Governor Janet T. Mills, Addresses the Crowd at the Bicentennial Launch, Portland, Recently, at Deering Oaks Park.
Governor Janet T. Mills, the state’s first woman Governor, issued the following statement today after Republicans refused to send three (3) critical bond proposals to expand broadband, protect the environment and conserve land to Maine voters for their consideration.
“Two months ago, Republicans said the price of my original bond proposal was too high. So we reduced it. They also said these should four separate bills instead of one package. So we broke it into four separate proposals for them to vote on. I then personally called lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, invited their questions and offered to accommodate any objections. I believed we arrived at a practical, responsible compromise that should have garnered bipartisan support. I entered today’s special session with a sense of hope – hope that legislators, regardless of party, would see the values of letting Maine people decide the fate of these critical bonds. And I had hoped that they would do so while interest rates are at historic lows.
“Instead, Republicans just said no. No to repairing broadband. No to heat pumps. No to conserving working waterfront and family farms and lands for hunting. No to repairing National Guard facilities. No to providing equipment to career and technical education centers. The attitude displayed by Republican’s today is so much like what we see coming out of Washington and out of the White House. In Maine, people expect – and deserve – better. As a result of Republicans’ unwillingness to compromise, Maine people will not have the opportunity this November to vote for broadband in rural areas, for land and waterfront conservation, or for equipment to help our young people gain work in the trades.”
A transportation bond was passed by both houses.
“I am disappointed, but I will continue to fight for these priorities because they are what Maine people and and what our economy needs to grow and thrive.”