AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) The Maine Legislature is getting back to business Thursday in hopes of reaching an agreement on a supplemental budget.
A compromise crafted in the Senate gained a two-thirds majority Wednesday evening, thanks to support from two Republicans. The proposal will be considered by the House on Thursday.
“It’s a reasonable supplemental budget that makes sense for regular Mainers, not the wealthy elite. Now, all eyes are on the House to do the right thing,” Senate President Troy Jackson said.
The budget bill would exempt from state income taxes forgivable federal loans provided to 28,000-plus Maine businesses during the pandemic. It also would forgive state taxes on pandemic unemployment benefits.
The parties were originally $32 million apart because Republicans wanted further state tax cuts to conform with federal tax code.
A two-thirds majority vote in each chamber was necessary for the changes to take place immediately and provide clarity to tax preparers and accountants ahead of the April 15 tax filing deadline.
The compromise that emerged in the Senate included an amendment to boost funding for the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services to fill several additional staff positions.
The lawmakers were gathering at the Augusta Civic Center to accommodate social distancing during the pandemic.
