LePage’s budget has wrong priorities for Maine

By Sens. DAVID DUTREMBLE and LINDA VALENTINO
Columnists

http://www.journaltribune.com/articles/2013/04/01/columnist/doc515997e695fbb355219137.txt

Published:

Monday, April 1, 2013 12:05 PM EDT

Budgets are a reflection of priorities. Whether it’s our own personal budget or the state’s budget, we plan, save and spend based on what is important to us.

One of the biggest responsibilities faced by the Legislature this session is to craft the state’s next two-year budget. Already, the Legislature’s budget writing committee has spent weeks reviewing the budget proposal put forth by Gov. Paul LePage. And right now, the committee is conducting public hearings on his proposed two-year budget. By all accounts, the governor’s proposal contains many controversial items. In fact, even his own budget analyst called it “a budget of desperation.”

For us, in our community, one of the most difficult aspects of this budget has to do with the governor’s proposed cuts to public education. Our community is not alone with our concern about the harmful impact the governor’s proposal will have. In fact, more than 26 towns, including Biddeford, and school districts across the state have enacted formal resolutions in opposition to the governor’s proposed budget.

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