Lawmakers debate stimulus fund use
Nearly $30 million in federal stimulus money is headed to Maine, but lawmakers are at odds over how to incorporate it into the budget-writing process.
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department announced Friday Maine will receive $27.8 million to offset Medicare and Medicaid prescription drug coverage, retroactive to October 2008 and valid for the rest of this year, according to Capitol News Service. Republican legislators on the appropriations committee are advocating that the money fill the $35 million placeholder Gov. John Baldacci included in the budget in anticipation of federal aid, citing concern that other expected stimulus money might not come through. But the Democratic co-chairs of the panel, as well as Finance Commissioner Ryan Low, said they believe the state will receive that $35 million through an extension of a Medicaid match rate, and that the state could potentially receive twice that amount, according to the news service.
Lawmakers are working to address a $438 million budget shortfall. Revised state revenue projections are expected this week.
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