Long-awaited budget hearings open (Your kidding Me! Surely this can't be true!!)

Boston.com ^ | 7 October 2002 | Francis X. Quinn

[SheLion]

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) With about $12 million available from belt-tightening savings, the King administration begins laying out its plan in detail Monday for covering the rest of a $240 million revenue shortfall.

Administration officials intend to open their presentation to the Legislature's Appropriations Committee with a catalogue of the economic woes facing the nation and its states.

[SheLion]

The SPIN is IN!

What about the money coming into Maine from the Tobacco Settlement Money ( over $50 million a year) coming into Maine.

What about the big grant money coming into Maine from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

• Consumers for Affordable Health Care Foundation
  Augusta,ME
  SmokeLess States: National Tobacco Policy Initiative  
  3 years, ending 05/31/04   $992,060   ID#041925

Something doesn't smell right. Where is THIS money going??!!!! Can anyone answer this for me???

[SheLion]

[mushroom]

Why is it always a "revenue shortfall" rather than "over expenditure"?

[cynicom]

Any good socialist knows the answer to their problem. "RAISE TAXES" Mainers want a nanny state, they should be willing to pay whatever it costs.

[metesky]

I think more and more people in Maine are coming out of the either. We'll see.