mainers already experience the fifth highest overall tax burden in the country. When are legislative Democrats going to wake up and realize that enough is enough and its time to stop bleeding Mainers dry?

Hello, I’m Senator Bruce Bickford of Androscoggin County. I have the honor of representing the citizens of Senate District 20 and I serve on the Taxation Committee.

Maine is currently ranked fifth among all 50 states for highest overall tax burden. We have consistently been in the top five highest tax burden states for as many years as I can remember.

Unfortunately for Maine taxpayers, legislative Democrats want to raise taxes on working Mainers and retirees to grow Maine’s already bloated government even more. Just three months ago, the Legislature passed an $11.3 billion biennial budget. Republicans withheld support for that budget because it did not address any of the underlying issues that led to a severe budget shortfall.

Despite claims by the majority party that the biennial budget funded the necessary operations of State Government for two years, they are now attempting to push through another massive spending plan. The only way for them to do this is to increase taxes and fees.

To fund their $320 million supplemental budget, legislative Democrats are creating new fees on streaming services, raising fees on fishing licenses, raising taxes on tobacco and cannabis and increasing property taxes in the unorganized territories.

Let me be very clear about something here: None of this spending is necessary. Just three months ago, legislative Democrats began claiming their majority biennial budget funds the obligations of state government for two years.

If that’s true, then why do we need to spend another $320 million now in a supplemental budget? When we began this legislative session with news of a severe revenue shortfall, I hoped the legislative majority would wake up and realize that we cannot continue with this tax and spend governance.

Unfortunately, instead of recognizing the uncertain situation years of overspending has caused, they’ve chosen to plug their ears, cover their eyes and spend even more.  Is enough ever enough for State House Democrats?

Again, this is Senator Bruce Bickford of Androscoggin County. Thank you for listening and make sure to follow Maine Senate Republicans on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Senator Bruce Bickford represents Auburn, Durham and Poland in Androscoggin County and New Gloucester in Cumberland County. He served in the Maine House of Representatives during the 124^th – 125^th Legislatures and the 127^th – 130^th Legislatures.