Maine: Ryan Low

AUGUSTA, Maine — A midcontract study of Maine’s agreement with the Maine Beverage Co. to operate the wholesale liquor business in the state has triggered interest in getting more revenue from the sale of liquor to help fund the state two-year budget.

“There are some things we can do that would raise some additional revenue,” Liquor Commission Director Dan Gwadosky said. “I can’t tell you how much until we drill down on the numbers and look at all the options and how they interact.”

But in response to a question, he confirmed that it was in the millions of dollars a year. Finance Commissioner Ryan Low said he expects it is “a good chunk of change” but agreed with Gwadosky that it would take some analysis to get a good estimate.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Legislative budget writers settled down to business Monday after key Republicans tried to settle a partisan spat over how details of a new $65 million Medicaid shortfall were released by Gov. John Baldacci’s administration.

Rep. Sawin Millett, R-Waterford, and Sen. Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, ranking Republicans on the Appropriations Committee, absolved the Democratic governor’s budget chief Ryan Low of withholding information about the shortfall. They noted that any delay in disclosing it to lawmakers was at least partially due to legislative scheduling.

Not all Republicans, however, seemed satisfied. Committee member John Robinson of Raymond, said he was “more than a little disturbed” by some of the latest numbers.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s finance chief brought a message back to Augusta from Washington about federal stimulus money: Be careful how you spend it.

Finance Commissioner Ryan Low briefed the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on Friday, a day after meetings in Washington with Vice President Joe Biden and other federal officials about Recovery and Reinvestment funding. Nearly all of the states were represented at those meetings.

Low said there’s a heavy emphasis on accountability and transparency as the funds go out. The Government Accountability Office will have staffers in 16 states, not including Maine, but will watch closely how the money’s spent in all states.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Members of two legislative committees are questioning proposals that would step up enforcement of certain tax laws and change the way Maine implements some taxes.

Gov. John Baldacci’s administration made the proposals as part of the governor’s biennial budget plan.

“These have been before us before, some just last year, and were rejected by the Legislature,” said Sen. Richard Nass, R-Acton, a member of the Taxation Committee. “I have a problem with these tax policy questions coming forward in the budget.”

Lawmakers heard criticism of proposals to change the way some tobacco products are taxed, the way the state estate tax is figured, the way telecommunications property is taxed, and the way the state corporate income tax is assessed.