AUGUSTA – Laptops?

Legislators in both parties said they were surprised and “concerned” to hear Gov. John Baldacci propose expanding the classroom laptop program to all Maine high schools, specifically ninth-graders and their parents, during his Tuesday night State of the State speech.

“Where does he plan to get the money for this?” Rep. Lois Snowe-Mello, R-Poland, asked, calling the governor’s speech “irresponsible” and on a scale of 1 to 10 gave it a 3. “Many of my constituents are going to be outraged at that proposal,” she said.

“I’ve always had concerns about the laptop program, and I have questions if now is the best time,” said Rep. William Walcott, D-Lewiston, who on a scale of 1 to 10 gave the speech an 8.

Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, was another questioning a laptop expansion. She and others agreed with several of Baldacci’s overall goals, but said what he didn’t provide was details of how to pay for those ideas.

Those goals included providing health care for all, eliminating the personal property tax on business equipment and machinery, property tax relief, boosting the number of high school graduates who go to college from 55 to 70 percent, giving more scholarships to students.

In the governor’s current budget, he’s cutting existing health care benefits in MaineCare programs, and he’s cutting financial aid to college students.

“It doesn’t make sense to be cutting good programs that are helping families now, and starting new ones,” said Rotundo, who serves on the Appropriations Committee.

Rotundo applauded the governor’s call for property tax relief saying it’s what people need and want. What’s needed now, she said, “is details on how.”

Walcott agreed. “We’re looking at cuts to programs like MaineCare. We need to make sure we take care of the people who need that program.” It’s hard to support expansions without knowing where the money will come from, Walcott said.

In some of Baldacci’s other proposals, the governor won praise for his call to conserve energy, help the environment, preserve more Maine land with a $100 million bond.

Snowe-Mello called the governor’s proposal to eliminate the personal property tax on business equipment “a fabulous idea,” and said the benefits of that would outweigh pain to municipalities.

Rep. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, praised Baldacci’s call to regionalize school departments to reduce school administrative costs.

But Rep. Michael Vaughan, R-Durham, said Baldacci didn’t talk enough about how state spending is outpacing state income, saying the address had “style over content. … Good speech, but poor answers.”

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