SENATE OVERRIDES GOVERNOR’S BUDGET VETO

Republicans join Democrats to support responsible balanced budget

AUGUSTA—In a vote of 26–9, the Maine Senate voted to override Governor LePage’s veto of the state’s two-year budget.

“We did what the people of Maine expect us to do—we passed a responsible budget that will keep the state working,” said Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland. “This is what we came here to do: work together to find common ground and help our state thrive.”

The bipartisan budget, unanimously recommended by the 13 member budget writing panel, restores nearly two-thirds of the cuts to municipal revenue sharing, the Homestead exemption, increases funding for public education, and funding for the early childhood program, Head Start. The bipartisan budget also restores cuts to programs that help seniors pay for their medicine and reduces waitlists for enhanced specialized MaineCare services for people with severe disabilities.

The restorations are paid for, in part, by closing corporate tax loopholes, and increasing the sales tax by half a penny and the meals and lodging taxes by one percent until June 30, 2015. Additionally, the Legislature’s budget restores funding for merit and longevity pay for state workers.

“While no one got everything they wanted in this budget, everyone got something they needed. That is compromise, and that is what is needed in divided government in order to move Maine forward,” said Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall of Richmond.

Six months ago, the Governor proposed a $6.3 billion budget that cut funding to public education, shifted nearly $400 million in cuts onto towns, property owners, and small businesses, and directly raised more than $100 million in direct tax hikes.

The Governor vetoed the budget on Monday, June 24th and prior to his veto, he asserted numerous times that he would “rather shut down the state than vote for [the Legislature’s] budget.”

“Today’s vote is no longer a vote on whether you like the budget; today’s vote is a vote to either shut down or not to shut down our state’s government,” said Senator Dawn Hill of York, the Senate Chair of the Appropriations Committee. “I’m proud that our Republican colleagues joined us and stuck together to keep our state going, and pass a responsible, balanced budget for the people of Maine.”

This is the first time the Senate has overridden one of Governor LePage’s vetoes. The House overrode the Governor’s veto earlier today with a vote of 114 – 34.

“I have voted on six biennial budgets in my time in the legislature, and this is the budget vote I am most proud of,” said Assistant Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash. “It’s certainly not a perfect budget, but it is a responsible budget. This is what legislating should look like.”

The budget for fiscal years 2014 and 2015 will take effect in five days, on July 1, 2013.

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