The 126th Maine Legislature reconvenes in a short session Wednesday, and its top priority is to close a $100 million budget gap.
That’s a big gap, which means lawmakers are going to have to compromise, collaborate and be civil toward one another to get the task done. And that goes for every lawmaker, not just the usual diplomats.
What will be interesting about this task is that, unlike governors before him, Gov. Paul LePage isn’t going to help. He stands by his work to present a balanced budget last year, which the Legislature did not adopt, and has no plans to work on a supplemental budget. The Legislature is on its own.
LePage’s stand-down position is even more interesting in that whatever the Legislature decides to do will be imposed on state departments headed by the governor’s hand-picked commissioners. So, while LePage will not help with the budget work, his department heads are going to have to deal with the consequences. And they could be dire, particularly for the Department of Health and Human Services, which faces extreme federal funding cuts at Riverview Psychiatric Center, and which must also address the troubled non-emergency MaineCare-funded rides program.
Of course, the Democrat-controlled Legislature could just raise taxes and fees instead of imposing cuts to bridge the budget gap, which the governor says he doesn’t want. But, since he’s not going to participate, he’ll have no say. That is, unless he vetoes the budget document after all the wrangling is done.
The Legislature will also take up renewable energy as Maine strives for lower energy costs, and will also discuss whether to restore municipal revenue sharing to towns crying for help.
And, then there’s a carryover bill — which will be the subject of a Thursday news conference — to create a single-payer health-care system in Maine. That’s different than the federal offer to pay 100 percent of a temporary MaineCare expansion under the Affordable Care Act.
The carryover bill is a plan to revamp the state’s entire health-care system and create a single marketplace for everyone, regardless of ability to pay. It lays the foundation for a universal health-care system, or what is being called an “everybody in, nobody out” deal.
The measure — LD 1345 — is sponsored by 47 Democratic lawmakers, three independents and all three tribal representatives to the Legislature, and has the backing of Maine AllCare, a nonprofit that supports universal health care for Maine. The concept will most certainly not be supported by Republicans.
The Legislature will sit knowing it faces a series of tense discussions on a variety of complex issues, and will likely split along party lines.
So, maybe — since it’s the start of the session — it’s worth reviewing the campaign intentions of local lawmakers on some of these issues.
Who campaigned locally on the concept of lower energy costs, including cost-effective alternative energy?
Republican Sens. James Hamper and Patrick Flood, and Republican Reps. Stephen Wood, Melvin Newendyke, Gary Knight and Jarrod Crockett did.
Among Democrats? Sens. John Cleveland, Margaret Craven and John Patrick, and Reps. Michel Lajoie, Brian Bolduc, Michael Carey, Nathan Libby, Margaret Rotundo, Paul Gilbert and Terry Hayes.
That’s a pretty solid picture of cross-party agreement.
What about welfare reform to eliminate fraud and create spending efficiencies?
Republican Sens. Hamper, Garrett Mason, Thomas Saviello, Michael Beaulieu and Flood, along with Republican Reps. Newendyke, Wood, Lance Harvell, Russell Black and Crockett campaigned to get that work done. As did Democrat Sen. Patrick and Democrat Reps. Libby, Rotundo and Hayes.
So, they’re agreed, which should make quick work of reform bills during the short session. Right?
Maybe they could start by requiring that DHHS code EBT cards to lock out transactions at liquor stores, smoke shops and strip clubs or at ATMs licensed to these businesses to avoid any chance of abuse like the kind LePage revealed Tuesday.
Lawmakers, while on the campaign trail and regardless of party affiliation, commonly promise to hold spending, reduce taxes, create jobs, improve education, boost the economy and uphold the wishes of their constituents. And, at least in Maine, nearly every one of them drags the assurance of common sense along the way.
Why, then, do we see such fracture in the Legislature? Why such animosity between parties and such heel-dragging when asked to consider alternate ideas?
Perhaps Rep. Wayne Werts, an Auburn Democrat now serving his first term in office, said it best: “When considering ways for improving Maine, it is important to consider all ideas; it does not matter where these ideas originate. What is important is soliciting and considering all ideas for improving the way of life here in Maine and working to find common-sense solutions.”
That means dissolving party lines that dismiss constituent needs. That means, like nearly every candidate said while campaigning, a “commitment to get things done.” And it means being willing to hear an opposing idea and truly consider it like you mean it.
When the gavels come down to start the session today, let’s hope common sense — not party politics — reigns.
jmeyer@sunjournal.com
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