Mainers Need Tax Relief

This is Representative Billy Bob Faulkingham of Winter Harbor with the Weekly Republican Address.

Governor Janet Mills recently directed the State Tax Assessor not to conform Maine’s 2025 tax code with several federal tax-relief provisions contained in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

“Conformity” simply means Maine mirrors the federal tax code—keeping things simple, fair, and consistent for taxpayers. 

But the Governor’s refusal to conform means Mainers will pay state taxes on tips and overtime, and they won’t see an increase in the standard deduction that reduces taxable income.

Why?  Because the state has spent itself into a corner.

Democrats abandoned the long-standing bipartisan budget process and passed three straight partisan budgets, leaving only $67 million available to cover more than $400 million in federal tax changes.

Since taking full control, they’ve increased state spending 77 percent—from $8.2 billion to $14.5 billion.

That’s overspending on everything except you.

Maine now has the fourth-highest tax burden in America and is increasingly unaffordable for working families. 

Even with record revenues, Democrats raised taxes again—on streaming services, cannabis, tobacco, real-estate transfers, and even paint—on top of the new payroll tax that began in January.

Next year, lawmakers will have another chance to align Maine’s tax code with federal relief.  But that will require a change in priorities.

Republicans prioritize taxpayers—Democrats don’t.

We feel the pain of families on fixed incomes and workers trying to make ends meet.  The party in power prioritizes everyone but the people who pay the bills—and it shows in the decline of our state.

Republicans will continue offering solutions:

• Genuine tax relief
• Lower energy costs
• A sustainable MaineCare system

That includes adopting federal tax relief measures that:

• Eliminate state taxes on tips
• Eliminate state taxes on overtime
• Increase the standard deduction

If you believe Mainers deserve the same relief granted under federal law, contact your Democratic legislators and the Governor’s Office and urge them to conform Maine’s tax provisions with the OBBBA.

This has been Representative Billy Bob Faulkingham with the Weekly Republican Radio Address.

Thank you for listening.  Help us change Maine for the better—subscribe, share, and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

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