Among other things, Baldacci wants to use $52 million in borrowed money for building improvements at University of Maine System and Maine Community College campuses. Of course, he also wants those same institutions to lay off teachers and reduce their course offerings, thereby leaving many of the improved buildings vacant.
Environmental groups are asking us to go in hock to the tune of $87 million to buy more public lands. Meanwhile, the public lands the state already owns, namely its state parks, need maintenance and repairs costing an estimated $40 million that nobody is talking about appropriating. Because, I mean, how would fixing up our current properties get us out of the recession?
In all, Mitchell, Baldacci, the enviros (no relation to Enron), and other assorted members of the don't-pay-as-you-go crowd want to borrow $1.3 billion.
Debt payments on the more than $900 million in bonds the state has already issued or approved will cost taxpayers more than $263 million in the next two years. The interest on these loans is a bigger part of the state budget than the entire judicial system, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Legislature.
Combined.
If this collection of buttheads (no relation to Fannie Mae) gets its way, the financial burden from the state's debt would more than double.
If the prospect of all that wasted money has given you a headache, I suggest seeing a doctor about having an MIR — I mean an MRI. Or you could try some over-the-counter pain meds. I think they sell them at your local AIG.
Got a shovel-ready idea for a column? E-mail me at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
