Peter Mills: A warning reminiscent of Dwight
Bangor Daily News, March 14, 2007
(excerpt) Today, most state governments, and Maine in particular, are subject to a similar dominance that could fittingly be called the "socio-educational complex," one that is supported by the two big pillars of state spending:
Within social services, about 90 percent of the money is spent on contract payments to private nonprofit providers who employ tens of thousands of Maine citizens to take care of hundreds of thousands more. Each year, a number of those who work for these providers are elected to the Maine Legislature. They serve on key committees, such as Appropriations and Human Services, where public money is dispensed to their employers.
On the education side, current and retired teachers comprise a fifth of the Maine Legislature and 70 percent of the Education Committee.
(excerpt) Today, most state governments, and Maine in particular, are subject to a similar dominance that could fittingly be called the "socio-educational complex," one that is supported by the two big pillars of state spending:
- Social services costing $2.8 billion per year in state and federal dollars; and
- Kindergarten through 12th-grade education costing more than $2 billion per year.
Within social services, about 90 percent of the money is spent on contract payments to private nonprofit providers who employ tens of thousands of Maine citizens to take care of hundreds of thousands more. Each year, a number of those who work for these providers are elected to the Maine Legislature. They serve on key committees, such as Appropriations and Human Services, where public money is dispensed to their employers.
On the education side, current and retired teachers comprise a fifth of the Maine Legislature and 70 percent of the Education Committee.
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