Changes

During his two-term tenure, Payne sanctioned a 2% sales tax, eliminated a bonded deficit, and ensured a state treasury surplus.<ref>[https://www.nga.org/governor/frederick-george-payne/ Gov. Frederick George Payne]. ''National Governors Association''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref> He also expanded the Maine Development Commission and increased the use of executive actions over state agencies.

During his two-term tenure, Payne sanctioned a 2% sales tax, eliminated a bonded deficit, and ensured a state treasury surplus.<ref>[https://www.nga.org/governor/frederick-george-payne/ Gov. Frederick George Payne]. ''National Governors Association''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref> He also expanded the Maine Development Commission and increased the use of executive actions over state agencies.

===U.S. Senate===

===U.S. Senate===

Payne ran for Senate in the 1952 elections against incumbent Republican Ralph Owen Brewster, formerly a governor as he was. Brewster's reputation had been damaged by the support he received from the Maine [[Ku Klux Klan]] in his previous campaigns, which he did not embrace yet did not openly repudiate.<ref>Burnham, Emily (July 6, 2020). [https://bangordailynews.com/2020/07/06/arts-culture/this-maine-governor-never-publicly-embraced-the-klan-but-he-never-disavowed-its-support/ This Maine governor never publicly embraced the Klan, but he never disavowed its support]. ''Bangor Daily News''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref> After a bitter campaign,<ref name=nytimesobituary>June 16, 1978. [https://www.nytimes.com/1978/06/16/archives/exsenator-payne-of-maine-dies-at-73-served-two-terms-as-governor.html EX‐SENATOR PAYNE OF MAINE DIES AT 73]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref> Payne narrowly won the primary<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=240735 ME US Senate - R Primary Race - Jun 16, 1952]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref><ref>Fenton, John H. (June 17, 1952). [https://www.nytimes.com/1952/06/17/archives/brewster-defeated-by-gov-payne-for-the-senate-in-maine-primary.html Brewster Defeated by Gov. Payne For the Senate in Maine Primary; BREWSTER LOSES IN MAINE PRIMARY]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref> and easily emerged victorious in the general election against [[Democrat]] Roger P. Dube.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=30525 ME US Senate Race - Sep 08, 1952]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref>

Payne ran for Senate in the 1952 elections against incumbent Republican Ralph Owen Brewster, formerly a governor as he was. Brewster's reputation had been damaged by the support he received from the Maine [[Ku Klux Klan]] in his previous campaigns, which he did not embrace yet did not openly repudiate.<ref>Burnham, Emily (July 6, 2020). [https://bangordailynews.com/2020/07/06/arts-culture/this-maine-governor-never-publicly-embraced-the-klan-but-he-never-disavowed-its-support/ This Maine governor never publicly embraced the Klan, but he never disavowed its support]. ''Bangor Daily News''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref> After a bitter campaign,<ref name=nytimesobituary/> Payne narrowly won the primary<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=240735 ME US Senate - R Primary Race - Jun 16, 1952]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref><ref>Fenton, John H. (June 17, 1952). [https://www.nytimes.com/1952/06/17/archives/brewster-defeated-by-gov-payne-for-the-senate-in-maine-primary.html Brewster Defeated by Gov. Payne For the Senate in Maine Primary; BREWSTER LOSES IN MAINE PRIMARY]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref> and easily emerged victorious in the general election against [[Democrat]] Roger P. Dube.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=30525 ME US Senate Race - Sep 08, 1952]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref>

Payne emerged in the Senate as an advocate of small businesses from foreign competition as well as additional aid for the blind and elderly.<ref name=nytimesobituary/> In 1954, he accomplished a record all-time efficiency in passing legislation, managing to gavel through a hundred bills in merely ten minutes.<ref>August 13, 1954. [https://www.nytimes.com/1954/08/13/archives/payne-gavels-through-100-bills-in-10-minutes.html Payne Gavels Through 100 Bills in 10 Minutes]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref> Payne was offered that year by President [[Dwight Eisenhower]] a job post as Controller General, which ultimately he came to reject.<ref>November 7, 1954. [https://www.nytimes.com/1954/11/07/archives/senator-rejects-eisenhower-offer-payne-decides-not-to-take-job-of.html SENATOR REJECTS EISENHOWER OFFER; Payne Decides Not to Take Job of Controller General to Stay in Congress]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref>

Payne emerged in the Senate as an advocate of small businesses from foreign competition as well as additional aid for the blind and elderly.<ref name=nytimesobituary/> In 1954, he accomplished a record all-time efficiency in passing legislation, managing to gavel through a hundred bills in merely ten minutes.<ref>August 13, 1954. [https://www.nytimes.com/1954/08/13/archives/payne-gavels-through-100-bills-in-10-minutes.html Payne Gavels Through 100 Bills in 10 Minutes]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref> Payne was offered that year by President [[Dwight Eisenhower]] a job post as Controller General, which ultimately he came to reject.<ref>November 7, 1954. [https://www.nytimes.com/1954/11/07/archives/senator-rejects-eisenhower-offer-payne-decides-not-to-take-job-of.html SENATOR REJECTS EISENHOWER OFFER; Payne Decides Not to Take Job of Controller General to Stay in Congress]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 21, 2021.</ref>