For legislators tough times beg for smart choices
January 7, 2010
Augusta — Despite another big budget shortfall looming over state government, some capital area legislators are optimistic that things are going to turn around for the better in the coming year.
The second regular session of the 124th Maine Legislature gets under way this week, facing a shortfall estimated at $438 million over the next 18 months.
Gov. John Baldacci has proposed a budget that will close the shortfall without raising taxes, but many cutbacks in services are bound to prove unpopular.
Even with the time devoted to the supplemental budget, there will also be debate on other bills. Legislative leaders have told the rank-and-file they want this session to be adjourned by April 1. The fewer days the Legislature is in session, the more money will be saved.
Here is a look at the perspectives of 11 local legislators:
Senate President Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell
Senate President Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, who represents Senate District 24, is running for governor in a crowded field this year, but she said her first priority is the legislative session.
“We want to do everything we can to make sure that Maine comes out of this recession stronger than it started,” Mitchell said. “We want to support those businesses that are trying to create jobs in the state. We want to invest in our workforce and our kids. We want to help all those who are in need. We are in tough times, but we are optimistic.”Mitchell said elected officials understand the need to get business done and to go home and she described the budget crisis is “an opportunity to improve the way state government delivers its services.”
She said she plans to be out campaigning for governor on weekends and evenings.
Sen. Earle McCormick
Sen. Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner, who represents Senate District 21, said, “They really want us out of there by April 1. It’s going to move pretty quickly, I think.”
As for Baldacci’s supplemental budget proposal, McCormick said, “He made a pretty good start of it, I think. I’d like to see us get out of there with a two-thirds majority behind the budget. Whatever the cuts are, I hope that two-thirds will agree to it.”
Of the session, McCormick said, “It’s going to be short and not real pretty.”
Rep. Lisa Miller
Rep. Lisa Miller, D-Somerville, who represents House District 52, serves on the Appropriations Committee that reviews the budget and all financial matters that come before the Legislature.
“It’s tough,” Miller said. “The governor and the Legislature have been cutting budgets for the entire five years I’ve been in the Legislature. It’s getting harder to find places to cut. There are some disturbing cuts to human services, education and municipal revenue sharing (in Baldacci’s budget proposal).”
“We’re launching right into the governor’s budget on Wednesday (Jan. 6), I believe,” Miller said.
Miller is sponsoring one bill during that would create a process for member communities to withdraw from Regional School Units. The town that’s withdrawing would have to find another district to join within two years.
“I’m trying to make this similar to withdrawing from an SAD. Currently there is no process for withdrawing from an RSU,” Miller said.
Rep. Anna Blodgett
Rep. Anna Blodgett, D-Augusta, who represents House District 56, is sponsoring one bill that would shorten the time the Maine Human Rights Commission has to make a decision from two years after a complaint is filed to one year.
Blodgett, who is starting her second session as a lawmaker, said, “It’s going to be much more rewarding this time for me because I know the process now.”
“These are very difficult times. There are no easy solutions,” Blodgett said. “I have almost 400 state employees in my district. We get hit more than the rest of the state. It’s all going to be very difficult.”
Blodgett serves on the Labor Committee.
Rep. Patsy Crockett
Rep. Patsy Crockett, D-Augusta, who represents House District 57, will be running for the State Senate District 24 seat now held by Libby Mitchell in 2010.
“I think it’s going to be a very difficult session because of the budget situation,” said Crockett. “I think it will take most of our time. Right now, there are some cuts to mental health and things like that that I’m not very happy with.”
“Obviously we have to balance the budget, and obviously we have to make some drastic cuts,” Crockett said. “Municipalities have taken some big cuts, too.”
Crockett is sponsoring four bills in this session. The first pertains to a private company that plans to gain access to records at registries of deeds across Maine and then sell the records to the public.
“I’m not convinced that deeds come under the Freedom of Access law,” said Crockett. “Tax money has been spent to see that these records are kept safe.”
Her bill would ensure that the public could still obtain a deed at the Registry of Deeds office.
Another bill says if people have applied for assistance from the state and have also applied for the Property Tax Circuit-Breaker program, they shouldn’t have to have their income verified twice.
