💧 Lawmakers are rallying around exempting bottled water from taxes.
◉ One Republican measure is gaining some steam in the Legislature's tax committee: a bill from Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Dover-Foxcroft, to exempt drinking water from sales taxes. Rep. Tavis Hasenfus, D-Winthrop, is working on an amendment to Perkins' proposal in the committee now.
◉ Some perceived tax inequities could be spurring the bill along. For example, companies that have jugs of bottled water delivered to their offices do not pay sales taxes, but Mainers who buy them for their homes do.
◉ But progressives have termed the bill as effectively a giveaway to bottlers like Poland Spring, with the Sierra Club Maine saying lawmakers should not incentivize more bottled water production, particularly after the brand discovered PFAS in its water supply. It has said it is filtering the water it sells.
🇺🇸 The presidential answer hasn't changed for Maine's senior senator.
◉ Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told us in November that her party would have "better candidates" than former President Donald Trump in 2024, naming former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie while saying Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has a lot of support." Only Trump and Haley are running now.
◉ Punchbowl News got the same thing out of her ahead of a Friday newsletter in which she mentions those first three potential hopefuls, calling Scott bright and experienced with "an inspiring life story." If Scott does not run, he also may be a top vice presidential contender for the eventual nominee. |
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