MSEA leader: Job cuts “political, not economic”

Bruce Hodsdon, president of the Maine State Employees Association, told legislators Monday that the budget proposal to cut 94 state jobs -- 40 of which are filled -- is a "political, not economic" move. Hodsdon delivered his remarks to the Appropriations Committee as it took public testimony on Gov. John Baldacci's proposal to close a $140 million gap in the current state budget. He said existing employees should not be laid off because it will further exacerbate an already bad economy. "While a year ago we heard some opinion leaders argue that our state's financial problems could be solved by cutting state jobs and benefits, this is a much different time," he said. "There is no realistic argument that this budget crisis can be solved by putting more Mainers out of work." He went on to say: "In today's economy, each lost paycheck means fewer dollars spent in our communities, further strains on public budgets and greater demands on public services." He then suggested a tax increase. "This is a time when we should all share in the recovery, even if that means raising revenue from those who can afford it," he said. "What our state cannot afford is to increase the number of unemployed Maine taxpayers."