Welcome to Lincoln, Maine!

As we receive them, we'll post political media releases here. Links to websites of those representing our area are below, along with their most recent media releases.

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Augusta, Maine – The LePage Administration announced Wednesday several staff changes that will take effect.

Commissioner Darryl Brown will be moving from the Department of Environmental Protection to the State Planning Office. Mr. Brown has accepted the position of Director of the State Planning office, and will be a valuable asset there bringing with him decades of business experience. The Governor has asked Mr. Brown to reorganize the State Planning Office which is part of the Executive Department providing planning assistance, policy development, program management, and technical assistance to build a sustainable future for Maine's communities, businesses, and residents.

In lieu of a letter issued by the Maine Attorney General's office Wednesday, which cites a potential disqualification under Maine law of Darryl Brown, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Governor LePage has sent a letter (see attached) to members of the Board of Environmental Protection requesting all information related to their individual sources of income from 2009 onward. "Regrettably, this step is required to allow me to meet my constitutional obligations to faithfully and equitably execute the laws," Governor LePage said.

The LePage administration intends to submit legislation that, going forward, will allow qualified and experienced people to serve the State. As noted by the Attorney General, while federal law allows potential conflicts to be addressed through recusal and delegation, such flexibility is not allowed by current state law.

"It is unfortunate that Maine law is so inflexible that it can be read to prevent good people from serving. This is another example of the costs of Maine going beyond federal standards. I have discussed this issue with legislative leaders and am pleased that there is support for legislation to fix this problem," said Governor LePage.

Meanwhile, Jim Brooks, Director of Bureau of Air Quality will become Acting Commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Governor LePage also announced Wednesday that former Republican U.S. Representative David Emery has been selected as Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.

Mr. Emery grew up in Rockland before attending college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he received a B.S. degree in electronics engineering. He was a two-term State Representative, a four-term Congressman, and Deputy Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency during the Reagan Administration. After returning home to Maine, Mr. Emery served for a brief period as the Interim President of Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. In 2005, he declared candidacy for Governor in the 2006 election.

On Wednesday, the LePage Administration released that Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Phil Congdon resigned. Commissioner Congdon took the post in January.

In addition, Governor Paul LePage announced Wednesday that he intends to nominate Lieutenant General Robert Winglass (retired) as Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor.

General Winglass graduated from Springfield College, where he earned a B.S. degree in Education; and holds an M.S. degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. General Winglass joined the Marine Corps upon graduating college and eventually became Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics, Headquarters Marine Corps Washington, D.C. His decoration and awards are extensive which include the Distinguished Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.

General Winglass retired in 1992 and was elected to the Maine House of Representatives where he served for four years as a member of the transportation committee and health and human services committee. He subsequently was employed by the IBM Corporation as the Director of the Strategic Business Relationships Team in the Software Division.

"General Winglass has devoted most of his career to public service with the Marine Corps and as a State Representative," said Governor LePage. "I am looking forward to collaborating with General Winglass to increase economic stability for both job creators and workers in our State."

The Maine Department of Labor promotes the safety and economic well being of all individuals and businesses in Maine by promoting independence and life-long learning, by fostering economic stability and by ensuring the safe and fair treatment of all people on the job.

April 14 - AUGUSTA - The Taxation Committee yesterday approved major legislation that lowers Maine income taxes across the board and makes more than a dozen other changes to improve the state's tax environment. Income tax reductions would average $343 in 2013.


By a vote of 8-4-1, the committee approved most of the tax changes in Governor LePage's budget proposal and made adjustments that eliminate income tax liability for some 70,000 low-income filers starting in 2012. The plan also eliminates the state's 7 percent tax on meals served at retirement homes.

"The tax cuts are targeted to the most vulnerable small businesses and most vulnerable taxpayers, and they shore up the middle class," said Sen. David Trahan (R-Waldoboro), Senate chair of the Taxation Committee. "Tens of thousands of Mainers will be exempted from the income tax altogether."

The $203 million tax-cut package now moves to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee for incorporation into the biennial budget for fiscal years 2012-2013. Further changes to the package are possible as the Appropriations panel assembles the state budget.

The plan simplifies Maine's complicated income tax system by reducing the number of tax brackets from four to two. For the 2012 tax year the rates would be 6.5 percent and 8.5 percent. In 2013 the rates would be set at 6.5 percent and 7.95 percent. Thanks to higher exemption and deduction amounts, however, those rates would kick in at higher income levels.

In 2013, for example, a family of four electing the standard deduction would owe no income tax if their adjusted gross income is below $37,000, versus below $21,400 in the current law. There would be no tax liability for any income below $10,350.

The governor's budget proposal contained about $60 million in corporate depreciation benefits. The Taxation Committee removed the so-called "bonus depreciation" and redirected the money to an assortment of other tax cuts, such as establishing a sales tax holiday each year in October and eliminating the sales tax on fuel used in all commercial fishing vessels in the Gulf of Maine.

"We were able to spread the tax benefits more widely by eliminating the bonus depreciation," said Rep. Gary Knight (R-Livermore Falls), the Committee's House chair. "The thinking was that some of that benefit would go to companies based out of state, and we wanted to preserve the maximum benefit for Maine residents and businesses.

"We maintained the governor's recommended changes to eliminate the marriage penalty and the alternative minimum tax and to increase personal exemptions to the federal levels," he added. "Overall, this is a very positive package for Maine residents. It provides the framework to move to a flat income tax over time and makes significant structural changes to Maine's tax system."


The plan retains the governor's proposal to adopt Section 179 expensing, which allows small businesses to accelerate depreciation on investments. It provides credit for investment in public fishery infrastructure for both saltwater and freshwater. It also eliminates the Low Income Tax Credit by adding a 0 percent income tax rate on the first $10,350 of income.