This is Representative Steve Bishop of Bucksport with the Weekly Republican Address.
Last year, I stood here in Bucksport discussing a national survey that ranked Maine’s infrastructure the worst in the nation. CNBC’s annual Top States for Business report gave Maine an “F” and ranked us dead last among all 50 states.
Legislative Republicans have been sounding the alarm and proposing solutions for years.
Three years ago, in a rare bipartisan agreement, the Legislature adopted a Republican proposal dedicating 40 percent of the sales tax on vehicle purchases and 40 percent of Bureau of Motor Vehicles sales and use tax revenue to the Highway Fund.
That change was projected to provide $200 million every two years for roads, bridges, and transportation infrastructure.
It was a major step, but it was only a start.
This session, Republicans proposed increasing that share from 40 percent to 60 percent beginning in 2027. The proposal was rejected on a party-line vote.
Now we are learning that the Maine Department of Transportation may delay or cancel up to $400 million in road, bridge, and infrastructure projects because of a major funding shortfall.
According to reports, MaineDOT has already delayed approximately $50 million in paving projects and is considering postponing or canceling hundreds of millions more in transportation investments.
We cannot afford that.
This announcement comes after lawmakers approved the largest budgets in Maine history, increased taxes on workers, retirees, and families, and benefited from years of record state revenues.
Mainers were told there wasn’t enough money for transportation. Yet there was money for unprecedented spending growth.
Republicans repeatedly warned that rapid spending increases were unsustainable and would eventually crowd out core government responsibilities.
Unfortunately, those warnings are proving correct.
Transportation infrastructure is not a luxury. It is one of the most basic responsibilities of state government. Our economy, public safety, emergency services, tourism industry, and daily lives all depend on safe, reliable roads and bridges.
When government cannot adequately fund essential infrastructure after years of record revenues and record spending, it raises serious questions about priorities.
The first duty of government is to provide the services citizens depend on every day. If we can’t maintain our roads and bridges, we’re failing that test.
Maine needs to get its priorities straight.
Basic needs must come before wants. That includes our roads, our bridges, and the transportation network that keeps our state moving.
This has been Representative Steve Bishop with the Weekly Republican Address.
Thank you for listening. Please help us change Maine for the better: subscribe, share, and follow us on Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram.
###