Gov. Paul LePage is once again refusing to order bonds that could put many people back to work through construction and improvement projects statewide, in an effort to force his plan to pay off the state’s hospital debt through the Legislature.
LePage even admitted last week that he was holding the $104 million in bonds “hostage” to get Democrats ”“ who are now in control of both the Maine House and Senate ”“ to agree to his plan.
While it is important for the state to pay this debt, holding voter-authorized bonds hostage is not the answer to the problem.
LePage wants to use revenues from future liquor sales to pay off the state’s hospital debt, now that the current liquor sales contract is up. The state would pay $186 million back to the state’s hospitals under the plan, which would be matched by $298 million in federal money ”“ for a total of $484 million owed in hospital debt, according to the Associated Press. Lawmakers are reviewing LePage’s proposal as well as another from Democrats, but leaders have said they will not rush through a bill, the AP reported.
It’s unfortunate that the governor continues to take this kind of approach, telling reporters, “You got to threaten them. They won’t get it done unless I force it.”
That’s not the way to get a proposal passed, and it’s not likely to fare well with Democrats. It’s also hypocritical, since the governor proposed $100 million in government facilities bonds to build a replacement for the Maine Correctional Center in Windham in January.
The $104 million in bonds that were already approved by voters would draw federal matches to bring the total investment to $297 million, and Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall, D-Richmond, said last week many of the projects ”“ including highway construction, bridge repairs and replacements, and investments in ports, harbors, marine transportation, aviation, railroads and other transit systems ”“ are “shovel-ready.”
We disagreed last year when LePage said he would not order bonds, even if voters approved them, until the state reduces its debt, and we still believe the governor should respect the will of the people and order the bonds so projects can move forward and Mainers can get back to work.
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