Lawmakers talk taxes, cooperation House and Senate elect officers, appoint panel

AUGUSTA – Pledges of bipartisanship and an eagerness to lessen the state’s tax burden were dominant themes Wednesday as the 122nd Maine Legislature convened to elect new leaders and constitutional officers.

Gov. John E. Baldacci administered the oath of office to the 151 members of the House of Representatives and 35 members of the Maine Senate as an overflow crowd of friends and relatives packed the State House balconies and lined the aisles.

Newly elected House Speaker John Richardson, D-Brunswick, was the unanimous choice of 76 Democrats, 73 Republicans, one Green Independent Party member and one representative not enrolled in any party. A lawyer in his fourth term in the House, Richardson told the lawmakers that the Legislature’s top priority must be to regain the faith, trust and confidence of Maine voters.

“The people have expectations of us, and, to be honest, they’re disappointed in us right now,” he said. “For most of them, they do not distinguish between parties, or between the House and Senate, or between the Legislature and the chief executive. They just doubt that government can get the job done. And we must prove them wrong.”

In the Senate, where Democrats outnumber Republicans 18-17, Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport, defeated Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, for the post of Senate president in an undisclosed vote tally that was widely believed to have divided along party lines. Edmonds immediately reached out to the minority in an effort to improve upon the bitter and divisive politics that punctuated the 121st Legislature.

“My Republican colleagues … and I have already met to begin the job of keeping the lines of communication open,” Edmonds said. “We must keep our home districts in mind and simultaneously keep the well-being of all of Maine in mind.”

In addition to electing candidates for the positions of attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and state auditor, the lawmakers also selected candidates for key posts in the House and Senate chamber staff. The House named an Elections Committee for the purpose of determining the outcome of three disputed House races. All the official winners in challenged races were seated provisionally, and all three will be allowed to vote on the Election Committee’s recommendations when they are presented to the entire House membership.

On Friday, Edmonds and Richardson will announce the members of a 15-member special select committee assembled to review the governor’s new tax relief proposal released Tuesday. The proposal was submitted as legislation Wednesday and referenced as LD 1 and LD 2 to the special committee, which will consist of four senators and 11 state representatives, one of whom is rumored to be Rep. Richard Woodbury, an unenrolled member from Yarmouth.

Richardson told House members that tax reform must be the first priority for lawmakers as they attempt to implement a June referendum vote requiring the Legislature to boost the state’s share of local education costs from 43 to 55 percent. Additionally, he observed that while Mainers rejected a 1 percent tax cap proposal in November, the vote reflected the depth of interest in the issue lawmakers can no longer avoid.

“Maine people also know that tax reform begins with immediate tax relief to those who need it most and that an imperfect plan is better than no plan,” Richardson said. “If we have been listening to them, we know that we must aid the people who need it most – our seniors and working families – who are looking to remain in the homes and communities where they have built their lives. And we must do it now.”

House Majority Leader Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, commended Richardson for moving quickly on property tax reform. He said the new committee provides an opportunity to bring both sides to the table and make sure Maine people get the best possible tax package.

“The purpose behind it, simply put, is that we get some of the best policy expertise from a variety of committees to join together in trying to solve this problem,” Cummings said.

When Richardson asked the House members to make a commitment to passing the governor’s tax plan by Jan. 20, Democrats responded with a standing ovation while Republicans sat stoically.

Still, Republicans sent a conciliatory signal when Richardson was nominated for the presiding officer’s post. House GOP leader David Bowles of Sanford seconded the Democrat’s nomination and pledged to work toward consensus.

“As is the case with each new Legislature, we are set to embark upon an historic journey,” Bowles said. “There are many serious issues facing us, and there will be many opportunities for potential disagreement and conflict. We can face these issues together in a spirit of bipartisan cooperation, or we can allow our differences to disrupt us and render this body ineffective. If we allow the latter, we fail not only ourselves, but also the people of Maine.”

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY MEGAN RATHFON

Senate Minority Leader Paul T. Davis Sr., R-Sangerville, and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Carol Weston, R-Montville, gather with fellow lawmakers to discuss the 122nd Legislature’s upcoming session at the State House on Wednesday.