Forwarded message from my Vet:

Good morning!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 11th, the Maine Legislature's Taxation Committee is
considering a bill to apply 5% sales tax to ALL veterinary services.

This means a physical exam, a blood test, a nail trim, an acupuncture
treatment, a vaccination, ETC. ETC. ETC. will all be charged 5% sales tax.
This will markedly increase the cost of a veterinary visit.

The state is obviously desperate for money. However, it is one thing to
charge sales tax for junk food; it is a completely different story to start
charging sales tax on healthcare for our animal friends. Keep in mind, no
such sales tax is charged on human medical services or prescription drugs.
We already pay sales tax on all prescription drugs for companion animals
only (not food-animals).

The legislature has made a philosophical decision in seeking to penalize
people who live with companion animals. These beings, in the eyes of the
state, are of lesser value than we humans or food animals. The state sees
them as luxuries. I (along with the Maine Veterinary Medical Association) am
vehemently opposed to this double standard, and I believe that in time, if
this bill passes, fewer companion animals will receive needed medical
treatment.

Here is what you can do to halt this legislation: If the bill is voted down
in committee, it is dead and will not be considered by the whole legislative
body. What follows is the list of legislators on the Taxation Committee.
Call them day AND evening TODAY. Leave a message if they are not home. Call
your friends who live in other legislators' districts and have them call
their reps on this committee.

Please call one or more of the members of the Legislature’s Taxation
Committee TODAY and let them know what YOU think!
Thank you!!!! --Dr. Kate Steinhacker

Chairs:
Rep. Richard Woodbury, U-Yarmouth (Dist. 107) 847-9300
Sen. Joe Perry, D-Penobscot (Dist. 32) 942-5585

Members:
Sen. Ethan Strimling, D-Cumberland (Dist. 8) 828-8634
Rep. Herb Clark, D-Millinocket (Dist. 10) 723-5746
Rep. Deborah Hutton, D-Bowdonham (Dist. 67) 666-3811
Rep. Ray Pineau, D-Jay (Dist. 87) 897-3898
Rep. Tom Watson, D-Bath (Dist. 62) 442-7493
Rep. Harold Clough, R-Scarborough (Dist. 128) 839-4696
Rep. Stedman Seavey, R-Kennebunkport (Dist. 137) 967-5991
Rep. Earle McCormack, R-West Gardiner (Dist. 79) 724-3228
Rep. Leonard Bierman, R-Sorrento (Dist. 34) 422-8264
Rep. Bruce Hanley, R-Paris (Dist. 94) 743-8188
Sen. John Courtney, R-York (Dist. 3) 324-5467