Budget veto words crafted GOP opposes bonding plan

AUGUSTA – Proponents of a people’s veto on a portion of the state budget can start gathering signatures Monday now that Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap has formulated the question that will appear on the referendum petitions.

Dunlap submitted the question Friday to petitioners, who subsequently approved the wording as follows:

“Do you want to reject that part of the state budget authorizing bonds of up to $410 million to fund pension costs to be repaid from lottery, slot machine and other funds?”

“Now that they’ve acknowledged the question, we can prepare their petition, which they can pick up Monday,” Dunlap said.

Rep. Sawin Millett, R-Waterford, was one of the Republican lawmakers who signed the application to begin the process of gathering signatures for the people’s veto. He said Friday he had no problems with the way the question was worded and was pleased it indicated where the money was coming from to repay the $410 million loan.

“I think the question is generically OK,” Millett said. “I think people are less concerned about the semantics of the wording than they are the concept of borrowing to cover ongoing expenses.”

Last month, minority Republicans in the House and Senate were unable to pass an amendment striking a borrowing provision of the subsequently enacted two-year state budget. The bill allows Maine to borrow more than $400 million to fund ongoing government expenses without voter approval. Over GOP objections, Democrats pushed the budget through with a majority vote and then adjourned the regular session of the Legislature.

The adjournment triggered the 90-day timetable required for a bill to become law with the conclusion of the regular session in advance of the June 30 expiration of the current budget cycle. Lawmakers have since been called back into “special” session by Democratic Gov. John E. Baldacci to finish their work.

Republicans argued the state could not afford to borrow such a large amount of money for current costs without making some effort to trim government expenses through the elimination of state employee positions and program reductions. The attempt to overturn the borrowing component of the $5.7 billion state budget was also endorsed by Sen. Peter Mills, R-Cornville; Sen. Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport; Sen. Karl Turner, R-Cumberland; and Rep. Kevin Glynn, R-South Portland. The petition was actually submitted by Michael T. Healy, a former GOP House candidate from Freeport.

Dunlap technically had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to release the question’s wording, which would have delayed the signature-gathering process until Wednesday. As of Monday, proponents can begin the process of collecting 50,519 signatures to place the question on this November’s ballot. The completed petitions must be reviewed by municipal voting officials and returned to the Secretary of State’s Office by June 28.

Millett said Friday that Republicans have received pledges of funding support to handle organizing expenses and offers from Mainers who are willing to circulate the petitions to block the Democrats’ decision to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to balance the state budget.

“It does put us down to a two-month window, so it’s going to be a major effort,” Millett said of the signature drive. “But from what I’m hearing, people from all walks of life find the borrowing unacceptable.”

Baldacci and Democratic leaders have rebuked the people’s veto effort sought by GOP lawmakers, referring to the plan as a “politicians’ veto” of legislation that Republicans didn’t have the votes to defeat. Baldacci said last week the signature-gathering sends an ominous message to all Mainers who depend on the certainty of the state to meet its financial commitments.

“It’s very irresponsible and they’re playing politics now with people’s lives,” Baldacci said. “They’re holding Maine’s economy hostage by a referendum process.”