Janet Mills in 2022 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
Return half state surplus through direct checks to people
Many of my friends on the other side of the aisle have called for a return of half the surplus to Maine people through direct checks. I think they're right. I propose that we send half of this surplus--$411 million--back to the people of Maine.
These givebacks, by direct checks to the people, will amount to about $500 per person and will be distributed to an estimated 800,000 taxpayers in Maine to help them offset added costs.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 10, 2022
On Education:
Make two years of community college free
I propose making two years of community college free. To the high school classes of 2020 through 2023--if you enroll full-time in a Maine community college this fall or next, Maine will cover every last dollar of your tuition so you can obtain a
one-year certificate or two-year associates degree and graduate unburdened by debt and ready to enter the workforce. If you already started a two-year program, we've got your back too. We will cover the last dollar of your second year.
I will fund an overhaul of the Opportunity Maine Tax Credit. We will broaden and simplify the program's eligibility criteria so that those who graduated with student debt--regardless of what type of degree they have or where they graduated or what type
of work they do now--they will be eligible for up to $25,000 of debt relief over the course of their lifetime, so long as they have a job and they make Maine their home.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 10, 2022
On Education:
Met state's commitment to fund 55% of cost of education
For the first time in Maine history we met the state's longstanding commitment to fund 55% of the cost of education. No longer will we underfund education in the State of Maine, as past administrations have done. We will maintain this commitment to
our students, to our teachers, to our municipalities, and to our property taxpayers. And to help us do so I propose creating an Education Stabilization Fund, capitalized with $30 million from the General Fund, to continue delivering on that promise.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 10, 2022
On Families & Children:
More than $12 million to increase pay for childcare workers
We have provided $200 monthly stipends to more than 6,000 childcare workers to encourage them to work in this valuable profession. We are investing another $25 million in federal funds to help renovate, expand, or build new childcare facilities & expand
early childhood education programs. The Speaker of the House has proposed legislation to provide pay increases for childcare workers. I support his proposal. My supplemental budget will include more than $12 million to increase pay for childcare workers.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 10, 2022
On Families & Children:
Budget will fully fund universal free meals in our schools
We all know that students can't learn on an empty stomach. Last year the Legislature got rid of the distinction between paid lunch and free and reduced lunch and asked us to pick up the cost of these school meals once federal funding ended.
I am pleased to announce that my supplemental budget will include money to fully fund universal free meals in our schools. It is time to keep feeding our children good food--more and more of it Maine grown, Maine fished, Maine farmed.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 10, 2022
On Technology:
Universal high-speed internet for Maine by 2024
We proposed, and you enacted with bipartisan support, a new entity charged with achieving universal internet access in Maine--the Maine Connectivity Authority. With this new Authority up and running, and with the support of American Rescue funds,
I pledge to you tonight that every person in Maine who wants to connect to high-speed internet will be able to do so by 2024--just two years from now.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 10, 2022
Page last updated: Apr 04, 2022