The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Investigations
  • Support the Maine Wire
  • Store
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Topsham Felon Found with 14 Firearms Arrested During Drug Investigation
  • Queen City Clash: Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson Grills GOP Gov Candidates in Bangor Debate
  • Eight GOP Candidates Set to Face Off in Maine Wire Gubernatorial Debate Tonight
  • Lewiston Councilor’s Cease Harassment Notice Voided After Police Review
  • The Primary Ends. Unity Begins.
  • Brewer School Department Settles in First-Amendment Lawsuit from Conservative Activist Shawn McBreairty Who Died by Suicide During Proceedings
  • BIW Designers’ Union Heads to Strike After Contract Talks Break Down
  • U.S. Senate Confirms Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security Secretary in 54–45 Vote
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Wednesday, March 25
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Investigations
  • Support the Maine Wire
  • Store
The Maine Wire
Home » News » News » Record-Breaking $12 Billion Budget Battle Begins Thursday
News

Record-Breaking $12 Billion Budget Battle Begins Thursday

Steve RobinsonBy Steve RobinsonMarch 18, 2025Updated:March 18, 202515 Comments2 Mins Read1K Views
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

After failing to secure a $120 million MaineCare bailout package at the State house last week, the Democrat-controlled State Legislature is slated to vote on the first part of a nearly $12 billion budget that contains spending for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027.

As admitted last week by Sen. Mark Lawrence (D-York), the Democratic strategy appears to be to advance the a partisan spending package in two parts, with roughly $11.3 billion of spending up for a vote on Thursday.

[RELATED: Here Are All the Taxes and Fees Janet Mills’ Budget Would Create and Increase to Fuel Record State Spending…]

If subsequent spending bills added up to the approximate amount Gov. Janet Mills’ original $11.6 billion proposal, then Democratic lawmakers would likely have to restore several of the tax increases and new taxes that the governor proposed in her budget.

The latest amendment from Democrats includes an increased tax on hospitals, but it does not include the controversial tax increases on tobacco, adult-use marijuana, and entertainment streaming services Mills first proposed.

[RELATED: Here Are All the GOP Welfare Reforms and Cost-Cutting Measures Democrats Blocked Amid Failed $120M MaineCare Bailout…]

The legislative vehicle for the spending bill, LD 609 – Committee Amendment A, emerged from the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee on Tuesday afternoon after a strictly partisan vote.

That legislation will be ready to move as soon as the House of Representatives is in session on Thursday at 10:00am.

Previous ArticleRussia Agrees to Partial Ceasefire after Trump-Putin Call, Ball Now in Ukraine’s Court
Next Article GOP Lawmakers Look to Revive Defunct Property Tax Stabilization Program for Maine’s Senior Citizens
Steve Robinson
  • Twitter

Steve Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire. ‪He can be reached by email at [email protected].

Latest News

Topsham Felon Found with 14 Firearms Arrested During Drug Investigation

March 25, 2026

Queen City Clash: Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson Grills GOP Gov Candidates in Bangor Debate

March 25, 2026

Lewiston Councilor’s Cease Harassment Notice Voided After Police Review

March 24, 2026
0 0 votes
Article Rating
15 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Billy B.
Billy B.
1 year ago

Democrats will get their just rewards in November 2026.
Out on the street .

9
Anita Knober
Anita Knober
1 year ago

Rewards? probably not. Anybody with money and brains will be gone by then only the drug addicts, illegals, pols and the takers will be left. Half a billion deficit now, 2 or 3 times that next year. After washington shuts off the $ due to the mills shit show the people left will eat themselves into oblivion and be remembered by future generations as retarded morons.

13
Homer
Homer
1 year ago

With fatty Mattie running the Senate, and inFectedtoe as comrade in charge of house, we are all screwed.

12
sandy
sandy
1 year ago

I am not paying. Join the “I am taking party”

3
Sarah J
Sarah J
1 year ago

I just started 3 weeks ago this web income system that my friend recommended to me and I’ve gotten 2 checks for a total of $9,200… this is the best decision I made in a long time! This extra b5561 cash has changed my life in so many ways, thank you!

Here is I started_______ tinyurl.com/homestar2?/6351

-9
Eeddyedward
Eeddyedward
1 year ago

Hard to believe! What the idiot dems have done and continue to do to this state! Drive working people and young people out of Maine. The only people left will be illegals, bums and layabouts, with foolish libs to pay for all of it!! C’mon man!

11
Bingo
Bingo
1 year ago

How much longer will it be before the democrats run out of OPM?

8
Despicable Maine
Despicable Maine
1 year ago

If you have MaineCare check your credit report. I found out they wait 5 years and just wipe all of my MainCare debt onto my credit report. No notice, just all of it on my credit report as unpaid delinquent debt. I call MaineCare fraud. Offering you fake healthcare is fraud. Thanks Despicable Maine…

2
Boxcar
Boxcar
1 year ago

MAINE: SECOND HIGHEST TAXED STATE IN THE UNITED STATES. Here’s a novel idea….LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS!!!

5
Ye Wright
Ye Wright
1 year ago

Talk about BS. This is just a way to see if the Rs are stupid enough to bite. The Ds can pass whatever they want & continue to ignore the 400+ towns & their Representatives, & pass a Majority budget w/o any Rs voting.
Time for Atlas to Shrug. Shall all of us working stiffs take a looong vacation?

3
Mooseman
Mooseman
1 year ago

Democrats spend taxpayer money without remorse and implement new taxes without regard to the impact that will have on our low income and fixed income population in the state. It is beyond time for the common man and woman to push back, protest, call and write to local representatives. This ridiculous tax and spend policy must not stand.

3
Jon
Jon
1 year ago

Only a Socialist Democrat in Augusta could think they can dig their way out of the hole they created by digging faster and deeper!
They know they’re getting voted out of power in 2026, so they intend to burn Maine to the ground before they’re ripped from power!
God help us if they succeed.
God have nercy on their souls when we start fighting back!

2
Gilbahtoe
Gilbahtoe
1 year ago

Keep burning us out shitterds…………

0
Scott Fernald
Scott Fernald
11 months ago

When will the Maine people stand and fight. We cannot survive this mentallity. The smart ones are leaving. Mills good luck taxing nobody. If we all stop working and shutoff the machine that keeps them going, maybe they will lose it and start eating themselves. Between them ruinning our cars with their forever chemicals and putting so much on our backs we cant go on, at somepoint something needs to give. Send the libtards packing please.

1
Scottobot
Scottobot
11 months ago

So we will be paying more taxes i see. Not enough Rs to change anything. The left wins this battle. Time to find a rex state. Tax burden killing us.

0
Recent News

Topsham Felon Found with 14 Firearms Arrested During Drug Investigation

March 25, 2026

Queen City Clash: Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson Grills GOP Gov Candidates in Bangor Debate

March 25, 2026

Lewiston Councilor’s Cease Harassment Notice Voided After Police Review

March 24, 2026

Brewer School Department Settles in First-Amendment Lawsuit from Conservative Activist Shawn McBreairty Who Died by Suicide During Proceedings

March 24, 2026

BIW Designers’ Union Heads to Strike After Contract Talks Break Down

March 24, 2026
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

wpDiscuz