from the AP, via Seacoast Online:

Several small business owners formally launched a referendum challenge aimed at repealing new taxes on sodas, beer and wine adopted with a goal of bolstering funding for Maine's Dirigo Health program.

The Fed Up With Taxes coalition says the tax increases were approved without any public hearing in the final days of the legislative session.

Latest from Tony Payne at the Alliance for Maine's Future:

Idling fines up to $500; Queen of taxes; New state employees top list of end-of-session mischief

No Idle Threat:

Only in Maine would you expect drivers of non-passenger vehicles (read:business) to risk fines of $150 to $500 for allowing vehicles to idle for more than 5 minutes. (LD 2056)

Press release from House GOP:
House Republicans Blast Democrats' Plan to Abolish OPEGA
Say politics, not budget savings, is the real agenda

AUGUSTA - As the budget debate moves to center stage in the Legislature, House Republican leaders today urged the Democrats to strip out a provision that would abolish the independent agency that investigates and exposes government waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement. The watchdog group - the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) - has been targeted for shutdown as part of the majority party's plan to reduce the state budget by $190 million.

"It seems clear that the Democrats trying to kill OPEGA don't like independent investigators exposing wasteful spending and shoddy management," said Rep. Bob Crosthwaite (R-Ellsworth), the assistant leader of House Republicans. "If I were a liberal Democrat, I'd like to get rid of OPEGA, too."

Press release from Maine Senate GOP, h/t to AMG:

For Immediate Release
March 25, 2008

Democratic Leaders’ Flip-Flop Baffles Senate Republican Leaders

AUGUSTA – Elizabeth Mitchell, Senate Democratic Leader and Chair of the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, recently and unexpectedly joined the opposition to the government oversight committee she chairs and has Senate Republican Leaders scratching their heads.

Maine Democrats celebrated 'Sunshine Week' in Maine by trying ax the one program in state government that actually saves taxpayers money. Here's a press release from GOP Senator Kevin Raye. Discussions on this at AsMaineGoes (link) and PolitickerME (link)

AUGUSTA – State Senator Kevin Raye (R-Perry), the ranking Republican Senator on the Government Oversight Committee, today assailed the attempt by legislative Democrats to kill the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA). The proposal was inserted in the majority budget shortly before midnight Thursday night.

A message from Maine GOP Chair Mark Ellis:
A Petition to the Statehouse from Maine's Hard Working Families and Businesses

Don't add to our burden! Don't break our backs!
When the halls of the state capitol cleared this week after the "Maine Can Do Better" rally, it was quiet and the remnants of streamers, flyers, and placards were not the only things left behind. The hundreds of people representing special interest groups also left behind the impression that their voices are the only ones that exist and matter.

Where were you?

Maine Heritage Policy Center launched a new website called MaineVotes.org. This is a great project, here's the press release:

The Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) has launched a new website that allows users to easily track legislation and monitor legislative activities at the State House. The website, www.MaineVotes.org, is part of MHPC's Maine Government Integrity Project, a bold new effort to introduce greater transparency in state and local government.

Maine House Minority Leader Josh Tardy and Maine Senate Minority Leader Carol Weston have teamed up to launch MaineGives.com, an effort to replace the funds for Special Olympics Maine that are slated to be cut from the budget. I'm proud to have helped with this project, and am really pleased to see Maine GOP leadership standing up as a team to do the right thing. Special Olympics Maine is an amazing organization, and I hope everyone can take a moment to help. Here's the press release:

Maine's Republican legislative leadership continues to exhibit a significant lack of unity. This issue has become one of the 'givens' of Republican politics in this state, and unfortunately it continues to interfere with the Party's ability to counter the economic maelstrom wrought by Maine Democrats over the last three decades. The schism between House and Senate dissipates the message coming out of both camps, and the opportunity to leverage the will of the people of this state against an entrenched majority party remains out of reach.

This is Maine Senate President Beth Edmonds, (D-Lalaland), discussing why Maine people need to give more to the state government, on WLOB's Fox Morning News. She wants to raise taxes and stop the talk of cuts to the budget.