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December 14, 2009

Budget assumptions worry lawmakers

By Mainebiz News Staff

Lawmakers preparing to receive Gov. John Baldacci's budget Friday expressed alarm that the plan makes too many assumptions about the federal government picking up a larger share of the tab.

The worried lawmakers say Baldacci's budget assumes Congress will extend another $200 billion in stimulus aid and that the federal government will pick up a greater share of Medicaid costs. "For any state, including Maine, to put dependence on what Congress may or may not do is futile, silly and foolish," said Sen. Bill Diamond, co-chair of the Legislature's appropriations committee, according to Capitol News Service. "What we will have to do is face what we know is before us and address that and realize we may have more to do."

The governor's budget outlines $400 million in cuts needed to address a shortfall in revenues in the biennial budget. Budget projections are based on a forecasting system dictated by state law. Last April, revenues were re-forecast and missed the mark in its first month by $21.2 million; in the budget year that started July 1, revenues are $66.7 million below estimates.

Go to the article in the Bangor Daily News >>

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