Maine legislators have initiated the creation of supplemental budgets without the governor's input.
Maine has had a two-year budget since being founded in 1820. As the two-year period elapses and needs arise for greater or less spending or revenue, the governor has historically presented supplemental budgets.
In recent weeks Republican Gov. Paul LePage has said he will not present a supplemental budget despite a deficit that the state faces. LePage has explained his refusal by saying the legislature, which has Democratic majorities, is to blame for the deficit, according to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.
While estimates have been changing, a state agency now believes the state government faces a roughly $50 million deficit in the current fiscal year, which runs to June 30.
Democrats and Republicans on the Appropriations and Finance Committee started to prepare a supplemental budget Tuesday evening, said Jodi Quintero, communications director for the Maine House Speaker. They plan to approve a two-year budget, one for the current fiscal year and the other for fiscal year 2015.
The committee is seeking suggestions now. It plans public hearings on those suggestions Tuesday through Friday.
At some point the committee will adopt budgets. Then the Maine Senate and House of Representatives will take separate votes on the budgets. Finally, the governor will have an opportunity to sign or veto them. The legislatures can override his vetoes with two-thirds votes.
In other Maine news, a deadline for LePage's veto of a revenue sharing measure with Maine's localities came and went without a LePage veto. LePage opposed giving the $40 million from the state to the localities. He said it required drawing down an already slim rainy day fund.
Both legislative chambers had passed the sharing with more than two-thirds votes, so it was unclear that a LePage veto would have prevailed.
The governor's spokeswoman did not return a call for this story.
