Democratic Leaders Praise Bipartisan Budget Deal

AUGUSTA — Top Democrats in the Maine House and Senate praised a bipartisan budget deal reached on Friday by House and Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans.

Sen. Justin Alfond of Portland

In a vote of 9-4, the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee backed a $6.6 billion budget that boosts property tax relief, invests in public schools, higher education and job training for Maine students and workers. The panel rejected Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to give huge tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations, while cutting funds to help low income seniors pay for their medicine and other key public health funding.

“The bipartisan budget agreement is a huge win for Maine families and our economy. It prevents a state shutdown and helps everyday Mainers by boosting property tax relief and investing in our students and workers. By investing in our schools, students and workers, we are putting a down payment on Maine’s middle class and helping to write Maine’s comeback story. Maine’s job growth and wages lag behind the nation, and would have only been held back further by the failed trickle down economics proposed by the Governor.”

Democrats and Senate Republicans also agreed to conform the state’s estate tax exemptions to the federal level of $5.5 million and to send a Constitutional Amendment to voters requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to increase the income tax.

“In divided government, compromise is the only option for getting things done. Senate Republicans, House Democrats, and Senate Democrats have come to an agreement where both sides have made concessions,” said Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland. “If the House Republicans and the Governor choose to shutdown state government, it will be because they insisted on prioritizing tax breaks to the wealthiest. Simply put, they have chosen to sell Maine people ideology rather than a plan that can work.”

In April, Speaker Eves and Senator Alfond announced the Better Deal for Maine plan to counter Gov. Paul LePage’s budget. The Better Deal plan would have cut taxes for the middle class, lowered property taxes for all Maine homeowners and invested in Maine schools, workers and communities. Under the Better Deal for Maine, 98 percent of income tax cuts go to the bottom 95 percent of taxpayers. Under the Governor’s plan, 50 percent of the tax break goes to the top 10 percent. Republicans and the Governor rejected the plan.

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