We live in unstable and uncertain times. The erratic behavior of the Trump administration – like empowering the richest man in the world to wreak havoc on our federal government – has posed numerous challenges to Maine, from harmful cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs to threats made to education funds because Governor Janet Mills told him to his face that she would follow the law.

Sadly, some of that erratic behavior has trickled down into state politics. We had a supplemental budget before us to close a gap in MaineCare funding to pay health care providers, with an amendment agreed to by the leaders of the Democratic and Republican caucuses in both the House and Senate. However, Senate Republicans reneged on their agreement and prevented the bill from receiving the two-thirds vote needed to enact the measure immediately. Only two Senate Republicans, Marianne Moore and Rick Bennett, did the right thing. This is not the first time carefully negotiated agreements have blown up this legislative session.

All of this raises serious doubts about the reliability of the Senate Republicans as negotiating partners. In response, here is what we are doing to provide stability and clarity:

As of writing this piece, my colleagues and I are prepared to vote on a continuing services budget, which will provide the funding MaineCare needs as well as ongoing funding for important initiatives already in law and approved on an ongoing basis. This budget contains no taxes or cuts to essential programs. The balance for the upcoming two fiscal years projects a positive General Fund balance of around $120 million.

It ensures that Maine funds 55% of the statewide cost of K-12 public education. Obviously this amount varies by school district, and more work is needed to ensure that Biddeford can receive an equitable share of funding. But without this an even larger share of the costs would fall on property taxpayers – and we know a lot falls on us already.

Speaking of issues affecting property taxpayers, this budget also ensures continued state support for municipal revenue sharing, which is a portion of state sales tax revenue that is reinvested locally. Again, without municipal revenue sharing, property taxes would be even higher.

The continuing services budget ensures funding for Maine’s free school lunch program, which any superintendent or principal in the state will tell you has been a game-changer for kids in our public schools. Kids shouldn’t go hungry, and every bit of research shows that they learn better if they’re fed. The better they do – the better our community does.

This budget ensures ongoing funding for childcare as well, which continues to be a huge challenge facing working families in our community. It also ensures that medical providers will get paid – later than we wanted, but at least with certainty that it will happen. If passage of this continuing services budget prevails then it will take effect before July 1, preventing a shutdown of state government and providing certainty for all Mainers who rely on this budget’s provisions.

Governor Mills plans to call us into a special session to continue our work, and there is a lot to do. This continuing services budget is just part one of our budget work, and we have many difficult conversations and decisions to make in the coming months. There are a number of proposals on the table to raise revenue and to make cuts – many of these proposals are challenging.

But we are free to have these discussions and make these difficult decisions about how best to balance Mainers’ needs and our state financial situation without endangering livelihoods because we passed the continuing services budget, and don’t have to worry about the threat of a government shutdown.

With so much instability in the world, especially coming out of Washington, DC, state governments have the responsibility now more than ever to protect their citizens and provide as much stability as possible.

I’m certain this is the best and most responsible way forward.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you have. Take good care of each other.

Rep. Marc Malon is serving his second term in the Maine House, representing a portion of Biddeford. He serves as a member of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and the Housing and Economic Development Committee. He can be reached via email at marc.malon@legislature.maine.gov.