Enough is Enough: Cutting Taxes, Controlling Spending, and Respecting Your Paycheck
- Robert Wessels
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
Maine families are feeling the pinch. Groceries cost more. Gas costs more. Property taxes keep creeping up—and many Mainers are left wondering: Where is all this money going?
They’re not wrong to ask.
Since 2020, Maine’s state budget has ballooned from $7.4 billion to $10.5 billion—a jaw-dropping 40% increase in just four years. At the same time, national reports have ranked Maine as one of the top three most heavily taxed states in the country.
This isn’t happening by accident. It’s the result of choices made by leaders in Augusta—and it can be reversed if we elect leaders willing to make different ones.
Time for a Reality Check
As I travel the state, I keep hearing the same thing: families are stretched too thin. Inflation has hit hard, and households are making difficult decisions just to get by. Meanwhile, Augusta continues to operate like the well never runs dry.
That needs to change—and I’m ready to lead that change.
As your next governor, I will take those tough decisions off your shoulders and put them on mine. That’s what leadership is supposed to look like.
Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners
Lowering taxes starts with spending less—but smarter. That means bringing a fresh set of eyes to state government and asking the questions no one wants to ask:
Why are we doing this?
Is it necessary?
Can we do it better—or stop doing it altogether?
Every department, every program, and every line item will be under the microscope. We need to shift away from the old mentality of “this is how it’s always been” and toward a smarter, more accountable approach: “Is this working, and is it worth it?”
Efficiency isn't a buzzword—it's a necessity.
And let me be clear: I will not propose a single overall budget increase during my first four years as Governor.
We Can Do Better
We can have a state government that serves the people instead of draining their wallets. We can create a culture of accountability that asks tough questions and delivers real answers. And we can give Maine families the breathing room they deserve.
A brighter, more affordable future is possible—but only if we stop kicking the can down the road.
Let’s fix this together.
– Robert Wessels, Candidate for Governor of Maine