There’s no question, balancing the state budget is not an easy task. The budget process was made even more difficult this legislative session given the immediate needs of Maine people – specifically, the voters’ decision to increase education funding and the call for property tax relief.

The Sun Journal has not reported where I stand on the budget. I need to make clear that, from the beginning, I have been adamantly opposed to the massive borrowing initiative included in the budget, and I voted against it for that reason.

I do, however, support most of what it is in the budget, in terms of what it does for the people of Maine. In fact, there was agreement by both Democrats and Republicans on the majority of the budget passed at the end of last month. The vast majority of Democrats and Republicans on legislative committees actually voted for the same level of state spending in the budget. As chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and as a member of the Criminal Justice Committee, I witnessed firsthand how much the two parties are similar in their position about preserving services important to Maine people.

We generally agree on the importance of providing more support for primary, secondary and higher education. We need to preserve essential services to protect children and families at risk. Health care, including nursing home and prescription drug coverage for the elderly, and mental health services for our disabled must be available to those who need it the most. Economic development, including support for small businesses is important to attracting and keeping people in Maine. And yes, there are many Maine people in desperate need of property tax relief.

These are all things I feel strongly about and fought for throughout the budget process. Finally, in an effort to control state spending, the budget includes $425 million in reductions, including capping eligibility and reducing coverage under state health care programs; streamlining state administrative operations such as payroll; and eliminating more than 60 state positions.

Again, these are all things my Democratic colleagues agreed to and Republicans also generally agree with. As important as the budget document is, I voted against it due to my strong opposition of the borrowing initiative it included to keep it balanced. I, along with other Democrats and Republicans, believe that borrowing is not the mechanism Maine people want to engage in to make ends meet. In fact, I continue to hear from people daily that borrowing is not the right thing to do. That is why I worked with other rank-and-file Democrats and the Republicans in drafting and supporting an initiative that would have temporarily broadened the sales tax. The initiative was a temporary measure, and only offered as an alternative to the massive borrowing initiative included in the budget.

Unfortunately, the political will needed to do what I continue to believe is the right thing, given the needs of Maine people, is not present in Augusta.

I understand the importance and the value of doing what we can to meet those needs. I have worked hard and will continue to provide my constituents with a strong voice to do what they have asked me to do in terms of representing their interests in Augusta. Those interests include preserving services and programs that the majority of lawmakers agree are necessary. It also includes, however, taking the bold steps necessary, including reaching across the aisle and working toward bipartisan initiatives that make sense and are reasonable in achieving our goals.

Sen. John Nutting, Democrat, District 17, chairs the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and is a member of the Criminal Justice Committee. He lives in Leeds.