SENATE COMPLETES FIRST SESSION OF 126th LEGISLATURE

Passes responsible budget, strengthens Maine’s economy, and supports public education

AUGUSTA – Today, the Senate completed its work for the First Session of the 126th Legislature, and fulfilled Democrats’ commitments to strengthen Maine’s economy and public education system, pass a responsible, balanced, budget, and stand up for Maine values.

“This session, legislators have proven that we can put politics aside and work together for our state,” said Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland. “From paying back our hospitals to passing a responsible bipartisan budget, we have stood up for Maine values and Maine people.”

By more than the required two-thirds vote, the Senate overrode the governor’s veto of a bipartisan, responsible budget for the state of Maine.

The legislature’s budget restores education cuts made by the governor, and adds more than $30 million in funding for education. It restores nearly two-thirds of the governor’s proposed cuts to municipal revenue sharing, restores the Homestead Exemption to allow people to stay in their homes, and restores programs that help seniors pay for the prescription medicine.

The Senate enacted a first-of-its kind workforce development bill to address Maine’s skills gap and get people back to work. A produce to the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future, the bipartisan legislation renews the partnership between government, education, workers, and businesses, and addresses the specific factors contributing to the “skills gap.”

“The workforce bill is a tremendous first step in creating jobs and strengthening our economy,” said Assistant Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall, who also chaired the Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future Committee. “Addressing our state’s skills gap and putting Mainers back to work was our top legislative priority, and the work we accomplished in a mere five months is remarkable.”

Democrats fulfilled their commitment to strengthen Maine’s public schools by rejecting the governor’s proposals to siphon taxpayer dollars to fund private, for-profit, and religious schools, restoring funding to Head Start to improve early childhood education, and creating a path for the state to fund 55 percent of K-12 education per the will of the voters.

“Education is the first rung on the ladder of opportunity,” said Assistant Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash. “Democrats believe in holding the ladder up for everybody, which is why we’re committed to strengthening and supporting our public schools so that all Maine children have the opportunity to learn and succeed.”

Legislators also passed a comprehensive energy bill that will lower the cost of energy in Maine while protecting past renewable energy accomplishments, and repealed some of the more harmful aspects of PL 90, the rate hike law passed by the Republican-led legislature in 2012.

“Rural people shouldn’t be charged more for their health insurance just because they live in Fort Kent instead of Falmouth,” said Senator Jackson.

Senate Democrats also stood up for workers’ rights and women’s rights by defeating a so-called right-to-work bill, and three measures that would have infringed upon a woman’s right to health care.

“Democrats support privacy, women’s rights, and workers’ rights, and we back up our values with our votes. We always have been and always will be the party of labor and equality,” said Senator Goodall.

The Legislature adjourned sine die this evening. The second session of the 126th Legislature will begin in January.

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