Maine governor signs 2-year budget that angered Republicans

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Janet Mills last week signed a two-year, nearly $10 billion budget jammed through by fellow Democrats that will keep government services rolling — and possibly avert a shutdown — in the new fiscal year.

Mills said she was unwilling to take a chance of Republicans using the threat of a shutdown as a bargaining tactic.

“I would have preferred to sign a budget that has bipartisan support, but the possibility of a government shutdown – which would be extremely harmful to Maine people – is something I cannot accept," she said in a statement.

Lawmakers adjourned late Thursday so the budget can go into effect on July 1, the start of the fiscal year. Mills signed a proclamation Friday calling them back to work in a special session starting Wednesday.

She insisted that the current budget containing no new programs is not the final word. There will be a supplemental budget in which new programs and spending priorities will be discussed.

“I recognize that tensions are high, but there is still a lot of work left to do, with room — I believe — for compromise. I urge Democrats and Republicans to reset and to begin anew the work of negotiating their priorities during the next round of budget discussions,” she said.

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Democrats, who hold majorities in both legislative chambers, pushed through a continuing services budget on party-line votes over forceful GOP objections on Thursday.

The timing allows the budget to go into effect 90 days later on July 1 with simple majority votes. Lawmakers would have had to approve the budget with a two-thirds majority, a steeper hurdle that would have required Republican support, if they'd waited until later in the legislative session.

Republicans were incensed over the maneuver. Several of them said they were negotiating in good faith and noted that their proposal to reduce income taxes on lower- and middle-income Mainers by $200 million would have reduced the overall size of the budget by only 2%.

Rep. Scott Cyrway, a Republican from Albion, said during the floor debate that Democrats chose to freeze out the GOP even though there was plenty of time to reach a consensus that could have achieved a two-thirds majority.

“That's all we're asking — R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” he said, spelling out the word for emphasis.

It was the second time in Mills' tenure that Democrats have used the maneuver of adopting a majority vote, adjourning the Legislature, and then resuming a special session.

Maine governor 'fine' after contracting COVID-19 again

AUGUSTA (AP) — Democratic Gov. Janet Mills will have to miss a visit by first lady Jill Biden this week because she has contracted COVID-19 for a second time, officials said.

Mills tested positive on Sunday and will isolate for a minimum of five days, consistent with state and federal heath guidelines.

“Other than a scratchy throat, I feel fine,” she said Sunday evening in a statement. “I will work remotely over the next few days, and I look forward to getting back to the office later this week.”

Because of the timing, the governor will be in isolation when the first lady, a teacher, pays a visit to Southern Maine Community College in South Portland on Wednesday.

Mills, 75, also contracted COVID-19 in April 2022 and recovered quickly. She attributes being fully vaccinated and boosted for her mild symptoms and good prognosis.

Bellows applauds committee vote to protect Ranked Choice Voting

AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee voted last week to defeat a bill that would repeal Maine’s Ranked Choice Voting law.

“Mainers have shown over and over that they support the use of Ranked Choice Voting in our elections,” Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said. “They appreciate the ability to vote with their hearts, rather than their fears. This issue has been settled, and I’m glad to see the committee vote reflect that today.

“We rank things every day to make our choices – what kind of cereal to buy at the grocery store, which movie to watch, or what hike to go on with our friends. It’s common sense that we be able to do that with our votes as well.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine governor signs 2-year budget that angered Republicans