AUGUSTA – On Thursday, the House voted 123-17 to pay more for health insurance for retired teachers.

The annual cost to taxpayers is millions of dollars that the state doesn’t have.

Any teacher celebration may be premature.

Unless cuts are made in other programs, taxes are raised or money falls from heaven, programs approved without funding – which is the case here – typically die when they reach the Appropriations Committee.

Why do legislators vote for programs knowing they’re not going to happen because there’s no money to pay for it?

One reason is getting re-elected.

How legislators vote can be used for them or against them. The 123 legislators who supported the teachers bill – including dozens of Republicans who complain about others acting irresponsibly, creating programs without money – will look good to teachers back home. That includes the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Kevin Glynn, R-South Portland.

Rep. Darlene Curley, R-Scarborough, was among the 17 who voted against it. She said she’d like retired teachers to get more help, but “the state is broke, and we have debt as far as you can see.”

Her vote was honest, but maybe not politically smart, she said after. “Now it looks like I’m not supporting teachers.” She does support teachers, “but you know that’s how it could be portrayed” in the next election.

Fellow Appropriations Committee member Rep. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, was among the 123 who voted for the bill. Craven said afterwards that she wanted to support the idea.

Voting for a bill knowing it will die is better, she said, than voting against it. “It reinforces to teachers that we do support them, and we would pay for that if we had the money.”

Maybe next time the state will have the money, Craven said.

Wonder what grade teachers would give for that vote.

Regal display

In the Hall of Flags on Wednesday were a number of booths offering information, and lunch, to legislators.

Normal stuff.

But circulating was a man dressed as a female beauty queen. He was wearing a tiara, a sash, shoulder-length hair, a flowing pantsuit and high heels. The heels seemed to slow his walking.

When asked for his name, he smiled. “Which name do you want? Today I’m Madam Sheena,” but the next day he’d be Robert Kennedy of South Portland. “Maybe I should run for office with that name,” Kennedy said with a grin.

He and others were at the State House representing Maine’s gay community and to meet legislators. He explained his get-up. In 2003, he was a “queen” for Southern Maine Pride, Portland’s annual gay pride day. “I did such a good job” that he, and others, were given the title of duchess.

People at other booths that day were more sedate. There were high-schoolers from Waterville, representatives of Equality Maine, and people from several churches, including Gerald Michaud of the First Congregational Church in Wilton.

Michaud said his church wants people to know it affirms lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people. The church’s policy is that “there’s nothing wrong with their lifestyle. No matter who you are, where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome.” It’s important for churches that support gays to be visible, “sharing our view also, that God’s love and Jesus’ openness” is for everyone, Michaud said.

Quote of the week: “We have 750 bills to consider before adjournment. Members should consider that” when deciding how long to speak on the floor.

– House Speaker John Richardson, D-Brunswick, on Thursday.

Bonnie Washuk is a Sun Journal State House reporter.