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From MDP: Training To Lead Local
News From Denise Tepler
Legislative Update From Eloise Vitelli
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Reps. McCreight and Tepler Weigh In on Land for Maine’s Future

Sagadahoc County Reps. Jay McCreight and Denise Tepler have both weighed in on where the Maine House is headed on the Land for Maine’s Future bond issue.  Following is a summary of what they have to report:

UPDATE ON LAND FOR MAINE’S FUTURE: Governor’s Veto Sustained, New Bill EnactedLD 1378 Defeated

Introduced by Senator Katz (R-Kennebec County), LD 1378 would have limited the governor’s authority for withholding bonds to five fiscally-prudent reasons and prevented the chief executive from withholding voter-approved bonds for political reasons.

The governor is withholding, for the second time in three years, LMF bonds overwhelmingly ratified by voters in 2010 and 2012. Unissued bonds authorized in 2010 are set to expire this November.

Late Thursday, after the Senate overrode the governor’s veto by a vote of 25-9, House Republican leaders and the governor’s office staged an 11th-hour lobbying effort to flip Republican members who previously voted in favor of the legislation. Their mischaracterization of the bill led to the measure’s defeat. The veto was sustained by a vote of 91-52 – five votes short of an override.

The bill was originally approved 26-9 in the Senate and 102-48 in the House earlier this month.

LD 1454 Enacted

LMF supporters then turned to a second bill to address the administration’s unwillingness to make good on its commitments to the program and Maine voters. House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe (D-Skowhegan) offered an amendment to LD 1454, which the governor introduced earlier in the day. The governor’s bill sought to extend the 2010 LMF for eight months, rather than the more customary five-year extension.

Rep. McCabe’s amendment deleted the governor’s original proposal and replaced it with a resolve that directs the governor and the LMF board to take the needed steps to issue the bonds authorized by voters in 2010. The full text is here.

The measure won initial House approval with a bipartisan vote of 90-52. It was enacted and sent to the governor’s desk later in the day.

Next Steps

LMF supporters anticipate a veto of LD 1454. Because the Legislature has adjourned for the session, the governor would have to until January 2016. Meanwhile, bonds approved by voters in November 2010 will expire in November if the governor does not borrow the funds over the next few months.

As part of a bipartisan effort, Rep. McCabe will introduce a bill in January to extend the 2010 LMF bonds for an additional five years.  If successful, it will ensure the bonding authority continues until 2020.

DEMOCRATIC RADIO ADDRESS: Rep. Grohman: We’re not going to give up on Land for Maine’s Future (Audio Here)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff Pierce Flips, Votes to Uphold LePage’s Veto of Land for Maine’s Future

Courtesy of George’s Outdoor News Blog from the Bangor Daily News, here’s a great summary of what Maine Republicans think about the environment when it came time reject or support Governor LePage’s veto of the Land for Maine’s Future bond issue.  Note that Jeff Pierce (R-Arrowsic, Dresden, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Richmond and Woolwich) initially voted for for the measure, but then caved and voted to uphold LePage’s veto of LD 1378.

“Sadly, 52 Republicans chose LePage over the Land for Maine’s Future, supporting the Governor’s broken promise rather than the LMF bonds. While 91 Representatives voted to over-ride the veto, those 52 no votes left us about a half dozen votes short of the necessary 2/3, killing the bill and the program. Many LMF supporters, legislators, lobbyists, and private citizens were shocked and dismayed.”

You can read the entire post here.

Bi-Partisan Senior Housing Bond Heads To Ballot

Mainers will have an opportunity to vote on a $15 million housing bond to build affordable senior housing across the state.

The bond heads to the ballot this November because Gov. Paul LePage failed to sign or veto the bill in 10 day period afforded to him under the Maine Constitution.

 “The bond will address a dire need for affordable senior housing across our state,” said House Speaker Eves, D-North Berwick, who sponsored the bipartisan proposal. “It will also help create good housing and construction jobs in every county in the state. It’s a win for seniors and our economy.”

Speaker Eves proposed the bond as part of his “KeepME Home” plan to help seniors live independently in their homes and communities.

Maine has a shortage of nearly 9,000 affordable rental homes for low income older people, and that this shortfall will grow to more than 15,000 by 2022 unless action is taken to address the problem, according to a report by independent national research firm Abt Associates. The state also has the oldest population and the 8th oldest housing stock in the nation.

The bond measure was among the fifty-one bills passed by the Legislature and sent to the Governor on June 30. According to the constitution, the governor has 10 days, not including Sundays, to sign or veto a bill. If he does not take either of those actions, the bill becomes law if the Legislature has not finally adjourned. For these 51 bills, the window closed on Saturday. The Office of the Revisor will chapter them today.

The governor incorrectly asserted that the bills will not become law, despite the clarity provided by the Maine Constitution, precedent and an opinion issued Friday by Attorney General Janet Mills on Friday. The governor’s argument is based on an illogical claim that the Legislature is finally adjourned, which would mean that the clock for the 10-day window has stopped.

