Maine Democrats advance budget without Republican support

The Maine House of Representatives, controlled by Democrats, voted along party lines to advance a basic budget bill without any support from Republicans. This budget totals $11.3 billion and will cover two years. It aims to ensure funding is available starting July 1 and give certainty to municipalities and schools as they prepare their budgets. Democratic leaders believe acting swiftly will prevent delays that could lead to a government shutdown. They asserted the budget does not include any tax hikes or cuts suggested by Governor Janet Mills. However, Republicans criticized the Democrats for excluding them from the budget process and argued that the proposed budget is unbalanced since it does not account for expected MaineCare costs exceeding $100 million for fiscal 2027. Despite the controversy, Democratic Representative Drew Gattine emphasized the need for stability in uncertain economic times, especially amidst fears of a potential recession. On the other hand, Republican Representative Mark Blier expressed frustration over the lack of bipartisan collaboration, accusing Democrats of rushing the budget through with insufficient review time. The preliminary budget vote ended with a narrow margin of 74-67. Further votes are required in both the House and Senate before the budget can be sent to Governor Mills for approval. The budget includes $121 million needed to close out the current budget year, with the majority allocated to MaineCare and some funds for dealing with spruce budworms. The situation is complicated by earlier failures to finalize a supplemental budget. This has raised concerns about potential service disruptions if the new budget isn’t agreed upon soon. Both parties recognize the urgency of the situation as Democrats aim to finalize the budget before the end of the month. Additionally, House Republicans proposed numerous amendments to the budget, but all were defeated in party-line votes. One representative, Laurel Libby, faced restrictions preventing her from fully participating due to disciplinary actions related to past remarks. The budget process is still ongoing and may require special sessions to finalize all necessary legislation.