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statehouse Gov. Baldacci defines goals for final year
Priorities are to trim government, cut budget, develop energy industry
AUGUSTA, Maine — As he enters his final year in office, Gov. John Baldacci said his top priorities will be continuing to streamline the size of state government amid the recession and positioning Maine to be a national leader on energy issues.
The Baldacci administration’s plan for closing an additional $438 million budget shortfall will likely be the dominant issue before lawmakers when they return to Augusta for a shorter legislative session beginning Wednesday.
The Democratic governor said his supplemental budget continues the focus on consolidating state programs and identifying efficiencies without raising taxes. Two agencies that account for roughly 80 percent of state spending — the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services — would absorb the largest share of the budget cuts under the administration’s proposal.
“We have had a lot of changes [in government], a lot of restructuring and consolidation efforts both locally and statewide, and that really needs to continue,” Baldacci said in an interview. “Over the last seven years, we have really wrestled the budget down so that the rate of growth of the budget is the lowest it has been since World War II.”
Baldacci pointed out that the size of the state work force has shrunk more than 8 percent — or by about 1,000 employees — since he entered office in 2003 but that additional efficiencies are possible.
But while some have said the recent budget gap calls for elimination of entire programs, and a very small minority has called for tax increases, Baldacci said he believes there still exists “administrative waste” that can be eliminated first.
The administration’s proposed budget recommends further consolidations in the Department of Education and another attempt at merging several of the state’s natural resources departments — or at least combining similar programs within the agencies. The Baldacci administration has talked for years about consolidating several of the natural resources agencies but always ran into strong opposition from interest groups served by the departments.
“If we can reduce the amount of commissioners, deputy commissioners, bureau directors and administrative personnel, and keep those resources on the front lines, that’s the direction Maine needs to head in,” he said.
Looking beyond the legislative session, Baldacci said another priority will be working to reduce Mainers’ dependence on foreign oil, both for economic and national security reasons. Another focus will be growing the state’s alternative energy industry, he said.
Already New England’s largest producer of wind power from land-based wind farms, Maine is among the states aggressively courting the Obama administration for federal dollars to build the nation’s first offshore, deepwater wind turbines.
The University of Maine recently received $5 million in federal money for development of offshore, deepwater wind technology as well as $8 million to lead a research consortium on wind power technology.
Baldacci reiterated his belief that given the state’s history of shipbuilding and heavy manufacturing, Maine could become a top producer of the turbines, blades, machinery and other components that go into wind farms, he said.
“We’re going to have the work force, we are going to have the expertise, and we are going to be the go-to place for this type of development,” the governor said. “And frankly, I think it’s a huge opportunity both to get off of foreign oil and all of its implications overseas for national security but also to help jump-start our eco-nomic development.”
Asked about his plans after leaving office next January, Baldacci said he hopes to do some teaching — potentially at the University of Maine — but that he also plans to stay involved in energy issues, perhaps in an advisory capacity.
“It’s one [issue] that I am going to continue to be involved in. I feel very passionate about this,” he said.
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goals ... steal more from Mainer's and piss it away
His final year!!!!! Best thing I have heard all day. If they is one great thing that happens in 2010. It will be Baldacci is going to be gone!!! YES!!!!!!
Great - so it sounds like he's going to continue with his effort to completely dismantle program and services that aid individuals who can't help themselves. I'm not talking about oxy addicts, or welfare abusers, or those who refuse to pay child support. I'm talking about those children and adults in Maine who through not fault of their own have been dealt a challenging hand. I'm talking about foster children, people with legitimate disabilities and those with significant mental health problems. For a Democrat, Baldacci sure has turned out to be a disappointment. I'm glad that he hung on to laptops and Dirigo, but for the love of Pete, why are we building new courthouses in Bangor, and even giving the time of day to Maine's Chief Justice (of the State supreme court), who never met a threatened budget cut that she could avoid.
Yes, Baldacci plans to stay involved with energy issues once (mercifully) he is through being Ruinator of Maine. He will spend his last year (Finally!Hooray!) in office commuting to First Wind's headquarters to choose carpet and select drapes for his new office. We can't get rid of this guy too soon. Let's defeat his planned legacy of 1800 industrial wind tubines sprawled across 350 miles of rural Maine ridgetops for his friends of Big Wind. You can help by joining the Citizens Task Force on Wind Power http://www.windtaskforce.org/ Baldacci's vision of renewable energy is ruinous to rural Maine.
Only one more year of the incompetent Fredo. Whether he goes to work for First Wind, Iberdrola or some other subsidy-sucking outfit that bleeds taxpayers and/or ratepayers, I hope that his room temperature IQ will limit the damage he can do.
What a joke be gone with ye NOW!
