Maine governor and man who somehow got elected Paul LePage is not pleased that voters in his state approved ballot measures that will increase the minimum wage and provide more funding for education and, to that end, he will ask the state legislature to rebut their own constituents.
Voters approved a measure to raise taxes on wealthy households to pay for education, so LePage is proposing that lawmakers cancel it out by cutting taxes on wealthy households.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he will propose slashing the income tax rate to lessen the impact of a new income surtax and minimum wage hike that Mainers approved this month. [...]
LePage said Maine voters didn’t understand the specifics of ballot questions they approved to raise the minimum wage and directly fund schools through a new surtax on individual Maine taxable income above $200,000.
LePage says voters didn't understand what they were doing, but it's crystal clear that LePage is the one who doesn't understand what he's doing.
The implications of passing a tax on the rich to pay for education are easily understandable. Countering it by cutting taxes on the rich suggests LePage doesn't understand exactly what Mainers voted for. Mainers voted for a measure to increase state revenue, but LePage evidently believes voters intended to pass a revenue-neutral ballot measure.
The good news is state legislators don't appear to be interested in LePage's proposals.