Maine voters reject tax-cutting referendums, approve medical marijuana dispensaries

Maine voters reject tax-cutting referendums

PORTLAND, Maine — Despite living in one of the nation’s most heavily taxed states, Maine voters on Tuesday soundly rejected proposals that would have reduced automobile excise taxes and put limits on future increases on state and local government spending and taxes.

Mainers also approved a ballot question that expands the state’s medical marijuana law by allowing for retail dispensaries from which the drug can be distributed to patients.

Those referendums were part of a full slate of ballot measures that went beyond the closely watched gay marriage referendum.

Outside of gay marriage, the most contentious referendum was Question 4, which asked voters if they wanted to limit future increases in state and local government spending and taxes to the rate of inflation plus population growth. Voter approval would be required to exceed the limits.

David Crocker, chairman of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights campaign, or TABOR, said opponents played to voters’ fears while outspending supporters by a 12-1 margin.

“Fear is very difficult to overcome,” he said.

The proposal was modeled on a similar referendum that Maine voters rejected in 2006. Supporters said the measure would rein in government spending, create jobs and put money in people’s pockets, but critics claimed it would hurt schools, transportation infrastructure, health care and other services.

Some voters said it didn’t make sense to adopt measures that could cut state and local revenues during an economic downturn. Jessica Forrest, of Portland, said the school district where she teaches has already frozen budgets.

“My concern is we’re already facing budget cuts because of the economy, and I know what it’s like to have less resources,” she said after voting.

With 80 percent of the votes unofficially tallied Tuesday, the proposal was trailing by roughly 61 percent to 39 percent.

“Maine people are tired of seeing this on the ballot,” said Crystal Canney, spokeswoman for the Citizens Unified For Maine’s Future campaign. “Hopefully this is the last time we’ll have to deal with TABOR.”

Voters by a nearly 3-1 margin also rejected a proposal to cut excise taxes on newer vehicles while exempting hybrid and other highly fuel-efficient vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise taxes. Supporters said the measure would save Maine taxpayers $80 million a year while promoting cleaner air and greater fuel efficiency, but critics maintained it would result in a tax shift and would have to be made up by higher property taxes.

By a nearly 59-41 margin, Mainers also approved changing the state’s medical marijuana law, which passed in 1999, by expanding the conditions under which people can be prescribed marijuana and allowing for marijuana dispensaries. Supporters said the law would give people with chronic illnesses a legal and convenient way to obtain marijuana, but critics said it lacked controls and would increase the availability of the drug to people not authorized to have it.

Mainers also approved a $71 million bond issue for highway, bridge and other transportation needs. Officials said the bond would make the state eligible for $148 million in federal and other matching funds.

But voters rejected a referendum seeking to repeal a 2007 state law that required school districts to consolidate. Critics said school consolidation doesn’t make sense for many school districts and hasn’t delivered on promised savings, but consolidation supporters said it saves Maine millions of dollars each year.