Appropriations Chair Shares Fiscal Insights at Pierce Atwood

Senate Chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Senator Richard Rosen, participated in a breakfast discussion with Pierce Atwood attorneys and clients Friday morning.  Senator Rosen was joined by his wife, Representative Kimberly Rosen, who serves on the Transportation Committee.  The breakfast fundraiser, organized by Pierce Atwood’s Government Relations Practice Group, was intended to provide participants with a chance to dig deeply into some of the budget issues affecting Maine through a roundtable discussion with Senator Rosen.

The event was particularly timely, given that Governor LePage released his supplemental budget addressing the Department of Health and Human Services' budget deficit on Tuesday.  Senator Rosen explained the Governor’s proposal, discussed how members of both political parties are approaching this proposal and provided some predictions regarding how the budget process would unfold.  Senator Rosen also provided a preview of fiscal matters that will be addressed in 2012 and discussed the prospects for State bonding next year.  Of course, State budget projections are directly tied to the health of the Maine economy and participants also gained an understanding of Maine’s economic trends over the next few years. 

Pierce Atwood attorneys and clients were pleased to have had the chance to participate in such a thoughtful discussion of State fiscal matters with the Senate Chair of the Appropriations Committee.  Moreover, the timing could not have been better, as Senator Rosen heads into the legislative process surrounding the Governor’s supplemental budget request next week.