There are estimates that up to 60 percent of Maine voters went out to the polls on Election Day. The same sex marriage issue brought people out but there were other important measures on the ballot.

There were issues on the ballot this year that represented how the people of Maine think about how state government is being run. Voters approved bonds for transportation infrastructure by a huge margin, which will create jobs.

They also voted overwhelmingly in support of Governor John Baldacci’s handling of the economy and state finances by voting down a repeal of school district administrative consolidation and Tabor. Maine voters rejected the school district consolidation law repeal by a whopping 91,354-vote margin, that’s 58.4 percent. The Tabor tax cap measure was also voted down by 58 percent. I asked the Governor what he thought about the vote. What do you think this says about the people of Maine?

“The votes demonstrate that people understand that Maine has reduced its budget to match the economic times while protecting our State’s core values. Working with the Legislature, my administration reduced the State’s two-year budget by $500 million dollars, and did it with broad, bipartisan support.

“The vote says the people of Maine don’t like formula driven methods, like Tabor. It’s like putting blinders on. To do the cutting and restructuring it has to be done thoughtfully with debate and discussion. That’s what we have done.

“If we’re going to balance our budgets, by not raising taxes, yet still provide important investments in our classrooms for our kids and their future, people know this work must be done. People recognize we need to continue down this road,” said the Governor.
“It’s a message not only to current legislators but for future legislators, and whoever will be the future Governor, that they will have to continue to do this kind of work.”