Governor Janet T. Mills (D) .

“The failure of the supplemenetal budget to earn two-thirds support in the Senate is a grave disappointment.  Senate Republicans turned away from bipartisan agreement  — unlike their House counterparts — and are causing harm to Maine health care providers and patients said Governor Janet T. MIlls (D) in a press release issued this morning by her Augusta office.

The Maine Department of Health & Human Services is now in the extraordinary position of capping payments owed to health care providers — something that should have stopped, if not for obstruction by Senate Republicans.

For weeks, I have encouraged Legislative leaders of both parties to negotiate in good faith and enact this sensible, non-controversial bill with two-thirds, so it can go into effect immediately.  I have appreciated many conversations with leadership on both sides of the aisle, understood their posiions and compelled them to find common ground — which they did not.

Maine  health care providers and patients cannot afford further delays.  This brinksmanship is senseless and counterproductive.  Senate Republicans should honor the bipartisan agreement and pass this bill.”