Democrats committed to Maine’s challenges

Meeting the needs of Maine people is a Democratic priority. We know those needs include property tax relief and an increase in education funding. Meeting these challenges while maintaining protection for our most vulnerable citizens, the environment and a recovering economy, requires creative solutions and we came to Augusta committed to finding them.

We had to make difficult decisions, including reductions in state spending by nearly $425 million over the next two years. We consolidated and reorganized services, not only to save money in the current budget but to improve efficiency for future budgets as well.

There is much in the budget Maine citizens support. There are initiatives that improve education, healthcare and our tax base, and that will help Maine companies prosper. Among those initiatives are:

. An unprecedented increase of $250 million in state aid to K-12 education over the next 2 years. For Penobscot County alone, this means an additional $2 million to our local schools.

. Property tax relief in the form of LD 1, taking steps to reduce Maine’s property tax burden. The steps include capping state spending, increasing aid to local education and beefing up existing property tax relief programs.

. Health care programs for our elderly, including prescription drug assistance and nursing home care, remain intact. Dirigo Health, with more than 6,300 new enrollees since February, remains an option for low-wage workers and small businesses. Hospitals and physicians will see an increase in reimbursement for services they provide to the elderly, physically disabled and poor.

. $24 million in economic development investments, including $800,000 in small business development grants.

. Increases in funding to our universities and community colleges and restored cuts made to adult education programs.

All this and more was included in the budget passed last month. In fairness to our counterparts, the Republicans, they also worked hard. In fact, they agreed to nearly all

of the major budget decisions.

This is where the problem with the so called “politician’s veto” of a portion of the budget comes into play. Where they choose to use politics to cloud and avoid reality, we choose instead to move beyond the rhetoric, to balance needs with responsibility.

We’ve cut state government to the bone. At the same time, we have increased education funding and provided property tax relief. We’ve maintained health care and prescription drug assistance, provided for a cleaner environment and created jobs.

The solution that we arrived at will save the state more than $350 million by refinancing old debt to the state’s retirement system. Much of this debt was produced during the McKernan administration, when Republicans diverted funds from Maine’s teacher retirement trust to meet the budget gaps of the 1990s.

Republicans helped contribute to the problem, and then helped form a solution in the shape of the revenue bond proposal – the same solution they ultimately rejected in the end because of politics. They concocted the “politician’s veto” – attacking the very initiative they helped develop. By doing so, they create an atmosphere of uncertainty at every level of government that is appalling.

Refusing to provide Maine people with an alternative plan is proof that their initiative is tied to politics, rather than good will. To date, Republicans still have not offered any specific, detailed plan on how they would cut state government further. Significant cuts would need to be made in order to balance the budget if the veto is successful. Maine people are smarter than that – we were reminded of what they consider important when they rejected the 1 percent tax cap last year.

We remain committed to facing Maine’s challenges. We will continue to move Maine forward, putting the needs of Maine’s people first, rather than use politics to subvert the process.

It is time Republican legislators focus on providing real solutions and to get back to work for the people of Maine.

Michael Brennan is the Maine Senate Majority Leader and Glenn Cummings is the House Majority Leader.