A Note From Rep. Flaherty on Tax Reform:

First of all, thank you for reaching out to me in support of LD1088.  We were able to pass the bill in both the House and the Senate and are getting close to providing Income Tax Relief to every Mainer!

But the Governor is still considering vetoing LD1088 (An Act To Modernize the Tax Laws and Provide over $50,000,000 to Residents of the State in Tax Relief).  Rumor has it that if he hears from members of the business community it will help him make his decision to sign the bill.

It would be great if you could e-mail or call the Governor and let him know how important Tax Relief is!  It is critically important that he hears from us.  Please take a minute to e-mail or call Governor Baldacci.

The Governor’s email address is governor@maine.gov, and the main line for his office is 287-3531.

Please also encourage your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to do the same by forwarding this e-mail onto them.

Businesses are especially helpful, but he would appreciate hearing from all sides of the issue – folks in retirement homes whose meals tax will be exempted and folks who will just really appreciate the extra money in their pockets.  Anyone willing to drop an email or make a quick phone call will honestly make a difference!

Again, The Governor’s email address is governor@maine.gov, and the main line for his office is 287-3531.

Thanks again so much for taking on this critical issue. We’re so close to the finish line and every effort will help us get there!

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A Note From Rep. Flaherty To Residents of Piper Shores:

I know you’ve heard a lot from me about tax reform over the past few months. We were glad to see LD1335 pass both Chambers, but as I have mentioned, we will not be able to gain back the tax exemption for meals at retirement facilities like Piper Shores without the passage and enactment of LD1088.

As you may have heard, LD1088 has passed both the House and the Senate. Now it is up to the Governor to pass on income tax relief to every Mainer and ensure the meals tax exemption for you! The Governor hasn’t made up his mind yet on how he will act on tax reform and he needs to hear support.

The Governor’s email address is governor@maine.gov, and the main line for his office is 287-3531.

It would be helpful for you and others to e-mail or call the Governor and tell him how important this bill is to folks at Piper Shores. On Thursday I spoke on the House floor and read specifically from a letter from a resident of Piper Shores about how important it is to ensure we pass LD1088. I am hopefully that after your work e-mailing, calling, and mailing letters to me, that you will take your incredible work just one step further so we can see the Governors signature added to the bill.

Anyone willing to drop an email or make a quick phone call will honestly make a difference.

Again, the Governor’s email address is governor@maine.gov, and the main line for his office is 287-3531.

Below is a great e-mail I have received from a resident at Piper Shores. It clearly states why we need to pass LD1088 so feel free to cut and paste it into an e-mail to the Governor.

We have come so far on this issue and are so close to the finish line. One final push may help us get their!

Thanks for your help!

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Dear Governor Baldacci,

I am a resident at the Piper Shores Retirement Community in Scarborough, Maine. The practice of using audits by Maine Revenue Services to impose an additional tax of 7% on our meals is of great financial concern. Seniors overwhelmingly support the concept of communal financial responsibility and many of us have spent most of our working lives honoring and contributing to this. The promise to now have these burdens lessened in our final years should not be broken.

Most of our incomes are now fixed and, in fact, are dwindling due to the current financial crises. Our choice to spend our retirement years in a supportive community is now jeopardized. This choice was made because of the comprehensive, supportive services needed and available to see us through those years. Our dining services are a critical and necessary component helping to ensure our ongoing health and wellness. Taxing us for the food we eat in our home here diminishes our ability and desire to take care of ourselves. Our dining program is a necessity, not a luxury.

LD1088 would revoke the newly initiated tax on Senior and Retirement facility meals and return the law to how it was originally intended. The “Greatest Generation” has given so much, and we want to finish our lives with dignity and stability. We ask you to remember and honor this as decisions are made, and therefore sign into law LD1088.

Thank you for your consideration and work on behave of Maine people.

Sincerely,