By David Sharp, The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine GOP has the green light to collect signatures for proposals to slash the state income tax and to reform welfare.
The Republican Party learned Monday that its petition was approved by the secretary of state. Executive Director Jason Savage said the party hopes to have petitions printed and distributed to more than 100 locations by Tuesday.
The GOP needs to collect more than 61,000 signatures by Feb. 1 to put the measure on the November 2016 ballot.
The proposal would cut income tax to 4 percent over four years, and it provides a pathway for its elimination altogether in later years.
The proposals were championed by Gov. Paul LePage, who vowed to go to the people after failing to win support from the Legislature.