Maine’s dysfunctional government

 I haven’t seen anything like this since 1991.

 That was the year that Republican Gov. John McKernan consistently locked horns with a Democratic-majority House and Senate.

 At that time, the economy was in the dumpster and McKernan insisted that a new budget be tied to workers’ compensation reforms. Republicans theorized that if it cost less to do business in Maine, jobs would be created or at least fewer of them would be eliminated.

 The Democrats, led by House Speaker John Martin, emphatically said no.

 So the government was shut down except for essential services for 16 days. Cooler heads did finally prevail and a budget was passed.

 You’d think we would have learned our lesson by now. Or, as Yogi Berra once said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”

 Instead, this year’s state budget impasse has been fueled by calls for welfare reform along with a new taxation package. And yes, the possibility of a state government shutdown has been discussed.

 In order to get his message across, LePage has vetoed more than 180 bills. Telling lawmakers that they wasted his time for the past five months, he now intends to keep them in session until they get the message.

 About 95 percent of LePage’s vetoes have been overridden by lawmakers as of last week, but the process has taken its time and keeps the wounds of discontent open.

 So was keeping the legislature in session longer equal to forcing kids to stay after school because they misbehaved? Or is LePage within his rights to veto laws that he thinks are either unnecessary or would add to the state’s tax burden?

 I think it’s a little of both. Keep in mind that LePage not only defeated two well-known and well-financed candidates last year, but received a record number of gubernatorial votes. And if the election were held today among the same three candidates, he’d probably win again.

 Unfortunately, Maine is just as divided philosophically and geographically as it was during the McKernan years. Piscataquis County is still staunchly conservative. Most communities south of Augusta lean to the left.

 Welfare reform has been caught up in an “us-versus-them” argument that neither side will concede. Can we afford to spend state tax dollars helping immigrants from war-torn countries resettle in our state while disabled residents remain on the waiting list for social services?

 Republicans say the choice is clear. Democrats say there is enough money to do both. The line isn’t drawn in the sand anymore. It’s chiseled in cement.

 The new tax package gives everyone something to hate and like equally. For example, in its quest to stick it to the tourists, lawmakers have approved raising the lodging and meal tax to 8 percent. They seem to forget that some of us residents also spend our vacation time here.

 The list goes on and on, but you get the idea.

 The legislature adjourned last week and was scheduled to reconvene on June 30 to deal with the budget and probably more vetoes. But the end can’t come soon enough.

 I applaud the lawmakers who put party politics on the back burner and supported bills to improve the quality of life for all residents and make the state more business-friendly.

 I hope you’ll stick around for a while.

 But right now, we all need a rest.

Mike Lange is a staff writer with the Piscataquis Observer. His opinions are his own and don’t necessarily reflect those of this newspaper.