President's Message: “Majority budget process could have lasting effects on remaining legislative outcomes…”

On Tuesday, March 30, the Maine Legislature approved a new two-year, $8.3 billion state budget in a series of largely party-line votes. In the days and weeks leading up to this vote, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce considered the previous 20 years of budget negotiations and expressed the following concerns to legislators regarding the majority budget process prior to Tuesday’s session.

History has taught us an important lesson about the lasting impact of majority budget votes and the willingness of elected officials from differing parties to work together after such votes are cast. Debate and inclusion of different perspectives always have a better result than a singular perspective. Therefore, we encourage both sides to work together on a biennial budget that will garner the support of two-thirds of our elected officials. The result will help set a tone of bipartisanship for addressing all issues of importance to the state, as well as Maine’s business community, as we move forward into the special session.

Support for the upcoming supplemental budget, as well as the distribution of $1 billion provided to the state by the recent COVID-19 relief package, must not be jeopardized by a majority budget process. In addition, we cannot afford to jeopardize bipartisan support for other proposals, including bonding for projects that are critical to job growth and economic development.

The Maine State Chamber greatly appreciates the support from the federal government that has come to Maine to lessen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and boost our state’s economy in this unprecedented time. We also recognize the need to quickly distribute these relief funds. We appreciate that Governor Janet Mills’ budget proposal does not increase taxes, especially with Maine businesses and people facing the continued economic fallout of the pandemic’s long-lasting and far-reaching impact.

Despite Tuesday’s outcome, the Maine State Chamber will continue to encourage our state legislators to take the time and effort to work together to pass bipartisan legislation. The importance of the budget process on the overarching legislative session cannot be understated or underestimated.