Lawmakers approve $5.8B budget
The Maine Legislature this morning gave its final approval to the state's $5.8 billion two-year budget, which Gov. John Baldacci is expected to sign into law tomorrow, according to the Portland Press Herald.
Lawmakers moved quickly to finalize the budget, which fills a $570 million gap in this fiscal year and sets spending for the next biennial, starting July 1. The House of Representatives yesterday voted 115-31 to give preliminary approval to the budget, and this morning the Senate took less than a minute to do the same, the paper reported. Both houses then made their final votes on the budget: The House voting 119-26 and the Senate voting 33-2 to enact, the paper reported. The budget requires approval from two-thirds of the members of both houses to pass.
The budget calls for 10 state shutdown days, state wage freezes and various fee increases among other provisions. The $5.8 billion budget is $500 million less than the last two-year budget, the first time that has happened since 1974, the paper reported.
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