MHPC Supports Governor's Decision to Veto R&D Bond‏

 

Legislature should uphold veto and reaffirm commitment to fiscal responsibility

 

 

 

PORTLAND – Lance Dutson, Chief Executive Officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, today issued the following statement in support of Governor LePage’s decision to veto a bond for “research and development”:

 

“Governor LePage, Senate President Raye, and Speaker Nutting have made admirable strides toward a more fiscally responsible state government since they took over in 2010.  From regulatory reform to tax cuts, and from pension reform to health insurance reform, this legislature and this governor have taken bold steps that will save every Mainer money and help this state’s economy get back on track.

 

“Addressing the long-term problems with unfunded state employee pensions saved the taxpayers over $1 billion, and reduced yearly expenditures by hundreds of millions of dollars. That’s real money that can be used to reduce taxes and maintain crucial services for Maine’s less fortunate.

 

“Now is not the time for this legislature to turn its back on this kind of solid fiscal responsibility. The people of Maine are firmly behind these reforms, and they don’t want to see us turn back now. The Governor was right to veto this bond, and the legislature should uphold his veto. We can’t borrow our way into a stronger economy, and our businesses will benefit far more from a fiscally solvent government with lower taxes than by having our elected officials continue to pick winners and losers in the marketplace.”