HOLDING BACK BONDS PUTS SUMMER CONSTRUCTION JOBS AT RISK

Summer construction projects in danger of cancellation, says state’s top budget officer

AUGUSTA—Top Democratic leaders learned that transportation projects financed by investment bonds released by Governor LePage last year are now in jeopardy of stalling if the governor does not reauthorize the bonds within two weeks.

During a meeting with the governor’s top budget officer, Sawin Millett and staff from the governor’s office told Senate President Justin Alfond and House Speaker Mark Eves that if Governor LePage does not take action, shovel-ready Department of Transportation projects will not go out to bid and will miss this year’s construction season.

“Governor LePage can release these bonds today but instead he’s playing politics with projects like the International Marine Terminal,” said Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland. “At a time when construction workers are facing double digit unemployment and our economy is ripe for growth, now is the time to get folks back to work fixing our roads and bridges and building projects like the IMT.”

According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maine ranks 50th in the country for private-sector job growth under Governor LePage’s leadership.

Last month, Governor LePage emailed the state treasurer and reneged on $53 million in statewide jobs bond contracts he had authorized last July.

“Governor LePage’s political games continue to hurt Maine people and our economy.  It’s a real dereliction of duty,” said Speaker Eves of North Berwick. “Governor LePage claims to know how to grow Maine’s economy, but all he is doing is cutting it off at the knees.”

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been authorized by the voters of Maine, including $100 million in bonds approved by the voters last November; however, Governor LePage has only released $30 million.

###