One thing we all agree on is that lawmakers were sent to Augusta with a clear message to create jobs and grow our economy. Yet for the last year and a half, under Republican leadership, it’s now harder to live and work in Maine. They’ve made it harder to find a job, keep a job and earn a livable wage. We should be doing everything we can to be sure that Mainers get a fair shot at getting ahead — and creating opportunities so that Maine once again can be a place where we all can raise a family and prosper.
However, since Gov. Paul LePage and the Republican majority have been in power, we’ve seen children, women and the elderly targeted in an effort to play the most political of games. We’ve seen teachers punted about like footballs because it makes good campaign talking points. We’ve seen all working people, union or not, come under fire. Like any Mainer, they too strive for a future in which they’ll climb the ladder of economic success. That’s a desire we all share.
LePage and his Republican allies need to know this: That ladder of success needs to be restored.
During the last session, I watched 10 years of the work I’ve done on logging issues stripped away. Walking into the State House every day has never been so bitter. I dreaded the roll call of each vote that would result in us failing to come up with the numbers to protect teachers, the elderly or consumers from Republican attacks.
But I have to tell you, every single time one of these bills came up, I felt something. Every time I listened to Mainers retell their stories of struggle, their pleas to not “let them down,” I got more and more fired up. Every day that I think about the folks who were deemed “poor” but just not “poor enough” to have health insurance, I can’t help but see today as a make-or-break moment for our state and for our people.
The radical Republican agenda makes me think of when my mother, a single parent and college graduate, began teaching, only to be rewarded with an income that left us in an unheated camp without running water. I think of my friends who have left northern Maine because they couldn’t find work in the woods despite wealthy Quebec contractors cutting only miles from our homes. I think of a friend of mine who died in his twenties and left a daughter behind because he had no health insurance and could not afford to go to a hospital when he began having chest pains. When I think of all of these things and what the Republicans are doing I become more determined. No Mainer should have any of these worries.
I’m here to say: My children or yours, no two young people should be faced with these situations. No young adult should ever look upon their hometown with sad eyes and ache at its best days being in the past. We can do better than that. We want better than that. We must do better.
Democrats this session have fought for Allagash’s proud loggers, just as we have for the entrepreneur in the renovated mills of Biddeford and the tireless millworkers in Rumford, the lobstermen in Rockland, the potato farmers in Caribou, and the Maine Guide in Jackman. Day after day we have stood up for the hardworking people of Maine and the workers of Maine who through no fault of their own can’t find a job. It is our job, as leaders of this state, to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to climb that ladder of success.
Sen. Troy D. Jackson is serving his second term in the Maine Senate representing District 35, Aroostook County. He is the Democratic leader on the Labor, Commerce, Research, and Economic Development Committee.
This is a GREAT article Mr. Jackson, I am glad you understand what is going on. More and more Maine people, families cannot afford basically to live in Maine. Maine has become a dead end street for most young people, there just are not real money jobs out there. The State pours on these corrosive salts on the roads in the winter, then, they make the inspection of vehicles tougher. A dead-end, for how can you pay for the expensive repairs making 10.00 a hour?? Buying or owning a home is a just a pipe dream now. Building your own shelter is almost impossible because of the local ordinances that have passed, another dead-end. We need some new bills in Congress, an allow a person to build his own shelter, with out the interference of dumb laws. In the 1960’s, if you could get a piece of land, ya just built a house, we need that freedom again, go build a shelter, without being told how and when it had to be done. The one big problem in Maine is, supporting schools solely from property tax, schools need to be paid for by a 1 percent sales tax collected by school district areas, whether that is a few towns or one town. Hey thanks for your help and understanding.
My first place to live was a one room camp, with woodstove heat, a kerosene lamp, and a water bucket, and out house. But it was rent free, in the 1960’s, wow no cell phones, no cable tv or internet to pay for, just a $100.00 dollar car, and no insurance, lol. I was easier then, fun, a $100.00 was a lot of money, then, I see no real advancement in society since then, the elderly seems to take the stage, they have for the most part enough money, at least most, the young are either going to be living in their cars if they have one, or with someone, or on the State. Maine is simply, one by one, a landing place for the well to do from away, I am not sure if it was on purpose, but, Maine has placed road blocks for their young people to advance everywhere, to live here you have to be lucky family wise, really lucky at a good job or have a trust fund.
Beware of Republican leaders’ statements that try to pit young against old.
