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Veterans Groups Urge Support for LePage's Tax Exemption Plan

Mal Leary
/
MPBN

AUGUSTA, Maine - Several veterans, and representatives of veterans' organizations, joined Gov. Paul LePage today at a State House news conference to support the governor's proposal to exempt military pensions from the state income tax.

Retired Navy Cmdr. David Patch said retired veterans have a lot to offer the state.

"Retired military personnel have pensions that allow them to be more entrepreneurial," Patch said. "Retired military typically have older children that don't have a significant impact on the educational system."

Patch retired to Maine to take care of his elderly parents but worked for several companies in the state, as well as founding small businesses in the state after his retirement.

Other retired military say eliminating the state income tax on military pensions will draw more skilled military retirees to the state.

 

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.