On May 16, the Maine legislature passed LD 1826, which eliminates the portion of the state income tax form that lets taxpapers send a small contribution to the political party of the taxpayers’ choice. The bill has been sent to the Governor.
This is bad news for the Green Party, which in the recent past has received approximately half its budget from the income tax receipts. In some years during the past decade, the Green Party has received more money from the fund than the Republican Party has.
Also on May 16, the legislature passed LD 1882, which provides for a study of whether Maine should re-enact provision for a presidential primary, and if so, when it should be held. If Maine brings back its presidential primary, it is likely that the state will try to have it very early in the year.
How about Maine having its primary on the same day as New Hampshire? That will save the candidates a lot of time in travel since the states are adjacent.
Granted, NH requires its primary to be a week before any other state’s. But if ME requires its primary to be on the same day as NH, we can enjoy the absurdity of watching NH move its primary earlier and earlier, only to be matched by ME, until they wind up holding their 2016 presidential primary some time in 2011.
I imagine this was done in the main to defund the GP in ME. By the Democrats I mean.
#1 Maine could require that its SOS choose the same date as that of any adjacent State.
Can’t people in Maine send contributions to political parties directly?
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