Maine Legislative Alert
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Senate Governor Committee Date: 07/03/2019 (Final
Key LD and Title Low Priority Medium Priority High Priority Date: 07/03/2019 (Final Update - Session Has Ended) Most Recent Action Committee through Governor Most Recent Action (Occurred this week) Next Session Begins: 01/08/2020 LD Title Committee Original Chamber 2nd Chamber House Senate Governor Committee Sponsor 1. Regular Bills Still Being Worked Sections: 1. Regular Bills Still Being Worked 2. Bond Bills 2. Bond Bills 3. Governor's Desk 4. Appropriations Table 5. Study Table 3. Governor's Desk 6. Carry Over Bills 7. Laws Governor Mills decided to "hold" the following bills until the next legislative session. At the beginning of the next legislative session, the Governor will have three days to act on these bills. 8. Dead Bills 6/18 Taken from An Act to Expand Community Support 6/3 House Passed to be Appropriations Services for Certain Adult Members of Engrossed as Amended by 6/4 Senate Passed in 6/5 Finally Table and Finally 775 the MaineCare Program Divided Report 4/22 Committee Amendment A Concurrence Passed Passed HHS Rep. Lori Gramlich 6/19 Senate Passed to be Engrossed as Amended by Committee Amendment A as An Act to Improve Accountability of Amended by Senate 6/19 House Passed in 6/19 Passed to 6/19 Passed to be 793 Opioid Manufacturers Divided Report 6/13 Amendment A Concurrence be Enacted Enacted JUD Sen. Troy Jackson Resolve, Establishing a Task Force To Study the Creation of a Comprehensive Career and Technical Education 6/6 House Passed to be System To Support Workforce Engrossed as Amended by 6/7 Senate Passed in 6/19 Finally 6/19 Finally Rep. -
June 9, 2021 the Honorable Susan M. Collins 413 Dirksen Senate Office
June 9, 2021 The Honorable Susan M. Collins The Honorable Angus S. King, Jr. 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building 133 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 Washington DC 20510 The Honorable Chellie Pingree The Honorable Jared Golden 2162 Rayburn House Office Building 1222 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Senators Collins and King, and Representatives Pingree and Golden: WHEREAS, the people living on the land that would eventually be designated as the District of Columbia were provided the right to vote for representation in Congress when the United States Constitution was ratified in 1788; and WHEREAS, the passage of the Organic Act of 1801 placed the District of Columbia under the exclusive authority of the United States Congress and abolished residents’ right to vote for members of Congress and the President and Vice President of the United States; and WHEREAS, residents of the District of Columbia were granted the right to vote for the President and Vice President through passage of the Twenty–Third Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1961; and WHEREAS, as of 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau data estimates that the District of Columbia’s population at approximately 712,000 residents is comparable to the populations of Wyoming (582,000), Vermont (623,000), Alaska (731,000), and North Dakota (765,000); and WHEREAS, residents of the District of Columbia share all the responsibilities of United States citizenship, including paying more federal taxes than residents of 22 states, -
Maine Legislature State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333
MAINE LEGISLATURE STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333 April 20, 2020 Senator Susan Collins Senator Angus King 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building 133 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Representative Chellie Pingree Representative Jared Golden 2162 Rayburn House Office Building 1223 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Senator Collins, Senator King, Representative Pingree, and Representative Golden: th We, the undersigned members of the 129 Maine Legislature, write today asking that you support an amendment to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. We are grateful for the passage of the CARES Act and the assistance it will provide, but in its current form, we are concerned that the funding Maine will receive cannot be used to address the massive losses in state revenue we expect to incur due to the coronavirus. Current guidance requires that approximately $1.25 billion of the funding Maine is expected to receive must be used for expenditures that: (1) are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID–19; (2) were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020 for the State or government; and (3) were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020. These significant restrictions, and an inability to specifically use these funds to offset revenue shortfalls, will seriously inhibit Maine’s ability to respond to this crisis. More flexible federal funding will help us continue to provide vital services, prevent further shutdown of key sectors of the state economy and hasten recovery once social distancing measures are relaxed. -
Townofcumberlandannua Lreport 2 0
