There was plenty at stake for Maine people as the legislative session wound to a close, most notably another budget bill, the 2013 DHHS budget.

The legislature was faced with two choices to balance the budget: one alternative was a Democratic proposal that created solutions to the shortfall including responsible cost-of-care management and department efficiencies; the second, led by the GOP, did nothing to improve cost effectiveness.

Instead, on one hand it relied on unfunded tax cuts while reducing or eliminating a broad range of services that keep tens of thousands of Maine people healthier, safer and better educated.

Unfortunately, the GOP plan passed and was later signed by the governor.

Their budget depends on gimmicks, such as assuming that the federal government will grant a first-time-ever waiver that violates federal regulations. The cuts and gimmicks were not necessary, and the budget could have been balanced far more simply.

Despite all the rhetoric you may hear, even in this recession, enrollment in MaineCare, a healthcare program, has only grown 3 percent per year and is far more cost effective than people relying on emergency rooms for healthcare.

Over the last decade, Maine has worked hard to lower teen pregnancy rates and reduce tobacco addiction. Unfortunately, the programs responsible for these successes have been drastically cut in the GOP budget.

Because of cuts to childcare services like Head Start, this budget will negatively impact children and working families. No working parent should have to choose between working and the safety of their child.

The elderly are also hurt by this budget. Low-income seniors on fixed incomes will no longer qualify for low-cost prescription drugs. No senior should have to choose between buying groceries and paying for their life-saving medication.

While these cuts may look good on paper, in reality it is a cost-shift that will compromise Mainers' health and in the long run will cost all Maine people more, not less. I voted against the GOP budget because it fails to provide reasonable cost management, it cuts services that will shift costs and it is unnecessarily harmful to Maine people.

In my last column I wrote about the bond bills, so I will just say that the legislature did muster the necessary 2/3 support for five bond bills, which if signed by the governor, will go before the voters of Maine for final approval. The public investments are targeted toward transportation, research and development, public higher education, wastewater and drinking water systems and Land for Maine's Future.

Bonding is especially important and necessary this year to provide a needed "shot in the arm" for our economy by creating jobs now and supporting future economic growth.

Much still needs to be done to get Maine back on the right track – to move Maine forward in providing good American jobs and wages, affordable and accessible healthcare and a solid education. But that work will have to wait until the next legislative session.

Sen. Chris Johnson lives in Somerville and represents Senate District 20.