AUGUSTA, Maine — More than 500 demonstrators, including many disabled and elderly people who receive state-funded services, jammed the Maine State House on Tuesday to protest social service cuts Gov. John Baldacci proposes within a budget to make up for a $438 million shortfall without raising taxes.
The demonstration in a cavernous hall outside Baldacci’s office was held as lawmakers continued hearings to review a wide range of cuts proposed in his modified budget.
While the Democratic governor has taken a firm stand against any new taxes, speakers said they must be part of any final budget or some of the most vulnerable Mainers will be hurt.
The rally highlighted the dominant place the budget has during this election-year session, drawing a counterprotest by those who said they’re fed up with taxes. Included among them were a handful of Maine’s 20-plus gubernatorial candidates who have taken the no-tax-hike pledge.
Among those who would be affected by the cuts is Norman “Jolly” Jolicoeur, who is mentally and medically disabled, cannot communicate and requires personal caregivers as well as skilled nursing care. Cuts in services such as those he receives could be devastating, his guardian Jennifer Kinnelly told the crowd as Jolicoeur, who is in his early 70s, sat in his wheelchair next to her.
“If his medical conditions are not properly monitored, he gets sick and needs hospitalization. Hospital care is the most expensive care for all of us,” said Kinnelly.
Jeanna Roath, of Portland, who receives MaineCare and recently had knee-replacement surgery, said she’s worried the budget would cut back on physical therapy she needs. She’s also worried about a provision to make people wait longer to get Medicaid, which goes by the name MaineCare in the state.
“There’s a lot of people, really sick, that get MaineCare,” Roath said.
In addition to MaineCare programs, the budget seeks to lower the state’s share of general assistance, which is administered by municipalities and provides mainly food and shelter for the state’s most desperate residents. The recession has caused a sharp increase in those seeking general assistance.
“Our communities are in trouble. As we continue to set artificial budget limits, forcing cuts to our most vital services, we continue to limit our ability to rebound from our current economic crisis,” said Ben Dudley, executive director of the progressive coalition Engage Maine.
He and others said that not raising state taxes would shift the burden of providing basic services to property taxpayers in towns and cities.
But participants in a smaller counter-rally, also at the State House, said state residents are overtaxed already and raising taxes will stifle job creation and consumer spending.
“Maine families are struggling and higher taxes are a job killer,” said Tarren Bragdon of the Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative think tank. “The governor recognizes that, and I think people trying to make ends meet recognize that in their own household budgets.”
Bob Sullivan, of Arundel, whose small business is down 30 percent, agreed.
“The Legislature does not understand that the taxpayers are not their ATM,” he said.