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AUGUSTA — Democrats in the Maine Legislature passed a two-year budget over Republican objections Thursday, saying there’s an urgent need to provide clarity on funding for hospitals, schools, and local cities and towns.
Democrats described the $11.4 billion spending plan as a “continuing services budget” designed to keep state government functioning when the new fiscal year starts in July.
And while it includes $118 million to fill a current gap in MaineCare funding, those monies will not get to hospitals and nursing homes until late June because Democrats passed the budget without any Republican support.
Democrats used a parliamentary procedure to adjourn the Legislature so the bill will go into effect in 90 days. They will come back for a special session to finish their work, which includes consideration of more than 2,000 bills. They are typically in session until late June.
“Passing this continuing services budget allows us the time and space to debate future policy changes and investments without any threat of a government shutdown in Maine,” Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, said in a statement. “We do not know what is coming down the road from Washington, so passing this funding is the right thing to do in a time of uncertainty.”
But to Republicans, the move was an unnecessary power grab by the majority party. They noted that it’s the third consecutive two-year budget passed without GOP support.
“The Democrats have been in full control of state government since 2018,” Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, said. “They have pushed through reckless majority budgets and continue to ignore the severe structural deficits they’ve created.”
During debate on the House floor, Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Drew Gattine, D-Westbrook, said the budget funds 55% of local education costs, guarantees cities and towns a 5% share of state revenues and continues free community college for those who are currently enrolled.
In addition to the MaineCare funds, it also earmarks $2 million to address a spruce budworm outbreak that threatens Maine forests and provides cost of living adjustments for direct care workers.
It does not raise any taxes or fees and it does not reduce any services, he said.
Gattine said it offers a balanced budget and leaves $127 million left in the General Fund.
“One of the most important things this bill does is provide stability and certainty,” Gattine said. “We are living in very uncertain times.”
He mentioned the prospect of tariffs and concerns about the national economy. By passing the budget now, it gives cities and towns the certainty of knowing how much money they will be getting from the state as many of them begin their budget season, he said.
Yet Republicans questioned why Democrats pushed the budget through on Thursday, saying that in a typical year, negotiations between the parties extend for several more months.
Just last week, several House Republicans backed a compromise supplemental budget to pay the hospitals, put some limits on General Assistance and provide funds for the northern forests. But the measure failed in the Senate because of GOP opposition and just a week later, Democrats asked Republicans to support a new, much larger plan.
Rep. Ken Fredette, R-Newport, said only four times in the last 65 years has the majority party passed a budget without support from the minority party. He said leaving Republicans out of the conversation disenfranchises the 600,000 people they represent.
And he described it as a move toward Washington-style politics where gridlock has become the norm.
“Maine has become Washington,” he said. “Maine is better than that.”
Republicans offered more than a dozen amendments, all of which were rejected by Democrats. Many were offered by Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, who is prohibited from speaking or voting in the House because of a censure vote taken last month.
Libby posted photos of a transgender teenager competing in a high school sports competition, drawing the ire of Democrats who say she violated legislative ethics by using images of a minor without their consent.
Libby is suing House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, saying he overstepped his authority in taking away her vote.
The issue derailed debate over the budget for nearly an hour on Thursday as several Republicans pleaded with Democrats to move on from the issue and give Libby her voting rights back.
But that motion failed, and the House voted to send the budget to the Senate.
On final votes, the House passed the budget 76-66 and the Senate approved it 18-17.
