Even after the Legislative session ends, the work continues -- and this year, activity has been particularly intense. Maine’s legislative calendar was initially structured to respect the time commitments of citizen legislators with the first session of a two year Legislative term to be the longer and more intense period -- with the introduction of regular bills, the passage of a two year budget, and the conduct of the state’s business. The second session was designed to be shorter -- to deal with any held over bills, manage emergencies, and make any adjustments in the budget as necessary.
Given the continuing turmoil in the national and state economy, our second session will be as demanding as the first one, as we confront a looming budget deficit. When we completed the budget last session, we intentionally left a $30 million dollar “hole” that would have to be addressed -- either by improvements in the economy that would increase revenue collections, other enhancements to the state’s revenues, or by making further cuts. Unfortunately, the revenue collections have continued to lag far behind projections, so in January we will face the difficult decisions about filling what is now estimated to be a $200 million budget shortfall that will have to be made up in a little over 1 fiscal year.
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services, meeting with our Legislative Committee this week, indicated she is looking for $80 million of new cuts -- something that is likely the leave big gaps in the safety net for Maine’s most vulnerable citizens. Another $60 to $70 million has been proposed to be cut from education funding which will mean less state aid to education. As a result, either educational services will have to be cut or local school support will have to be raised -- or both. Given the sharp increase in property taxes in Rumford and other communities in the district this year, another jump in the local share for education will be difficult for many families to manage.
I will continue to work on these issues with my colleagues to find creative solutions that will minimize the impacts of program cuts while looking out for taxpayer concerns. In this situation, there are not any good choices -- we will have to be picking between bad choices and trying to do the least amount of harm until we start to feel the effects of economic recovery. We all have to pull together to work through this difficult period in our state’s economic history, and I encourage you to contact me with ideas or approaches that might be able to help in determining the best possible course.
In addition to the ongoing budget discussions, I have been involved in significant follow-up to legislation I introduced in the last session and which was subsequently passed. LD 1078, a bill to make changes in our long term care system in order to better serve the needs of Maine seniors and people with a disability, has generated a great deal of work on a system redesign. I have been part of a twenty person group that began meeting at the end of the summer and has been meeting frequently in order to promote this systems change. Consumers, workers, advocates, state officials and providers have all come together to analyze the existing system. We are now nearing the end of this intensive process as we develop new approaches that we will recommend to DHHS Commissioner, Brenda Harvey. This process will be completed when the Commissioner reports back to the Legislature in January and we look at what actions we must take to institute recommended changes that improve cost-effective services for Mainers.
One of the other pieces of legislation I sponsored was LD 1089 which will bring Mixed Martial Arts events to Maine in a regulated manner. Over the summer, I have been working closely with the Governor’s Office identifying qualified people would be qualified to serve on that oversight authority. Those appointments should be made in the next few weeks. In addition, I have worked closely with the Attorney General’s Office on other aspects of implementing this legislation and will continue the effort to bring this sport to Maine, while insuring that it is operated to the highest standards.
Again, I want to express my appreciation to all the citizens of the River Valley for giving me this opportunity to serve. Since the session, I’ve spent the time traveling from home to work, heading into Augusta for meetings, and splitting my time between Rumford and our family camp on Roxbury Pond. I have enjoyed sharing with many of you during the various events in our area, and nothing is more important than the chance to talk with you, listen to your ideas and shape my opinions based on those conversations. Thank you for your input and please keep it coming. Contact me and I will do my best to respond as quickly as possible. I believe I can represent you best when the lines of communication are open.
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