The median (mid-point) income level of the elderly population increased from $12,074 (in constant 2005 dollars) in 1974 to $15,422 in 2005. The average income of the elderly increased from $17,037 in 1974 to $24,418 in 2005. I don’t think of that as “enough” money to live on, really, and the struggles of young people aren’t the result of your average elderly person being somehow greedy.
You are right, I did not want to say greedy, very sorry.
I don’t think we “GRAMPYS” displace young people but we do boost the economy for all.
Wow, sorry, for I, being a Grampy four times over, ain’t got anything against Grampy’s. I was trying to say, that forty years ago, I do believe we had a little better advantage to get a start in life. Again, I am not sure now, if I was 20 again, in 2012, I could get a start, it is a much tougher row to hoe.
Thought you were dumping on GRAMPYS (not synonymous with grandparent — I have 5 grandkids) like so many (including the current adminstration and their fellow travelers) in the past. No arguement that it may have been easier to get a start in life 40-50 years ago (I chose the education/professional route). We just moved to Maine several years ago so i can’t make comparisons between the “good old days” in Maine and now. I do know young professionals who chose to come to Maine, to work and start businesses, and raise families. I have no data on the current brain drain, but I’ll bet it’s no where near 100%.
We need a figure, or a notation to weigh different parts of the State, something like a cost of living/what they are paying at jobs number, like the first number is the cost of living in Washington County, and the second number denotes what the average pay is, like, 12/6, something to show quickly, something that one can read and understand in an area, say 12/12 is a good place to live,or affordable, and a 12/3 is a tough place like Aroostook County, so, to force government to help in the areas under 12/6, or, at least recognize the problem in that area. What I realize is that I probably could not make it, or prosper in this economy we have in Maine now, it is not like the 60’s, then we had a chance, now no chance, and it has to be addressed fast.
Well, again thanks Mr. Jackson, I did not think there was anyone left in Maine Government with your knowledge and understanding. One thing, if you could think about it, if one has no health insurance and goes to an emergency room, and if that person has a piece of land or house or something, the hospital will leen on it, that should be allowed, these hospitals have leens on a lot of people property, that needs to be addressed, because you either die, or risk losing what you own. Oh yes they will treat you, then they will hound you. We need clinics, well thanks again/
The opinion expressed in this piece is THE reason Maine is forever locked in the chains of poverty. The progressive liberal ideology that creates high taxes, high utility rates and crippling state regulations to fund MSEA SEIU all combine to discourage businesses that can offer good jobs. An overly generous welfare system that encourages the unwillingness to work hard & better oneself doesn’t help matters either, Maine’s worforce is known for its eagerness to form unions.
For as long as progressive liberals influence Maine, Maine will be locked in poverty.
Wow, are you confused.
Typical fox news parrotting. A rush dittohead.
No you continue to be clueless with your head in the sand. Maine’s Economy under Democrats is abysmal (that’s being nice). They did everything they could to destroy jobs through their awful radical agenda. Their tax policies are very regressive very anti-business. If you listen to any Democrat in Augusta you think jobs and business are bad thing. That Mainers should all hop on the Welfare Wagon. If folks are listening to them right now (Emily Cain, Peggy Rotundo, Ben Grant-Dem Party chairman). They are talking about 3 new higher income tax rates of 10% , 12%, 14.5% on top of the current 8.5% rate. It would impact all single folks + couples making $50,000 a year and under, along with bringing back that bogus tax reform having everything being taxed at either 6 % to 7%. Why should Mainers support this idea. Just because those who are on WELFARE would love to have Very Lavish Benefits. This policy would end Maine as we know it. No business would ever come in under this new agenda from Dems. Maine would have an economy similar to Cuba if Democrats win under this agenda. As I stated Democrats are only looking out for the few not the Majority.
Could you provide a citation for the proposed income tax rates you describe?
The Forums they had across Maine after they lost to Republicans and the Press Conferences that Ben Grant, Emily Cain, Peggy Rotundo and other Dems had before the Legislature adjourned. They claim that single folks and married couples making $49,999 a year should pay high taxes so they can provide freebies for the Bums and their Special Interest Buddies. So we can give massive freebies and handouts to those who refuse to get jobs and provide for themselves. Emily Cain thinks that people making $50,000 a year is too rich. Well if that is the case goodbye Maine jobs and any Economic Future. Because No business will want to come to Maine with that kind of attitude. Becuase as I stated any new start up business it dies now with in 2 years of starting up it will be 6 months or less with these new policies from Democrats.
What you provided isn’t a citation. It doesn’t prove anything except that you believe you remember something that might have been said. There’s apparently no way for you to prove that your recollection is accurate. Whatever Ms. Cain originally said appears to have been filtered through a haze of Tea party notions, just sound and fury signifying nothing.
