Partisanship Must Wane

Democrats maintained their slight edge in the State House, although the gap in the House of Representatives appears to have narrowed. With a Democrat also in the Blaine House, they must, unlike the past two years, use their power to craft legislation that can win Republican support rather than trying to strong-arm budgets and tax-relief proposals through the Legislature over objections from the minority party. For their part, Republicans should move beyond the obstructionist tactics that doomed this year’s bond package and other legislation.

Democrats will hold on to 18 of the Senate’s 35 seats in the session that begins next month. The Democrats maintained their edge in part through Democratic Rep. Joe Perry’s unexpected win over incumbent Republican Sen. Tom Sawyer in Bangor. In the Senate district just south of Augusta, former Secretary of State William Diamond beat House Minority leader Joe Bruno to keep that seat in Democratic hands. In the state’s most expensive Senate race, Democrat Dennis Damon held off a challenge from Republican John Linnehan, who spent more than $200,000 on the campaign. In a battle that pitted two incumbents in a reconfigured district north of Bangor, Republican Paul Davis handily beat Democrat Steve Stanley. Democrat Chris Hall, who recently outraged northern Mainers by suggesting that part of the state was full of old people who get too much help from Augusta, was defeated in the midcoast region.

In the House, Democrats lost four seats but are expected to retain 76 to the Republicans’ 73, with one Green Party and one unenrolled member. Three close races that appear to have been won by Republicans are likely headed for recounts.

Once all the votes are finally counted, the challenge for both parties is to choose leaders that are moderate and can work across party lines. This will be especially important on the tax reform front. Faced with the tax cap initiative last spring, House Democrats could not agree with House Democrats on a plan. Republicans opposed both, but did not come up with their own. Despite extensive effort in the waning hours of the 121st Legislature, nothing was passed. Hence the 1 percent tax cap appeared on the ballot this week.

Lawmakers have said they understand that voters’ rejection of the tax cap does not mean they are satisfied with the status quo. Instead, after being bombarded with predictions of doom and gloom if Question 1 passed, voters realized this was the wrong solution to Maine’s high tax burden. Lawmakers should remind themselves of this calculus repeatedly as they seek ways to provide tax relief to those who really need it without raising taxes on everyone else.

Many challenges – tax reform, a huge budget deficit, a requirement to increase state school aid, health care costs – will confront lawmakers in Augusta. Working together, rather than against one another, is the only way that these challenges can be overcome.