Only in Maine
Legislators cut short their deliberations on a new state budget last Thursday evening to attend the annual Moose Lottery.
State Rep. Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, the majority leader, confirmed late Thursday afternoon there were members of his caucus who wanted to get to Rumford for the popular event that night. Democrats said Republicans too had plans to attend as did members of the Senate.
House Minority Leader David Bowles, R-Sanford, said he knew of no House Republican who planned to leave early. If they went, he said, it was after the House adjourned.
“It’s a big deal,” said one Democratic member, not only for the chance to bag a moose permit, but for politicians to mingle among sportsmen – a powerful lobby in the state.
The Moose Lottery is an annual event held by the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to award moose hunting permits and raise money for the department. The lottery moves around the state to give participants a chance to attend the drawing in person.
The event last week raised $1.4 million as 2,895 hunters were drawn from 68,800 lottery ticket holders.
Adjourning to attend the Moose Lottery may have been a stroke of genius on the part of the Democrats. When the House finally finished its business on the budget Friday night, four Republicans – citing prior commitments – were not there to vote. The budget passed 74-72.
Name game
Organizers of the people’s veto petition to overturn borrowing in the state budget officially called off their campaign Monday after the Legislature essentially took away their cause.
The question now is what are they going to do with all those names, which petition organizers estimated at more than 40,000.
Sen. Peter Mills, R-Somerset, said their now defunct group – Don’t Mortgage ME – will keep the lists to send out thank-you notes.
Some questioned whether there were political motivations afoot. Don’t Mortgage ME director, David Emery, has announced plans to run for governor and Mills too has been mentioned as a possible candidate.
Mills invited the press to come review the lists of names. “I’m willing to have you come look at them at any time,” he said.
The people’s veto campaign spent an estimated $75,000 to gather signatures.
Bonded
While the Legislature just got rid of $450 million in revenue bonds, Democrats and Republicans say they are still planning to work together to float general obligations bonds that ultimately are sent out to the voters for approval. The issue will be how much.
Gov. John Baldacci had submitted a plan for $200 million in bonds but Republicans say they are somewhere between “zero and $100 million.” The bonds cover everything from transportation improvements to funding for research and development and land conservation under the Land for Maine’s Future program.
Members of leadership from both sides of the aisle were scheduled to meet Thursday with the hope of coming up with a bond package to present to the Appropriations Committee on June 30. Just when the full Legislature would consider the bonds has yet to be determined.
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