Truly sad for the people of the Guilford area - this at the same time the legislature proposes a plastic bag tax and a canoe tax - the people in Augusta need to wake up - lets try some layoffs in the state house

I agree with lifeinmaine just as in all branches of government, I am sure that it could be thinned out. But, hey, would wants to tell an old friend, who;s been there for years, doing what? Who knows, but he has been there for years. Same with Washington, there are probably still committees that were appointed i investigate this or that years ago and are still there. Example for now is Katrina money dispensing group who won't hand out the funds because they will lose their jobs once the funds are gone. I own three kayaks, 2 paddle boats and several inner tubes for personal use. Hey, why don't we tax ten speed bikes, we have a total of 7 bikes here. Some belong to relatives. Well as long as we are taxing stuff, let us not forget skate boards. This taxing stuff seems to be a lot of work. Are they trying to turn everyone into couch potatoes? Here is a more simple tax, just tax shoes. Ya shoes, it is a means of transportation and they do use pavements, side walks (if you have them where you live) up here, the other state of Maine, we use roadside shoulders cuase if you use walk in the roadway, you might fall in a pothole and not be able to get out. Hell, Augusta could have everyone fitted with an ankle bracelet mileage counter and tax us this way like they mentioned taxing you on miles that you drive. As I re-read this, I realized that I would make a great politician. I think I'll run for office oops I mean slither for office I can't afford the taxes anymore.

The economy is terrible for sure, and that hurts, but Maine government is not pro-business and even in good economic times we see businesses move operations out of state when they have the option to do so. For some reason, we keep electing the same people over and over to do our business in Augusta, and all we get is more fees, more taxes, growing social programs, and a continuingly deteriorating economic climate as a direct result of inept government policies and decisions. I sincerely hope that Peter Vigue or someone of his caliber volunteers to run for governor in the next election. Maine needs a business minded leader, not a mindless career politician whose only goal is to leave his or her social footprint on the state as their legacy. Until this happens, stories like this one will continue to be common news in Maine, recession/depression or not.

One of the definitions of insanity I'm told is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Well, the State of Maine voters must be insane since they keep electing useless liberals year in and year out. Maine voters have got what they asked for.

howbri you are correct i said that all along BUT DO YOU THINK IT WILL EVER SINK IN I DOUBT IT.

Maine's economy is a disaster. Hundreds of layoffs announced everyday. Maine is becoming a true welfare state do to the lack of jobs.

how about maine fund and build the wind turbines thought about for the gulf of maine, give all residents a flat rate. if you pay income state tax you get the small flat rate , if you pay property tax you get a flat rate. All the energy from the wind project goes to maine tax payers first and only then do we sell it out of state.......you'd have to beat businesses trying to get here off with stick. we already know from giving all those bloody tax breaks to businesses that they value our workers, if they had lower energy costs we could tax them properly and fairly instead of all the unequal taxes that seem unfair to any logical thinking person.

GREAT ANNOUCEMENT BY SNOW AND COLLINS. AS THEIR ARE NO JOBS TO BE RETRAINED FOR I SUGGEST A RETRAINING OF SNOW AND COLLINS ON HOW TO KEEP JOBS IN THE U.S.A. INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM OVERSEAS.