We all know the folly in doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. It took a while, but we in the Legislature have finally learned that lesson.

This year Senate President Beth Edmonds and I have worked hard to strike a bipartisan spirit of cooperation. But good intentions alone are not enough to change the climate and to ensure that we could conduct Maine’s business in a way that allows the best ideas to move forward, regardless of where they originate from.

This new approach started on the very first day, with the creation of the Joint Select Committee on Property Tax Reform, which had an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. Members of that bipartisan committee produced legislation that received support from both sides of the aisle, including members of Republican leadership.

Building on that success, and with the strong resolve of all legislative leadership to work cooperatively, we also changed the way we approached the development of a bond package to present to voters later this year.

Typically, every two years the Legislature dukes it out over the budget and only after that difficult battle has been fought, do we begin to craft a bond package. By this time, many legislators are harboring bad feelings about the budget, and patience has long since worn thin.

These are just the ingredients that led to last year’s failure to put a bond package out to referendum

This year’s process for reviewing the bonds marked the first time that other legislative committees sat in joint sessions with the Appropriations Committee to hear bond proposals. This enabled Appropriations to gain some insight from the policy committees that bring their expertise to various subject areas and has allowed all members to be a part of the process. We will continue to reach out to Republicans on the bonds, as we have on tax reform and the budget. We will all gain – most importantly, the citizens of Maine will gain – by our working more closely together.

Nearly every legislator agrees on the importance of issuing bonds to pay for significant economic development, transportation and other infrastructure projects, even if they engage in healthy debate over what the appropriate level of bonding should be.

Issuing bonds is a long-standing and financially responsible practice in state government and contributes to the economic health of the state. It is even more responsible in Maine, where the state has kept bond debt payments well below the 5 percent threshold for years, and also pays off its bonds in 10 years rather than the typical 20 years of many other states.

Those are some of the reasons that Maine has enjoyed a bond rating from the Wall Street agencies that is well above the average for the 50 states. Even in the recent economic downturn that has affected all states, Maine has continued to show a strong performance. Voters routinely approve bonds because they know they are a good deal for Maine.

Clearly, the Legislature will not vote on a package anywhere near the $1 billion in requests, though every one of them is for a legitimate infrastructure project. The requests reflect the level of need for investment, but the Legislature must do its job to balance these needs with our check book.

Gov. Baldacci’s bond proposal is for $197 million, the same amount of debt that is being retired during the coming two-year budget cycle. His package would invest in roads and highways, research and development, land conservation and environmental cleanup, and other projects.

The $197 million would bring in at least $250 million in additional federal funds, and would generate thousands of new, well-paying jobs. Republicans have signaled their interest in a lower total bond amount and Democrats are willing to work with their fellow legislators.

There is plenty of common ground. We can ensure that Maine’s economy will continue to thrive and move forward. We can protect access to precious lands, like oceanfront and river access,. These are goals that all of us in the Legislature share. By working together, we will strike a balance that meets the state’s needs, and reflects the state’s financial situation and ability to borrow.

It will take everyone being part of the process, and a willingness to listen to each other. If we do, I am confident we will find we are speaking the same language.

John Richardson is the speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. He lives in Brunswick.

Copy the Story Link