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Maine Senate approves $LD 609 continuing services budget after partisan debate, 18-17
Summary
After hours of debate, the Maine Senate voted 18-17 to accept the majority "continuing services" budget (LD 609) as amended, a measure lawmakers said would fund baseline state services and give time to negotiate a second-phase budget.
The Maine Senate narrowly approved LD 609, a continuing services budget intended to fund baseline state operations while lawmakers craft a separate part-2 budget, voting 18-17 to accept the majority report as amended and to pass the bill to be enacted.
Senator Rotundo of Androscoggin, who introduced LD 609, described it as a “continuing services budget” designed to keep state functions running while the Appropriations Committee and legislators prepare a second-phase budget. “This budget simply makes sure that the state of Maine is responsibly funded in the coming biennium,” Rotundo said, listing supplemental items included in the measure such as funding to close the MaineCare gap, $2,000,000 for spruce budworm remediation and baseline funding for K–12 education at a 55% state share for both years.
The measure prompted extended floor debate over process and policy. Senator Stewart of Rustic called the bill a partisan move and urged more transparency and negotiation with…
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