With no budget in place for the 2018-2019 budget biennium, Gov. Paul LePage has declared a State of Civil Emergency, shutting down the state government.

While legislative leaders were able to come to a consensus around an 11th hour budget deal, it failed to gain the necessary 2/3s support to pass the House. Democrats in the House held firm in voting to approve the measure, but 61 republicans blocked its passage, denying the bill the 2/3s support it needed to move forward. In the Senate, the budget passed overwhelmingly with only one senator, Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, voting against it. 

The governor stepped in to negotiate a last minute budget deal, but was unable to create a new consensus, and no proposal was made public. In the days leading up to the shutdown, the governor threatened to wait the full ten days to respond to the budget afforded to him in the state constitution if he disagreed with the budget, ensuring a shutdown.

The governor’s executive order took effect immediately after midnight Friday and expires on July 3 at 5 p.m. or whenever a budget is passed into law. If the shutdown is likely to continue past that date, the executive order will be updated.

“This is not about today or tomorrow,” said LePage in a statement. “This is about the future of Maine. The Maine people are taxed enough. I will not tax them anymore and in my budget overall taxes were decreased. Maine has plenty of revenue to fund state government without raising taxes.”

The final budget deal voted on included an increase in the state lodging tax from 9 percent to 10.5 percent, although it nixed a 3 percent surcharge on incomes more than $200,000 that was approved by voters in November.

Democrats laid the blame for the state shutdown squarely at House Republicans’ feet.

“I am angered, but also deeply saddened by the failure of the legislature to pass a budget,” said House Speaker Sarah Gideon, D-Freeport. “Democrats and Senate Republicans have exhausted every possibility to prevent this outcome. I am scared for the workers who don’t know when they’ll get their next paycheck, for the businesses whose work will come grinding to a halt, and the stability of our economy, now twice scarred with the uncertainty of a government shutdown.
 
“Make no mistake, this shutdown was not necessary,” she continued. “And make no mistake I will continue to do everything in my power to end it.”

Emergency personnell and services will continue during the shutdown. The governor has previously stated that law enforcement will be prioritized, and on Friday announced that State Police, Capitol Police, MDEA, Fire Marshal, Maine Warden Service and Marine Patrol will continue to operate. TANF, SNAP and MaineCare payments will continue as usual. Limited unemployment benefits will be available. A full list of departments and services deemed emergency is available on the state website.