On April 5, Maine LD 1826 passed the House. Also on April 5, the Senate placed the bill on the Appropriations Table, so the bill’s future is uncertain. The bill abolishes the ability of state income taxpayers to use the income tax form to send a small contribution to the taxpayer’s desired political party.

But the bill has other provisions about the state income tax form, and some of the provisions in the bill permit new public funding for libraries. The bill, as a whole, appears to cost the State Treasury more money than it saves. Therefore, the bill can’t advance until the budget is determined. The legislature adjourns on April 13 and returns in May.

The Maine Green Party gets over half its budget from the state income tax check-off provision. There have been some calendar years in which the Green Party received more money from the fund than the Republican Party received.