AUGUSTA – Maine Republican lawmakers today presented several proposals to reduce spending within the Maine Legislature’s budget.
The Legislative Budget Committee, which is made up of Democrat and Republican lawmakers, oversees the Legislature’s two-year budget.
Senate President Michael Thibodeau (R-Waldo), who is the chair of the Committee, today put forth several cost cutting proposals. Among them:
- Reducing by half the budget of the end of session mailers that go out to Mainers’ homes
- Not increasing funding to outside groups such as the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and Council of State Governments (CSG)
- Ending funding for groups that are duplicative, such as the Citizens Trade Policy Commission
In all, the Republican cost-cutting initiatives would save Maine taxpayers about $430,000.
Democrat leaders offered no cost cutting proposals.
“It’s time to put the Legislature’s budget on a treadmill,” Senate President Thibodeau said.
“Every time those mailers go out, we hear it from our constituents: ‘Surely this is not the highest priority for the taxpayers of Maine.’
“What we have in mind is a better deal for Maine taxpayers. We invite Democrat leaders to join in the discussion to reduce the cost of state government. They need to be at the table in order for this to happen.
“This is a small portion of Maine’s overall budget, but the message is clear: Legislative Republicans are committed to reducing unnecessary spending in state government,” Senate President Thibodeau said.