17 People Have Joined a Hunger Strike Opposing LD 1781 Tax Giveaway Bill for General Dynamics/Bath Iron Works

17 People Have Joined a Hunger Strike Opposing LD 1781

Tax Giveaway Bill for General Dynamics/BIW

Augusta, February 22 -- As a controversial bill to extend a $60 million tax giveaway to General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works shipyard is set for its second work session, 17 people have joined an extended hunger strike opposing LD 1781.

The work session for the bill co-sponsored by Rep. Jennifer DeChant and Sen. Eloise Vitelli will consider amendments written by General Dynamics’ legal consultants at Preti Flaherty. The amendments are intended to make the bill more palatable to Maine taxpayers, perhaps by breaking the $60 million over 20 years into two $30 million tax giveaways of ten years’ duration each. Currently the bill is tabled in the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation.

Hunger striker Bruce Gagnon of Bath is expected to attend the work session February 22 at 1:00 pm in State House Room 127, but no members of the public will be allowed to speak. Gagnon will begin his 11th day of fasting as he bears witness to BIW executives and Maine legislators contemplating a tax break for a highly profitable corporation, one that paid its CEO $21 million last year.

Gagnon stated, “I’m 11 days into this hunger strike and spending a lot of time at BIW talking with workers.  There are many workers who understand GD’s fiscal posture and oppose this fat welfare subsidy.”

Opponents of the bill have published more than 68 letters and op-eds in 20 Maine media outlets objecting to Maine taxpayer subsidies to the General Dynamics Corporation, the 5th largest weapons contractor in the world and owner of BIW.

Although jobs are often cited as the rationale for tax giveaways, letters have pointed out that General Dynamics has used past Maine subsidies -- $200 million since 1997 – to ‘mechanize and modernize’  the operation which has led to job loss.  And also that General Dynamics has used the money to buy back their own stocks driving market value higher.

People across Maine and from away -- including California and Vermont -- have signed up to fast in solidarity with Gagnon. Many will fast for a day or once a week, but Gagnon has indicated he plans to fast continuously until after the vote is taken by the legislature.

Among those who have had letters to the editor published is Mark Roman of Solon, who also testified at the public hearing for LD 1781 in opposition to the bill. “I cannot stand by and watch Maine lawmakers waste money that could be spent on education, health care and housing for the 43,000 children in Maine living in poverty today,” Roman said.

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