The following is a copy of an email I received yesterday (Friday) from the Maine Heritage Policy Center re: the results last week of the Legislature's Education Committee and the attempt to repeal local voters having the right to vote on proposed local school budgets. The numerous emails sent by voters across the state to the members of the Education Committee made a difference. YOU are strongly urged to send emails to those members even though they are not directly elected from our communities. Their actions can (and do) effect our taxes.
R.
Education Committee hears our message
Direct democracy at risk in Maine
Maine Business InsideOut series launched
Quick Links
The Maine Heritage Policy Center
MaineOpenGov.org
Donate to MHPC
Education Committee hears our message
At a work session today on LD 570, the omnibus education bill to alter Maine's school consolidation law, Education Committee members unanimously voted against including any provisions to repeal the school budget validation vote. The phone calls and e-mails made by hundreds of MHPC members worked. Our message was so strong, not even Committee Senate Chairman Justin Alfond, the most vocal opponent of the school budget referendum, supported the repeal. A big thanks to those MHPC members who joined the fight to protect our right to vote. The members of the Education Committee also deserve our thanks for listening to our concerns and voting to preserve our voting rights. When you have a minute, contact the Education Committee members to thank them for standing up for the voters of Maine. Elected officials who put principles and people ahead of politics should be recognized for their work. Below is the contact information for each member of the Education Committee. Thank them today for their leadership.
Thank the Education Committee
Sen. Justin Alfond, Chair207-232-4187justin@justinalfond.com
Rep. Patricia Sutherland, Chair(207) 764-1490psutherland@sutherlandweston.com
Sen. Carol Weston(207) 589-4481cweston@fairpoint.net
Sen. Elizabeth Schneider207-866-7359schneidersenate@msn.com
Rep. Edward Finch(207) 249-7898edfinch@roadrunner.com
Rep. Alan Casavant(207) 284-4690acasavant@maine.rr.com
Rep. Richard Wagner(207) 784-0645rwagner@bates.edu
Rep. Stephen Lovejoy(207) 773-5538steve.lovejoy@myfairpoint.net
Rep. Mary Nelson(207) 781-3750mpn3@maine.rr.com
Rep. Helen Rankin(207) 625-4620rankin8076@roadrunner.com
Rep. David Richardson(207) 848-3040richardsond@hermon.net
Rep. Howard McFadden(207) 726-4676mcfaddenh@roadrunner.com
Rep. Peter Johnson (207) 695-2019rumridge27@gmail.com
Direct democracy at risk in Maine
Although Maine people scored a big victory with the defeat of the effort to repeal our right to a school budget referendum vote, other politicians irritated with voters who overturned the beverage tax in 2008 and gay marriage last year are still trying to undermine our right to directly engage our government. Three bills are meant to increase the burden on citizens advocating citizen initiatives and people's vetoes.
LD 1690: "An Act To Prevent Predatory Signature Gathering and Ensure a Clean Citizen Initiative and People's Veto Process"
This bill allows signatures to be removed from a petition without any safeguards to prevent fraud or coercion. Under this bill, a total stranger could send a letter to the Secretary of State pretending to be you and demand your name be removed from a people's veto or citizen initiative petition, without any way to verify it was actually you who made the request. This bill also opens the door for petition signers to be coerced to remove their name from a petition by employers, politicians or others who oppose an issue you support.
LD 1692: "RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Amend the Requirements Governing Direct Initiatives"
This bill amends the Maine Constitution to require sponsors of citizen initiatives to identify how any spending cuts proposed in the legislation would be funded. Maine legislators are not required to provide this information for a bill they propose in Augusta, yet the supporters of this bill want to burden Maine citizens with the extra time and costs this amendment would create.
LD 1730: "An Act To Strengthen the Ballot Initiative Process"
This bill creates a series of new requirements and penalties only for citizen initiative or people's veto petition circulators, but fails to place these same new burdens on individuals circulating petitions to put candidates on the ballot. The bill also requires any money raised from the new penalties to be deposited into the Maine Clean Election fund to increase the amount of taxpayer dollars politicians have available to run their political campaigns.
The public hearings for each of these bills are Monday, February 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee (Room 437 at the Statehouse).
The Maine Heritage Policy Center will testify against these bills. Please join us on Monday to oppose these new regulations on Maine citizens who exercise their right to citizen initiatives and people's vetoes. If you are unable to attend the hearing but wish to submit written testimony on one or all of these bills, you may e-mail us your testimony and we will deliver it to the members of the Committee on your behalf.
MHPC launches Maine Business InsideOut series
MHPC's chief economist, Scott Moody, has launched a new series delving into the trends and demographics of Maine's business community. The Maine Business InsideOut series will include publications and presentations to education the public and elected officials on the realities of Maine's business community, and to propose responsible reforms to boost Maine's economy. Scott released the first publication of the Maine Business InsideOut series, "Understanding Maine's Business Climate" on Wednesday. This publication introduces the series and explains how the powerful NETS Database can inform responsible public policies. Scott will also be the featured speaker at our February policy luncheons in Bangor and Portland. Be sure to reserve your place at one of these luncheons by e-mailing events@mainepolicy.org, or calling (207) 321-2550. You can find more information on both of our policy luncheons below.
EVENT
REMINDER
"Warning Signs for Maine's Economy: New Evidence"
Mr. Scott Moody, Chief Economist, The Maine Heritage Policy Center
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Seadog Brewing Company
26 Front Street, Bangor
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
DiMillo's Floating Restaurant
25 Long Wharf, Portland
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment