As LePage shutdown threat looms, budget deal eludes Maine lawmakers

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Source: Bangor Daily News

AUGUSTA, Maine — Top legislative Democrats negotiating Maine’s stalled two-year budget with Gov. Paul LePage reported mixed results from their meetings on Monday, but it’s unclear whether a deal will be reached to avoid a state shutdown on Saturday.

LePage has threatened to wait the full 10 days allowed by law before signing or vetoing a budget, so even if legislators strike a deal, Maine could see its first state government shutdown since 1991 if that deal does not satisfy the Republican governor.

Talks stayed mostly in a holding pattern on Monday, when the governor’s staff wasn’t discussing his role in negotiations. However, LePage will be in Washington, D.C., this week to meet with President Donald Trump on energy issues, according to Politico.

Three legislative leaders said they expect to vote on a budget by week’s end, but there’s no agreement on a package to win the two-thirds support in both chambers required to enact a budget by Saturday.

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Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2017/06/26/politics/lepage-tells-democrats-to-pass-gop-budget-or-there-will-be-a-shutdown/

[Eugene]

1. Maine governor warns of partial government shutdown in budget fight

Source: Reuters

BUSINESS NEWS | Tue Jun 27, 2017 | 1:46pm EDT

Maine governor warns of partial government shutdown in budget fight

By Scott Malone | BOSTON

Maine Governor Paul LePage warned residents on Tuesday that parts of the state's government could shut down as soon as Friday if lawmakers are unable to reach an agreement on the next two-year budget of roughly $7 billion.

The second-term Republican said he would ensure that the state continues to collect taxes, police will still patrol and state parks will remain open through the Independence Day holiday weekend. But he said he will allow courts and other state operations to close if he is unable to reach a deal with the Democratic-controlled state House of Representatives.

"I'm making plans. I believe we are going to shut down Friday night," LePage said in a weekly appearance on Maine's WVOM radio. "The future of Maine is worth shutting it down."

LePage said he and legislative leaders are $145 million apart in their negotiations over the budget, with Democrats seeking additional funding for schools while LePage is urging cuts elsewhere in the budget to offset spending.

House Speaker Sara Gideon, a Democrat, during a Tuesday morning session called the possible shutdown "embarrassing and unconscionable."

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-maine-shutdown-idUSKBN19I2HN