The Legislature’s first regular session remains under way, as evidenced by its plans to return Thursday to take up the remainder of its work, including vetoes issued in accordance with the Maine Constitution.

 

End of Session News From Denise Tepler

 

July 2015

 

Summer is here, and with it, the end of the Legislative session. I’m happy to report that we were able to pass a balanced two-year budget before our July 1 deadline and avert a state government shutdown.

We spent many of the final days wrestling with budget negotiations, dealing with a record-breaking number of vetoes from the Governor and looking for agreement on some highly complex bills like the one rolling back jail consolidation.

We also reached agreement on sending two bonds to voters this November. The first bond is for transportation projects, which is something we send to voters almost every year. The second bond is for housing for Maine seniors, both new units and resources to help winterize existing homes, so that more of our neighbors can choose to age in place.

There will be one more session day on July 16 for lawmakers to address the final batch of vetoed bills, including a measure that would remove most of the Governor’s power to hold back voter-approved bonds.

Many of you have asked me about the controversy surrounding the governor regarding Good Will-Hinkley and Speaker Mark Eves. I am very troubled by the allegations and applaud the Government Oversight Committee for authorizing an investigation into the incident.

As I wait for the results of that investigation, I intend to focus on spending time in my district with constituents and planning for the work the Legislature will take on next session. If the investigation shows that there has been wrongdoing on the part of the governor, we will have to consider the next steps. No option is off the table, and I intend to act in a manner that is consistent with my oath of office.  None of my colleagues in the Legislature, Republicans or Democrats, are taking any part of this situation lightly.

As always, please contact me if I can be of any help or if you want to discuss or testify on any legislation.

Sincerely,

Denise 

(207) 729-4018| denise.tepler@legislature.maine.gov

Legislative Update from Jay McCreight

We made it!  Summer is here, and with it, the end of the Legislative session. I’m delighted to report that we were able to pass a balanced two-year budget before our July 1 deadline and avert a state government shutdown.

This was a session like none before. We spent many of the final days wrestling with budget negotiations, which in itself isn’t unusual.  Working hard to reach bipartisan agreement on some highly complex bills, such as the one rolling back jail consolidation, is also just what the Legislature does.  However, dealing with a record-breaking number of vetoes from the governor is most unusual.  The session had to be extended beyond the statutory adjournment in order to deal with them.  The cost to the taxpayers is estimated at $18,000 for each day that we had to extend the session.

The Legislature also reached agreement on sending out two bonds to voters this November. The first is for transportation projects, something we send to voters almost every year. The second bond is for affordable housing for older Mainers, which means both new units and resources to help winterize existing homes, so that more of our seniors can choose to age in place. I’m very proud of the work of the Legislature and I thank all of you for being in touch and sharing your priorities with me, helping me to represent you better in Augusta.

There is one more session day on July 16 for lawmakers to address the final batch of vetoed bills, including a measure that would remove most of the governor’s power to hold back voter-approved bonds.

Many of you have asked me about the controversy surrounding the governor regarding Good Will-Hinkley and Speaker Mark Eves. I am extremely troubled by the allegations and applaud the Government Oversight Committee for authorizing an investigation into the incident.

As we wait for the results of that investigation, I will be spending time in our district with constituents and planning for the work the Legislature will take up next January. If the facts show that there has been any wrongdoing on the part of the governor, we will have to consider what the next steps are. Please know that no option is off the table, and I will continue to act in a manner consistent with my oath of office.  None of us in the Legislature are taking any part of this situation lightly and I know you are not either.

As always, please feel free to get in touch with me if you need help or have any questions.

Sincerely,

Jay

449-3293 | jay.mccreight@legislature.maine.gov

Add Your Name: Investigate LePage Now

Governor LePage has once again put Maine in the national spotlight and dragged our state’s reputation through the mud — and this time he may have broken the law.

Last week, the governor threatened to withhold state funding for a private school for at-risk youth unless they fired his political opponent, Democratic Speaker Mark Eves. This is an abuse of power on a level we’ve never seen here in Maine.

Lawmakers are meeting right now to determine what actions to take against the governor, which could include a full investigation into LePage’s alleged misconduct. Across the state, everyday Mainers are banding together to make their voices heard and demand accountability from the governor.

Will you join them?

Tell the Maine Legislature: Investigate Governor LePage’s abuse of power. Click here to add your name.

Just like you, we’re deeply troubled by the Governor’s latest misconduct, from the violent and vitriolic hate speech targeted at media and lawmakers, to the never-ending stream of vetoes.

Just like you, we’re deeply troubled by Governor LePage’s unconscionable abuse of power in denying state funding to a private school for at-risk youth to punish his political opponent.

And just like you, we are demanding answers.

Even Republicans are calling for an investigation into whether Governor LePage “has crossed legal or ethical lines by leveraging state resources for political purposes.”

