Some groups ask legislative and gubernatorial candidates whether they will support policies that increase burdens on employers and taxpayers, but NFIB asks the opposite.
Small business owners are interested in what candidates say – and nearly all candidates say they support small businesses – and, more importantly, where candidates stand on specific issues affecting the state’s economy. Below are questions based on recent legislative battles and in anticipation of battles to come in 2015 and 2016.
What are your questions? E-mail [email protected] with your thoughts.
1. Would you support extending the temporary half-cent increase in the sales tax (from 5% to 5.5%) beyond its expiration June 30, 2015 (LD 1509, Part M)?
2. Would you support extending the temporary one-cent increase in the meals & lodging tax (from 7% to 8%) beyond its expiration June 30, 2015 (LD 1509, Part M)?
3. Would you support expanding the sales tax to various services, increasing the sales tax rate, increasing the meals & lodging tax rate, increasing various other taxes (e.g., cigarettes, tobacco, beer/wine excise tax) and eliminating most income tax credits/deductions as a way to finance lower income and property taxes and provide more money for municipal revenue sharing (LD 1496)?
4. Would you support raising the gas tax or instituting a new revenue system for financing the Highway Fund?
5. Would you support a mandatory paid sick leave law for employers of 25 or more workers (LD 1665 proposed in 2010)?
6. Would you support increasing the $7.50 state minimum wage to $9.00 an hour or higher (LD 611)?
7. Would you support indexing the state minimum wage so that it increases automatically in future years (LD 611)?
8. Would you support replacing Maine’s health insurance system with a single-payor system similar to that used in Canada (LD 1345)?
9. Would you support expanding Medicaid enrollment as encouraged by the Affordable Care Act (LD 1066; LD 1487)?
10. In general, which policy best results in broad economic growth?
____Lowering costs of doing business
____Economic development & financing programs
11. Would you support a Small Business Impact Note (such as done in Maryland) for proposed laws that would affect small businesses prior to consideration on the Senate or House floor?
12. Would you support further efforts to reduce paperwork and red tape burdens imposed on regulated entities?
