Much of the conversation about the Gov. Janet Mills’ “heat relief” bill centered around the process, including when the Senate Republicans voted against it in December.

Since, it was re-born as LD 3, and a public hearing was held the week before Christmas. Appropriately, as every bill, especially those with a half billion dollar price tag, should have a public hearing. Process aside, what about the policy?

With only 10% of LD 3 going toward direct heat relief, it’s disingenuous to call it a “heating relief” bill. I heard a fellow legislator call it “The Bill to Kick the Can Down the Road,” a more accurate title, as it attempts to Band-Aid significant ongoing issues.

Over the last couple decades the Maine Legislature has passed policies that will make our utility costs continue to rise, with another increase in the price of electricity on the horizon. I can’t fault a single party for those poor policies, as many of them were supported by my colleagues on the right in the name of “making a bad bill better.”

Unfortunately, nowhere in this bill will you find a single long-term solution. Do you think the Democrats in Augusta are going to be willing to discuss the failure of net metering or back down from prioritizing more expensive forms of energy because Republicans supported LD 3?

In short, no.

To be sure, many Republicans in Augusta supported this enormous spending package. The most commonly heard rationale is that “We should spend it now, so that the Democrats can’t spend it on something worse later.” Hardly a worthy reason to depart from the principles of fiscal responsibility.

The majority of LD 3 is the $398 million appropriated for checks that will be selectively sent to 800,000 Maine citizens. Who wouldn’t want a $450 check? You’d have to be crazy to turn that down in the face of record-setting inflation, skyrocketing utility costs, and a cold Maine winter that’s just getting started.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen both our federal and state governments repeatedly send out checks, calling them “stimulus” or “relief” checks. Thanks to the federal government printing money for stimulus checks, first under former President Trump and then President Biden, we are facing a recession with the worst inflation in 40 years, yet no one seems to make the connection. Why, when we have repeatedly had a surplus at the state level, do we not cut taxes instead of writing checks, thus leaving more money in the pockets of hardworking Mainers in the first place?

Because cutting taxes wouldn’t fit an agenda to build dependence on the government, in order to turn public sentiment in favor of a universal basic income. After all, in 2021 the Maine Legislature appointed a committee to “examine and assess the feasibility, economic impact and poverty reduction effect of providing basic income security through a direct cash payment system.”

So rather than cutting taxes in response to repeated projected surplus (excess taxation), Democrats and Republicans alike in Augusta advocated that we spend it immediately, via $450 “relief” checks. Creating government dependency, sponsored by your tax dollars, one check at a time.

Without a willingness to address the policies that are driving our utility costs sky-high or a desire to keep more of Mainers’ money in their pockets in the first place, LD 3 promises to be a stopgap that provides no real solutions. As the first act of the 131st Maine Legislature, it sets the precedent that we will continue to pass policy that ignores the real issues.

Keep an eye on your mailbox, where you can expect to see an upbeat letter from Gov. Mills arrive with your check, but no talk of real change. Mainers can count on more of the same, which means your costs will continue to increase while your elected representatives pat themselves on the back for sending you a $450 check.

Laurel Libby is a member of the Maine House of Representatives, District 90, serving Minot and part of Auburn.