Hopefully, Mainers don't elect the same career politician type to the governor's office and we see real changes in leadership. Less democrats accross the board would be good, also. We have taxed and spent ourselves to the point that, unless you are on welfare, Maine is a really hard place to make a go of it.
two words:
(print this in the BDN)
LAME DUCK
couldn't get this guy out of office any faster
Thank god the Baldacci Reign is almost over. It is time to get rid of quite a few of our incumbents and shift the balance of power back.
I can see baldaci consolidating DEP and LURC and putting a hand picked wind energy person in the top spot. He covers his bases. Meanwhile First Wind and Rep. Everette McLeod both borrow from HSH Norbank out of GERMANY. We have inteternational thugs representing us in Augusta.
Central Maine Electric , owned by Iberdrola of Spain is funded by Abu Dhabi Energy. That is really getting Maine off foreign oil
More like allowing them to make policy. They will get the 1.4 billion dollars worth of transmission lines for the wind farms. If you live under those big transformers ..it has been proven to give children leukemia.
Thanks a lot baldaci.
Goals for 2010. Let's see... squandering more of our money out of our pockets. Get more people on welfare
goal for 2010...no more hacks getting elected..let's get someone in that has a clue
Mr 38% is almost gone.
baldman strikes again!!! you gotta go bubba!!!!!
Who da thunk bald is staying in energy? Did he ever leave?
Bald in the "Family" while a rep. in DC. Their latest efforts to improve humanity have been encouraging the execution of gays in Uganda. Makes you proud to have a governor in the Family. Some say the Family is Fascist.
You just have to go by what they do.
They think they are above the law because God has chosen them. Hitler thought so too.
They do not believe in individual or state's rights. bald 's administration took away town's right to have a voice in the siting of wind farms. Even though your property value can drop 50%. You can very sick of you live close to one.
Stacy Fitts another believer wanted to have the water and wind industry above the voters. Owned by the state.
Under bald , no newspaper will print the truth about his god awful wind farms. State Media anyone?
First Wind and Rep. Everette McLeod both do their banking HSH Norbank out of Germany. Ahh the Mother Land.
Fascism is the combining of corporation and govt. Stetson II is being built with tax payer dollars illegally. 1.7 million to LURC in "fees" from developers.Nobody thinks there is a problem with that. So as private citizens, with no money for fees at the hearings...you just have to watch as your state is pillaged for money.
The Tea party avocates will have more to do with reforming Maine and bring sanity to governance in 2010 than Baldacci. Heads-up democrats and Republicans .. your going down.
PS: Bangorian - your right on target. Why is the administration punishing the most needy while spending $millions on the UMS climate change department and many more $millions to expand the Maine Maritime Academy by importing out-of-state students with huge subsidies in course studies that the MMA is not chartered to engage in?
Anyone know if there is going to be a going away party?
OH NOO OOO ..trouble in paradise. China urged to rein in turbine production. ( US tax dollars are paying for that)The Ohio plant where the Stetson I wind farm turbines were made went under. Too many problems. The recent app. two week shut down at Stetson just might have been caused by shoddy turbines. Even when they work..no insurance company will insure them...they are such a fire hazard.
gov bald, First Wind , Rept. Fitts and Rep Elliot McLeod don't care. Not as long as the money is coming in. Same goes for LURC, DEP and the AG office.
Volatile wind power in Northern China is threatening the existing grid hampering wind power's development.
Think we could ever have an article like that in a newspaper in Maine?
Coolfusiion....Where do I sign up?
Hey Baldy, don't let the door hit you in the *ss on the way out. In fact, you're such a visionary that you should envision yourself somewhere else and leave now. Don't think of it as abandoning your position as Governor, think of it as an opportunity to start your lucrative job in wind power a little early.
Happy New Year to all. It's a shame the Governor didn't mention our need to push for true tax reform in Maine.
However, get ready folks, because Maine's new democrat/socialist party and all of their Far Left Extreme Liberals want us to pay MORE in taxes and are going to fight hard against this People's Veto. There are 2-pages of simple facts posted about the proposed tax increase (called LD 1495) posted at
http://stillfedupwithtaxes.net/nfib/
and we need people to read these facts. LD 1495 will cost most Mainers MORE money and must get defeated... but the ACORN-SEIU machine will be coming out in force to help liberals raise-those-taxes.
As you have probably noticed over the past few years, the extreme liberals are attempting to destroy our state and country with major tax increases and their pro-socialism agenda. It's time for action, and I hope you will join our 'common sense' efforts at Maine Taxpayers United,
www.MaineTaxpayers.com
and now on Facebook. God bless our USA!
Last year!!! YAY!!!
Good luck Gov. You've done nothing for almost 8 years and we're the highest taxed state in the union! But, then again, that's what democrats do. Just look at "THE ONE" that's running this country. More taxes and done nothing except taking our freedoms and "transforming" the republic.
