The Latest: Maine Republicans bring proposal to end shutdown

Republicans in Maine say their revised budget proposal can end the state's government shutdown.

House Republicans are proposing a new spending plan on Saturday that eliminates lodging tax increases, adds $162 million to state education funding and ensures that emergency personnel who work during the shutdown are compensated.

A Maine budget conference committee is scheduled to meet to try to solve the state's budget impasse, but neither side sounds confident that an agreement will come soon.

Dozens of union members and state employees marching and chanting outside the Maine State House say a government shutdown is the fault of Gov. Paul LePage and Republican lawmakers.

Maine citizens will experience a partial state government shutdown after lawmakers failed to pass a new state budget.

The two-year, $7.1 billion budget would have eliminated a voter-approved 3 percent surtax on high earners to fund schools, provided $164 million in additional education funding and raised the state's lodging tax.

GOP Gov. Paul LePage and House Republicans want less spending, support for some policy initiatives that were rejected and an overall income tax cut.