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Favoritism, Maine's Image, Greedy Tax Mongers And Old Fashioned Politics May Keep Cabela's Out Of Maine
I just finished reading an article this morning in the KeepMeCurrent.com by Victoria Wallack and came away fuming. I just don’t get it. I am beginning to believe that Maine, its politicians and residents, are so mired into protecting some fanciful “image” that it is going to destroy itself.
At issue is the outdoor equipment retail store Cabela’s looking to open a store in Scarborough. They are now threatening to pull out of their proposal to locate there if the state doesn’t grant them some kind of tax break similar to the one given to competitor L.L. Bean.
The tax break is part of a bill passed exempting L.L. Beans from paying a personal tax on equipment. Wallack explains it best.
It is no secret that Leon Gorman, owner of Beans, fully supports Governor Baldacci. I don’t think I would be remiss in saying this tax break is a payback.
What Cabela’s is asking for is a break on sales tax from it’s catalog and Internet sales from Maine residents.
I think that it would be in the best interest of Maine to work out some kind of solution so that both retailers can exist here but I’m not sure that it will happen. The development in Scarborough, which would be anchored by Cabela’s as the major retailer, promises 800 new jobs, something Maine is desperate for. Economics 101 teaches that competition benefits the consumer.
L.L. Beans has had a monopoly as a retailer of outdoor gear with some competition coming from the Kittery Trading Post. One can only assume that a successful retailer like Cabela’s has done their homework and knows that Maine can support another store of its kind.
Those who voted for the bill are saying that the intent was to encourage manufacturers to move their headquarters to Maine. They say this is the kind of business Maine is looking for.
They use L.L. Bean as an example of how a business could move its headquarters here and enjoy the same tax breaks.
Is this another one of those “quality of life” quotes that so many speak of in Maine – essentially that it’s okay to be poor and destitute because the quality of life in Maine more than makes up for it?
If this is so true, I wonder how many manufacturing companies or for that matter, similar retailers have inquired about moving their headquarters to Maine? Maybe a call to the Maine Chamber of Commerce could answer that question – but I doubt it.
I think it is clear why Maine needs some changes when it comes to taxes. Under Baldacci’s watch, taxes in Maine have strapped the people there to the point where the state has become the most taxed in the nation. It seems everyone sitting on the Taxation Committee shares the same view. I think that view is let’s carry the load of the Maine economy pandering to L.L. Bean.
Even the chairman of the Taxation Committee agrees and sees Bean as “the kind of business they want”.
This is the same old story. It’s been written in chapter after chapter in the book on Maine’s economy. It seems that when opportunities present themselves for more jobs and competition in the marketplace, it gets run out of the state because it doesn’t necessarily fit the mould that Maine is looking for.
I certainly don’t want Maine to become one large strip mall but this image thing has got to go. I think it was an intelligent thing to offer Bean’s a tax break to spur on growth and expansion. Let’s just not be exclusionary because L.L. Beans is some politicians supporter. Offering a tax break on manufacturing equipment probably will have little effect on convincing companies to headquarter in Maine. Take a look around. The corporate taxes, sales taxes, taxes, taxes, taxes, are sinking business there now.
800 jobs is nothing to sneeze at and Maine consumers need competition to keep the prices of their outdoor gear down. This benefits everyone. Competition is good. Playing politics at the expense of the consumer is bad.
I think it is time for massive changes in Augusta.
Tom Remington
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