AUGUSTA, Maine — Taxes and spending are on the agenda again this week at the State House, as well as a bill that would trim the amount of taxpayer money that can be spent for election campaigns.
On Tuesday, a panel of experts known as the Consensus Economic Forecasting Commission meets to update its forecasts of key economic indicators, including personal income and job growth.
The commission’s new analysis is expected to complicate budget deliberations and lay the foundation for a pessimistic reduction in state General Fund revenue estimates by May 1.
Thursday the Taxation Committee is slated to hear comment on a Democratic plan to broaden the sales tax and cut the income tax.
Similar proposals in the past have failed.
A legislative committee today will take up bills aimed at cutting back the amount of taxpayer money that can be spent for election campaigns.
Public funding through the Clean Election Act has proved to be popular with candidates for Legislature and governor. Candidates have to qualify for funding by collecting minimum numbers of small donations.
One bill seeks to eliminate Clean Election funding for gubernatorial candidates.