Stephen King was not pleased at all with Maine Governor Paul LePage's claim that he moved from Maine to avoid paying tax. However, the governor supported his claim by stating that Maine residents such as King and former Governor Ken Curtis were lured by states which didn't have an income tax. One of these states is Florida.
The governor made his statement at his weekly radio address and lamented on Maine's heavy tax imposition on its residents. He said that the high tax rate caused some of Maine's famous citizens to flee their native state as a way to avoid taxes.
As a response, King wanted the governor to retract his statement and apologize.
The governor's radio address reiterates his case on a controversial tax overhaul proposal. In order to reduce income tax, the plan proposed that sales tax should be increased and that such increase should apply to new items and services. LePage believes that his proposal would be enough to lure wealthy retirees and Maine's seasonal inhabitants to choose the state as their permanent residence.
Government takes income tax from your check, you have no say in the matter. With sales tax, you choose how to spend your money. #mepolitics
— Paul R. LePage (@Governor_LePage) January 21, 2015
After the Democrats challenged his tax migration theory, LePage thought about hitting back in his weekly radio address. He also argued that it was former Democratic Gov. Ken Curtis who adopted the state's current income tax.
"Meanwhile, remember who introduced the income tax here in Maine," said LePage. "Well, today former Governor Ken Curtis lives in Florida where there is zero income tax. Stephen King and Roxanne Quimby have moved away, as well."
King strongly denied the governor's claim, saying that he and his wife, Tabitha, paid Maine state taxes in 2013 which reached an estimated amount of $1.4 million. The author added that they have paid likely the same amount in 2014. King also said that he usually spends his winter in Florida where he bought a house in 2001 for $8.9 million. However, it was in 1997 when he and his wife first decided to enjoy the warmer climate in Florida after experiencing a harsh winter in Bangor, Maine.
Governor Paul LePage implied that I don't pay my taxes. I do. Every cent. I think he needs to man up and apologize. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 20, 2015
King said that his foundation awards an annual amount of $3 million to $5 million in grants wherein most of them were awarded in Maine.
In the meantime, LePage's address has been revised and no longer cites the name of the author. His spokesman is yet to respond to an email that is requesting for the governor's comment.
