Maine resident Stephen King is demanding an apology after Republican Gov. Paul LePage assumed during his recent radio address that the best-selling author fled the state to avoid paying taxes.
“Governor Paul LePage implied that I don’t pay my taxes. I do. Every cent. I think he needs to man up and apologize,” Mr. King tweeted to his 668,000 followers.
Making the case for eliminating Maine’s income tax, Mr. LePage told listeners on Wednesday that states without an income tax, like Florida, have lured away Maine residents, like Mr. King, who owns a home in Florida, the Portland Press Herald reported.
Mr. King sent a response to The Pulse AM 620 radio station in Bangor, which he owns, to correct Mr. LePage, the Press Herald reported.
“Governor LePage is full of the stuff that makes the grass grow green,” Mr. King said. “Tabby (King’s wife, Tabitha) and I pay every cent of our Maine state income taxes, and are glad to do it. We feel, as Governor LePage apparently does not, that much is owed from those to whom much has been given. We see our taxes as a way of paying back the state that has given us so much. State taxes pay for state services. There’s just no way around it. Governor LePage needs to remember there ain’t no free lunch.”
A revised version of Mr. LePage’s address released Thursday no longer mentions the author.
Marsha DeFilippo, a spokeswoman for Mr. King, told the Press Herald that she had not received an apology from the governor as of noon on Friday.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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