— — TOWN OF CUMBERLAND ANNUAL REPORT 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 1 8 A B O U T T H E P H O T O S I N T H I S R E P O R T . A few years ago, we put out a call for photos to Cumberland residents. We wanted to see Cumberland through the eye’s of our residents. In these pages, you’ll find beautiful shots taken in all seasons by people who live in this small town. We hope you enjoy the photography as much as we do! Please consider sending us your photos. All photos must be photographed in Cumberland or must feature a Cumberland resident participating in a Cumberland event. Photos used will include a photo credit. Submitting photos gives the Town of Cumberland permission to use or publish the photographs in a Town exhibit, in the Town’s Annual Report, on the Town website, in social media pages, and in program brochures. Please send your photo submissions to [email protected]. Front Cover by Emilie Sommer (The Community Band Summer Concert) Back Cover by Catherine Del Vecchio Fitz (Cross Country Skiing at Twin Brook) — 2 — TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION 4 OFFICIALS & ADMINISTRATION Town Council & Chairman’s Report 6 Boards & Committees 8 Town Manager 10 Human Resources 12 Communications 13 Assessing 14 Information Technology 15 Town Clerk 16 Health Officer 22 Finance 24 LAND USE AND PLANNING Code Enforcement 28 Planning 30 Board of Adjustment & Appeals 32 Housing Authority 33 Planning Board 34 Lands & Conservation Commission 36 PUBLIC SAFETY AND SERVICES Police Department 38 Fire & Emergency Management 40 Public Services Public Works 43 Parks Department 44 Waste & Recycling 45 Community Recreation 46 Val Halla 48 Aging in Place 50 Prince Memorial Library 52 LETTERS TO CITIZENS MSAD51 Superintendent’s Report 56 Letter from the Governor 60 Senatorial Report 61 Congressional Report 64 Legislative Report 65 MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY 68 (Photo by Natalia Provencher) — 3 — IN DEDICATION TO Dale Denno his spring, Cumberland lost a dedicated public servant, Tcommunity member, and friend after a courageous battle with cancer. -
Mark Bessire, Director Cyrus Hagge, President, Board of Trustees Portland Museum of Art 7 Congress Square Portland, ME 04101
Mark Bessire, Director Cyrus Hagge, President, Board of Trustees Portland Museum of Art 7 Congress Square Portland, ME 04101 Dear Mr. Bessire, Mr. Hagge, and members of the Board of Trustees of Portland Museum of Art, It has come to our attention that employees at the Portland Museum of Art are in the process of organizing a union. They have notified the National Labor Relations Board in order to set up an election for union representation. These employees have a great love for their work and the museum. By forming a union, they believe they can better use their collective voice to help improve their working conditions, communication between workers and management and the valuable service this important institution provides to the community. We urge you to recognize that employees have the legal right to organize without retaliation or intimidation. The decision to organize is a fundamental right and should be up to the workers to make that decision free from interference. Unfortunately, it is an all too common practice for employers to spend an extraordinary amount of resources on anti-union campaigns. This often includes hiring expensive legal consultants to engage in fear tactics aimed to create uncertainty and delay. We, as elected leaders and members of the community, are requesting that PMA not engage in any anti- union tactics. This is the worker's decision to make. Specifically, we ask you to agree to a mail-in election, as has been granted by the labor board. This is the best option for the safety of the workers as well as making the election as accessible as possible. -
In This Issue
COUNTY SEAT WEEKLY In this issue OASTAL news ALL THE HOME NEWS SERVING WASHINGTON COUNTY CITIZENS & BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 160 YEARS Follow us on Twitter Since 1852 • Vol. 163 • No. 223 Machias, Maine • January 20, 2016 facebook.com/machiasnews $1.00 Crisis-Driven Drug Bill Braves Divided Legislative Front by Ruth Leubecker Staggered support hinging on and acquiring and manning uncertain funding and ongoing treatment facilities. political hurdles marks key “We have a very serious legislation designed to curb problem. The bill won’t solve Maine’s addiction epidemic. the problem, but it will help,” From the onset the state’s opioid said Sen. Paul Davis on the and heroin crisis has spawned a weekend. “The governor is heated response. Mostly the concerned about how it’s going legislature has balked at feeling to be paid for, and who gets to rushed to fast-track a bill before it do the treatment. I do think it can be systematically vetted. As will pass though, whether the it stands, the proposal seeks to governor vetoes it or not.” spend $2.4 million in hiring and Davis, who lives in Sangerville, training 10 new investigators and chairs the Inland Fisheries and another $2.4 million in raising Wildlife committee, and is term- awareness through education (Drug Bill pg 5) “Beloved Community” Thrives in Machias Healthy Acadia Americorp volunteers and event organizers Gretchen Swain, Paige Utterback and Kiel Darling serve up supper to guests Sue Bushman and Bill White. See story on page 4. Bank Gives $250K to Launch ER Campaign by Bill Kitchen Machias Savings Bank constructed over 50 years ago services, and the great jobs the presented Down East Community and has long operated well hospital provides for this region. -
