District 8 Legislative Update - July 8th, 2009
July 8, 2009 -
Who is tired of the rain? Wow, we have had a brutal last three weeks, so my thinking is that the best of summer has to be right around the corner! I hope that my email provides some crystal clear skies on some important pieces of policy work in Augusta.
Community Events
Since the Legislature adjourned for the year, I've had more time to reach out to Portlanders and be present in the community. On June 16th, the Portland branch of the NAACP and United Way of Greater Portland hosted a welcoming reception for our new police chief, James Craig. Chief Craig joined us this past May and has been the driving force behind many new policies in Portland.
On June 23rd, I joined the leaders of Portland's neighborhoods for our first Neighborhood Advisory Forum (NAF). It was wonderful to have so many community activists present to discuss the pressing issues facing our neighborhoods, and the new NAF will be a great conductor for advancing the changes our city needs. Click here to read about the event.
On June 24th, I went to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to join the filmmakers for a screening of "A Sea Change," which deals with ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is the name given to the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by their uptake of human-produced carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The film was very well-done, fascinating and terrifying. To learn more, visit www.aseachange.net.
Final Bond Package Details
On the final day of the legislative session, both chambers (House & Senate) agreed and voted to put a $150 million bond package out to the voters. Click here to see the final details of what is in the bond package and when we will vote on different parts of the bond.
So many of you might be wondering what happened to the Governor's proposed $300 million bond package?
Democrats were solidly behind the Governor's bond package amount! Two factors gave us confidence -- first the state had the ability to handle the $300 million debt payments and second, this bond package was the right number to fully reinvest in the many deferred critical statewide projects. The $300 million would have created more jobs, more investments in public infrastructure, and more opportunities for economic development out to our towns and cities. So what happened?
Bonds need a two-thirds vote to pass both bodies. In the Senate, with twenty Democrats, we needed to pick up four Republicans. The Republicans would not move over $150 million in either body. We missed a great opportunity to invest in Maine people.
What do you think of the size and scope of the bond package?
Pine Tree Zones Spread to Entire State
This session saw the passage of another promising law, "An Act to Reaffirm Maine's Commitment to Business by Amending the Pine Tree Development Zone Laws." The original law, passed in 2003, has shown impressive results by enticing businesses to expand and locate in parts of Maine. However, the original Pine Tree Law excluded all of Cumberland and York Counties because it was targeted to include only economically-disadvantaged parts of Maine.
A Pine Tree Zone is an area where new companies, and those looking to expand, are provided some income tax credits, sales tax exemptions, reduced utility rates, and the like. The new law spreads these benefits to the entire state in a two-tiered system that provides a longer benefit period in locations state officials believe economic development is needed most. Under the expansion, new or expanded businesses in Tier 1 communities - which includes most of the state - will enjoy 10 years of benefits. In Tier 2 communities, which include York and Cumberland counties, the benefits will last for five years.
Economic Development that relies on business incentives, tax increment financing and other economic tactics have positive and negatives viewpoints and are a divisive topic. My thoughts are these -- first every company who receive these benefits must provide, at minimum: living wages and health care for employees, commitment to Maine remain here in business for a certain number of years, and provide outstanding environmental leadership.Second, this new law will give the Greater Portland Region the ability to sustain and attract new businesses end the two economic playing fields in Maine (those counties with Pine Tree Zones and those without them). Click here to read more about this law.
Final Bond Package Details
On the final day of the legislative session, both chambers (House & Senate) agreed and voted to put a $150 million bond package out to the voters. Click here to see the final details of what is in the bond package and when we will vote on different parts of the bond.
So many of you might be wondering what happened to the Governor's proposed $300 million bond package?
Democrats were solidly behind the Governor's bond package amount! Two factors gave us confidence -- first the state had the ability to handle the $300 million debt payments and second, this bond package was the right number to fully reinvest in the many deferred critical statewide projects. The $300 million would have created more jobs, more investments in public infrastructure, and more opportunities for economic development out to our towns and cities. So what happened?
Bonds need a two-thirds vote to pass both bodies. In the Senate, with twenty Democrats, we needed to pick up four Republicans. The Republicans would not move over $150 million in either body. We missed a great opportunity to invest in Maine people.
Closing
In addition to attending events and keeping up with all of the communications with you in Portland, I have been hard at work creating a hard-copy newsletter that I will be distributing all across the District. Be on the lookout for this, and I'll see you around town!
-Justin
