June can sometimes be known as meltdown month in Augusta,
when differing partisan priorities lead to noisy conflicts over the biennial
budget and other key legislation. Divided
political control can enhance the meltdown formula. A few bills are still being considered at the
committee level, but most of the action is now focused on floor action in the
Senate and House.
SESSION
House – 9 a.m. Monday through Friday
Senate – 10 a.m. Monday through Friday
Afternoon and evening sessions are possible.
LEGISLATION
As of today 1,443 bills have been printed.
STATE BUDGET & TAX RELIEF STANDOFF
The Appropriations Committee voted Friday night to on two
versions of a 2016-2017 State Budget, setting the stage for heated debate and a
likely veto.
A majority of committee members voted for a spending package
that jettisons virtually all of the tax relief and reforms proposed by Governor
LePage in January. The majority report
includes an increase to $5.5 million in the estate tax exemption, which matches
the federal exemption, but does not phase out the Maine estate tax and does not
include any of the individual or corporate income tax cuts proposed by the
Governor. The majority report allows the
temporary 5.5% sales tax to roll back to 5% on July 1 but makes permanent the
temporary 8% tax on meals and lodging (that was scheduled to return to 7%).
The four House Republicans on the committee voted for a
package that includes income tax relief and maintains the sales tax at 5.5% but
does not broaden the sales tax base proposed by the Governor.
Details of the two reports have not yet been released
publicly.
Here are preliminary estimates by the Appropriations
Committee analysts as reported Monday morning in the Bangor Daily News:
- General Fund budget in the current 2014-2015
biennium that ends June 30 is $6,417,341,266 - Governor’s proposed budget for 2016-2017 is
$6,581,847,181 - Majority report budget is $6,722,394,783
Talks continue between House Republican leaders and House
Democrat leaders and Senate leaders on finding common ground that would produce
a two-thirds vote for a 2016-2017 State Budget and, thus, be enough to override
an expected veto by the Governor of any budget that does not include the
significant tax relief he has proposed.
IN THE PIPELINE
Numerous unanimous and divided reports have been voted on at
the committee level and either are working being considered in the Senate and
House or are awaiting floor action.
Budget & Taxes
- Improve tax expenditure transparency and
accountability (LD 941 – unanimous Ought to Pass as Amended committee report) - Ensure that tax expenditures create high-quality
jobs (LD 1287 – divided report) - Amend the Constitution of Maine to eliminate the
income tax (Governor’s Bill – LD 1367 – divided report)
Economic Development
- Help facilitate new career opportunities and
attract major private investment (Governor’s Bill – LD 1431 – divided committee
report)
Energy & Utilities
- Focus energy laws on energy cost (Governor’s
Bill – LD 1400 – divided report)
Healthcare
- Increase access to health security by expanding
federal funded health care for Maine people (LD 854 – divided report) - Study the design and implementation of options
for a universal health care plan in the State (LD 384 – divided report) - Protect Maine consumers in the individual health
insurance market (LD 1344 – unanimous Ought to Pass as Amended report)
Labor
- Increase the minimum wage (LD 92 – divided
committee report) - Require the use of preapproved subcontractors
for publicly funded construction projects (LD 244 – divided report) - Regarding sick days and benefits of an employee
who is terminated while on sick leave (LD 445 – Ought to Pass as Amended
report; on the Special Appropriations Table) - Ensure the right to work without payment of dues
or fees to a labor union as a condition of employment (LD 489 – divided report) - Promote privacy in social media accounts of
workers (LD 686 – unanimous Ought to Pass as Amended report) - Modify the unemployment insurance successor law
(LD 701 – divided report) - Strengthen the right of a victim of sexual
assault or domestic violence to take necessary leave from employment (LD 921 –
divided report) - Promote minimum wage consistency and pre-empt
local wage ordinances (Governor’s Bill – LD 1361 – divided report)
Miscellaneous
- Promote equity in joint and several liability
law (LD 434 – divided committee report) - Improve disclosure procedures in small claims
(LD 451 – unanimous Ought to Pass as Amended report) - Establish a commission to study transportation
funding reform (LD 706 – unanimous Ought to Pass as Amended report) - Amend the Garnishment laws of the State (LD 1163
– unanimous Ought to Pass as Amended report)
