Setting April 1 budget deadline makes fiscal sense

As the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee works toward completing the 2006-2007 budget, it’s important that we stay true to two key objectives: 1) getting two-thirds support for the budget and, more importantly, 2) completing the budget by April 1.

Already Republican and Democratic members of the Appropriations Committee have reached unanimous agreement on a majority of budget items with respect to most major departments. By the time you read this, the committee will have also concluded the Education budget and, hopefully, the Health and Human Services budget.

What divides Democrats and Republicans, rural legislators and urban, northern and southern, is considerably smaller than many people might be led to believe by news reports which highlight the differences. For example, in a $1.8 billion Health and Human Services budget, Republicans and Democrats on the Health and Human Services Committee are only six-tenths of 1 percent apart in their recommendations.

What has brought Republican and Democratic members this far is an honest, open, thorough and inclusive discussion and debate – the ingredients of any successful budget, no matter what the timing.

Senate President Beth Edmonds and I have tried to set a new tone and a new process in the Legislature this session. We have set an aggressive schedule, calling for completion of property tax reform legislation by Jan. 20, for example. And we have involved all committees in the budget and bonds discussions to bring their expertise and influence to the negotiating table.

If everyone is true to the process, we can continue on this path to an even stronger majority on even more items in the budget.

Every two years, the question arises – are we moving too quickly on the budget, or not fast enough? As Rep. Joe Brannigan, the House chair of Appropriations, said earlier this week, it is the issues that could divide us, not the timing.

Looking way back, when Maine’s was an agrarian economy, the Legislature routinely adjourned early in order to meet the demands of planting season. Whether by two-thirds majority or simple majority approval, the Legislature adjourned in plenty of time for the budget to go into effect by July 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year. From 1820 to 1943, the Legislature always adjourned by the end of April at the latest; most of the time it adjourned in March.

In 1909 the “90-day effective date” was added – laws would not go into effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourned to allow time for citizens to start a referendum process and repeal laws they disagreed with – the “people’s veto.” Now all laws – the budget included – are delayed, unless two-thirds of the Legislature agrees – then it can be enacted as an “emergency” measure and goes into effect immediately.

Maine cities and towns have long demanded that the Legislature conclude the budget process sooner so they could plan their budgets for the coming year and for the last decade the Legislature has complied.

It is curious that the notion of a “majority budget” has become an object of derision in recent years, as if approval by the majority were a bad thing. The fact is that the Legislature passes many laws with more than 50 percent and less than two-thirds support.

Ironically, it is after April 1 that the will of the people is in danger of being thwarted, not before. After April 1 there is considerably less incentive for members to negotiate, and the majority of legislators, representing the majority of Mainers, can be held hostage to the demands of a small group.

For example, in a given year the budget could include economic development incentives that would largely benefit northern and rural Maine communities, a proposal that could enjoy broad bipartisan support by 100 members of the House. But 51 representatives in York and Cumberland counties could block passage of the budget.

Couldn’t happen? We need look back only to 1991 when a minority of senators – 12 of 35 – blocked passage of the budget over disagreement on a single issue, and forced a state shutdown.

Our aim is always to get two-thirds support, even more if we can; that is precisely what we did just last week when we passed revisions to the current year’s budget with a 129-15 vote in the House and with a 33-1 tally in the Senate.

But we cannot and will not delay cities and towns from concluding their own budgets for the upcoming fiscal year, and we should not keep our citizen Legislature at work any longer than we must. To do so is irresponsible, costs the state money and flies in the face of demands by our fellow citizens that we get our work done and go home.

Maine people have indicated they want quick, decisive action in the Legislature. We have done that on tax reform and on the supplemental budget, and will do it again on this budget. We face tough choices, and waiting doesn’t make the decisions any easier. Moving forward now is the only responsible course of action.

John Richardson is speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.