Tag Archives: tax reform

Jan 5 2018

The Republican Waffle

The Republican Waffle

Oh, it’s that ominous Dance
The people’s game of Chance
Now that a victory’s Won
Just how will it all be Undone?

The Republican Waffle

We knew it would Come
Like the beat of Drum
They passed Tax Reform
Then scurry back to the Norm

Surprised somehow they’ve Won
Where did that spine come from?
Our legislation broke Tradition
To ask the Democrats Permission

The Republican Waffle
It’s kinda like a Shuffle
When they run from a Scuffle
It’s the Republican Waffle

It’s not a dancing Craze
Just the usual Haze
Afraid to seize the Day
They cower at the donkey Bray

The Republican Waffle

We gave them what they asked
With a list of Tasks
But they found so many Ways
And means to avoid the Frays

Just a mere Rebuttal
Will cause Ole’ Mitch to Scuttle
The plans he’s Makin’
For Schumer’s Belly-achin’

The Republican Waffle
It’s kinda like a Shuffle
When they run from a Scuffle
It’s the Republican Waffle

Dec 23 2017

The Red County Caucus’ Statement on the Passage of Tax Reform

 

The President has signed a historic tax reform into law. While Democrats claim the power of the seer akin to Nostradamus portending wild-eyed apocalyptic doom as a result of wage earners and wage payers keeping more of the fruits of their labors, in the real world of the real truth this new tax structure affords real tax relief to virtually every wage bracket in the United States. Contrary to the liberal narrative, it is not theft for Americans to keep more of their wages.

Immediately the business world has reacted to this news by infusing more money into the pockets of their employees through bonuses and investing in expansion. Maine has seen this first hand with the announcement by CIANBRO of its plan to hire 300 new employees. With the burdens of a outdated, antiquated tax structure lifted, and the roll back of onerous regulatory laws, the business world sees the promise of a bright new horizon for prosperity and is responding with a resounding charge forward.

But it is not just the corporate and business world that will see much needed relief. The threshold for non-taxable income has been significantly raised, helping low income families keep a majority of their hard earned money, raising the hope of building a better tomorrow for their loved ones. The child tax credit has been doubled, an adjustment long overdue.

With the President’s move to sign the bill into law this week, taxpayers will see almost an immediate impact to their personal economies as the new law will be in effect for the February tax season. While critics seem to struggle to wrap their intellect around the common sense doctrine that a citizenry that keeps more of its own wealth is a more wealthy citizenry, the proof of a stronger robust economy is already bearing fruit. Maine would do well to take heed.

Maine must look for ways that it can shrink the size of its overall budget. By lowering the state income tax and eliminating much of its burdensome regulatory bureaucracy, Maine can continue to move towards establishing a fiscal landscape that is both inviting and hospitable to entrepreneur and investor alike. Also of primary concern must be the reduction of the high electrical costs in our state if we wish to compete and grow our economy.

Finally, the Red County Caucus has not been quiet in it’s criticism of recent Republican Party failures. As such, we would be remiss if we did not offer our strong commendation to the Republican Party as a whole for the passage of this historic tax reform. Senator Susan Collins and Congressman Bruce Poliquin, in particular, should be praised for their support of this accomplishment, along with President Donald Trump. Once again, we the citizens of the United States have proven that, with government out of our way, there is nothing quite as powerful as the indomitable spirit of the American people.

Dec 2 2017

The Red County Caucus Issues Statement on Collins’ Support of Tax Reform

 

Reports that Maine’s ranking Senator Susan Collins has announced her decision to support the Senate version of the Tax Reform bill is welcome news to the hard-working taxpayers of Maine. We, the members of The Red County Caucus, would like to commend the Senator for this decision. While the bill falls short of the necessary reform that the tax structure needs, it is a positive step forward and establishes a good foundation for future reform.

Senator Collins was successful in securing concessions from Republicans in exchange for her vote. A political victory for Collins to be sure , but the impact upon our economy remains to be seen. What remains perplexing to Maine voters is Collins’ continued defense of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate, which she campaigned against.

The Red County Caucus recommends that Senator Collins take the time to engage with her constituents, specifically small business owners, whose budgets are choked by the onerous effects of the Individual Mandate. Perhaps then she would understand its negative impact upon the economies of Maine residents and businesses. Still, the people of Maine should applaud this positive announcement from their Senator.

Opponents of Tax Reform have touted the projections from the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) and this should be addressed. Simply stated, the CBO has been historically and consistently wrong in its projections and, sadly, in recent years has become increasingly partisan, which only further diminishes its credibility. All honest and non-partisan analysis agree that tax reform will bring much needed tax cuts across all wage brackets, doubling much needed child tax credit, and increase tax refunds for middle to low wage earners.

In summation, Senator Collins should be commended for her support of the Senate tax reform bill. This bill, though far from perfect, provides much needed tax relief for the wage earners and businesses of the United States. If the repeal of the Individual Mandate remains in place, this bill is a strong positive move forward towards reforming our outdated and burdensome tax structure.

Nov 26 2017

The Red County Caucus Issues Statement on Senator Collins

 

We of The Red County Caucus would like to remind Senator Susan Collins that the Constitution of the United States was written to protect the Natural Born Rights of the Individual. These Rights, inherent, unalienable, and God-given, have been, in times past and present, under repeated assault from activism from all corners of our society in an effort to undermine the Founding Ideal of this Free Republic: that the government of free men should defend and protect the free will of the individual. What is common sense was once common place but now a rarity to be sure.

Congress is now engaged in a pitted debate over the nuance, impact, and economics of tax reform. The Red County Caucus is not prepared at this point to issue a statement on a tax reform plan as Congress is still far from formulating one. However, we will comment on the recent duplicitous behavior of Maine’s Senior Senator, Susan Collins.

Senator Collins has threatened to sabotage the tax reform process unless the repeal of the individual mandate of Obamacare is removed. This is strikingly hypocritical of the good Senator, who was heard on many occasions on the campaign trial, decrying to enthusiastic Maine voters the disastrous impact the individual mandate and ObamaCare has had on Maine household budgets, all the while chanting “Repeal and Replace”. Now returned to Congress’ marbled halls, Collins’ mantra seems to have changed to “Defend and Deny” at all cost.

Can there be a more glaring violation of the Constitution than the Individual Mandate? To mandate, that is to force by law, an individual to purchase a product the individual may or may not want, to fund an ideal of socialized medicine that the individual may or may not want, and to do so under threat of penal action by the government, the maker of the product, is the very epitome of the kind of governmental abuse and overreach our Constitution was written to protect against. Yet, Senator Collins remains dogged in her determination to undermine, once again, Congress and the President’s attempt to fix a failing and outdated tax system in a fixated effort to defend a healthcare system she promised voters she would work to “repeal and replace”.

We ask Susan Collins once again: Who is she representing? Is it the bureaucracies and Washington power brokers who wish to force the individual, through a government mandate, to comply to their wishes? Or the individuals here in Maine who have and still protest this Individual Mandate with its destructive impacts on the households of the State she represents. Senator Collins must choose against the interests of Washington and for the individual rights of her constituents in Maine.