Gov. John Baldacci's proposed budget cuts could cost the state as many as 9,700 education and health related jobs, according to the Maine Center for Economic Policy. That's as many jobs as currently exist at Bath Iron Works and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard combined.
State Rep. Ann Perry, a Calais Democrat and co-chair of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee requested the analysis. She says the state can't afford that kind of job loss.
"A good portion of what the state has in terms of jobs is in health care and service and education," Perry says. "The effects of those jobs losses affect the whole state and our ability to regain the jobs and the economy that they support."
State Sen. Bill Diamond, a Democrat from Windham who co-chairs the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, says he has no doubt jobs will be lost as a result of this year's budget bill, but Diamond says taxpayers can't afford to pay any more in taxes in this recession.