PROPOSED RESOLUTION

MAINE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE – MARCH 16, 2008

SUBMITTED BY IRV FAUNCE – WILTON

              WHEREAS – The Health and Human Services budget of the State of Maine faces drastic reductions in funding;

              WHEREAS – These reductions will have a dramatic impact on the health and well being of thousands of low-income, disabled and  vulnerable Maine citizens of all ages and will effectively remove the social and medical safety net so carefully and thoughtfully constructed to protect all citizens;

              WHEREAS – The population most affected by these reductions is the one that has consistently and unfairly been relied upon to absorb dramatic reductions in state spending and the one with the least resource to express its concern;

              WHEREAS – The Maine Democratic Party has had the protection, support and advocacy for the low-income, disabled and vulnerable members of society as its founding and core values for generations;

              NOW THEREFORE – The Democratic State Committee of Maine, the duly recognized organizational body of the Democratic Party, resolves and petitions the elected leadership of the Executive and Legislative branches of our government to develop and enact legislation and that will balance the state budget for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009 by these actions:

• Provide for reasonable and balanced reductions in state spending;
• Expend funds from the State Budget Stabilization Fund in recognition of the crisis situation faced by low-income, disabled, elderly and otherwise vulnerable citizens of our state;
• Increase revenues to the State of Maine by the judicious use of temporary increases in fees and taxes that will assure fair participation and sacrifice by the citizens of Maine and by those who choose to make purchases in and visit our beautiful state.

AND THEREFORE, that this Resolution, duly discussed and voted on by the Democratic State Committee at its March 16 meeting, be directed forthwith to The Governor of Maine, all members of the current Legislature now in session in Augusta, to the news media, and, finally, to all citizens of our state by any means possible.