After two months of ridiculous games and dishonest pretense, Maine’s biennial (plus its supplemental) budget was passed in the dead of night Thursday evening, exactly as we predicted it would be in January. The bill itself is a mess, with structural shortfalls built into it, and endless examples of irresponsible spending throughout. Yet Democrats are claiming it is a “baseline” budget that is responsible, and even has money left over to spend (it doesn’t). We break down this horrid document, and tell you what will happen next.
During the marathon debate over the budget, Republicans attempted to pass more than a dozen amendments, none of which succeeded. Rep. Laurel Libby also took center stage to introduce — but not speak on, because she can’t — some of those amendments. During this, a mini-debate broke out on her censure, and Democrats employed one straw man after another to keep that censure in place.
Finally, we talk about the Trump administration’s ultimatum to Maine: the state has ten days to come into compliance with Title IX, or it risks losing Federal funding. The question we have is this: who blinks first? Trump? Mills? The Maine Principals Association? The Legislature? Whoever does, they better do it fast.
That and more on this week’s Pine Tree Pulse. Listen below.