Weekly update
Well,
here we are in the last few days of the legislative session. We are
at the junction point of the budget's acceptance or a shut down of state
services. The threat of a shut down with all of its attendance and
rippling consequences is nothing that either side - Democratic or
Repulbican - want to see. On the other hand, it feels as if the
Republican side will engage in a shut down, regardless son the
consequences on local people, if their wishes and demands are not met in
the budget negotiations.
The Bangor Daily News captures the
problem succinctly and insightfully. Check this link - Bangor
Daily News.
The editor writes, 'Maine has the financial
capacity to fund both K-12 education and programs that ensure students and
adults are fed and safe from disease outbreaks and that insurance and
treatment are accessible to those who need it." We can make this
happen by compromise.
The editor continues:
Then, as
he has done in prior years, the governor has walked away from budget
negotiations. He has also made it difficult for lawmakers to get
information from department heads. Lawmakers need this information to make
informed decisions about what programs need more money and which ones they
can eliminate or scale back.
To accomplish this, they must
compromise. The alternative, which continued obstruction from House
Minority Leader Ken Fredette will lead to, is a government shutdown. This
would benefit no one and would hurt real Maine people
What all
of this amounts to is a political theory based on stubborn iintransigence.
It's as if a critical part of the caucuss system - the House
Repulbicans who are critical to a budget - simply prefer to say "No"
to any sense of compromise.
We all know that compromise in the
political arena is necessary. It's just how it works, but to remain
steadfast in the negative means that no negotiations can happen, that
every stops.
Compromise is essential if we are to pass a
budget before June 30 at which time state services shut down. "Let
no one think that flexibility and a predisposition to compromise is a sign
of weakness or a sell-out." Paul Kagame.
House Calendars
Bill Text -> Bill
Text
Bill Status -> Bill
Status
Testimony Link -> Bill
Testimony
This is really a great resource as you can see
all the testimony presented on any given bill.
Events
Calendars -> Events
(Or, use the calendar to the left)
As always feel free to contact me with qustions or obsesrvations.