Key Health Care Legislation from the 127Th Maine Legislature, First Regular Session
Key Health Care Legislation from the 127th Maine Legislature, First Regular Session Maine Medical Association’s 162nd Annual Session Harborside Hotel & Marina, Bar Harbor, Maine September 11-13, 2015 1 Lobbying 101 • Lobbying is not a “dirty word” • Democracy is a “participation sport” • Lobbying as a private citizen is constitutionally protected & is virtually unlimited • “8-hour rule” for paid lobbyists 2 Constitutional Protections • Amendment I to the U.S. Constitution: “Congress shall make no law . abridging . the right . to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” • Article I, Section 15 of the Maine Constitution, Right of Petition 3 The Policymakers • 186 Legislators; 127th Maine Legislature – 20 R, 15 D in Senate – 76 D, 67 R, 4 I, 2 U in House with 2 vacancies • 151 members of the House of Representatives, each representing 8797 citizens • 35 Senators, each representing 36,426 citizens • All elected every 2 years for maximum of 4 consecutive terms • Governor: elected every 4 years for maximum of 2 terms • Impact of term limit & MCEA public campaign financing laws 4 Physicians in the 127th Maine Legislature • Senator Geoffrey Gratwick, M.D. (D – Senate District 9, Bangor & Hermon) • Representative Linda Sanborn, M.D. (D – House District 26, part of Gorham) • Representative Heidi Brooks, M.D. (D – House District 61, part of Lewiston) • Representative Patricia Hymanson, M.D. (D – House District 4, Ogunquit & parts of Wells, York, & Sanford) 5 House Leadership • Speaker: Representative Mark Eves (D – House District 6, parts of North & South Berwick) • Majority Leader: Representative Jeff McCabe (D – House District 107, Skowhegan & part of Madison) • Asst. -
Maine Afl-Cio 2014 Cope Endorsements
MAINE AFL-CIO 2014 COPE ENDORSEMENTS Federal Race District Name Governor Mike Michaud U.S. Senate Shenna Bellows U.S. Congress 1 Chellie Pingree U.S. Congress 2 Emily Cain State Legislative Chamber Dist Name House 1 Deane Rykerson House 5 Joshua Plante House 6 Mark Eves House 7 Joachim Howard House 8 Christopher Babbidge House 9 Diane Denk House 10 Amy Davidoff House 11 Ryan Fecteau House 13 George Hogan House 14 Barry Hobbins House 15 Justin Chenette House 18 Anne-Marie Mastraccio House 19 William Noon House 20 Bettie Harris-Howard House 21 James Campbell House 24 Mark Bryant House 25 Jennie Butler House 27 Andrew McLean House 28 Dwight Ely House 30 Kimberly Monaghan-Derrig House 31 Terry Morrison House 32 Scott Hamann House 33 Rosemarie DeAngelis House 35 Dillon Bates House 36 Denise Harlow House 37 Richard Farnsworth House 38 Matthew Moonen House 39 Diane Russell House 40 Benjamin Chipman House 41 Erik Jorgensen House 42 Peter Stuckey House 43 Mark Dion House 45 Dale Denno House 46 Anne Graham House 47 Janice Cooper House 48 Sara Gideon House 49 Matthea Daughtry House 50 Ralph Tucker MAINE AFL-CIO 2014 COPE ENDORSEMENTS State Legislative Chamber Dist Name House 51 Jay McCreight House 52 Jennifer DeChant House 54 Denise Tepler House 55 Alice Eliott House 58 Michel Lajoie House 59 Margaret Rotundo House 60 Jared Golden House 61 Heidi Brooks House 62 Gina Melaragno House 63 Wayne Werts House 64 Bettyann Sheats House 67 Bonnie Lewis House 68 Christine Powers House 71 Dennise Whitley House 72 James Bradley House 73 Robert Kirchherr House -
Legislative Update House and Senate Committee Assignments
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE HOUSE AND SENATE COM MITTEE ASSIGNMENTS Today joint standing committee assignments for the 128th Legislature were made public by the presiding officers of the Maine House of Representatives and the State Senate. Despite sitting in the minority in the House of Representatives, House Republicans will outsize Democrats on the Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Committee and Marine Resources Committee, and will have parity on the Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Committee, Insurance & Financial Resources Committee, and the Veterans & Legal Affairs Committee. Governor LePage will be submitting his final biennial budget in early 2017 and it promises to include a number of provisions that will lock Democrats and Republicans into a prolonged period of review, line-item editing, and deal making. The all-important and uber-powerful Appropriations & Financial Affairs Committee will steer the direction of the budget following a vetting and review from each policy committee. Sen. Jim Hamper (R-Oxford) will return as AFA Senate Chair and will also be joined by long-time committee member Sen. Roger Katz (R-Kennebec). In fact, the Republican compliment on the committee will be unchanged from the prior session save for one member, whereas Democrats return with familiar faces and new leaders. Rep. Drew Gattine (D-Westbrook) has left the Health & Human Services Committee to now chair Appropriations and Sen. Cathy Breen (D-Cumberland) will take the one seat allocated to her caucus. However, longtime member and Augusta power broker Rep. John Martin (D- Eagle Lake) will again join the powerful budget writing committee. Please see the following for lists of committee membership. Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Environment and Natural Resources Sen. -
