MAINE SENATE GIVES INITIAL SUPPORT TO SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET

Lawmakers rejected many of the governor’s proposed cuts

AUGUSTA – Maine Senate gave overwhelming initial approval to the state’s biennial supplemental budget in a vote of 35 – 0.

“Tonight, Democrats and Republicans came together to pass a reasonable budget,” said Senator Dawn Hill from York who serves on the Appropriations committee. “We took out the politics and ideology. We rejected shortsighted and irresponsible cuts as originally proposed. And, we made sure that fairness prevailed.”

The governor issued a statement earlier today saying he would not sign the budget.

LD 1903 removes a number of controversial items including the restoration of funding to the Fund for a Healthy Maine, funding for higher education including, the University System, Community College System, and Maine Maritime Academy, and funding for Indigent Legal Services. The bill also provides additional funding for the Computer Crime Lab and court security as well as an additional monies to Child Development Services for 2012 and 2013. The Committee also fully restored funding to Maine Public Broadcasting Network and included language to move the state to a fee-for-service model funding for MPBN over the next five years.

The bill eliminates the State Planning Office, transfers its responsibilities to other state agencies, and creates the Office of Policy Management. As proposed by the governor, the OPM will take over certain state planning functions. The bill weakens the governor’s controversial proposal to give OPM subpoena power and removes its ability to conduct investigations of other state agencies.

The bill faces more votes in the House.