Websites in favor of the conservative referendums that will be on the ballot in November are now online (even for the one that was thrown out for a lack of valid signatures).
The content of the pro-TABOR site isn't yet accessible, but the excise tax repeal site is up and it's a work of staggering cynicism. Rather than focusing on the excise tax as a funding mechanism for local government, the group promoting the tax cut are instead styling themselves as environmentalists. The site's headline is "More Green Now" and they seem to be focusing their entire message on the portion of the legislation that provides a tax break for buying a new hybrid vehicle. I imagine there might be a few actual environmentalists with something to say about this crass attempt to greenwash these tax cuts.
The site is registered to the More Green Now PAC, which is a creature of Maine Leads, the conservative organization that proposed the referenda in cooperation with the Maine Heritage Policy Center. According to its registration form the PAC is run by Roy Lenardson, Chris Cinquemani and Trevor and Anna Bragdon. Interestingly, the form also reveals that Lenardson, Maine Leads' Executive Director, isn't actually a Maine resident anymore. He lists a home in Florida as his mailing address.
more green now campaign
The blog posting would be laughable if the issue weren't so serious. Liberals complaining about conservatives highjacking their issue and their message to sugar coat a conservative tax cut proposal. My heart bleeds.
The author presumes to suggest that because this initiative comes from conservatives that it is a false environmental effort, as if only Left-Liberals can propose genuine initiatives in support of a cleaner environment. Sounds like major sour grapes to me. I think you folks are just mad that you didn't think of this effort first and because you secretly understand that if it passes that it will do more environmental good than any effort made by the liberal democratic majority in Augusta.
The simple fact is that excise tax is the least progressive, most unaccountable form of government taxation in the state. It is ironic that liberals are lining up in droves to support such a regressive taxation scheme. Of course, the opposition is from the fact that this is a tax cut, letting people keep more of their own hard earned and further limiting the growth and scope of government and that's what you liberals are REALLY opposed to, because in your honest estimation, private income and private property generally are outdated concepts. You believe that all economic activity belongs to the collective and we should all be grateful for whatever crumbs the government allows us to keep.
Do want to thank you for the piece, though. It inspired me to get off my duff, send a donation to more green now (Equal to my excise tax payments this year: seemed appropriate) and to volunteer for the effort politically.