The 129th Legislature is halfway through its two-year term. So far, it has been the worst session that I have been part of, maybe Maine’s worst ever in terms of spending, extremism and the lack of clear priorities that benefit all citizens. Our elderly, people with disabilities and struggling taxpayers were put at the end of the line, while potential new voters and able-bodied people seeking generous welfare benefits received priority.
Why? One-party rule.
Democrats now completely control the Governorship, Maine House and Maine Senate for the first time in over a decade. Even worse, these new Democrats are not the John F. Kennedy-style Democrats who prioritized working people over business owners.
Instead, the new majority takes their marching orders from the national progressive movement, places like San Francisco and New York City. They pursue policies that penalize working men and women and encourage people to move to Maine because our welfare benefits are more generous than other, more wealthy states.
The result is an $8 billion state budget that spends 99.995 percent of all available state monies, including the surplus accumulated under Gov. Paul LePage and Republicans. The state budget increased a whopping 11 percent while the waiting list for individuals with severe disabilities continues to grow.
After spending virtually all the money, Democrats then requested $239 million in new state borrowing.
I am pleased that Republicans were able to stop three out of four new borrowing requests, because they were not emergencies. If they were so important to the Governor and Democrats, why were they not included in the budget?
Roads and bridges should be a core part of our state budget because of their importance to our economy and everyday life. They should not be a loan request after we spend money on everything else.
When Republicans were in a position to help craft a budget, spending was restrained and more focused on Maine’s truly needy citizens. Tax money was returned to taxpayers, the economy improved and borrowing requests were more reasonable, resulting in better credit ratings.
Republicans now fear that there will be a budget shortfall facing us when we return to Augusta in January.
Republicans had some success opposing some of the extreme ideas, particularly when public outcry reached that Statehouse. Democratic proposals to increase taxes on home heating fuels, gasoline and to tax Maine’s beer and wine industry out of business failed (for now).
Gun control proposals failed. Maine’s current gun laws protect our constitutional rights and help make Maine the safest state in the country.
The scheme to subvert our Constitution by getting around the Electoral College when electing a President also failed.
Unfortunately, Democrats succeeded in passing a number of extreme laws that go way past policies that have existed up until now. Now Maine taxpayers will pay for abortions. Morning after pills will be available in vending machines.
A new vaccination law eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions.That means parents will have less control over the health and well-being of their children. It could effectively prevent over 5,000 children from attending public schools if parents do not comply.
If this column is alarmist, it should be. People need to be aware that elections have consequences. Republicans hold 37percent of the seats in the Maine Legislature. The public needs to follow what goes on in Augusta more closely and let elected officials know when Maine values are being undermined by out-of-state, progressive ideas that threaten our family budgets, economy and way of life.
The Maine we know and love is in trouble. Please do what you can before it is too late.
Rep. Chris Johansen is in his second term representing District 145: Bridgewater, Crystal, Dyer Brook, Hersey, Island Falls, Linneus, Littleton, Ludlow, Merrill, Monticello, Moro, Plantation, Mount Chase, New Limerick, Oakfield, Sherman, Smyrna, Stacyville, Hammond, plus the unorganized territory of Central Aroostook (including E Township).