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but there are more and more people who do NOT want more and are content to live off welfare/mainecare/ebt/you name the countless other benefits.
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No they choose to sit on their butts so us working folks have to have our paychecks redistributed to these lazy losers. Because they are too dumb and lazy to work. They vote Democrats because Democrats are dumb and don’t have a spine to do what the Maine Working People want. That is cutting Taxes, Getting rid of the Enviros, Reducing Welfare, Creating a Good Business Climate to create Jobs, and give our Freedoms back they have been taking away from us for 40 years. Because Mainers are tired of them holding our hands.
No your full of bull yourself. Welfare is a lavish lifestyle for those who refuse to work. The Liberals in Maine have created a culture of dependency so those who don’t want to work can get lifetime welfare benefits. Is that why Democrats passed a law so they wouldn’t follow federal welfare laws. You don’t like the fact that Mainers have been calling for to have the BUMS thrown off of welfare for 25 years. Well you better get used to it because Independents we are the reason LePage won. We are also the reason why the Liberals got the boot in the last election as well.
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You want Democrats back so the bums don’t have to get jobs well its not going to happen. Us 53%ers are coming back this November to vote down Gay Marriage to send those idiots a message and back to send Democrats a message too by voting the rest of those bums out of office. So I would be scared because Democrats poll worse than LePage does on most issues.
Ah the lavish lifestyle rant again how quaint.
Well seeing as it is so lavish then I suppose Lepage and his family would be more then happy to live on the lavish income.
Crippling state regulations are a big problem, and, the funny thing is, it really mainly is to address problems the rains bring from the mid-west. The welfare system has allowed many Mainers to remain in Maine, but if many could find the right jobs, they would prefer not to collect food stamps or heat assistance. But, I must say that influence from people moving here from away, have really added most regulations, especially when you are trying to build a shelter, Maine is Maine, and many must crawl before walking, and the high cost brought on by regs, leaves many behind. Maine is a dead end State for anyone under forty making less than 40,000 a year, and anyone with a hit to their record, whether an oui or a minor pot charge, it puts them at a dis-advantage, we have in many locals basically a police state. My guess is there is a policy somewhere to drive out the poor, and it is working.
There is no policy to drive out the poor, you know better than that. With roughly the same population as ME, NH has half as many on welfare & NH is business friendly. This little factoid makes Maine’s problem obvious.
Still we are at the end of the transportation grid, we are a big state stretched out, but, I feel it is not the welfare system, it is State reg’s, cold winters, we need to be looked at differently than NH.
Maine towns and cities have this 100 percent taxation on real estate, I will just say, Maine is not a good place to be caught in when you are out of work and broke, if, you want to stay off welfare. The problem I have, is I knew Maine forty years ago, it was still a place to make it on your boot straps, it is not now, for most it is a dead end street.
oh please……most of Maine workers work for themselves……. Five miles from the coast, there are very few liberals…..but a lot of conservatives taking disability or self employed avoiding paying rightful taxes I notice……
Thanks Troy. Isn’t it funny how people with callouses on their hands have a different perspective than those who don’t? Like teddy Roosevelt once said ” America can only be a great place to live if it is a little great for everyone”. We are now in serious danger of being the first generation of Americans to hand our kids a country that is worse off than when we got it, instead of better. It is sure nice to see that at least one person in Augusta wants to change that. Again, a tip of the cutting helmet from a fellow working man Troy.
Teddy Roosevelt was an imperialist who was morbidly fascinated with war and killing. He was a died-in-the-wool statist who considered himself to be the political heir to Hamilton, Clay, and Lincoln. He was a reckless, frenetic interventionist who displayed little knowledge (especially on economic issues) or even concern about the likely consequences of his interventions.
Interesting, but not even close to the subject of the disappearing living wages.
Not even interesting and non-factual as well.
Just visited Medora ND and nearby TR Roosevelt NP (fantastic scenery, wild horses and more than 300 buffalo). His living in ND transformed him from a effete Easterner to a man of the people (and he got his hands dirty).
Mr. Jackson: Maine’s state GDP has lagged behind both the national and New England averages for the past +20 years. Do you think that that the political ideology and policies that dominated our legislature and Governor’s office for that period can be reversed in less than 2 years? You reap what you sew and much of what was planted has born little fruit. Many of those elected in 2010 have been in office less than 2 years. Let’s give them some more time to see if they can dig us out of the deep hole that was left them.
I only sew buttons back on my clothes.
