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Austin Wants Summer Session to Enact Tax Reform
By Elizabeth Prata

Gray -- Representative Susan Austin is looking forward to many of the same summer pastimes you and I enjoy- trips with the family, cook outs, the parades. There is one more item she wants to accomplish this summer- tax reform.

"We can not leave this issue go the way it is," Austin said on Tuesday. "I have met and spoken with people who are worried about losing their homes. We need to get back to work and come up with solutions. Something has got to happen. I feel our business is unfinished. We did not give the people meaningful tax reform and that is a major piece of business that we need to accomplish."

Governor John Baldacci has expressed an interest in recalling the Legislature back to Augusta this summer in order to come up with solutions for the tax reform challenge. Right, Austin

Senate Democrats had proposed a 20% increase in the state's sales tax in order to offset property tax relief. House Democrats balked at that idea and offered instead to boost the Homestead Exemption, boost the circuit breaker program, and cap property taxes at five percent of income. Republicans in both chambers called for a constitutional amendment to limit state spending in order to bring about meaningful reforms.

Austin was and remains a strong proponent for such a change to the state's constitution. "It makes sense," she said. "Revenues are increasing. More money is already coming into state government. Unfortunately, we are spending it faster than it is coming in. The spending cap is the best tool
to help guide us as we move forward. We need to slow spending and tie it to some measure of reasonable growth. Then we can bring focus to Maine's economic development."

Politicians failed to agree on the right method to bring about property tax reform to residents during the regular session that ended recenty but Austin is hopeful that the different sides can find a solution. "I must be the most hopeful person on Earth," she said. "Some people got locked in and wouldn't move at all. I keep hoping that some of the politicians will be willing to work with us. There are a lot of us who are looking to come up with solutions."

Austin said that the economy would improve in Maine and for the Gray area if the legislature would stop enacting laws and regulations that are not helpful to the area's small businesses. "If we as a legislature can help on the government spending side, people back home will be able to keep more of their money so they can spend for their families. We can help this economy and really turn things around. We need more jobs and we need to allow people to invest. Right now the state is not helping with that. We are in the way. The legislature keeps coming up with new regulations and new taxes and fees. That isn't helpful."

Rep. Susan Austin (R-41) is Minority Lead on the Business, Research, and Economic Development Committee and serves Gray and part of New Gloucester.