Plane owners stunned by out-of-state taxes

Boston Globe ^ | December 30, 2007 | Clarke Canfield

[Man50D]

"... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one MAKES them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. ......just pass the the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted -- and you create a nation of law-breakers -- and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."

- p.411, Ayn Rand, ATLAS SHRUGGED, Signet Books, NY, 1957

[Daffynition]

Exactly. I'm reminded of ... "As Maine goes, so goes the Nation." If this is not fixed, these idiot legislators will be taxing RVs next. Maine cannot afford the fallout.

Small plane owners are not taking this lightly ... some interesting posts here.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

“Why must everyone gratuitously insult Applalachia? This is down easters actin’ stupid. Nothin’ to do with mountain folk at all..”

Yep. They conveniently forget about their urban gansta/hip-hop cultures. Better to be poor and proud than an ignorant ward of the state.

[maine-iac7]

I hear they’re also trying to collect on gift cards that have not been used in 2 years

Yep

like the plane tax, they didn't bother to inform Maine businesses ahead of time - just sent them a bill - 60% of the unused gifts cards. AND the state built that expected windfall into their budget.

Beside the fact that most big outfit cards have no expiration date and would therefore, would they not, still belong to the giftee?

However, the big guys, like Home Depot, WalMart etc, all got together and sent a 'group' letter the the gov...They reminded him of a few things, like the Unconstitutionality of it (hindering commerce) that their headquarters were not in Maine - and they if the state wanted to pursue this, bring it on. They would pursue it all the way the Supreme Court - and oh, BTW, 'Our pockets are considerably deeper than yours."

I understand that the looters are now scrambling to find the money they had calibrated their budget on...I hate to think what's coming for us little guys~

Maine used be Dyed in the Wool Republican - but in the last 30-40 years, the 'Flatlanders" have infiltrated = aka Socialist Democrats - and taken over. It's part of the long term plan to take over the country...first move in and take over small population states and work up from there.

Be afraid...let ANY of these Socialists in the WH this time, and it's all over. The Republic will be dead.

[maine-iac7]

Hunh, the planes are kept out of state

They are 'kept' out of state because the owners LIVE out of state, WORK out of state and bought their planes OUT Of STATE - they visit Maine and get a $26,000 bill!

Insanity

[vpintheak]

As Maine becomes mor eand more socialist, the have the need for more and more money. Take from the rich, steal from the poor, all hail the state!

[NonValueAdded]

Are you proposing Massachusetts make war on Maine over this issue?

IIRC, that's been done before only I think it was New Hampster and Mel Thompson wanted to deploy nukes on the border or some such nonsense.

[muawiyah]

I'd say the best course of action is to STAY AWAY FROM MAINE.

Same thing with RIAA ~ just don't buy their stuff and you won't get in trouble for copying it to your computer.

Maine, like RIAA, is going to go broke beating up on its customers like that.

[maine-iac7]

Yeah, I think many Americans are starting to crave tea.

I've put in a goodly supply of feathers for headdresses...gonna be a par-tea

[ImpBill]

Easy solution. Non-resident plane owners - keep your planes and business out of Maine. That will help their tax short fall quite a bit. /sarc

[maine-iac7]

Maine's... vast number of illegal immigrants.

VAST?

they must also be, for the most part, invisible.

I know we have a conclave of Somalians over in Lewiston/Auburn = and others from Brazil etc in the state - but Maine probably has one of the lowest populations of illegals - they stick out like sore thumbs, not easy to hide.

[maine-iac7]

Sell Maine to canada. Send everyone a check for their share. Checks expire in 90 days. Anybody who thinks they should be paying more taxes, just sit on the check for 91 days.

Now I like that idea!

[maine-iac7]

The Legislature included $28.6 million from dormant gift cards in the budget for the two-year period that ends in mid-2009”

Now they're scrambling to find that money elsewhere - as the big guys (Home Depot, WalMart el al) got together and sent them a 'group letter' - basically saying, bring it on - we'll sue you and, if need be, go all the way to the SCOTUS - and our pockets are deeper than yours...hee hee

[Mr Rogers]

Great link. Thanks.

[tanknetter]

As Maine becomes mor eand more socialist, the have the need for more and more money. Take from the rich, steal from the poor, all hail the state!

That's it, exactly. The modern welfare state costs an enormous amount of money to run. And the easiest way for a Liberal to see their dreams of a Socialist utopia go bye-bye is to try to get that money using macro, across-the-board means like bumping up income taxes, or sales taxes or property taxes.

So, knowing that hiking everyones' taxes is political/ideological death, they now switch to micro-taxation: find small niche groups to nail to the wall for $$$. Demographic groups that can't effectively fight back because they either don't have the numbers, or they don't have the ability to rally their fellow citizens to their cause.

Going after out of state aircraft owners is pretty near perfect from a micro-taxation standpoint. They are a small community that doesn't reside (and therefore vote) in the state.

[maine-iac7]

BTW its against Federal Law...Interstate Commerce et al

this is the law the big boys (Home Depot, WalMart and all) cited to Maine regarding the tax - at 60% - on all gift cards unused after 2 years.

They told them they would sue the state if they persisted - and would take it all the way to the SCOTUS - and reminded them that they have deep pockets

[gitmo]

I was thinking of vacationing there. No way. Never.

[muawiyah]

It’s too cold to vacation in Maine.

[muawiyah]

It’s too cold to vacation in Maine.

[Repeal The 17th]

"Taxation without representation"...
---
Although it is cited as one of the justifications
for our declaration of independence
it has always amazed me that
it is not prohibited by our constitution.