Last week, during the Senate debate on the state budget, state Sen. Eric Brakey offered up a floor amendment to change the slogan displayed on Maine license plates from “Vacationland” to “Taxationland.” The proposal failed.
This change would have damaged Maine’s reputation everywhere Maine cars are driven, undermining our state’s history as America’s greatest vacation destination, and discouraging new residents and new businesses.
It was, in short, a profoundly anti-Maine idea.
No doubt Sen. Brakey intended this as some sort of joke. Our legislative process, however, is not a place for sarcasm and juvenile silliness. Maine faces serious problems that need to be addressed by serious people; we do not need state legislators workshopping material for their tight five at the local comedy club.
The good people of Auburn, Poland, New Gloucester and Durham deserve a serious voice in the Maine Senate.
Come November 2024, they should have one.
Kiernan Majerus-Collins Auburn
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