AUGUSTA - On Monday, April 15, the Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee approved an amended supplemental budget proposal that makes significant investments in affordable housing, education, health care and child care. The budget also makes discrete changes regarding transportation funding, dairy subsidies and ensures ongoing tax relief for pension holders.
Following the vote, House Majority Leader Mo Terry, D-Gorham, and Assistant Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, released the following statements:
House Majority Leader Mo Terry:
"In the last week, House Democrats serving on the Appropriations Committee and in particular, Chair Sachs have endured unfair criticism and intentional misrepresentations of their good-faith work to craft a budget that addresses the needs of Maine people and ensures fiscal responsibility for our state into the future. None of this is deserved. The Appropriations Committee does some of the most difficult work in the Legislature, negotiating with every policy committee, every branch of government and every district in Maine. It's a daunting, nearly impossible task. While this agreement makes strong policy changes from the committee's original majority report, I stand firmly behind our caucus members on the committee and everything they have done to help us reach a budget that continues to address our most pressing challenges and delivers for Maine people."
Assistant Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier:
"The original budget proposal voted on by the Appropriations Committee was thoughtful, fiscally responsible and delivered on the priorities House Democrats are fighting for, including investments to combat our statewide housing crisis, fund Maine's behavioral and public health infrastructure and meet our commitments to education. I am so incredibly proud of our caucus members on the committee, who deserve real recognition and acknowledgement for their tireless, unheralded work and sacrifice over the last several months to get us to this point. The compromise budget amendment agreed to this morning is the direct result of their work and builds on the historic investments we passed last year, fulfilling our promises to Mainers. We are grateful for their relentless efforts to produce a budget that speaks to the values of House Democrats."
Contact:
Brian Lee [Terry, Cloutier], 305-965-2744