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Foley


*LISTEN HERE [ [link removed] ]*


Watch [ [link removed] ]
*PARTISAN BUDGETS LEAVE TAXPAYERS WITHOUT A VOICE*

"The circumvention of Maine’s Constitutional budget process demands action"

 

This is one of my favorite places in the Capitol, the Hall of Flags, where partisanship has no pace.

Partisan budgets leave taxpayers without a voice. The circumvention of Maine’s Constitutional budget process demands action.

Hi, this is Representative Bob Foley from Wells, with this week’s Republican Address.

I came to Augusta to work across the aisle, solve real problems, and represent the interests of all Mainers. Unfortunately, that spirit of cooperation has been absent this session.

Since Maine became a state in 1820, our Constitution has guided a bipartisan budget process. Budgets have typically required a two-thirds vote to take effect by July 1—ensuring input from both parties.

But for the third budget in a row, majority Democrats have bypassed that process. They’ve exploited a constitutional loophole to pass a partisan budget without Republican input.

Here’s how: they passed a majority-only budget in March, then abruptly adjourned the session on March 21—nearly three months before the June 18 statutory adjournment date. At that time, thousands of bills hadn’t even been printed or acted upon.

Governor Mills immediately called us back into special session, citing “extraordinary circumstances.” But Mainers deserve better than partisan gamesmanship. They deserve transparency and collaboration.

This loophole allows the majority party to pass the budget early—before June—avoiding the two-thirds vote requirement that fosters bipartisan agreement. It shuts out the voices of half of Maine’s voters, those whose representatives are not part of the majority.

That’s not how the process is supposed to work. The Maine Constitution was designed to ensure that no single party could dominate the budget. When one party overrides the other, the result is predictable: higher spending and higher taxes.

That’s why Republicans are fighting to return power to the people—all of them.

We’ve introduced LD 1553, a resolution sponsored by Rep. Rachel Henderson of Rumford and nine other Republicans. This proposal would amend the Maine Constitution to require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature—or a citizen referendum—before any new tax can be imposed or existing tax increased.

It’s a simple principle: No new taxes without broad consensus.

LD 1553 will protect Maine families from one-party overreach and ensure that every legislator, and every Mainer they represent, has a voice in how taxpayer money is spent.

This has been Representative Bob Foley with this week’s Republican Address. Thank you for listening.

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Foley
Representative Robert Foley

is serving his fourth non-consecutive term in the Legislature, representing District 145, which includes most of Wells. He also previously served in the State Senate. He is the Ranking Member on the 132nd Legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee.

Foley brings a wealth of legislative experience, having served on the Insurance and Financial Services Committee previously and the Environmental and Natural Resources Committee.

In addition to his professional background in insurance sales, Rep. Foley holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science/Public Policy. He is actively involved in his community as a member of Save Our Shores, the Maine Founders Park Community Center, and St. Mary’s Church.

Rep. Foley and his wife, Maryanne, are proud parents of two children and grandparents to four grandchildren.



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Press Conference [ [link removed] ]
WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE

This week, House and Senate Republicans focused on Maine’s growing property tax burden and the toll it’s taking on our citizens.

• Maine now ranks fifth in the nation for highest property tax burden—putting us in the same category as states like California, New York, and Hawaii.

• Rising property taxes are stifling economic growth and making it harder for young people to buy a home and start a family here.

• Seniors on fixed incomes are being priced out of their homes—forced to choose between staying in the community they love or affording basic necessities.

WATCH HERE [ [link removed] ]




State of Maine Seal [ [link removed] ]

*  Distributed by the House Republican Office *
*  2 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0002*
*  Office: (207) 287-1440*






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