Congress' failure to provide aid that many states were counting on has left Maine with a $100 million budget shortfall.

Gov. John Baldacci has begun targeting more cuts to make up for a $100 million state budget shortfall -- the result of Congress's refusal to provide more aid to states.

Baldacci is looking for nearly $40 million of that to come from the state Education Department and $22 million from the Fire Protection Services Commission.

"It is getting harder and harder and harder to do because of the fiscal constraints we've been facing over the last several years, says Acting State Finance Commissioner Ellen Schneiter.

Other major targets for cuts include $29 million from the Department of Health and Human Services, $8.4 million from the University of Maine System and $2.4 million from the Community Colleges System.

All of the agency's plans to reach those targets are due by September 1, with the governor required to issue a curtailment order by October 1 -- unless Congress changes its mind.