Portland, Maine - Demonstrating once again the LePage campaign’s tendency to simply make things up, Democrat-turned-Republican Party Chair Charlie Webster today made totally false accusations about where Independent candidate for Governor Eliot Cutler stands on taxes.
Cutler has never once in the past year of campaigning called for raising broad-based taxes. He repeatedly has called for reducing state spending and comprehensive tax reform.
Webster’s attack came in response to an op-ed in last Saturday’s Bangor Daily News in which former state controller Ed Karass shattered the myths about Paul LePage’s record as mayor of Waterville. Karass is a highly respected financial expert who has served under six Maine governors,
Maine voters deserve a response from candidate LePage about Mr. Karass’ analysis of his mediocre record as Waterville’s mayor. Instead, his handlers are keeping him muzzled while unleashing partisan attack dogs like Webster
Instead of trying to defend LePage’s record, Webster is trying to spin a year-old quote from Mr. Karass about the sorry state of Maine’s finances into an accusation that Cutler supports higher taxes.
Here is what Webster quotes Karass as saying:
“We may find ourselves in a position where taxes have to be increased but no new programs are brought on board. We may have to increase taxes just to pay for what we currently have.”
Ed Karass did not call for higher taxes in that statement and neither has Eliot Cutler. Eliot agrees with the statement in that it reflects the truth that Maine has a government and a set of programs that we no longer have the money to pay for. That is not a call for higher taxes, but an honest assessment of out-of-control state spending; you either raise taxes or cut spending.
Eliot has always come down on the side of reducing spending and has put forth a bold plan to spur investment and create jobs in Maine by lowering our high costs of living and doing business. That is something that will help working Maine people far more than Paul LePage’s and Charlie Webster’s partisan rhetoric and made-up stories.