Paul LePage in 2011 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Corporations:
Depreciate bonuses; reduce business tax rate to under 8%
To help create jobs in Maine, we include bonus depreciation for businesses investing in our economy's future. We increase the exemption for the death tax to make it easier to pass a family business to the next generation and to reduce the
incentive for moving wealth out of Maine. And we lower the tax rate on families and business success from 8.5% to 7.95%, the lowest top income tax rate in Maine since 1975.
Source: Maine 2011 State of the State Address
Feb 10, 2011
On Drugs:
Mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients
Our welfare reform also includes mandatory drug testing of program participants convicted of drug offenses. If we are serious about helping people move to independence and work, we must address the barriers caused by addiction.
Otherwise, we are spinning our wheels and squandering state resources.
Source: Maine 2011 State of the State Address
Feb 10, 2011
On Health Care:
MaineCare recipients contribute to statewide health coverage
Based on ability to pay, we ask MaineCare recipients to contribute to the cost of the state-sponsored health care coverage. Unfortunately, we are limited in the reforms we can offer in MaineCare because of the Affordable Care Act out of Washington.
Maine's generosity is being penalized by the federal government. There are additional savings to be had in MaineCare but federal mandates force us to look elsewhere.
Source: Maine 2011 State of the State Address
Feb 10, 2011
On Immigration:
Welcome immigrants, but no welfare for legal non-citizens
Maine was built by immigrants. The energy and aspirations of our immigrant ancestors powered our mills, carved out our farmland and built our shipyards. Maine must always be a welcoming place for those who seek an opportunity to advance
through hard work and self reliance. Despite our heritage, Maine is one of just a few places in the country that offers "welfare-on-day-one," for legal non-citizens.
Source: Maine 2011 State of the State Address
Feb 10, 2011
On Tax Reform:
End marriage penalty; increase personal exemptions
Our budget eliminates the marriage penalty & increases the personal exemption for all Mainers. Coupled with a higher standard deduction, our changes completely eliminate state tax liability for an additional 15,000 Mainers at our lowest income levels.
Our budget also ends indexing of the gas tax in the second year, a levy that is especially hard on working Maine families and gets passed on to virtually every Maine business.
Source: Maine 2011 State of the State Address
Feb 10, 2011
On Welfare & Poverty:
End welfare-on-day-one: No instant eligibility for benefits
Maine is one of just a few places in the country that offers "welfare-on-day-one," for legal non-citizens. Our budget saves $20 million by eliminating instant eligibility for welfare benefits and sends the message that work
and independence are what is expected of everyone in Maine. Our budget also includes a true five-year time limit on welfare eligibility and incentives to help move people from dependence to self-sustaining employment.
Source: Maine 2011 State of the State Address
Feb 10, 2011
Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018