By Sen. Jeff Timberlake

Just seven weeks ago, the legislative Democrats yet again pushed through a partisan majority budget, which they claim meets the constitutional requirements for a balanced budget. Though they failed to fully fund MaineCare, Maine’s Medicaid program, in year two of the budget, legislative Democrats are already trying to fund unknown future pet projects.

Hello, I’m Senator Jeff Timberlake of Androscoggin County.  I have the honor of representing the citizens of Senate District 17, which consists of communities in Androscoggin and Kennebec Counties.

I have served in the State House since my first election to the Maine House of Representatives in 2010, including serving two terms on the Appropriations Committee and two terms in leadership. We used to work together to pass compromise two-thirds budgets that didn’t leave nearly half of all Mainers without a voice in the budget process.

Unfortunately, under the stewardship of Governor Mills and with the Legislature under full Democrat control, partisan majority budgets have become the norm. Now, after passing a budget they claim is a “continuing services budget” that funds the operations of state government, legislative Democrats want to spend even more.

Let’s go through the numbers. The March majority madness budget passed less than two months ago spends $11.4 billion and leaves approximately $125 million unspent. This would be a healthy number to fund new projects and initiatives. However, Democrats did not fully fund MaineCare in year two of the budget. Even after raiding the MaineCare Stabilization fund, more than $120 million is still needed to plug the hole.

Nevertheless, the Governor wants to spend another $174 million above what is needed to fund MaineCare in a supplemental budget.

To do this, the Governor and the legislative Democrats are proposing new and increased taxes and fees that will disproportionately affect working Mainers. These “revenue enhancements” include increased taxes on tobacco and cannabis, a new 70 cent tax on every prescription filled, a six percent tax on non-municipal ambulance services, and a new inpatient bed fee on hospitals.

Yes, you heard that right. With hospitals closing around the state, the Governor wants to make it even more difficult for them to operate. The kicker is that even if Democrats pass all the tax increases proposed, they will still be 16 million dollars short. Republicans have been very clear about our position since the Governor first proposed her spending package in January: We will not support any new or increased taxes and fees.

There are substantive reforms that we can take to rein in Maine’s excessive spending. MaineCare accounts for approximately 25 percent of the state budget. Nearly one in three Mainers are currently utilizing Maine’s Medicaid program. It is simply not feasible for the healthcare needs of one-third of the state to be paid by the other two-thirds. One of our simple requests is that able-bodied childless adults need to engage in work or community engagement to further themselves.

I’m not talking about cutting care for seniors, children or those with disabilities that prevent them from working. We must evaluate the MaineCare program and ensure that the program is serving its intended purpose to provide care for those who need it most.

Maine’s budget has grown at a rapid pace since Governor Mills took office in 2019. It is beyond time for the majority party to wake up and exercise just a little bit of fiscal discipline rather than continue with this tax and spend governance.  

Again, this is Senator Jeff Timberlake from Androscoggin County. Thank you for tuning into this week’s Republican Radio Address and make sure to follow Maine Senate Republicans on Facebook, Instagram and X; and Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms this weekend. Have a great weekend folks. 

Senator Jeff Timberlake represents District 17, which includes communities in Androscoggin and Kennebec counties. He is the Senate Republican Lead for the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, and a member of the Government Oversight Committee.