I have been surprised recently to see that Maine Rep. Herb Clark has completely reversed his position and now opposes an east-west highway before the “feasibility study” has even been completed. Amazingly, he says he didn’t read the bill and blames Maine Sen. Doug Thomas for his own failure to understand what the word “study” means.
At one east-west highway forum, he even went so far as to complain that he was in the bathroom when the committee held its work session. The committee spent hours considering the bill over the course of two work sessions on Jan. 10 and 16, 2012.
Let me be clear, Sen. Thomas had to turn away potential “study” sponsors, Democrats and Republicans, because there was a limit to how many co-sponsors can sign on to a bill. He intentionally and specifically invited Rep. Clark to join him so the Millinocket part of his district would be represented in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Clark knowingly accepted this invitation, and co-sponsored the east-west highway study bill (LD 1671) along with 11 other co-sponsors. He also voted for the east-west feasibility study in the Maine House of Representatives (it passed 110-28, RC#263). After the bill was enacted, he stood before the cameras in April with Gov. LePage to celebrate its passage publicly.
Sen. Thomas has long been an outspoken proponent of an east-west highway study. The key word is study. My senate district also potentially is affected so I want to see a thoughtful, serious inquiry as to whether or not an east-west highway will create jobs and economic prosperity without damaging the environment. I have not decided if I would support such a highway, but I do need good information that a study of this kind will provide before making that decision.
Over the course of the spring and summer, it became apparent that there were too many unanswered questions regarding the proposed route, size of the right-of-way, other corridor uses and use of eminent domain. In a display of true leadership, Sen. Thomas called upon Gov. LePage to temporarily suspend the east-west highway study in order to have the concerns of his constituents fully addressed before proceeding. The governor agreed.
I have had the pleasure of serving with Sen. Thomas in the senate. His colleagues and the people of his district know where he stands. He is outspoken and opinionated in his quest for jobs, and he never wavers in his search for ideas that will improve the Maine economy.
To demonstrate the difference in leadership styles between Rep. Clark and Sen. Thomas, I urge readers to ask themselves a question. If (like Rep. Clark) you sign your name to something, vote for it, then show up at a public signing ceremony in front of cameras with the governor to publicly celebrate its passage, and then abandon the idea, what does that say?
Contrast that with the actions of Sen. Thomas. When confronted with strong opinions and a need for a more informed discussion, Sen. Thomas acted on behalf of all of his constituents by requesting a suspension of the study until more answers are forthcoming. He also pre-filed LR 95, a bill to prevent the taking of private property for private uses to ensure that individual property rights are protected. He and I are working together on another bill that would make sure there is ample time for public comment and participation. That is what a leader and good legislator does, try to act in the best interest of all his constituents even when he has his own strong opinions.
Because of Sen. Doug Thomas, we will have a stronger outcome. Maine will be a better place for having a genuine, informed discussion. I do agree with Rep. Clark on one thing, “when faced with a complex problem, it makes good sense to study it thoroughly.” That is what this bill with its proposed amendments will do.
Sen. Tom Saviello represents Maine Senate District 18 in Franklin County.
If it is going to be a private road, there should be NO public money involved. It is clear from the comments on this board that most informed (knowledgable) people do not want this road. They do not want their money spent on yet another “study” and they do not want the State taking property for Chinbro and its evil minions.
I tell you what: I would support this road it Canada built it, and it was in a tunnel 1500 feet underground. otherwise, deep six it!
The federal government is funding $240,000 for the study and Maine is providing $60,000. If the project is a go, the developer must reimburse that funding. According to Vigue, Cianbro has invested a fair amount of their money into the study.
As for Cianbro and its evil minions, who knows where you dug up that garbage.
http://www.downeast.com/magazine/2012/june/the-east-west-highway
This should NOT be a private road. All roads must remain public, and serve the best interests of the People, not become profit centers for corporations. This concept is basic to our society and should not be changed to suit the profit takers.
Each of these politicians — Sen. Savillo, Sen. Thomas and Rep. Clark – says “when
faced with a complex problem, it makes good sense to study it thoroughly.” Yet,
each of them has worked ferociously against a feasibility study of a national
park in the Katahdin region. A park could have far greater benefits for central Maine than a
highway/utility corridor. But so far we have not had a chance to find out because
they each supported a feasibility study of the east-west corridor and opposed a feasibility
study of a park. Their credibility on these issues is zero.
Sen. Savillo, is just trying to take the heat off from Doug Thomas because it is election time, when thats over he will go back to trying to wring every buck that he can out of Maine for his Corporate Constituency!
To quote: “I want to see a thoughtful, serious inquiry as to whether or not an east-west highway will create jobs and economic prosperity without damaging the environment.
“Sen. Saviello should at least have read the feasibility study himself before writing this article. He himself is misinformed. The study has absolutely no provisions in it as written to address the jobs, prosperity, or environmental issues.
Sen. Thomas also acts ignorant of the fact that there is already a Maine statute in place to prevent the taking of private property for private use. His constitutional amendment is likely but a smokescreen. And if the East-West Corridor project ever becomes a Public/Private Partnership, (which could easily happen), eminent domain would still be allowed by current statute. Sen. Thomas was only trying to cover his rear end. His proposals accomplished nothing. The MDOT was already backing off the feasibility study to protect its own credibility.
We should come up with some sort of compromise. Like building the highway, but making it only one lane. Then the proponents could say they won ,because they got their road built. The opponents could say they won, because the road would be unusable. Both sides win!
I say build a road from Calais to Bangor with no stop signs or red lights then let them take rt2 to Skowhegan an no stop signs or red lights an no cross walks . Then they take rt 201 north to rt 148 to madiason an than rt 16 to to Kingfield an then pick up rt 27 to Coburn Gore with no stop signs or red lights an no stopping for people in cross walks Widen out the road from Madiason to Coburn Gore .