For Immediate Release: December 22, 2008

Maine Legislative leaders sign on to national economic recovery effort
State Legislative leaders from around the nation call on Congress to address temporary relief for states

AUGUSTA– Maine’s Senate President and House Speaker are joining forces with their counterparts in states to call on Congress to pass an economic recovery package that will supplement efforts already being made in state Legislative chambers. President Elizabeth Mitchell and Speaker Hannah Pingree have signed on to an effort to convince Congress to include efforts in any stimulus package that will help states take on their budget shortfalls of a cumulative $100 billion.

President Mitchell said, “With more people out of work everyday the demand for state services is likely to skyrocket. The best thing the state can do for people is to kick start the economy by making strategic investments that pay short and long term dividends. Federal aid will help create jobs, improve the state’s infrastructure and ensure that the most vulnerable Maine people have access to the services they need to get by.”

“Maine, like most states, has a constitutional requirement to balance the budget,” said Speaker Pingree. “It’s a double whammy to be forced to slash services or slow job creation efforts at a time demand for them are likely to increase. The federal government is in a position to ensure that key infrastructure investments move forward and that people will get the assistance they need to get through these tough times. I urge Congress to act quickly on a recovery package.”

The lobbying effort, spearheaded by the non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), identifies several key areas for Congress to focus in order to bring relief to the states:

• Infrastructure investments in a broad array of projects to create jobs and satisfy identified public needs.
• Increased Medicaid funding and assistance to individuals in order to provide relief to states in the face of increased participation in programs during a time of economic contraction.
• Address unfunded mandates and tax fairness. The federal government should fund 40 percent of the cost of mandated special education funding and create a level playing field for all retailers by passing the Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act, which could provide up to $30 Billion in fiscal relief to states with no impact on the federal budget.

The letter to congressional leaders has been signed by 37 presiding officers from legislatures around the nation. To read the letter sent to Congress, go to:

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