Maine Gov. Paul LePage says he will let a massive tax bill that makes Maine’s tax code conform to some federal tax policy changes become law, but without his signature.
LePage says there are many good provisions in the compromise bill passed by the Legislature, but because it it does not abolish the estate tax, he won’t sign it into law.
“To me that is an insult. If you are successful, why do you punish people? Particularly in their golden years. And so, I am not going to veto it, but I certainly am not going to put my pen to it,” he says.
The measure reduces income taxes by just over $22 million. It provides for a smaller corporate tax cut than LePage had wanted, but it includes an expanded property tax credit and a new family and medical leave credit. It will also relieve some business owners from needing to keep two sets of books because of differences in state and federal tax law.
Originally published Sept. 10, 2018 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
