“We don’t have a trillion dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough, we have a trillion dollar debt because we spend too much.” ~Ronald Reagan~

Maine is in a good position to resolve its debt crisis and follow a path of fiscal responsibility like most people do in their own lives. Live within our means is what we were taught growing up. Gov. Paul LePage has proposed a supplemental budget that is a roadmap with clear directions on how we begin to achieve this monumental task. The governor has made it clear this cannot happen without some “pain” being felt by certain people receiving services from the state. I personally think it is about time someone other than the hard- working taxpayers feel some pain. But I digress …

The undeniable truth is that some government services must be sacrificed in order to protect our most vulnerable citizen’s. Yes, the day of reckoning has arrived folks. The question is: Will our elected officials have the intestinal fortitude to resolve the spending problem or continue to “kick the can down the road?”

Another undeniable truth is that governor LePage will be very vocal should the legislature attempt to abdicate their responsibilities and not attack this issue head on when the legislature convenes in January 2012. I am not sure if you have noticed, but the governor is a bit outspoken at times and does not mince words. I find it rather refreshing, but most of all it instills confidence that I know he is doing what is best for the people of our great state and not using this as a slogan for his re-election campaign.

We have been hearing of our looming debt crisis for many years and told, with confidence by our elected officials, that it has been addressed. On the national level, back in the summer, we were told the extension and the raising of the debt ceiling was essential to our country and the world economy. The answer by the people that put us in this position was to create a select group of 12 tax- and-spenders to form a “super committee” to develop a plan to trim $2 trillion of future spending.

How’d that work out for us?

We are facing the same issues here in the State of Maine because the “credit card bill” is coming due with no means to increase our revenue to pay the bill. The taxpayers are tapped out; businesses are finding it difficult to even survive in the economic downturn and no relief in sight. I am an eternal optimist, so I am certain we will do what needs to be done to rise to the top once again. Hey, we are Americans after all. The greatest country in the world!

I am not certain when the pendulum swung to “ideology over common sense,” but it is certain this sentiment is alive and well in government. I have been a part of the state government decision-making and can tell you there are not a whole lot of common-sense decisions emanating from people once they get under the dome. We have labeled this disease “dome-itus.”

Hey, why do today what you can put off till tomorrow? The reality is that the politicians are only concerned with their collective butts and getting re-elected. I know that is harsh and I will get negative feedback by some folks I call friends, but there is no other way to explain what is happening.

The towns and local municipalities have been feeling the pinch for several years and have, for the most part, addressed the issues because the property taxpayers demanded it. We must demand the same fiscal responsibility from our state officials. We cannot continue to save everyone, but need to focus on the most vulnerable. That is exactly what the governor has proposed in the supplemental budget released in the first week of December. He has not minced words or tried to sugar coat the anticipated outcome. There must and will be pain to put the state back on the path to fiscal sanity.

Back in 2008 a group, Maine Public Research Spending Group headed by Richard Silkman, released recommendations to help the state meet LD1’s (2004) tax-burden goals. The report findings the state was “above the national average” in several categories, which put Maine at a distinct disadvantage in comparison to other states of similar population and size.

The data supported the facts that Maine could compete better if it would bring certain budgetary issues to the national average. The conclusion reached was; “when you are an average-income state, to achieve a tax burden comparable to the national average, you must spend at a level comparable to the national level.” Really? What a revelation to conclude that if you live within your means (government spending), your tax burden will be less.

They also concluded that if we become “average” in education (47 percent of general fund spending) and Medicaid (32 percent of general fund spending) we could save Maine taxpayers approximately $600 million! That is astonishing when you put this into context. The governor has reported that we currently have a structural gap for DHHS of $220 million. You, the taxpayer, are supporting 330,000 Mainers that receive government services. That is a whopping one  third of Maine’s entire population who are being supported by the rest of us working stiffs! The reason is that Maine has some of the most relaxed eligibility requirements in the entire United States. We accept 200 percent of the poverty level, while most states are 150 percent. We also do not have any residency requirement  — the only state in New England not requiring minimum time of residency. In other words, you can drive into Maine from wherever and start collecting benefits immediately. No problem there, right? Maine just recently imposed a 60-month lifetime limit on collecting benefits.

The current proposal is only the beginning of the plan to put us back on the road to fiscal sanity, but also to announce there will be no easy, painless way to achieve the goal. My suggestion to you folks that have the “what are you going to do for me” mentality; suck it up, get a job or move on to a state that will allow you to soak the hard-working taxpayers.

That’s my opinion let me hear yours. I can be reached by email [email protected] and also on Facebook.

Scott Lansley is a former legislator, Sabattus selectman and current Political Director for Maine Taxpayers United.