LePage Got His Tax Cut Thru, What Do You Think Happens Next?

The question above is rheotorical. Most of us who follows politics already know the answer. Sure enough, right on cue, we saw a press release a few days ago where LePage announced that in order to keep the education budget where it is now then large scale cuts are going to be need to be made in the Social Services budget.

This is standard Republican doctrine but is now evident from both a federal and state level what the new approach to accomplish this is. Simply put the Republican approach is to give away the candy first...tax cuts first and then when the budget starts to be out of balance to the point where you cannot ignore it again put the Dems in a position where they have to agree to cuts or be seen voting in favor of tax increases. In effect the plan is to starve government so that cuts have to be made. To me what is most surprising, like all thinks in Republican doctrine that they get away with, is that the Democrats let them get away this and follow their script.

LePage has proven adept at this too. When he can, with a straight face, say to those in the education field, administrators, chancellors and the like to encourage thier representatives to cut social services in order to save the education budget we know what we are up against. It is brilliant in the sense that it puts two Democratic constituencies in battle against each other. Keep in mind that LePage has already put his tax cuts thru. He and his folks can now sit and watch his foes try to outflank each other if not turn completely on each other.

It is brilliant politics. It also spells trouble for our young people trying to get an education and those in our society that are the most vulnerable.