AUGUSTA (AP) – Democrats were confident Tuesday that a party defection that evens the numbers in the House with Republicans will not spoil bipartisan treatment of the first order of business on Wednesday’s session-opening agenda: home heating assistance.

“Help is on the way in a nonpartisan way,” said Democratic House Speaker John Richardson, adding that the “bipartisan effort here has been outstanding.”

Democratic Gov. John Baldacci was so confident the Legislature will approve a $5 million appropriation for fuel assistance on Wednesday that his staff was making arrangements to have reporters present while he signs the bill that day. A Republican leader, Rep. David Bowles, said he also expected quick, routine passage.

Democrats stressed themes of bipartisanship after a former party member’s defection erased their thin majority and left them and the Republicans with 73 seat each.

Rep. Barbara Merrill’s move puts her among four unenrolled or independent members in the House, which has long been controlled by Democrats. One Green party member also serves in the 151-seat chamber. Democrats maintain control in the state Senate, where they have 19 of 35 seats.

Merrill, of Appleton, said Tuesday she left the Democratic Party because she’s unhappy with its stand on budget issues. She singled out the sale of rights to operate the state’s wholesale liquor business in one budget, and the proposed borrowing of $450 million to balance a subsequent budget. The latter plan was quashed following a petition drive.

“I hope the Republican leadership is steeled in its determination to become an equal partner, take equal responsibility for the outcome and share ownership in the decisions made by this House,” Merrill said.

“I hope that the independent members are truly independent and seize this moment to insist on a more democratic House of Representatives.”

GOP leaders, meanwhile, planned to meet Richardson Wednesday to discuss power-sharing arrangements in the House now that the numbers have evened out between the two major parties. House GOP leader Bowles, of Sanford, said his party wants to focus on equity of committee chairmanships, committee assignments and partisan staffing levels.

Democrats have held a majority in the Maine House for three decades, except briefly in 1996 when Republicans gained the edge due to switched party registrations.

All committee chairs are now held by Democrats, with the exception of one independent who co-chairs the Taxation Committee.

Richardson, of Brunswick, said he’s willing to listen to the Republican leaders but has not decided what changes, if any, should take place.

“I want to hear their concerns,” he said. “I’m open to anything they want to talk about.”

House Democratic Leader Glenn Cummings played down Merrill’s decision, saying it would probably not affect any votes in the House and should not distract the Legislature from issues ahead.

“The challenges we must meet are still the same – to make sure that Maine people can heat their homes, and have access to good-paying jobs, education, and health care,” said Cummings, of Portland.

Baldacci has been seeking contributions from corporations and foundations to complement the proposed legislative appropriation for fuel assistance. In addition, his administration has been exploring a possible deal to import cheap fuel from Venezuela this winter.

Looking ahead to the second year of the two-year session, Richardson also expressed optimism that lawmakers from both major parties will work together to eliminate Maine’s property tax on business equipment.

A year ago, bipartisan cooperation helped to bring about quick, early passage of a wide-ranging property tax relief bill.

On Tuesday, an independent lawmaker who was closely involved in the legislation released a report that says the reforms worked.

Rep. Robert Woodbury of Yarmouth, co-chair of the Taxation Committee who also led a special panel that reviewed the reform package, said two-thirds of those paying the highest property taxes – at least six percent of income – could reduce their net burden if they took advantage of the enhanced circuit-breaker relief program.

AP-ES-01-03-06 1600EST

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