“A great revolution is never the fault of the people, but of the government.” -Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Lane/Tommy: Isn’t it ironic that 2006 is looking a lot like 1776? We thought that the Redcoats had left. Lo and behold they snuck back into Maine and worked their way back into our government. The American Revolution began because of a tyrannical monarch who oppressed freedom and made colonists suffer through excessive taxation. We feel that we are living in similar conditions today in Maine. Instead of King George we are being tormented by sky-high taxation as a result of uncontrolled spending by Lord John Baldacci and his band of Tories.

Tommy: Is there any doubt that the time for change has arrived? During the American Revolution the Minutemen fought with cannons and muskets. The revolution of 2006 is being fought using brains and ballots in order to rein in the overspending government we have at all levels in the state of Maine.

Lane: It is time for Mainers to stand tall and take control of spending away from those elected officials who couldn’t care less if we lose our homes and are forced to leave this beautiful state. The old adage of “it’s for the children” does not cut the mustard anymore. How can those people in government justify saving our children when, in fact, their gross overspending is driving the children out of this state.

Lane/Tommy: What Maine needs is a solution to its wicked tax burden. Supposed cures for our crushing taxation, like LD1, have been smoke screens for even higher taxes and hidden fees. Lord Baldacci touted LD1 as tax relief. Where did the funds come from for increased aid for education and the Homestead Act? Those funds came from taxpayers who are paying for their own tax relief.

We must vote for legislation that ensures the elimination of Maine’s high tax dilemma. In November on Election Day the people of Maine can tell the Redcoats in our government that we are taking charge of our tax dollars by voting “YES” for Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Lane: The support for Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights is growing daily by leaps and bounds. It was no surprise to me that the town of Gray endorsed it but I was shocked when the town of Scarborough, the Portland Chamber of Commerce and WCSH Channel 6 came forward with the same.

Mayor Paul R. LePage of Waterville sent the Maine Municipal Association (MMA) a stinging rebuke about their heavy handed campaign against tax reform in our great state of Maine. Maybe it is time our tax dollars no longer flow to the MMA.

Tommy: Because I see more and more support for tax reform in Maine, it is obvious that the tide has changed on how citizens view Maine’s tax and spend mentality. We can notice obvious revenue gathering techniques like income, sales or property taxes but what many people do not see are Maine’s hidden fees and surcharges.

Under Lord Baldacci’s realm fees and surcharges have skyrocketed to new heights. These fees are nothing less than taxes in sheep’s clothing. When the herd becomes too large it is time to cull the herd.

Lane/Tommy: Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights is nothing less than our Declaration of Independence. We must rid ourselves of the burdensome taxation that the Redcoats in Maine’s government places on its citizens. It is not an end to all of Maine’s fiscal problems but rather it is just a beginning. The opposition is immense.

The common thread among the opponents of Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights is that they desire your money to finance their wants. We firmly believe that tax relief under Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights will take time but will eventually transform Maine into a state which will be more business friendly thus creating better employment for all. The end result will be that Maine will not be ranked Number One in its tax burden and near last in being business friendly. Your weapon is not a musket. It is your VOTE!

Lane, a Vietnam veteran, retired after 20 years in the U.S. Army. Tommy was director of training for Local 14 crane operators in New York City. Both settled in Maine for its quality of life and became politically active when Windham attempted to enforce the personal property tax in 2003. They are now active to institute tax reform so your children can afford to live in Maine and businesses can thrive here.