AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage says the deal in Congress to avoid the “fiscal cliff” will end up costing Mainers more money.

In his weekly radio address, LePage says an average family will lose about $1,000 from their paycheck in 2013 because of the payroll tax change. He says that’ll likely make it difficult for Mainers to pay their bills.

However, LePage said the tax cuts passed by the Maine Legislature last session will save a family of four with an income of $48,000 a little more than $300 annually.

In the Democratic response, Sen. Dawn Hill of York said Maine, unlike Congress, has a strong history of collaboration and reaching across the political aisle to get things done. Hill says that will be critical as Maine faces its own fiscal challenges.


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