Give them more time in office? You’ve got to be kidding……that’s what the liberals are saying about Obama. The mess left to him by the Republicans will take more than 4 years to fix. Make your mind up.
So we should return to the Welfare Haven Maine has been for the past 40 years. With all of the businesses leaving in droves leaving a few good businesses left. While replacing it with mooching welfare bums who are a drain to our economy and society.
Businesses are not leaving in droves….where are you getting your facts? Actually according to census and national business data, we have fared better than most of the New England states.Our traditional businessses are having a hard time yes, especially if they don’t change with the times. Small agriculture is growing for instance. Energy is growing. Again, if you try to make a large state with incredible natural resources fit in to a global manufacturing model it ain’t gonna happen. We’re on the wrong side of the world right now with Asia rising, and at the end of I-95. We have a lot of potential to develop our resources in a sustainable manner, because? frankly that’s what we have. Problem with LePage is that he can’t get himself out of a parking lot.
As the wife of a man who works in the seafood business, I know all too well how finicky it is. But who can afford to walk away from a job in this economy? As a result our income is never a set one, and we struggle just to make basic needs. Since LePage has come into office things have gotten harder and harder to support a family of four, especially when our children are both autistic. My husband is a hard working man and its hard for him to struggle to even feed his children. During the winter we went days without heat because he “makes too much” for assistance but not enough to live off of. Our van was in such bad shape but we couldn’t afford to repair it. HOW IS THIS LIVING? LePage and his Republican cronies need to wake up and see what they are doing to Maine. Its no longer a state people want to do business with, no longer a state the younger generation wants to stay in once they graduate from school. I love living here after growing up in suburbia. But I also love being able to not worry where we’re going to get the money to put gas in the vehicle so my husband can go to work or try and get a week’s worth of food on $50-$60.
Thank you Carrie for posting this. Your plight of the working family – the true 99% shouldn’t be ignored.
So Mr jackson what does your party offer? You are preaching to the proverbial choir (your constituents) You offer nothing to the people pushing the wagon. You do promise the world to the wagon riders Your forget the fact this state had been run by D’s for 40 years
Whether Ds or Rs running the state doesn’t matter really. I haven’t seen new ideas coming out of either party. I don’t see people stepping up to serve in office, or throw out bad political entities from the town level up. I hear a lot of people moan and rant, but don’t see them at town meetings, or showing up to vote. Stop blaming people like Troy who pulled himself up by his own boot straps, works at a job and the legislature. Blame yourselves for the mess we are in, and step up to do something about it.
For the naysayers here, Troy and his cadre have been working to keep jobs in Maine for Mainers. LePage and his cadre have made it easier for corporations to import workers from out of the country. They also think that low wage, big box stores are the answer to employment issues in Maine, forget about the natural resources that are the base of much of Maine’s economy base of agriculture, logging and fisheries. These are tough industries to make a living at, yeah, but we need people at the helm who understand that and will work with the people, not against them.
RIGHT OK. The Libs have done everything they can to drive jobs out of MAINE and to keep Mainers in poverty. Their regulations are so outrageous that if anyone was to start a business in Maine it would die within 2 years. Every chance they get they have raised taxes on Maine Citizen’s. Including trying to impose an a pathetic tax reform law which was repealed by Maine voters. This awful law would have lowered the income tax by 2% . Though it would have taxed just about everything at different rates including Entertainment, Car Repairs etc.. Just so they can expand the Out of Control Lavish Welfare State and Nanny State that Maine is under. If you weren’t on Welfare, a Liberal Special Interest Group, Environmentalists , or Former Greedy Liberal Politicians which has made our real well. You would be living in economic tyranny right now from having your paychecks redistributed by awful Liberal Maine Democrat Policies.
Ya know….we’d be on the same page if you substituted pugnican (no offense to dog pugs) for lib in most of your diatribe. Hmmmmm………there is hope for you in my book. All you need is a 180 degree reversal in mindset. Problem here is I think we actually could make things work if we met each other halfway. Unfortunately, I don’t get the sense many of you pugnicans are able to get past your “my way or the highway” mindset. Your guv who thinks he is king is a prime example. Thats why nothing can or will get done. Luckily. November is around the corner and hope springs eternal.
darkcat – I’m not a liberal and have a job. I work for a small and thriving company in Maine (employs 26 people and brings in about 8 million a year). This company did better under Democrats than they have under the current Republicans, the health insurance rates went down, and then up because of the insurance competition bill passed in Maine. Because of all the cuts at the state level, the company’s AND MY personal property taxes are going to go up 16% . We’re being taxed more regardless……
In all my 60 years, I’ve never taken any govt aid (unemployment, food stamps, nothing) and I do not take advantage of tax deductions…I believe in paying my fair share). Your response would be insulting if it wasn’t so hilarious with misinformation and tea party nonsense.
