The 126th Maine Legislature received a rude interruption to its first regular session this week as Gov. Paul LePage ordered a reduction in state spending of $35.5 million in order to balance the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. The reduction, known as a curtailment order, serves as a temporary cut to state spending until the Legislature passes a supplemental budget to address the revenue shortfall.
The budget review will certainly dominate time and attention at the State House until a new plan is passed, but there is also other business to be done, and we expect legislators to follow through the promises made during last fall’s campaign. The promises come easy before the election, but carrying them out can prove difficult once they arrive in Augusta. Below are statements made to Current Publishing from several of the winning candidates in the weeks before the November election. The legislators would do well to keep these words in mind as they take up the tough task of governing.
Rebecca Millett, Democrat, Senate District 7 (Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, and part of Scarborough): “I will use my business experience and skills to help create a non-partisan, coordinated, cooperative and goal-oriented effort to bring jobs to Maine.”
Tom Tyler, Republican, House District 110 (Windham and Gray): “We need to get state departments running more efficient so that they can properly qualify those in need. We do have a substantial problem in this state for people in need from the young children to our elderly and veterans.”
Jim Boyle, Democrat, Senate District 6 (Gorham, part of Scarborough, and part of Westbrook): “I will work with a district-wide collaborative group of representatives from schools, industry and fast growing businesses to ensure that students are adequately preparing for the jobs available in high-growth segments of the economy.”
Megan Rochelo, Democrat, House District 136 (Biddeford): “To improve access to health care for all Mainers, we need to work with insurance companies and medical providers to find cost-effective solutions to providing needed care. A focus on prevention is essential to making our communities healthier and reducing the cost of treatment down the road.”
Drew Gattine, Democrat, House District 126 (Westbrook): “We need to make our public health-care programs, such as MaineCare, more efficient and more effective. These programs are critical to maintaining the health and economic security of middle and working class families and senior citizens. Cutting these programs is not the best solution to our problems, especially in tough economic times. We do need to manage the costs of these programs, which are expensive. There is a strong connection between providing access to quality preventive care and cost.”
Kimberly J. Monaghan-Derrig, Democrat, House District 121 (Cape Elizabeth): “If re-elected, I will work to put aside the politics and posturing and work together to improve our economy, create jobs, strengthen public education, protect our environment and provide affordable health care.”
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