Rep. Nathan Wadsworth (R-Hiram)
I want to thank the voters in District 82 (Brownfield, Fryeburg, Hiram, Lovell and Porter) for placing their trust in me by re-electing me to serve in the 132nd Legislature. I also want to than outgoing Rep. Caleb Ness for his distinguished service this past two years. Although Caleb chose not to run for re-election, I have no doubt that he has a bright public service future ahead of him.
When the new legislature begins its work in January, it faces significant challenges. It will receive a biennial budget proposal from Governor Mills and craft a budget 2025/2026 state budget. In recent years, majority Democrats have broken with traditional and rammed through partisan budgets with no input from Republicans. I am hopeful that will not happen again and we can work together, like most people back home want.
This year’s budget will be difficult. Years of overspending taxpayer money has created a projected $1 billion shortfall. To meet Maine’s constitutional balanced budget requirement, the legislature and Governor will have to make budget cuts, raise taxes, or resort to budgetary gimmicks.
I do not favor raising taxes when many of our friends and neighbors are struggling to survive or remain in their homes. Maine already has the fourth highest tax burden in the country and the highest property tax rate when adjusted for income.
I am also hopeful that we can lower electric rates for consumers by reversing state net energy billing policies that charge consumers artificially high prices in order to profit our of state solar companies. There is no reason that we should be paying them .21 cents a kilowatt for energy that costs .05 cents a kilowatt to generate.
There are so many other pressing issues that will be facing us over the next two years. Too many to mention. I look forward to hearing from you on matters of concern.
I am really excited about representing you again and hopefully, helping to strengthen Maine over the next two years. Please contact me if you have any additional questions, suggestions, or if I can be of assistance to you with state government matters. I appreciate the opportunity to represent you in Augusta.
Thank you,
Rep. Nathan J. Wadsworth (R-Hiram)