PANEL AGREES ON BIPARTISAN BUDGET PROPOSAL
AUGUSTA– Early Friday morning, lawmakers on the Legislature’s budget-writing panel agreed to a responsible budget proposal that would mitigate the impact of Governor Paul LePage’s two-year budget. “Six months ago we all agreed that we had an uphill battle to solve the state’s budget challenge,” said Senator Dawn Hill, D-York, the Chair of the Appropriations and Financial...
Bangor Daily News: Maine lawmakers press for raises for state workers despite budget shortage
By Chris Cousins Read more here AUGUSTA, Maine — Lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee are working behind closed doors to make drastic changes to Gov. Paul LePage’s biennial budget proposal with negotiations focused on big-ticket items such as giving state employees raises and easing a proposed suspension of municipal revenue sharing. Lawmakers have broached these...
GOVERNOR’S 11th HOUR “CRISIS” DEBUNKED
Dems: “We are here to solve problems, not create a crisis” AUGUSTA—During a two hour meeting on Sunday with the state’s budget-writing committee, Governor Paul LePage’s claims of an eleventh-hour crisis in the Department of Health and Human Services were debunked by representatives of his own Administration. The emergency meeting was held in response to letters LePage...
BUDGET COMMITTEE TAKES ON LIQUOR DEAL FINANCIALS
Final payment to hospitals to move forward AUGUSTA — Lawmakers on the state’s budget writing committee agreed today that they would take the lead on crafting the financial structure for the state’s liquor deal. The liquor revenue will be used for the state’s final payment owed on Maine’s hospital debt. Maine’s hospitals have been...
Appropriations Committee Unanimously Approves Supplemental Budget
Restores funding for hospitals, seniors, communities and retired teachers AUGUSTA – The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a supplemental budget to address a $153 million shortfall in the current fiscal year. The budget shortfall is a result of a downturn in revenue due to a lagging economy and cost overruns in...
PPH: Maine’s court-appointed lawyers face fiscal crunch
By Scott Dolan Read more here The state’s budget to pay for their constitutionally mandated work will run out in mid-April, long before the fiscal year ends. AUGUSTA – Attorney Amy Fairfield has devoted most of her professional career to providing legal defense for people who have been charged with a crime and are...
Seacoast Online: Sen. Hill says Maine budget has limited options
By Deborah McDermott Read more here AUGUSTA, Maine — The eye of the budget storm in state capital can be found in the Appropriations Committee hearing room, a place Senate chairwoman Dawn Hill said needs to be calm and deliberative despite the swirling emotions outside the door. And that’s for good reason, said Hill, D-York,...
Dems say Governor’s budget shifts costs to middle class, hurts Maine’s economy
Hope for a more reasonable and balanced approach AUGUSTA – Democrats expressed strong concerns that Governor Paul LePage’s two-year budget, released Friday, unfairly burdens the middle class, small businesses, communities, elderly and the poor. The governor’s budget proposal will eliminate state funds for programs that help the elderly pay for medicine, gut property tax relief,...
LePage’s $35.5 million cuts hit nearly every agency
In addition to the $2.5 million in cuts to the UMaine system, the Maine Community College System must cut $724,450 and Maine Maritime Academy must cut $113,000. Senator Dawn Hill asked that representatives of the three institutions appear before the committee next week. “I think it would be very good if we hear from those...
Weekly Radio Address: Hill says, “It is critical to set a tone of cooperation and fairness as we prepare to navigate the tough challenges before us”
Democratic Radio Address-Sen. Hill At the start of each new year, we are often more reflective—acknowledging that the welcoming of a new year is an opportunity—a time full of possibility, things that have never been—but can be. Just as in our personal lives, we in the legislature too, can learn from our past, and grow...
Lawmakers begin early review of LePage budget cuts
Democrats say cooperation, common ground critical to getting results AUGUSTA – Today, Democratic and Republican lawmakers on the state’s budget-writing Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee convened early to begin reviewing the impact of the $35.5 million spending cuts issued by Governor Paul LePage last week. The spending cuts will be considered as part of a...
Hill to lead Maine appropriations committee
… The Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, which will face intense pressure to balance a state budget riddled with repeated shortfalls, will be headed by two veterans of the committee for the next two years, legislative leaders announced Thursday. Appropriations will be headed by Sen. Dawn Hill of Cape Neddick and Rep. Peggy Rotundo of Lewiston. Rotundo...
