Governor Addresses Legislature on End of Session
Governor Addresses Legislature on End of Session
Governor John E. Baldacci addressed the Maine State Legislature as the session wound to an end late Wednesday night. The Governor complimented legislators about the accomplishments made on behalf of all Maine people.
The Governor stated:
"We made great strides in improving our economy, health care, education and environment.
In one of the last acts of the session, I signed into law LD 1021 a bill which will aid law enforcement officers and firefighters in paying their health insurance. This will help the people who put their lives on the line every day for each one of us.
We continued to increase - to historic levels - state funding of local education.
We successfully added 5.8 million dollars to higher education.
We have made great strides in supporting our teachers in a meaningful way that will bring new teachers to the table with increasing minimum salaries for starting teachers to 30-thosuand dollars a year.
At the same time we were able to increase payments to hospitals.
Together, and with impressive bipartisanship, we passed a 2/3 budget - one that again did not raise broad based taxes and that put $100 million in the rainy day fund.
We have met challenges hoisted upon us by federal budget shortfalls and unfunded mandates. We took care of Maine citizens, putting their needs above party politics. This is what the people of Maine have come to expect, and you have again delivered.
Our first order of business was to expedite $5 million in fuel assistance to take care of some of our neighbors in greatest need - supplementing inadequate federal LIHEAP funds.
When the federal government program Medicare Part D failed thousands of seniors, the State stepped in to ensure no one left a pharmacy without their lifesaving medications.
We have built a stronger, more competitive Maine, continuing to ensure that our fiscal house is in order, and investing in our greatest resource - our people.
We reformed the business equipment tax to provide incentives for business growth and expansion. And it helped in reducing the state tax burden.
We expanded Pine Tree Zones.
We passed a comprehensive energy package to help increase our energy independence and promote a healthy environment for future generations.
We increased access to broadband technology across the reaches of the state.
We expanded our creative economy with the Maine Attraction film incentive.
We preserved Dirigo Health because all Maine people need and deserve affordable, quality health care that we can depend on.
And, importantly, we made sure we reward hard work and workers by increasing the minimum wage, and by increasing the minimum teacher pay.
I wish you well on a job well done, an enjoyable summer with your family and friends. It is well deserved."
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