AUGUSTA - Today, the Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee approved the "Back-to-Basics" budget in a vote of 8-4. The proposal will go before the full Legislature for a two-thirds vote at the Augusta Civic Center on Tuesday, March 30. Republicans did not offer an alternative budget proposal.
The Back-to-Basics budget funds baseline services, general-purpose aid for Maine schools, revenue sharing, rural hospitals, health care and the Homestead Property Tax Exemption. The Back-to-Basics budget is based on the previous biennial budget, which garnered the two-thirds support necessary for emergency enactment from lawmakers in each chamber in 2019.
Following the committee vote, presiding officers and budget chairs released the following statements:
President Jackson:"This budget gives much-needed property tax relief, support for our schools, funding for our rural hospitals, and expanded access to affordable health care. After a difficult year for Maine people and small businesses up and down the state, the Maine Legislature must do everything we can to get our state back on track toward health and economic recovery. With more Mainers getting vaccinated every day, we have a real shot at going back to the way life was before the pandemic. The last thing we should be doing is allowing the government to get so bogged down in politics that it fails to serve and deliver for Maine people. The Back-to-Basics budget is a simple, no-nonsense biennial budget that is an extension of the previous biennial budget, which earned two-thirds support from Maine lawmakers in 2019.
"This isn't about politics. It's about doing right by the people of Maine after an incredibly long and tough year. Next week, legislators can vote for the Back-to-Basics budget to support families, health care, and property taxpayers. There's no reason to delay; a vote for this budget is a vote for Maine."
Speaker Fecteau:
"Throughout this pandemic and the economic turmoil it has caused, our number one goal has been to provide safety, stability, and security to Maine people and businesses.
"Getting our baseline budget finalized now is the responsible thing to do. First, we'll provide stability and predictability for families and businesses, then we can deal with the federal aid coming into our state."
Senator Breen:
"For most Maine people and small businesses, the past year has been unpredictable and heartbreaking. My hope is that with this Back-to-Basic budget Maine people, small businesses and municipalities can rest assured that state agencies will continue to do their job as they plan to move forward in the aftermath of this pandemic. Together, my colleagues on the Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and I worked to draft a proposal that funds the baseline budget and schools as they plan to reopen five days per week. This plan funds schools, rural hospitals, health care and long-term care. It also keeps our promises on property tax relief.
"Too often the biennial budget passes in the final hours of the fiscal year. After a year of uncertainty, Maine people, small businesses, schools and municipalities dont need that unnecessary anxiety. This is a practical biennial budget that meets the needs of these extraordinary times. Now it's up to the Maine Legislature to do the same and pass this proposal with two-thirds support."
Representative Pierce:
"The budget we voted on today is a responsible budget of needs, not wants. It is imperative that we vote to pass Back-to-Basics budget next week to ensure the state continues a strong economic recovery and will give our schools the opportunity to plan and prepare for a safe on-campus reopening in the fall. Passing this budget will allow us to then get to work with the full Legislature on how to judiciously allocate federal aid, which will be one of our next orders of business after this budget is passed."
The full Legislature will convene to vote on this budget on Tuesday at the Augusta Civic Center.
Contact:
Christine Kirby (Jackson, Breen), 294-2468
Jenna Howard (Fecteau, Pierce), 214-3185,