Same-sex marriage a highlight of ’09 session

Bangor Daily News: AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s legislative session this year may be best remembered for passage of a same-sex marriage law, but legislators also took major steps to overhaul the state’s tax code and help secure energy independence. Lawmakers during the six-month session also took action that will affect residents who drive two- and four-wheeled vehicles, who hunt, fish, own snowmobiles and boats, buy homes, and who smoke. Most of the new laws take effect in mid-September. While gay marriage drew national attention, the law faces a challenge that could lead to a statewide referendum in November. And while no new broad-based taxes were enacted to balance an austere state budget, a tax overhaul package will broaden the sales tax to new goods and services and reduce the income tax from 8.5 per-cent to 6.5 percent.

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