Troy D. Jackson 129Th Maine Legislature Sara Gideon President of the Senate Speaker of the House
Troy D. Jackson 129th Maine Legislature Sara Gideon President of the Senate Speaker of the House March 25, 2020 Senator Susan Collins Senator Angus King 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building 133 Hart Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 Representative Chellie Pingree Representative Jared Golden 2162 Rayburn HOB 1223 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Senator Collins, Senator King, Representative Pingree, and Representative Golden: We come to you as a delegation during this time of pandemic crisis to ask you to do everything within your power to help vital Maine small businesses remain viable. COVID- 19 is not only rampaging through our healthcare system, it is ravaging our economic security as well. It is true that Maine is well known for its sense of independence and entrepreneurial spirit, yet during these uncertain times our sole proprietors, which represent a large percentage of Maine’s workforce, need more assistance than short-term loans if they are to survive and continue to be a driver of the state’s economy. It is with this in mind, that we ask you to propose a federal waiver within the Unemployment Insurance Benefits program to allow sole proprietors to collect benefits while the state and the nation are reeling from the insecurity accompanying the Coronavirus pandemic. Small businesses in Maine pay into state unemployment insurance and federal unemployment insurance pools for their employees. These same small business owners do not always count themselves as employees, rather they earn their salaries through the company’s profit. This means at times, they do not take home any salary at all. -
How Trump Could Help Decide Who Wins Control of the Maine Senate
Page 1 1 of 76 DOCUMENTS Bangor Daily News (Maine) September 25, 2018 Tuesday How Trump could help decide who wins control of the Maine Senate BYLINE: Michael Shepherd BDN Staff LENGTH: 1492 words Good morning from Augusta, where new sexual assault allegations against President Donald Trump's Su- preme Court nominee and confusion about the job status of the deputy attorney general got us thinking about where the president is most and least popular in Maine. We sorted the results of the 2016 presidential election between Trump, a Republican, and Democrat Hillary Clinton by Maine Senate district. It reveals some parallels to national polling showing that under Trump, Re- publicans are increasingly struggling in suburban areas that they have held in the past. Maine is lukewarm on Trump as a whole. A recent poll from Suffolk University found a 41 percent approval rating for the president here, which effectively matched past polls from Morning Consult that put the state near the middle of the pack nationally on Trump. The subtle divisions in his approval could be a key factor in elections here. Some of the most interesting ones come when thinking about control of the Maine Senate, which is controlled by Republicans who hold just a 18-17 lead on Democrats. The smallest switch could flip it. There are eight districts where Trump won a majority of votes. The one where he was most popular is held by a Democrat. Trump, who won the 2nd Congressional District but lost Maine at large to Clinton, only won majorities in eight of Maine's 35 Senate districts. -
Maine AFL-CIO
Maine AFL-CIO 2018 Working Families Legislative Scorecard Phone: 207-622-9675 • Fax: 207-622-9685 Maine AFL-CIO • 21 Gabriel Drive • Augusta, ME 04330 www.maineaflcio.org • email: [email protected] Ranking Our Legislators’ Commitment to Workers’ Rights and An Economy That Works for All 2018 Labor Lobby Day in Augusta The 128th Maine Legislature was set in a period of staggering inequality, stagnant wages and declining living standards. As working people, we look for the Legislature to: • reflect our core values of fairness, solidarity and economic justice; • do everything within its power to support workers and their families; • and take proactive measures to create a just economy. The Maine AFL-CIO is a statewide federation of more than 160 local labor unions in Maine. We represent more than 40,000 Maine workers and retirees delivering public services or working at paper mills, shipyards, hospitals, construction sites, utilities, and in manyother industries. We represent these workers and their families at the Legislature, and we organize 2018 Maine AFL-CIO COPE Convention together year round for workers’ rights and economic justice. This legislative scorecard seeks to capture the votes that were of the greatest importance to working people in the second session of the 128th Maine Legislature (2018). It provides information on those bills and lets you know how your legislators voted. Our Legislative Committee and Executive Board carefully reviewed all the bills that came before the State Legislature and selected which bills to work on and to score. We hope you find the scorecard useful and that you will use it to hold your state legislators accountable.