In recent weeks, we’ve had a change of pace at the State House from last session. While we have certainly had some partisan battles flare up this year, we have happily been able to reach compromise on several important issues.

Most recently, this was evident on the issues of tax conformity and education funding. We also had success at the beginning of the legislative session with the unanimously passed bill to fund treatment, education, and law enforcement to combat Maine’s drug epidemic.

The tax conformity and education spending got a bit testy at points, with editorials and radio appearances tending to be partisan, but eventually we got to where we needed to be and Maine’s schools, taxpayers, and businesses will all benefit. Even though I belong to a party, I am not a fan of partisanship, and will support good policy no matter who or where it comes from. That’s why I supported additional education funding.

Our schools – and our property taxpayers – need it. That’s also why I supported full tax conformity. It’s good policy that helps create jobs in Maine. After the Democrats’ attempt to eliminate a tax program, and the Republicans’ refusal to budge on tying education funding to full conformity, we reached a deal that everyone could live with. While I could do without the interim partisan squabbling, in the end it worked out in the best interest of Mainers.

A promising piece of the education funding legislation is the creation of a Blue Ribbon Commission to study Maine’s education funding. Members of the commission will include educators, administrators, legislators, and others involved in education and education policy. The current funding formula is incredibly complex, and I look forward to seeing the findings of the study and moving forward on reforming funding in the state.

Another issue we could see compromise on is welfare reform. This is a perennial issue that the Legislature seems to pick away at, but certain policies like banning the purchase of lottery, alcohol, and tobacco with welfare benefits need to be enacted, and have consistently been shot down over the years by Democrats. This year, Democrats have presented their own welfare plan that includes a measure to put such a ban in place. I am hopeful this means we might be able to reach an agreement on this, and perhaps other aspects of reform. However, as with anything in Augusta the devil is in the details and we will see how the bill comes out of committee.

Each side is going to have to give a little if we want to make progress. Republicans have wanted this ban, and other changes, for years. But, to get this ban through, as well as other reforms such as work application requirements for welfare recipients we may need to bend a little on other issues. Democrats also can’t expect Republicans to give away the farm by agreeing to all kinds of new government programs in order to get this ban passed. It’s part of the game in Augusta, but as we saw with tax conformity and education, it can lead to good policy.

As we look forward to the end of the legislative session in Augusta I am hopeful that the longer days in the Senate and House chambers don’t mean higher levels of partisanship. We have real issues that need to be dealt with in the state and we can’t ignore real solutions just because it’s an election year.

If you have questions or comments on any of the issues I have raised here, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I can be reached at: 432-5643 or dcwoodsome@gmail.com.

— Sen. David Woodsome represents Senate District 33, which includes Cornish, Limerick, Newfield, Parsonsfield, Sanford, Shapleigh and Waterboro.

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