Last Thursday, lawmakers heard public reaction to Gov. John Baldacci’s plan to cut state health-care programs by $22 million to help balance a $109 million budget gap through June.

On Friday, Baldacci said people relying on the state’s MaineCare health-care program should brace themselves for more cuts.

“The good news is that the state’s income has gone up,” he said. The bad news is because of that, the federal government’s share of Medicaid money next year will go from 69 percent to 65 percent. That will mean $112 million less in federal reimbursement.

So, he’ll be looking for 3 to 4 percent across-the-board cuts in all MaineCare programs beginning July 1.

“If I had my way I wouldn’t propose any of it. But we have to balance the budget.”

Providers and hospitals are being asked to reduce their rates and halt expansions, and individuals have to keep costs down. “We’re all recognizing that we need to change.”

Budget cuts will dominate discussion this coming week as the Appropriations Committee holds public hearings Tuesday through Friday on immediate budget reductions to the University of Maine System, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Public Safety, among others.

Later this session the committee will hold budget hearings for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

GOP wants more info, quicker

House Republicans say they don’t like how Baldacci is giving them little time to consider complex proposals.

Late last Monday the governor released details of his slot machine regulation proposal, with the public hearing scheduled two days later. His budget bill was released Friday, with hearings scheduled Tuesday.

That’s not enough time, said Rep. Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, adding that it cripples the ability of lawmakers to do their job. Rosen called it “an erosion of legislative responsibility.”

Baldacci said many of the budget changes will not be hard to digest and will be familiar to legislators. “I went to the Republican caucus yesterday (Thursday) and gave them all the information they needed,” he said.

Senate office: L.L. Bean look or ‘carnage’

Senate President Beverly Daggett, D-Augusta, hosted a “wild” Senate Democratic caucus in her office on Wednesday.

Often elected officials who have office space exhibit Maine art on a rotating basis. These days, Daggett’s office has a look that vegetarians wouldn’t like.

“I thought it’d be nice to have a sportsman exhibit,” Daggett said.

There is a big bear rug with the head over the back of a couch. Two huge moose racks hang high on the wall. On another wall hangs deer antlers. Stuffed Maine critters – a bass, a mink and a loon on loan from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife – sit by the window.

While discussing serious budget cuts and the status of bills during the caucus, Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, asked Daggett about the look of the office.

Sen. Pamela Hatch, D-Skowhegan, was less tactful. “It’s a lot of carnage!” Everyone laughed, and Daggett offered information on who shot what.

Chief of Staff Rick McCarthy shot one of the moose, the other was shot by Cate Pineau, wife of lobbyist Eddie Pineau. The bear came from a friend of Pineau’s, and the deer antlers from the father-in-law of Senate secretary Marcia Homstead.

The exhibit will be in the Senate President’s Office through the end of January.

Quote of the week: “CasinosNO! made a big mistake by not taking on Question 2.” – Dennis Bailey, leader of the CasinosNO! campaign

Bonnie Washuk is the Sun Journal State House reporter.