Stark contrast between the candidates on support for Maine’s economic backbone

Gideon’s record: Job-killing tax hikes and failure to provide COVID aid

Members of the press:

Today, the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) endorsed Senator Susan Collins. The NFIB is the leading small business advocacy organization in the United States, representing more than 3,000 small businesses in Maine and the men and women who work there.

The reason small businesses support Senator Collins is clear.  

Here’s a handy side-by-side comparison of Sara Gideon’s record of killing jobs and Susan Collins’s record of supporting them. 

FAST FACTS: Susan Collins has a record of support for Maine’s small businesses; Sara Gideon does not.

FACT: Senator Collins has a lifetime record of 91 percent on NFIB’s scorecard.  

FACT: Sara Gideon has a 17 percent average score from NFIB.

FACT: Sara Gideon “personally pledged” to “immediately” help Maine’s small businesses survive the economic fallout from COVID in April. Since that pledge, she hasn’t lifted a finger to help. Senator Collins created and passed the Paycheck Protection Program, which pumped $2.3 billion into Maine’s small business economy. 

FACT: The Maine Economic Research Institute has consistently rated Gideon “Very Weak” on Maine’s economy three legislative sessions in a row.

The Maine Economic Research Institute has released three Roll Call publications since Gideon was first elected to the state legislature, and each time it rated Gideon as a “very weak supporter of Maine’s economy.” (Maine State Chamber Of Commerce,  Maine Economic Research Institute,  Maine Economic Research Institute,  Maine Economic Research Institute)

o   In its analysis of the 126th Maine Legislature (2013-14), the Maine Economic Research Institute gave Gideon a score of 25.55/100 based on her votes on twenty-two pieces of legislation. (Maine Economic Research Institute,)

o   In its analysis of the 127th Maine Legislature (2015-16), the Maine Economic Research Institute gave Gideon a score of 18.13/100 based on her votes on sixteen pieces of legislation. (Maine Economic Research Institute, )

o   In its analysis of the 126th Maine Legislature (2017-18), the Maine Economic Research Institute gave Gideon a score of 26.16/100 based on her votes on twenty-one pieces of legislation. (Maine Economic Research Institute,)

FACT:  Susan Collins is a champion for Maine’s businesses both small and large. 

·  A 21st Century workforce should ensure that workers get the education and training they need to complete in the global economy. 

·  Senator Collins fought to reform the tax code in a way to encourage job creation and investment by small businesses – and to expand small business expensing to free up capital that our small businesses need to invest and create jobs.

·  As Chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee on Appropriations, Senator Collins has secured more than $671 million to help improve Maine’s roads, bridges, airports, seaports, and other critical infrastructure to make it more efficient and reliable.

·  Senator Collins has a record of encouraging innovation in Maine’s natural resource-based economy, including renewable energy technologies, and supporting Maine’s family farmers, lobstermen and fishermen and their families.

·  And, Senator Collins has long fought to support important manufacturing jobs, keeping the jobs of thousands of Maine workers right here in our state.