From Maine.gov:
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today issued an executive order to reduce State spending by $35.5 million in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2013. The order, called a curtailment, will help to ensure that the State finishes the fiscal year with a balanced budget – as required by the Maine Constitution.

The process to identify the spending reductions began with State departments and agencies receiving assigned reduction targets. Each department or agency presented options and program impact analyses to meet the targets. The proposed reductions were evaluated based on a number of factors, including the effects on public health and safety and extent that the impact could be minimized.

“Unlike the Federal Government, Maine must balance its budget and we can achieve this for the short-term under this curtailment,” said Governor LePage. “However, in order for the State to sustain a balanced budget for the long-term, Democrats and Republicans must acknowledge that from year to year we have only put a Band-Aid on the problem. Not unlike Washington, we must reign in spending before Maine falls off its own fiscal cliff.”

The Governor has notified the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and House of the specific allotments curtailed, the extent of curtailment of each allotment and the effect of each curtailment on the objects and purposes of the program affected.

Under Maine law, the Governor has the authority to reduce spending on programs approved by the Legislature with a curtailment order, subject to certain restrictions. The curtailment order serves to reduce the rate of spending until a supplemental budget is proposed by the Governor and passed by the legislature to address the predicted revenue shortfall in a comprehensive manner. The curtailment order applies only to the current fiscal year.

As a way to reduce spending immediately, previous Maine governors have utilized the curtailment process. Recent curtailments totaled more than $180 million between the years 2008-2010.

(NECN: Marnie Maclean) - While most new college graduates are looking for a job, Justin Chenette is looking for committee assignments at the State House in Augusta, Maine.

The 21-year-old democrat from Saco is the youngest  lawmaker in the state. He was sworn in on Wednesday, one of 13 new representatives under 30 years old.

“I think it's important that young people have a seat at the table and that's what I am trying to accomplish here," says Chenette, who won the November election by a huge margin.  

Surprisingly, Chenette went into the campaign with strong name recognition. As a high school student, he hosted a political show on public access television and if a candidate wanted to get elected in Saco, they found their way to his show.

Chenette became the first student in Maine appointed to the board of education.

There he realized he might like answering the questions more than asking them.

He announced his candidacy while going to college in Vermont. He relied heavily on social media to connect with voters.

There were skeptics but Chenette wasn't deterred.

"If you believe in something you have to go for it, you can't let other people tell you know when you believe yes, that has been a theme in anything I have taken on."

He knows he's got a lot to learn, but Chenette believes his passion and idealism still have a place in politics.