But serving is no day in the park. Long after the State House halls are empty, the money committee is still meeting.

The workload is high. This year, instead of proposing one supplemental budget for 2004-05, Gov. John Baldacci proposed budgets for each year, plus more “change” packages, keeping the committee busy reviewing those proposals.

“Some people think the committee can do what it wants with the budget, but that’s not true,” said Rep. Richard Mailhot, D-Lewiston. “We have to get a budget that will pass in the House and Senate. We have 186 legislators here,” each fighting for his or her district.

Committee agreement has come hard lately. As more cuts are made, the cuts that follow get tougher. Trying to reach agreement, the committee met on a recent Friday until 8 p.m. The following Saturday it met from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. That’s not counting hours spent when the group’s eight Democrats and five Republicans met in party caucuses Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. “Last night I didn’t get home until 1:30 in the morning,” committee member Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, said Tuesday.

“In the last two nights I got home at 1 in the morning. We’re used to that,” Mailhot said. He wasn’t sure when committee members last had a day off.

What took so long for the latest budget deal was finding MaineCare cuts that don’t hurt the most vulnerable. Members weren’t accepting all of Baldacci’s cuts. “We’re trying to manage MaineCare better, working with providers, advocates, the Governor’s Office. That’s a huge challenge,” Rotundo said.

The group met through the night Thursday, and at 2:30 a.m. Friday approved a supplemental 05 budget. The House and Senate are expected to vote on it this week.
Don’t give a damn’ where Baldacci is
As House Democrats were wrapping up a caucus last week, one member asked: “Where’s the governor on this bill?”

That hit a nerve with House Majority Leader John Richardson and Assistant Majority Leader Robert Duplessie, who want to see legislators exert more power.

“I don’t care where the governor is on this. I don’t give a damn where he is!” Richardson bellowed. There are three branches of government: judicial, executive and legislative, Duplessie agreed, raising his voice. “It’s time the Legislature takes charge of the Legislature!”
Free fishing days
Among the mounds of paperwork in State House offices last week, one bill seemingly headed for the round file didn’t immediately make it: “An Act To Make Mother’s Day a Free Day for Fishing.” (The word “free” is always eye catching.)

While lawmakers grapple with property tax relief, deficits, budget cuts and river water quality standards, here was a bill to give every woman what she wants on Mother’s Day: a chance to bypass that restaurant for a day of fishing – free. No license required!

After consideration was given to include Father’s Day, the bill was changed to offer “Family Fishing Days” as free fishing days on the weekend before Presidents’ Day and the weekend following Memorial Day.

The prospects look good. The bill passed on initial votes in the Senate and House.
Condolences expressed
As members were about to leave Thursday for an Easter break, House Speaker Patrick Colwell wished members a good holiday and cautioned them to be ready to meet “morning, noon and night” as the April 21 adjournment nears.

Rep. Joanne Twomey, D-Biddeford, rose to acknowledge that lawmakers “have difficult problems at home,” and offered sympathy to several who are dealing with heart-breaking situations, including: Rep. Arlan Jodrey, R-Bethel, whose daughter-in-law Celina Jodrey, a Bethel teacher, died in a car crash; Rep. Linda McKee, D-Wayne, whose young niece is dying of cancer; and a seat mate of Twomey’s whose father died Wednesday.

Twomey wished all a happy Easter with their families. With that, the House adjourned in the memory of Dr. Edward Reeves of Auburn. Reeves, 92, died March 31 after decades of working as a local doctor.

Quote of the week: “Go home and appreciate your families. Every day is a gift.” – Rep. Joanne Twomey, D-Biddeford.
– Bonnie Washuk is the Sun Journal State House reporter.