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Full-Text Articles in Public Policy
Taking Charge Of Maine’S Fiscal Fortunes: Taxes Are Only One Piece Of The Puzzle, Josephine M. Laplante
Taking Charge Of Maine’S Fiscal Fortunes: Taxes Are Only One Piece Of The Puzzle, Josephine M. Laplante
Maine Policy Review
Are Maine’s taxes too high? This question and others continue to plague policymakers and citizens throughout Maine. This article provides the first of two perspectives on how to achieve meaningful tax reform. Josephine LaPlante suggests taking the long view, evaluating carefully the state’s tax structure and the impacts of any tax reforms. She presents a comprehensive framework for considering such changes and argues that taking charge of Maine’s fiscal house includes not only tax reform but also a reassessment of how the state provides public services to meet the needs and preferences of its citizens.
Whose Tax Burden? Whose Tax Fairness? And Whose Tax Reform?, Christopher St. John
Whose Tax Burden? Whose Tax Fairness? And Whose Tax Reform?, Christopher St. John
Maine Policy Review
Current efforts to reform Maine’s tax system represent no new business, according to Christopher "Kit" St. John. In this second article in this issue about tax reform, St. John suggests the need to re-examine reform principles in Maine and, more particularly, reassess conventional wisdom that professes a relationship between tax reform and economic competitiveness. He examines recent reform proposals and offers a path forward, one based on relieving tax burden while maintaining tax fairness, especially for low income citizens of Maine.