Maine Republican leadership seems to neither understand economics, nor how to compromise. Let’s talk about the supplemental budget, which allocates money to get Maine through the rest of the year before the more expansive biennial budget takes effect. Basically, it covers financial needs that have arisen since the last budget year, and isn’t very showy.…
The state will not be able to promptly pay health providers for their care of MaineCare recipients, because Republicans chose, in a reversal, not to support Gov. Janet Mills’ supplemental budget proposal. MaineCare covers about 400,000 people, including half of all Maine children. The short-term budget was set to provide an extra $118 million to…
What would you think if I told you an American governor just proposed a budget that cut eligibility for food stamps for people who don’t have US citizenship, underfunded domestic violence treatment and prevention (in a state where thousands are experiencing it), and put new limits on rental assistance for people in danger of being…
Children and families in rural Maine would face the greatest harm should proposed funding cuts to the federal Medicaid program be implemented, according to a new report. Republicans in Congress are considering more than $2 trillion in cuts to help offset planned tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, leaving states to make up for any shortfalls. Rita…
Maine Republicans have only been in power in Augusta for two of the past 50 years (they have only held the trifecta of the House, Senate, and Governorship once since 1975). That is a very long reign of futility. I assume that’s why they’re trying to suppress voters they don’t like — the poor, the…
Many of us who follow politics know that New England has over the last several presidential elections been something of a Democratic stronghold. Since Pres. Bill Clinton’s victory in 1992 (and with the exception of Pres. George W. Bush in 2000) the Democratic presidential candidate has won every state in New England in every election,…