2017-06-12
Legislative Update - Notes
on the Budget
I don't often create oir write blog
entries except on the weekend, as it is a good chance to report the events
and concerns of the week. This week, however, it seems rather
important to begin the week with some kind of review of Bill Nemitz's
article in the Portland Press Herald for Sunday. He writes
about the willingness, or the lack of willingness of Maine legislators to
live up to the referendum questions from November
He writes, "It
couldn’t have been clearer: “Do you want to add a 3% tax on individual
Maine taxable income above $200,000 to create a state fund that would
provide direct support for student learning in kindergarten through 12th
grade public education?”
And he's right, nothing could be more
clear or more simple -- especially for me as an educator. The
assumption that Maine voters did not understand the question is an insult
to their intelligence and their integrity.
While I do agree with
much of what Nimitz writes, I do not agree that the Democrats are not
showing leadership. The Democrats have faithfully and truthfully
tried to bridge a gap that seems to entrench Republicans. The
Democrats have been flexible while the Republicans have been just plain
stubborn - not listening to the will of the voters at all.
When Nemitz writes the following, I do agree.
The
simple truth is there are two moments in our democracy when our will, the
real will of Maine people, should trump all else. Actually, make that
three.
The first is through the referendum, that
extraordinary moment when we bypass the legislative and executive branches
and specifically assert, “This is what we, the people, want to
do.”
The second is election to office, when we tell a
winning candidate, “Go, represent us on matters large and
small.”
And the third?
When, having
determined they no longer give a hoot what we think, we return to the
polls and throw the bums out.
On the other hand, this
statement was released yesterday by the Speaker of the
House.
AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives moved to
advance the biennial budget today by voting in favor (81 - 64) of the
democratic report from the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
With the deadline of June 30 fast approaching, pressure to complete the
budget is increasing and a major disagreement regarding a voter-approved
increase in education funding still
exists.
“Today, Democrats again put
forward a responsible budget, that strengthens Maine’s economy, while
working within existing resources,” said Speaker of the House Sara
Gideon. “This budget protects property tax relief for working families,
fully funds the state’s share of K-12 public education and rejects a
number of harmful and unnecessary cuts. We are on the record of where we
stand and will continue fight for a budget that represents the
opportunities Mainers demanded. However, we must move this process forward
with purpose, with accountability and with
transparency.”
With the Republican
controlled Senate expected to take up the budget tomorrow and vote in
support of a different report, the budget process could now head to a
Committee of Conference. Such a committee would be comprised of three
members of the House appointed by the Speaker and three members of the
Senate appointed by Senate President Michael
Thibodeau.
So, the Democrats made an offer; the offer was
rejected, and now it’s time for a Committee of Conference. The
Republicans reject almost any legislation which is designed to improve
daily life in Maine - and the people of Maine should fully understand that
the Republican agenda benefits wealthy Mainers more than any other
Mainers.
The Democrats are advancing what I have labeled “Common
Sense for the Common Person.” That’s an agenda I can
support.