Janet Mills and top Democrat spar over 11th hour budget additions tied to storm relief

AUGUSTA, Maine — What started as a $50 million plan to rebuild infrastructure damaged in winter storms grew to cover everything from school support staff pay to Maine Veterans’ Home funding while causing an 11th hour spat between Gov. Janet Mills and a top Democrat.

The Mills administration went so far Tuesday as to call the amendment that Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, put forward to the Democratic governor’s storm relief bill an “insult to fiscal responsibility” that is “playing politics,” while Jackson called the accusations “offensive.”

In the end, however, the Maine House of Representatives voted 76-69 to approve Tuesday night a late amendment from House Majority Leader Mo Terry, D-Gorham, that brought the bill back to its initial intent— $50 million from the “rainy day fund” to repair storm-damaged infrastructure plus $10 million for businesses hurt by the winter storms — while not distributing the money until the new fiscal year begins July 1 rather than immediately. The bill now needs Senate approval.

The intraparty bickering came as the Democratic-controlled Legislature has conducted marathon voting sessions on reams of bills before it seeks to approve an addition to the two-year budget and adjourn Wednesday, though in reality the shortened session will require at least a few more days to handle any vetoes from Mills.

One key question mark was the governor’s $50 million infrastructure relief bill that she unveiled after storms in December and January caused catastrophic flooding and damage both inland and along the Maine coast.

Before Tuesday night’s vote, one amendment from Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford, initially won support last Friday, featuring a boost in educational technician pay and other school support staff pay to 125 percent and 112.5 percent of the state minimum wage, respectively. It also featured Jackson’s proposal to get $5 million more for Maine Veterans’ Homes , $30 million for crisis receiving centers and other mental health initiatives proposed by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, and $31 million from the surplus for nursing homes struggling throughout Maine .

The amendment also aims to close the state employee pay gap by including money to better recruit and retain workers amid widespread vacancies. Bennett’s plan would cost about $76 million starting in 2025, per a fiscal note .

But the Senate came back Monday and instead voted 23-11 to pass Jackson’s amendment that would cost about $90 million starting next year. The 11 opponents were all Democrats. The higher cost and main difference from Bennett’s version revolved around Jackson further increasing the minimum pay for educational technicians to 133 percent of the state’s minimum hourly wage — which is currently $14.15 — and to 125 percent for other support staff.

Mills responded Tuesday by calling Jackson’s plan “another 11th hour, multimillion-dollar amendment crafted outside of the budget process” without feedback from her, Talbot Ross or the public. Mills also said it will force lawmakers next year to “cut vital programs,” such as the state covering 55 percent of the cost of K-12 education.

Finance Commissioner Kirsten Figueroa described it as “an insult to fiscal responsibility” that will “immediately sink the state budget,” while Marine Resources Commissioner Pat Keliher said while the Senate is “playing politics” with the storm relief bill, “it is Maine fishermen, seafood dealers, aquaculturists, coastal towns, and dock owners who are paying the price and struggling to stay above water.”

Jackson responded by saying the pay raises and state employee retention language in the proposed budget addition were lacking. Through his spokesperson, he argued the amendment was meant to get the necessary two-thirds support for the infrastructure bill to take effect immediately and for the monetary relief to arrive in recovering communities as soon as possible.

The additional initiatives in the amendment all received public hearings as standalone bills and support in both chambers, Jackson’s office added.

“The idea that the Senate president is playing ‘politics’ is offensive,” Jackson spokesperson Christine Kirby said. “Support staff and ed techs in our schools desperately need our help. State workers who keep our government running need our help. Older veterans and military spouses who rely on the six Maine Veterans’ Homes created by the Legislature need our help.”

Kirby also stressed “that this isn’t personal.” Supporters of Jackson’s amendment and interest groups have noted the state’s “rainy day fund” is maxed out at an all-time high under Mills.

Maine Education Association President Grace Leavitt avoided taking a side in the Mills and Jackson dispute but said in an interview higher pay increases for ed techs and school support staff “are really going to have much more of a positive impact.”

The association noted the roughly 8,000 ed techs in Maine provide classroom support in numerous ways to teachers and students, but dozens of districts here have offered them minimum wages below the state’s $14.15 an hour rate that took effect Jan. 1. The technicians and other school support staff can often find higher-paying jobs via fast food positions, Leavitt noted, leaving current employees to cover extra duties in classrooms.

“Educators do everything they can to step up and meet those needs,” Leavitt said.

Mills’ proposed addition to the two-year state budget would bring it from $10.34 billion to $10.41 billion. It faced late changes after Democrats on the budget committee initially shifted transportation funding and scaled back a pension tax break before changing their minds.

Before the Senate wrapped up business late Tuesday afternoon, Jackson told his colleagues the Revisor’s Office indicated it may print updated budget tweaks between 11 p.m. and midnight, with members scheduled to return Wednesday morning to finish their work.

Mills also kept things brief Tuesday in a written response to lawmakers over questions about whether she will call a special session to extend the current State House deliberations.

“I want to be clear: the answer is an unequivocal no,” Mills wrote.