AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. Paul LePage says he won't apologize to author Stephen King in the ongoing flap over who does and doesn't pay Maine income tax.
The horror writer has demanded an apology from the governor following LePage's radio address last week in which he railed against prominent Mainers - including Stephen King - who LePage said have moved away to avoid paying state income tax.
King pointed out that he is still a Maine resident, prompting LePage to pull the broadcast. Asked at a public event in Cumberland Wednesday night if he intended to apologize to King, the governor had this to say:
"I never said that, so I'm not going to apologize," LePage said. "I never said Stephen King did not pay income tax. What I said was 'Stephen King is not in Maine right now.' That's what I said - and how the papers report it, I don't know."
In his original address, LePage said states without an income tax, such as Florida, have lured away Maine residents, including former Democratic Governor Kenneth Curtis, who first introduced the tax. "Stephen King and [businesswoman] Roxanne Quimby have moved away as well," LePage added.