AUGUSTA, Maine - Members of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee called it quits last evening after day-long negotiations among legislative leaders failed to yield agreements on some key issues - such as a tax cut.
"There's some pretty big issues involved in this particular budget," says Rep. Peggy Rotundo, a Lewiston Democrat who co-chairs the committee. "We're just waiting for those big issues to be resolved so we can tie a bow on this budget and finish it up."
House Speaker Mark Eves, a Democrat from North Berwick, and Senate President Mike Thibodeau, a Winterport Republican, remained optimistic that budget talks could be finalized Wednesday night. But leadership talks continued into the evening and are resuming Thursday.
The Appropriations Committee has public hearings on bond proposals all afternoon on Thursday, so even if a deal is reached by leaders, the committee won't consider the budget until evening.
