Gov. Paul LePage continued his passionate opposition to the 3 percent surtax to support public schools today when he said he knows of “at least 40 to 50 professionals” who are moving out of Maine to avoid higher income taxes.

He later hinted that he might become one of those professionals “forced” to leave Maine, a personal exodus scenario he’s floated in the past. LePage has never favored an increase in the income tax rate and is especially offended by the surtax on income over $200,000 a year approved by voters last year.

“I’ve spoken to at least a dozen people that said enough is enough. You’re just greedy,” LePage said on WVOM. “Maine has become so greedy that they hate success. They’re punishing success.”

The governor did not break any new ground today with his arguments against Question 2. He relied heavily on anecdotes — acknowledging that he has not kept count of the number of high-income people who have left Maine — and touted a recent report his administration prepared to combat Question 2. But his staff didn’t answer questions about it earlier this month and others have questioned the methodology.

It comes during a somewhat friendly moment for education funding in Augusta: The Legislature’s Education Committee voted 12-0 to fund schools at 55 percent of a minimum state standards on Monday.

Such a move would be a big deal, since the state has never met that threshold, established by referendum in 2004. But while the new referendum has ramped up pressure to get there, Republicans and Democrats don’t agree on how.

Senate President Mike Thibodeau, R-Winterport, would like to scrap the surtax and replace it with a sales tax on online purchases. However, Democrats on the Taxation Committee defended the surtax in a Monday statement, saying Mainers “have twice told us to fully fund education” and they’re “not interested in eliminating that funding to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy on the backs of middle class Mainers.”

If it’s going to happen, it’ll be hammered out in budget negotiations this spring, with LePage and his veto pen looming if he finds any legislative compromise unpalatable. 

Gov. Paul LePage