View the original

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine lawmakers gearing up for deliberations on a new two-year $6.1 billion budget are pinning their hopes on Washington to help address a looming $800 million-plus shortfall.

Reflective of State House anxiety and uncertainty has been Gov. John Baldacci’s decision to put off a State of the State address until later this month.

Baldacci administration budget chief Ryan Low was assigned to brief the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on Tuesday about the prospects for state aid in the developing federal stimulus package, but could offer little definitively.

“I think we’ll know more over the next few days,” said Low, who is the commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.