January 5, 2007
On January 5th, the Governor released his biennial budget. The Governor's budget includes some bold proposals and a number of initiatives that the Legislature will have to carefully consider in the coming weeks.

The budget is complex, and I will try to provide additional information to help distill all the buget components over the next few weeks. In the meantime, I have included some documents provided by the Governor's office for your reference. You can also find an overview of the entire document on the Bureau of the Budget website and the Governor's specific
budget recommendations in more detail (www.maine.gov/budget/fy0809budgetrec.htm). Using this information, you should be able to find answers to your own questions about government
spending.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I'll do my best to decipher the information for you.

Lawrence Bliss

• Bridge Scheduling Bill
• Insurance Watchdog Bill
• Major Tax Reform Bill
• Total General Fund Appropriations (pdf)
• General Fund Appropriations (pdf)
• Local Schools, Regional Support Initiative (pdf)
• Estimated Position Count (pdf)
• Increasing the Price of Cigarettes for the Health of Maine's Children (pdf)
• Raising the Price of Cigarettes for the Health of Maine's Children (pdf

January 26, 2006
Keeping Maine Warm
"Last winter, over 40,000 low-income Maine people qualified for LIHEAP assistance. Given the current price of heating fuel, it will take millions more in funding to simply maintain the same fuel assistance level this year. Most families receive less than a tank of oil per year. Many Maine families use this funding boost to simply make it through the winter on already tight budgets. The average income of a LIHEAP recipient is only $12,000, and 48 percent of LIHEAP recipients are elderly. Our seniors and our families with small children should not have to choose between food and heat."

by Larry Bliss

Rep. Lawrence Bliss, D-South Portland (part of) is serving in his third term in the Maine State Legislature. He is the House Chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee.

January 5, 2007
On January 5th, the Governor released his biennial budget. The Governor's budget includes some bold proposals and a number of initiatives that the Legislature will have to carefully consider in the coming weeks.

The budget is complex, and I will try to provide additional information to help distill all the buget components over the next few weeks. In the meantime, I have included some documents provided by the Governor's office for your reference. You can also find an overview of the entire document on the Bureau of the Budget website and the Governor's specific
budget recommendations in more detail (www.maine.gov/budget/fy0809budgetrec.htm). Using this information, you should be able to find answers to your own questions about government
spending.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I'll do my best to decipher the information for you.

Lawrence Bliss

• Bridge Scheduling Bill
• Insurance Watchdog Bill
• Major Tax Reform Bill
• Total General Fund Appropriations (pdf)
• General Fund Appropriations (pdf)
• Local Schools, Regional Support Initiative (pdf)
• Estimated Position Count (pdf)
• Increasing the Price of Cigarettes for the Health of Maine's Children (pdf)
• Raising the Price of Cigarettes for the Health of Maine's Children (pdf)

Majority Democrats
Majority Democrats approved an $80 million bond proposal in April, but no Republican supported the measure. Compromise efforts followed reducing the total bond package to $55 million, and then the $40 million in an effort to broker a compromise. Bonds require approval by two-thirds of the members of each house present and so at least some Republicans would have to approve them to pass.

Publication List
The 2006 publication lists about 300 boards and commissions, including advisory groups appointed by the Governor, the House Speaker, Senate President, and other organizations that govern licensing of professions. The booklet lists existing vacancies and many terms that expire this year.

“Membership on a state board or commission is a hands on way for citizens to have input in state government,” said Bliss. “Many dedicated public servants sit on boards and commissions and are charged with jobs and responsibilities as varied as the work of state government itself. They often perform the critical role in our democracy of informing the public and elected officials about important and complex issues.”

Board of Commission Vacancies Persons interested in serving on a state board or commission may wish to check the Secretary of State's annual report of Board and Commission Vacancies, says State Rep. Lawrence Bliss, D-South Portland.

Obtain Copies To obtain a copy of the report, call or write Melissa Packard, Director, Division of Elections and Commissions in the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, 101 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0101 or call (207) 624-7650.

South Portland
Website: http://www.southportland.org

Cape Elizabeth
Website: http://www.capeelizabeth.com

South Portland Democrats
Website: http://www.southportlanddems.org

Larry Bliss at University of Southern Maine
Career Services and Professional Life Development
Website: http://www.usm.maine.edu/csce

The Maine Democratic Party

The Maine Democratic Party (MDP) is dedicated to electing Democrats across the State. From city council and school committee, to the State House and the Blaine House; the MDP supports Democratic candidates. For more information e-mail: democrats@mainedems.org