Another bill says if homeowners want to install renewable energy systems in their homes, their municipalities could take out liens on their homes and supply money for the projects. People would then pay the funds back to the municipalities over time.
A fourth bill would provide for a statewide law enforcement communication system “so everybody could talk to everybody else,” Crockett said.
Rep. William Browne
Rep. William Browne, R-Vassalboro, represents House District 58. The longtime member of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee is sponsoring a bill to dedicate a portion of the gas tax for maintenance paving of roads.
Among issues he expects the committee to hear is the location of a new toll plaza in York, at the southern end of the Maine Turnpike. There will also be discussion about regulating the use of cell phones by motorists, he said.
Of Baldacci’s supplemental budget, Browne said, “I think he’s to be commended for putting forth a plan and not raising taxes. We really need to evaluate whole programs and see if they’re worthwhile.”
“They’ve already cut all the low-hanging fruit,” Browne said. “We need to do all we can to support our small businesses.”
Rep. Stephen Hanley
Rep. Stephen Hanley, D-Gardiner, who represents House District 59, is sponsoring a bill that would allow the Hallowell and Gardiner water districts to work together.
On the budget shortfall, Hanley said, “The reality is we don’t have the money. It will be, as it always is, a battle as to where we cut.”
“We have to cut until the economy improves,” Hanley said. “We’re nowhere near as bad off as some of the other states.”
Rep. Sharon Treat
Rep. Sharon Treat, D-Hallowell, who represents House District 79, has sponsored a bill that would set fees for the company that wants to sell digitized records from registries of deeds.
Another of Treat’s bills would close a loophole in a bill she sponsored last session that became law, setting up a mediation system in foreclosure cases.
Treat also had a bill carried over from last session that would give the Bureau of Insurance more authority to regulate pharmacy benefit managers.
On the supplemental budget, Treat said, “It’s too early to react to every little piece of it. Obviously, it’s going to create tremendous pain. We as a Legislature have to look at it and see if parts of it are acceptable. We have to see if there are any alternatives to these cuts.”
She said state employees take big cuts in the Baldacci plan.
Rep. Nancy Smith
Rep. Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth, who represents House District 80, is sponsoring a bill to create a Regulatory Fairness Board. It would set up an Office of Administrative Law Judges to hear appeals from licensing board decisions. It would be a separate board independent of licensing boards but paid for by licensing fees.
“We’re in a tough spot, and I’m looking forward to the public hearings and work sessions,” said Smith. “We are in an impossible situation and cuts have to be made. I’m in my eighth year in the Legislature, and we’ve been cutting every year that I’ve been here.”
“We’re still trying to keep business going and growing,” she said.
Smith is House chairperson of the Business, Research and Economic Development Committee.
She said a bill to license building contractors will be heard again, now that Maine has a statewide building code.
Rep. Patrick Flood
Rep. Patrick Flood, R-Winthrop, represents House District 82 and serves on the Appropriations Committee.
Of Baldacci’s budget, Flood said, “He’s taken the first step. He’s done a good job of starting the process. Now it’s our job of working on it. Mental-health people should be concerned. Our hearings take a week. Our deliberations will probably take three to six weeks. We’ll try to get it done by the end of March.”
“I always like going back there,” Flood added. “In this one, I think we’re going to have to be extra patient and be good listeners. The budget could always get worse before it gets better.”
Rep. Pat Jones
Rep. Pat Jones, D-Mount Vernon, represents House District 83 and is sponsoring a bill that would allow Medicaid payments to independent-practice dental hygienists.
“This is important to rural areas,” said Jones.
Another bill co-sponsored by Jones would start a dental school at the University of New England in Biddeford and another bill she is co-sponsoring would allow blood-spot screening of newborn babies to detect early genetic problems.
“I’m very concerned about the supplemental budget,” said Jones. “We have been cutting since I’ve been there. We are now right down to the bone. These proposed cuts don’t maintain the safety net.”
Jones, who serves on the Health and Human Services Committee, expects a big public hearing at the Augusta Civic Center during the session on proposed cuts to human services.
But, Jones said, “I am optimistic. The economy is beginning to turn around. Maybe it will turn around in Maine next summer.”
