All Maine Matters
Because All of Maine DOES Matter!
Vol. 1, No. 10 October 2006 FREE
Ham-Fisted, One Size Fits All, Meat-Axe Approach? From Whom?
by Pem Schaeffer
A group of lawyers around the state have declared the Taxpayer Bill of Rights citizens’ initiative “ham-fisted, one size fits all, meat-axe legislation.” And the Governor, Speaker Richardson, and others have spoken similar words. We’re supposed to ignore the possibility that since these lawyers earn all or part of their income from towns, cities, and the Maine Municipal Association, that their opinions and motives could possibly be compromised.
I’m guessing these very same lawyers, not very long ago, were passionate advocates for Question 1A, which was supposed to lower our property taxes by 15%. You do remember those “promises,” don’t you? Question 1A was approved by voters, and spawned LD 1, the Governor’s very own approach to saving overburdened taxpayers from the effects of unbridled government spending and taxation. LD 1 was labeled “historic tax reform legislation” by the Governor, Speaker Richardson, Senator Edmonds, and those who follow their direction. Is there any doubt that our friends, the lawyers referenced above, were in the choir singing the praises of this bill, which has been proven grossly ineffectual where it matters…in the taxpayers’ bottom line.
Perhaps a comparison of the “historic” LD 1 and the so-called “ham-fisted, one size fits all, meat axe” Taxpayer Bill of Rights would shed some light on things.
Let’s start with their purpose. LD 1 was enacted to reduce the tax burden for Maine citizens; it’s right there in the language. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights was initiated to reduce the tax burden for Maine citizens. Ok, so there’s not much difference on this count.
Next, LD 1 sets caps for annual spending growth at all levels: state, town, county, school district. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, on the other hand, sets caps for annual spending growth at all levels: state, town, county, and school district.
Wait a second…what’s going on; is there an echo in here? Something must be wrong. Surely, further examination will clarify things!
Alright, let’s continue. LD 1 is statutory legislation, rather than a constitutional amendment, and therefore cannot constrain state government (according to the legal experts), and can be ignored and/or changed at will by our “public servants” in Augusta. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, on the other hand, is criticized by its opponents as statutory legislation, which cannot constrain state government, and can be ignored and/or changed at will by our “public servants” in Augusta. I think I hear Yogi Berra in the background; this is “déjà vu all over again.”
Last, it turns out LD 1 provides for the override of its spending limits if conditions warrant. In fact, in the very first year it was in force, the Governor and the Legislature saw fit to exceed the so-called spending limits of LD 1 by approximately $100 million, according to an analysis by the state’s own Office of Fiscal and Program Review. But don’t get all worked up over that; it’s only $80 or so per capita. You’ll never miss it.
Pardon my repetition, but “the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, on the other hand,” provides for the override of its spending limits if conditions warrant. With one small difference, that makes all the difference, when it comes to you, the taxpayer who pays for each and every bill in the state, county, town, and school district. In order to override, the public servants involved have to make a case for it, and secure your consent.
To recap, LD 1 is historic, according to those who spawned it. But according to the hireling attorneys for our governments, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights is a “ham-fisted, one size fits all, meat-axe” approach. I guess it must be because, heaven forbid, you have to be part of the process and approve the override. Oh the horror of it all!
I’m left with only one conclusion. There is, very clearly, a “ham-fisted, one size fits all, meat axe” offering before the public. But it is not the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. It is the rhetoric coming from the hired guns for government interests that don’t want you to have any say over what goes on with the finances they can take from you by force of law.
Too bad we don’t have the freedom to simply ignore the law, the same way the governor and the legislature apparently can. That’s a situation that needs some fixing if ever there was one.
Pem Schaeffer is retired, and does not receive a penny from anyone for expressing his opinions.