Maine Freedom Agenda Update

The Hot Stove League met in Bangor, Maine on Saturday February 21st to discuss important economic policy issues.
These meetings include state legislators and business leaders in the city, and they occur three or four times during the legislative session. The league tackled the budget deficit, tax reform, and health care. Health care dominated the discussion because 25 percent of Mainers are covered by Medicare. (Bangor Daily News, 2/23/04) Business leaders and Republican legislators discussed ways to curtail the program’s growth, but others at the meeting pointed out that neither Governor John Baldacci nor the Democrat controlled legislature were likely to reduce eligibility this session.

Baldacci delayed the submission of the budget to the legislature until March 3rd. This proposal will include a $120 million bond package and a tax reform plan to be introduced the first week of March. The Republican floor leader implied that Baldacci may be presenting the budget late in order to make it harder for the legislature to oppose it. (2/26/04)