And as the Portland Press Herald editorial board concluded, “It looks as if the governor has finally gone too far.”

Click here to take action: Tell Maine lawmakers to fully investigate Governor LePage’s threats, bullying and blackmail.

Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican or unenrolled, we all have a hand in making sure the facts are on the table and that the integrity of our government is preserved. And that can only be accomplished by a thorough, nonpartisan and independent investigation.

I promise, we will do whatever we can to get to the bottom of this to ensure the governor is held accountable.

Thank you,

Phil Bartlett
Chairman, Maine Democratic Party

“Anti-LePage Rally Dwarfs Pro-LePage Rally”

As Mike Tipping reports today in The Tipping Point blog, attendance at the Republican-orchestrated pro-LePage rally yesterday in Augusta (including the Maine Heritage Policy Center) didn’t come even close to the numbers posted at the anti-LePage rally later in the day, a spontaneous, bi-partisan event put together at the last minute via social media.

“The anti-LePage gathering, which was organized following his threatening of funding for at-risk students at a school rung by Good Will-Hinckley in order to force the firing of his political rival, House Speaker Mark Eves, was far larger than the pro-LePage event. Bangor Daily News reporter Mario Moretto described attendance as “some 200 people” at the rally outside the Capitol, while the pro-LePage contingent numbered “several dozen” inside the State House Hall of Flags. Blogger Andi Parkinson put the numbers at 300 and 75, respectively.”

Read the entire Tipping piece here.

Lawmakers Reject Obstruction, Shutdown

The Maine Senate voted yesterday 25 to 10 to override Gov. LePage’s veto of the state’s $6.7 billion bipartisan budget.

The House overrode the veto earlier earlier with a vote of 109 to 37.

“Today the Legislature remained united and found ways to see beyond our differences,” said Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland. “We have a budget that provides meaningful tax cuts to call Mainers while also investing in our youngest and our oldest, our workers and our retirees.”

The bipartisan budget was supported in the Senate with a vote of 34 to 1 and was passed in the House with a vote of 105 to 42.

BELOW ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET

  • Provides a tax cut for all Mainers–focusing on middle and low income and working families: Reject’s Governor LePage’s unpaid for tax breaks for the wealthy.  Provides a fully paid for $135 million tax cut per year for over 500,000 Maine families, with 75 percent of the benefit going to the bottom 90 percent of families. Makes Earned Income Tax Credit refundable up to 5 percent. Nearly doubles the standard deduction to $11,600.
  • Bolsters direct property tax relief: Doubles the homestead property tax credit for all Maine families from $10,000 to $20,000.
  • Increases investment in Maine students, schools, and teachers through K-12 public education by $80 million.
  • Makes college more affordable: Invests $10 million for scholarships to help Maine students and workers pay for college through the Maine State Grant program.
  • Invests in higher education: Increases funding by $28 million for the Community College System and University of Maine.
  • Invests in job training: Increases funding for the Community College System by $10 million and provides $1 million for job training for workers.
  • Provides meaningful welfare reform: Encourages welfare-to-work by eliminating the so-called welfare cliff, which has forced struggling Mainers to lose benefits if they earn even $1 more than the income threshold to receive assistance.
  • Funds local police, fire and public works. Rejects the elimination of funding for revenue sharing to cities and towns. Funds 62.5 million per year in revenue sharing to Maine cities and towns.
  • Protects seniors and public health: The committee rejected the Governor’s $48 million cut to the Drugs for the Elderly and Medicaid Savings programs, which helps low-income seniors pay for prescription drugs as well cuts to public health dollars in the Fund For Healthy Maine.
  • Increases funding for nursing homes by $16 million dollars to $216 million.
  • Increases funding by $16.2 million to help clear waitlists for people with intellectual disabilities and brain injuries.
  • Supports veterans: Eliminates income tax pension for all military families.
  • Bolsters drug enforcement: Funds four new agents for the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and allows $200,000 in federal grant money to be used at the MDEA’s discretion to hire additional staff or invest in anti-drug efforts.

NYT: “Combative Maine Governor Becomes a Party of One”

Once again our Governor has put Maine in the national spotlight, and once again, it isn’t pretty.

“AUGUSTA, Me. — When Paul R. LePage, Maine’s combative governor, was seeking re-election last year, he told voters that his days of intemperate remarks were over. At a debate, Mr. LePage, who is of French descent, memorably said: “Even a Frenchman can be taught to cool down.”

And he can apparently heat up again, too.

In the last few weeks, Mr. LePage’s pugnaciousness has surprised even his critics, and prompted some to raise the specter of impeachment.”

Read the whole sad story here.

How To Hold LePage Accountable

From David Farmer’s “Inside Maine Politics” Column in the Bangor Daily News

“Maine’s Constitution and laws are ill-equipped to handle a governor like LePage who is willing to push legal and ethical boundaries. But the Legislature does have tools at its disposal.”

Read the whole column here, then contact your legislator.

 

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