Posted on 03/18/2005 12:06:45 PM PST by Capn TrVth
MAINE REPUBLICAN PARTY COMMENT ON DEMOCRAT-LEAD BUDGET TALKS
DEMOCRAT PROCESS & PRIORITIES REFLECT HOW OUT OF STEP THE GOVERNORS PARTY IS WITH PEOPLE OF MAINE
(Excerpt) Read more at mainegop.com ...
Media Release
MAINE REPUBLICAN PARTY COMMENT ON DEMOCRAT-LEAD BUDGET TALKS DEMOCRAT PROCESS & PRIORITIES REFLECT HOW OUT OF STEP THE GOVERNORS PARTY IS WITH PEOPLE OF MAINE
AUGUSTA: After talks on a new state budget for the fiscal year ‘06-‘07 stalled last evening, the Maine Republican Party commented today on the Democrat majority-lead process that dissolved following just several weeks worth of budget review. With the Appropriations Committee set to vote out a recommendation of spending priorities for the Legislature to act on, Maine Republican Party leaders addressed the sudden end to budget talks.
“These spending priorities represent those of the majority Democrat-controlled legislature. As such, they fall short,” explained Republican National Committeeman Peter Cianchette. “They fall short in reducing state spending; they fall short in offering reasonable bonding levels we can afford to re-pay; they fall short in reducing the tax-burden; and they fall short on furthering our important commitment to health care for the uninsured. These priorities fall short in addressing the fiscal crisis that is now even worse for Maine’s immediate future. With no shortage of options which Majority Democrats could offer during these talks, they fell short in leading our economy in the direction it needs to go. This was their opportunity to provide real leadership on where our economy is headed. They did not seize it,” said Cianchette.
Republican Party Vice Chairman Mark Ellis commented, “Republican legislative leaders identified programs, offered alternatives, and showed good faith in wanting to work with the Democrats and Governor Baldacci on a bi-partisan basis. The same did not come in return; the Democrats did not want to work in a bipartisan fashion.
There could have been some sort of agreement if there was an honest discussion of the state spending problem. Very soon into these talks, it was clear Governor Baldacci was not going to lead and was noticeably absent from the discussions, especially as support for his key proposals failed to the gain full support of even his own party’s legislators. To see these talks dissolve, at a time when legislators of both sides had only just begun to explore all of the issues on which there could be agreement, is truly disappointing. It is disingenuous to suggest “time became our enemy” as Democrat leaders have suggested. We met the enemy, and it was the artificial Democrat-imposed deadline.”
Maine Republican Party Chairman Randy Bumps declared, “When this debate started, there was a large budget shortfall that loomed large over much of the next decade. For their part, the Democrats have taken a bad situation and only made it worse. Through more spending, more borrowing, and by raising taxes, this is just the latest example of how out of step Governor Baldacci and Augusta Democrats are with the people of Maine. This sort of fiscal management wouldn’t work for Maine family household budgets, and it doesn’t work for managing our state government. Only through smoke and mirrors and the budgetary gimmickry offered up by Governor Baldacci are Democrats cobbling together a plan to get through the next two years. The Democrat budget does nothing to address the dark fiscal realities our state faces. This is their budget, these are their priorities and they come at a high cost for the people of Maine. This is not a good day for the taxpayers of Maine, our children, or our grandchildren.”
Maine has two of the biggest RINO's in the Senate!
Hardly. Maine has willingly become one of the world's most visibly failed welfare states, followed by the "downstater" Liberals from MA and NY now calling the shots for the "poor, stupid" bluecollars to the north.
My friends and I often lament this sad fact.Maine's "R" voter base has a serious problem, and I can break it down into two simple components: Both invlove cultural demographics, we have our "Salt O' the Earth Maine Dems, they do not even realize that there is an "ugly" side to the Democratic process. The stalwart Maine Dems are good people that feel for the common man and they vibrate to the positive aspects of the Democratic party that scarcely even exist anymore, they are Democrats by by rote!
They are aware of the tarnish, but see it as a fine patina.
These people are our Brothers Fathers and grandparents, they watched Dan Rather right up until last Wednesday and they wanted to equate JFK to JFK2.0 They aren't stupid or bad or evil, they are Dems by tradition.
The second component of our problem is that Maine is a Bedroom Community of the Commonwealth, the uber Lefties from the BosCon to the Maple-Curtain have sent minions forth into the heart of our great State and they have gravitated to all of the key catbird seats in the municipalities they have managed to divide and conquer. (Let's not forget that the more economically devastated a community is, the wider they hold their arms open to the spenders.)These people are encouraging Socialism, promulgating it, mandating it, arranging it and passing it into law with idiotic legislation and salvos of failed programs that only seem to beget more failed programs.
John Baldacci isn't a bad guy, but he's beholden. He knows it, he probably hates it, but it seems to be the case.
Obit.
The State of Maine died yesterday after 30 years of failed Democrat policies, Maine once flourushed with Industry but due to 30 years of mismanagement The Pine Tree State became one of the poorest States in the Nation, and one of the highest taxed States in the Nation, 30 years of failed Democratic policies.
Maine has been broken by Democrats. Enough is enough.
Howzzat for a Mainerant ;>
Last Maine Gov. I recall doing a lick of Good in the State of Maine was Longley, and he was an Independant.
You may not want to "read" the GOP piece, but until you do, you really can't call it "whining" because it's not".
And if they can't whine after 30 years of this failed expirement in Socialism, then whe CAN they whine? Hmmmmmmm?
You can go back to the DU now newbie liberal.
Arrgh. Another one walks the plank."!
Good call. The guy's first post was to point out that a polled that had been FReeped to the right was countered by his liberal friends. His second post was here.
I was born in Portland, Maine and spent the first 10 years of my life living in South Portland. It was a great place to be a kid and Maine is the most beautiful place on Earth. I was born a Democrat because my father was a Democrat.
I moved around the country and now live in Florida. It took me 25 years to break through to the good side and become a Republican because of the brainwashing I received from my experiences from growing up in a poor state, that has become highly dependent on the government for even the basic of neccesities.
Maine is a perfect example of just how rotten liberalism, Socialism is for people. It is a failure in monumental proportions.
Now that I have money, I travel back to Maine for vacation and to visit relatives. They are all brainwashed, think President Bush is evil. Yet, they are poor and support the tired, tax me till I'm blue mentality.
The taxes in Maine are outrageous. Look at New Hampshire next door. I compare NH to the Dominican Republic and Haiti to Maine. It is like night and day.
I would so love to buy property in Maine for a second home, but who could afford it?
It is true that NY, MA and CT rich liberals have bought up all the great real estate and have forced their stupidity on the rest of the state. The taxes they impose, they can afford.
If you want to look at just how much a failure Socialism is in the U.S. -- look to Maine.
The people of Maine have nobody to blame but themselves. They are responsible for their Democratic majority. The Maine senators might as well be liberals.
It is a shame. Maine is such a great state for tourism and industry.
Mexico, Maine?
No, you said a paper-mill town in Western Maine. Mexico/Rumford came to mind. I don't know you, but I work in Bridgton.
I assumed it was the screen name that gave it away. But yes I grew up in Mexico. Every time I go home and my fiancee complains of the smell I remind her that it is the smell of money...
heh.
Well, not much money lately.
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