Ever wonder why Baldacci never proposes that the bloated University of Maine System office in Bangor get downsized or eliminated? Ever wonder why Baldacci does not force the issue of UMS employees having to take furlough days whilst he has imposed a total of 13 now on State of Maine employees (note that the majority of UMS funding comes from Maine taxpayers and so UMS employees are essentially also State of Maine employees)? And now he talks of maybe doing some teaching at UMaine? You can bet your bottom dollar that UMS will reward this governor with a golden parachute "University System Professorship" (see Peter Hoff, former Chancellor Pattenaude for examples of this waste of taxpayer dollars) at $100k/up per year. Someone please post countdown clocks in the town squares for when we Mainers will say good bye to this failure governor.
"Baldacci pointed out that the size of the state work force has shrunk more than 8 percent — or by about 1,000 employees — since he entered office in 2003 but that additional efficiencies are possible."
Bald-faced lie.
Personal Services - Total - From State Fiscal Office
$712,202,590 2002
$742,540,570 2003
$753,443,160 2004
$791,732,336 2005
$810,774,064 2006
$822,596,718 2007
$850,008,704 2008
$876,954,801 2009
He may have supposedly cut 1000 positions, but spending for wages, salaries and benefits for state workers has increased by more than $164 million during the governor's two terms. Only 44 real people have actually lost their state jobs.
Baldacci said he believes there still exists “administrative waste” that can be eliminated first. Ya' Think
Here's to hoping for a quick year. Baldacci's "streamlining" of Maine's public education has reduced our kids' ability to compete nationally, much less globally. Economic development has been non-existent during his administration - although he'll take credit for the alternative energy stuff that has been dropped into his lap. Though I'm a proud Democrat, I have to admit that Baldacci's administration has left Maine immeasurably worse off than it was when he took office.
Thank God for the wind turbines, otherwise what would the radicals on here rally behind??????? I mean really they're all hardcore democrats and if not the wind towers WHAT? there is nothing left in Maine but wind towers and democrats, LMAO.....
Mainers do not have the highest tax burden in the country. We rank somewhere in the teens (down from 4th or 5th).
mcrafty1....can you read? We are not lefties or communists or conservatives. We just do not like fascism.
Govt2Big...the govt expanded more under gbush and took away more of states rights , individual rights and the constitution than any other president. Plus got us into two illegal wars and stole the treasury. clinton is horrible too. So saying lefties are going to take over is not a current argument.They were both bad.
And just what makes fascism so great? At least the socialist countries get free health care . Our health care is ranked # 37 and it is 50% higher than other industrialized countries. what do our taxes get us? Wars.
Governor Baldacci should end the State funded Dirigo Health law. It is far to costly and a complete waste of taxpayer money.
We should all be very thankfull that this is his last year in office.
Rockstars, you don't need to sign up. Just show up aware of who the incumbents are and vote against against them. Lets recycle these trashbags, democrats and republicans, back to the private sector.
Best stay away from electing goverment officials with a vowel at the end of their name.......it never works.
Rockstars, I don't see how you correlate the implementation of wind driven electric turbines with fascism as it is defined: Fascism a. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. b. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government. I do alright reading,especially between the lines...
whale, That is sound advice, LOL
mccrafty -
If you pay attention to what Rockstars said, she is right. We aren't at extreme facism yet, but many of the signs are there. You should be mad as hell we don't have any investigative journalism, but rather journalism that parrots corporate and state press releases for the most part. I am pretty damned conservative and am mad as hell that those turbines suck subsidy money and will jack up electric rates to fund the mega transmission they will require. As Margaret Thatcher said, "the problem with Socialism is ebentually you run out of other people's money". (paraphrased).
This Baldcci turbinization is nothing but a scam reliant on other people's money in the form of subsidies that will enrich a small few.
Get involved, will ya please.
Kevin Miller, have you EVER written anything but puff pieces?
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Hey Gov. Baldacci.... I will save taxpayers some money. I will do the jobs of LURC and the DEP for a salary of 60,000 per year. Just myself, no staff needed. Why do you insist that Maine reduce foreign oil? Maine uses very little now to generate electricity. Do you support HydroQuebec? Your buddies in Bangor Hydro and CMP do not want Maine to have cheaper electric power. HQ would mean no ugly wind turbines needed. The wind industry is obsolete and your continued support shows that ulterior motives must be at work
Governor Baldacci and his frinedly group of Extreme Far Left Liberals are destroying this state because we have allowed them to do so... but the tides are beginning to shift for the better. As said by Lloyd Marcus in the following YouTube video song, 2010 can be a good year if we get active!
Turn up your speakers and enjoy this great song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZkvkLmkYVg
It's time to say 'bye bye Baldacci!'
Govt2Big, that is a GREAT song !! Doesn't it make ya proud to have someone like Lloyd Marcus on our side ? The guy is a dynamo !
Baldacci Makes Work Policy.
Wind Turbines for his EMPLOYMENT FUTURE.
Yes , it is about jobs, HIS!!!!