Munjoy Hill Observer - June 2009
June 1, 2009 -
Hello neighbors!
It's been a monumental month in Augusta. Two weeks ago, Governor Baldacci signed into law LD 1020, a law granting equal marriage rights to same-gendered couples. I received over 3,250 postcards asking me to vote for marriage equality, and I was proud to add my name to the list of pro-equality legislators. Thank you for writing, emailing and calling me. It truly was one of my greatest experiences to vote for full marriage equality for all Mainers!
With all of the big issues facing the State, a lot of the day-to-day work of a legislator flies under the radar, but the bills that are worked on in the background can have some of the biggest effects on our State. Here are some the bills and issues I've worked on in the Legislature:
LD 1264, "An Act to Stabilize Funding and Enable DirigoChoice to Reach More Uninsured," an important bill to Portland and Maine, was passed by a majority vote in the Insurance and Financial Services Committee. Currently, over 500 people in State Senate District 8 are enrolled in DirigoChoice. This bill changes how Dirigo is funded. The proposed legislation ends the controversial Savings-Offset Payment (SOP) and replaces it with fixed 2.14% charge to carriers on paid claims. The change brings long sought-after financial stability to the program. If enacted by the legislature, the DirigoChoice product will continue helping people in the district, and current projections will allow the program to reopen enrollment to individuals, sole proprietors, and small businesses in the near future.
LD 1446, "An Act To Create the Maine Online Learning Program," was another bill of mine to pass out of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. The bill would expand high-quality, online distance teaching and learning opportunities for students and schools across the State. The Department of Education would be the clearinghouse for online learning companies and courses, making it easier for schools and students.
I have also been spending time working on a Portland transportation issue that will affect Munjoy Hill: the redesign of Exit 7 on I-295. Portland advocates (Franklin Reclamation Authority, Portland Trails and Bayside Neighborhood Organization) are pushing for a more pedestrian-friendly area around the Exit 7 off-ramps. Proposed changes include creating pedestrian access to the Back Cove Trail, installing a traffic light, and adding additional lanes on both the north and southbound off-ramps. More to come on this soon.
On a completely different note, the State's revenues are struggling. On April 30th, the Appropriations Committee received the actual revenue projections for the State, and they are not good. The information gathered since April 15th indicates that sales and income taxes are down substantially. Revenues will be down $129 million for 2009, $195.9 million for 2010, and $247.7 million for 2011. This $573 million represents 10% of the of proposed biennial expenditures in the 2010-2011 budget.
As you read this, the State's biennial budget will be in the final stages. The budget cuts deep into Health and Human Services and Education because these two agencies account for almost 80% of the State's budget. There were many hurdles in the budget and the final three being: paycuts to Maine State Employees where they will take 20 shutdown down days during the next two years, indexing all income tax brackets over the next two years and finally the scheduled payments from the milk commission for our 240+ dairy farmers across the state. The legislature will be voting during the week of May 26th on the final biennial budget.
I want to thank you all for taking the time to read this, and encourage you to contact me about anything in this article or any other issue that concerns you. Please send me an email at Justin@JustinAlfond.com or visit my website, www.JustinAlfond.com.
