LEGISLATIVE RECORD - SENATE, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013 STATE OF MAINE Under the authority vested in me by Article IV, Part Third, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Maine, I am hereby FIRST REGULAR SESSION vetoing LD 745, "An Act To Promote Sustainable Food Policies." JOURNAL OF THE SENATE My Administration supports the work of the Legislature to In Senate Chamber assist farm enterprises and commodity groups in implementing Tuesday solutions to problems that impact the future of agriculture in July 9, 2013 Maine. However, LD 745 reinvents the wheel on many efforts already underway – efforts with which my Administration is Senate called to order by President Justin L. Alfond of already involved. Cumberland County. By way of example, the Maine Grocer’s Association and the _________________________________ Maine Food Producers Alliance recently held a strategic planning session to help better position their industry sector. The Prayer by Senator Geoffrey M. Gratwick of Penobscot County. Agricultural Council of Maine also just recently completed a strategic planning process and has published a list of initiatives SENATOR GRATWICK: Good morning. As I approach my 70th they are supporting to resolve issues for Agriculture. The Maine birthday a week from now, I'm increasingly aware of how short a Farm Bureau has a yearly planning process for all their members; time we spend on this planet. We all share this common fate. this yearly initiative helps the Administration and Legislature Although all too often I fall short of my aspirations, I believe that target high priority issues. There are also many initiatives the better we can care for one another the better we are able to supported by independent foundations such as the New England see the world through another's eyes, and the better we are able Food Systems Strategic Planning Process, championed by a to relieve the suffering of our fellow human beings, the greater the consortium of regional NGO’s, including the Muskie Institute and worth of our lives will be. I'd like to leave you with the words of supported by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. In the Quaker missionary, Etienne Grellet, from 200 years ago. addition, the New England Farm to School Network is conducting I shall pass this way but once. Any good that I can do or any a strategic planning process, and the Broadreach Foundation is kindness I can show to any human being let me do it now. Let supporting a Food Systems Strategic Planning Process. me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. In fact, many of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation _________________________________ and Forestry programs can be traced to the good work of Agricultural Commodity Group’s planning processes and a Pledge of Allegiance led by Senator Thomas B. Saviello of Department liaison is maintained for each of the non-profit Franklin County. initiatives. Should the legislature or members of the legislature also wish to engage with strategic planning of this nature it should _________________________________ do so by making connections with any number of the groups and projects listed here. Passing this redundant and unnecessary bill Reading of the Journal of Thursday, June 27, 2013. is not the answer and would be a waste of taxpayer dollars. _________________________________ For these reasons, I return LD 745 unsigned and vetoed. I strongly urge the Legislature to sustain it. Off Record Remarks Sincerely, _________________________________ S/Paul R. LePage COMMUNICATIONS Governor The Following Communication: S.C. 517 READ and ORDERED PLACED ON FILE. STATE OF MAINE The accompanying Bill: 126TH LEGISLATURE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR "An Act To Promote Sustainable Food Policies S.P. 283 L.D. 745 28 June 2013 THE PRESIDENT: The Chair recognizes the Senator from The 126th Legislature of the State of Maine Aroostook, Senator Jackson. State House Augusta, ME Senator JACKSON: Thank you Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I just wanted to rise today and give Dear Honorable Members of the 126th Legislature: quick remarks on this bill that came before the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. There certainly seems to be an issue of some people not being able to know exactly when they are going to get their next meal. There is a report up (Due to S-1479 LEGISLATIVE RECORD - SENATE, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013 technical difficulties, some of Senator Jackson's remarks were regrettably not recorded) counties in Maine having a rise in ROLL CALL (#362) people that are going to bed at night not having their three square meals a day. We heard in the committee, Agriculture Committee, YEAS: Senators: BOYLE, CAIN, CLEVELAND, from the Agriculture Department that there is a problem, that DUTREMBLE, FLOOD, GERZOFSKY, GOODALL, demand is growing more rapidly than they can do anything about. GRATWICK, HASKELL, HILL, JACKSON, There is an issue there that certainly needs to be addressed. The JOHNSON, LACHOWICZ, LANGLEY, MAZUREK, Administration's veto letter talks about a lot of different groups PATRICK, SAVIELLO, TUTTLE, VALENTINO, that may or may not be working on this issue, but we didn't hear WOODBURY, THE PRESIDENT - JUSTIN L. any of that in committee. I really don't understand why it would ALFOND be a bad thing to have a group of people get together and try to work on food sustainability, getting people together to try and help NAYS: Senators: BURNS, COLLINS, CUSHING, some of these families with the problem of not having enough HAMPER, KATZ, MASON, PLUMMER, SHERMAN, food, even so far as soup kitchens have an extreme amount of THIBODEAU, THOMAS, WHITTEMORE, people showing up at their doors and food going to waste, not YOUNGBLOOD having a place to be delivered to. All these things could be at least talked about and looked at and have a report back to the ABSENT: Senators: CRAVEN, MILLETT Legislature. This veto letter talks about how people could get the numbers of these possible groups and call them to see what they 21 Senators having voted in the affirmative and 12 Senators could do. I don't think that's how the Legislature normally having voted in the negative, with 2 Senators being absent, and operates. We do things here, or hear from groups that come and 21 being less than two-thirds of the members present and voting, report to the Legislature, ways to make issues like this better. it was the vote of the Senate that the veto of the Governor be That was what this bill was designed to do. A great many of us SUSTAINED. supported it. I just don't see how it can be a bad thing for the Legislature to look at this issue that even the Agriculture The Secretary has so informed the Speaker of the House of Department sees as a problem and try to come to some Representatives. conclusions on how to fix it. That's what this bill attempted to do. I thought it was a valiant effort and I'm just struck by why we _________________________________ wouldn't want to do something like this. I would ask that you vote to override this. The Following Communication: S.C. 518 THE PRESIDENT: The Chair recognizes the Senator from STATE OF MAINE Hancock, Senator Langley. 126TH LEGISLATURE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Senator LANGLEY: Thank you Mr. President. Men and women of the Senate, I rise to also lend my support to overriding this 2 July 2013 particular veto. For me, this bill was next in the progression of what came through the Legislature this session regarding issues The 126th Legislature of the State of Maine of food security, food sovereignty, and other, I would say, sort of State House farm to plate issues. I had the pleasure of working with the Augusta, ME Senate President on this particular issue. Our folks out there need a place to go where they can vet their ideas. This particular Dear Honorable Members of the 126th Legislature: commission would put large scale producers and small scale producers together to address some of the issues that came Under the authority vested in me by Article IV, Part Third, through of over regulation for our small farmers. I think these Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Maine, I am hereby folks really need a place to be heard. Had not the good Senate vetoing LD 1232, "An Act To Maintain the Integrity of the Fund for President put this bill in at this time, it was on my list to do in the a Healthy Maine." next session. With that, I'll be casting a green light. Thank you. This bill does not have any legal effect, since a future The President laid before the Senate the following: "Shall this Bill legislature can simply pass another law "notwithstanding" this become law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor?" one. If it was put forward solely to score political points against a legislator or governor by claiming that future budget proposals are In accordance with Article 4, Part 3, Section 2, of the Constitution, "illegal," then I am disappointed for Maine people. It is time to the vote was taken by the Yeas and Nays. stop using the legislative process for political games and focus on the real issues hardworking Maine families care about. A vote of yes was in favor of the Bill. For these reasons, I return LD 1232 unsigned and vetoed. I A vote of no was in favor of sustaining the veto of the Governor. strongly urge the Legislature to sustain it. The Doorkeepers secured the Chamber.