By Rep. Bernard Ayotte
(R-Caswell)
After having served seven years in the Maine State House of Representatives, it is almost impossible not to become aware of the workings of state government and some of the problems it creates for itself.
Many of the problems that frustrate constituents and give lawmakers heartburn stem from when a legislature initiates a new welfare program and a legislature in the future decides, for some reason or another, to eliminate or change the program. Maine people become accustomed to benefiting from these programs and when all of a sudden they are eliminated due to budget constraints, this makes for very difficult situations.
The State Legislature must either stop creating these programs or accept the fact that once started they must be continually funded. When we are offered federal funds in the form of a one-time, lump sum payment for a welfare program, it is extremely important that we understand that it is a one-time deal and will not last forever.
The federal government is as much to blame for this type of “now you have it, now you don’t” phenomenon as is state government. One example is the stimulus money of 2009-10. Another is the years of incentives to expand Medicaid — bait that Maine took — only to impose the recent sweeping national health care reform, which prevents states from being able to cut back on welfare when the stimulus dries up and the bills come in higher than expected.
That’s the situation Maine is in and, unfortunately, we can’t just raise taxes because they’re already so high. Even if they weren’t, our federally-enabled welfare spending is on such a steep autopilot that Mainers would quickly go broke from taxation.
There are many programs that can be trimmed back, however. We just have to have the political will to do it. You have to live within your means and so should state government.
I can be reached at (207) 325-4905 or via e-mail at RepBernard.Ayotte@legislature.maine.gov.
