The excuse machine for the Maine Democrat Party is on full spin cycle. They tumble through the revolving objection drum, searching daily for a new reason to obstruct a balanced budget.  First, the Governor presented his proposal to address the DHHS budget shortfall to the Appropriations Committee.  The Democrats and their moderate Republican allies on the committee chose instead to produce a bill that did not address the looming fiscal crises but rather preferred to push the problem to a later date.  After overwhelming outrage from the people, the House correctly amended the bill to deal with the issue more directly.

Amazingly, this bill had bi-partisan support, at least, for a time.  Several Democrats have now realized that throwing messy obstructionist tantrums is far more effective in garnering headlines than to simply do the work of the people.  So now, we have the juvenile revolving reason to pout.

To start, these Democrats said they could not support the bill because it did not have the approval of the Appropriations Committee. Then the committee gave the bill its approval.  Now, the Democrats can’t support it because it doesn’t have enough …spending?  And we all know that the reason Maine is grossly over budget is because we haven’t spent enough, right?  Really?

This should come as no surprise to the people of Maine.  As the high levels of corruption in government bureaucracies are now coming to light, we can see clearly why Cynthia Dill and others want to spend more.  They just need a few more perks for being public servants.

The smelly onion of the Turnpike Commission keeps unraveling with pungent and rank clarity.  The investigative works of Peter Mills and his staff have shone a light on the many get rich schemes hidden beneath the veils of this tax-funded organization.  Indictments have come down with more on the way.  But it pales in comparison to what has been unearthed within the corridors of Maine State Housing.

In the past five years, under the leadership of Dale McCormick, Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) has increased travel expenses by 157%.  Training expenses have increased by 287%.  Gift cards, catering, massage therapy, and martial arts training, to name a few, all spent with lavish exuberance on the taxpayer dime.

Some of the training facilities itemized under “education/training” were such heralded institutions as Ground Round, Pushard’s Okinawan Karate, Abracadabra Productions, and Dan’s BBQ.  Expenses marked “office supplies” included Funtown/Splashtown USA, Are You Ready To Party, Inc., Healing Hands Therapeutic massage, and Sandcastle Entertainment, which rents bounce houses and slides.  These abuses continue to be uncovered by watchdog groups, such as Maine Heritage Policy Center.

Perhaps, as Democrats continue to obstruct the arduous task of balancing Maine’s budget with cries to spend more money and, instead, demand to spend us down the river, we the people should ask why?  Was it because you didn’t have enough for your expenditures in the first place?  Or do you just want to play?