Really because the brookings report that Democrats and Baldacci paid for pointed this out and recent reports by the Maine Chamber of Commerce has pointed it out as well. That any business that starts up will die under this enviornment that Maine is in currently. At best a new business will only last 2 years tops. Democrats have created a haven for those who want to jump on Welfare can easily do so and make out like bandits. Maine needs to have several things happen. Get rid of these awful regulations which LePage and Republicans are trying to do. Reduce the crippling Income tax which is anti-business and anti-worker. Nobody making $18,000 a year should be paying 8.5% which most do now. Can you imagine folks paying 14.5% if they make about $50,000 a year as Maine Democrat leaders want us to do. It would create a mass exodus of residents. Maine needs to allow open competition for schools , open enrollments that allow anyone in Maine and Nationally to attend any school of choice. You would have the best and brightest and most qualified teachers in these schools. Also invest in our infrastructure Maine under Liberals decreased the % of infrastructure we fix each year. To nearly nothing being done. Have us build roads, bridges, internet, and new highways including east-west highways. That is how we will get business back in. Not everyone on Government Welfare.
Oh Dark Cat… If you talk to any bank, any SCORE volunteer working directly with small business start ups – it is a well known and common scenario for at least the past 20 years. EVERYWHERE the majority of new business start ups fail within the first year, because people do not do their homework, or they get in to business for all the wrong reasons. I have seen mid-sized and large business thrive in this state when they stick to their goals, and create new goals. The company I work for is the best example, and the little tiny business I am starting chugs along regardless of the horror you say that the Democrats heaped on us. Also — don’t be stupid in thinking that because we build all those big box stores that LePage and the no new thinking Heritage Policy Center wants will make us a better place. Maine as a state has incredible resources, and limitations. Some of those environmental regulations you all so hate protect the very resources that allow us business/jobs. You’re a bigger fool than I think you are if you believe that retail jobs are going to fix anything here. We have tremendous resources, and some companies – like Chimbro, like Oakhurst Farms and the big dairies that serve it, like the Port Clyde Co-operative are doing just fine, poised to grow because of those resources.
As for taxes? The Tea Party Selectman in my town has done a miserable job of management. Next year I stand to pay more in property taxes than I do for my mortgage.
I can go on, but there is no use bringing you to water, because you only want to rant.
There is no fair shot of getting ahead in Maine. Maine has become the new Mississippi, poor, backward thinking, no hope, no good paying jobs, both run by Tea Party Republicans. Both states on a race to the bottom of the cesspool. The young college educated Mainers have been leaving Maine in droves for many years now. Seeking a better life and career in other states. It is over for Maine. Mostly old and poor people live here now. No corporation will ever move here again since the population is uneducated, old and impoverished. If it were not for the Federal Government supporting Maine with various poverty programs, Maine would have wide spread starvation and people freezing to death in their homes every winter. Even the summer help has to be imported now from other foreign countries to run the tourist traps.
Well.. ive watched two (of the few remaining businesses) in the town I am in close in the past 2 months, as well as the mill being for sale, so what hope is there?.. I dont know if I can keep this town as a home because the way the economy is headed this will be a ghost town, its just a matter of time. Something needs to change.
Well a big box store moving in won’t be the answer to your town’s problems….
I sobbed wretchedly as I read this moving paean to social justice. Those heartless Republicans are ruining our state. Can’t they see that we need more social programs, stronger environmental regulation, elimination of the 1%, and gay marriage? I pray that Troy Jackson will run for Governor in 2014 and use his moral outrage to crush the radical Republican agenda and bring back the damned mural.
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The answer to economic issues is to use resources efficiently, and avoid exploitation of some for the benefit of others. We all must buy local, support small businesses, and be willing to pay more for local and US made goods. People are programed to make decisions based on their own self interests. That’s why we buy cheap goods made in China. Unless the general public is motivated to buy American, then nothing will change. It won’t matter what political party is in power. The government can’t solve this problem, it’s an issue of human behavior and consumer behavior.
Unfortunately, the conservative protected corporatocracy has drowned out the ability for most of us to buy American in regards to most products these days. Try reading the book “A Year Without Made in China” in which the writers family makes a commitment to live only on foods and products made anywhere but China. Most essential products, parts and an increasing amount of foodstuffs come from China. Most times I truly wish I had a choice. Unfortunately profit is the God of the 1% and greed is they’re religion.