Thomas for Senate
I spent a significant amount of time working closely with Sen. Doug Thomas, R-Ripley, during the first half of 2013 to get access to affordable prescription drugs for the residents of our state. Thomas worked with me on a daily basis to make sure that the employees at Hardwood Products and Puritan Medical products could get access to prescription drugs from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Thomas worked for the employees of Hardwood and Puritan and the residents of Maine for many hours early in the morning and late into the night. He provided us with access to members of the leadership at the State House and worked to get bipartisan support on this key piece of legislation. I was in constant communication with both Thomas and the state employees union, who were working together to protect our residents from high prescription drug costs.
After working with Thomas for an extensive period of time, I know that he is the right person to represent Senate District 4. His tireless efforts to support both the people and businesses in our district have saved the employees at Hardwood and Puritan over $100,000 since this law was passed and will continue to save them money in the future. This money can now be used in our community and continue to foster economic growth.
Please join me in supporting Thomas in the District 4 Senate primary.
Scott Wellman
Guilford
Vote Bellows
Sen. Susan Collins’ lack of support for women, and those issues important to them, is disappointing.
She voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act prohibiting sex discrimination in wages. She voted for the far-right, anti-contraception Blunt Amendment (amending the Affordable Care Act), which would have allowed employers to deny insurance plan coverage of birth control services.
And she opposes increasing the minimum wage to $10.10. Does she really think a person working 40 hours a week can live, much less feed a family, on the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour? That’s $15,080 a year, barely more than the federal poverty level for an adult with one child.
Collins promised to serve just two terms in the Senate. Now she is seeking her fourth term. Mainers don’t need another six years of a senator we can’t depend on to represent our interests.
Happily, there is now a candidate who understands and supports women and their families. Shenna Bellows has always advocated for women’s access to birth control; she supports equal pay for equal work; and, she supports increasing the minimum wage to a livable wage of $10.10 per hour.
Almost 78 percent of Maine women are registered to vote, and they should vote for the candidate who supports issues that affect women. Bellows is the candidate who will make a difference for them.
It’s time for a fresh face and new ideas in Washington, and that’s why we must vote for Bellows on Nov. 4.
Polly Shaw
Bath
Meaningful reform
Maine’s decision to begin using photo IDs on electronic benefits transfer cards is a step in the right direction on welfare reform. Gov. Paul LePage noticed a problem in welfare fraud and took action to fix it. This decision highlights Maine as a state committed to reforming welfare for the better.
Most importantly, Maine took this action without the approval of the federal government. This defiance should be congratulated, not ridiculed. Partisan politics at the federal level have restricted any meaningful reform to the Supplemental Food and Nutrition Program. Politicians have spent their time manipulating statistics and name-calling, rather than fixing a system that can and needs to be better.
Maine’s program fixes welfare fraud in a logical way. The implementation is slow and cautious, allowing recipients and the state to react well. The governor also has gone to great lengths to ensure the new ID cards will not be in violation of federal requirements.
Federal officials can threaten litigation and withhold federal funding, but by doing so, they are continuing to restrict meaningful reform to a broken system. By reducing welfare fraud, Maine can continue the welfare debate in a productive way, likely setting the stage for more significant reforms in the future.
Rebecca Schieber
Orland Park, Illinois
Benefits of workers
In response to the BDN editorial, “ Let’s ensure Mainers don’t become an endangered species,” while Maine faces challenges in being the oldest state, there are also opportunities that are important to acknowledge.
In 2011, the baby boomers began turning 65, marking the beginning of the greatest demographic shift in our nation’s history, a shift that will see one of every five Americans age 65 and older by 2050. Boomers come with income, energy, skills and a commitment to give back. More than 33 million people over the age of 45 volunteered time and talents in 2012. The Kauffman Foundation found that the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity is shifting to the 55–64 age group. Boomers also feel a powerful sense of legacy to make this country stronger for their kids, grandkids and future generations.
Many companies and recruiters already recognize the benefits of employing 50+ workers. They are typically loyal, maintain a strong work ethic, have lower rates of turnover and absenteeism, are dependable in crises, and are committed to quality work. In 2012, AARP launched an interactive tool called Work Reimagined, www.workreimagined.org, to serve as a gateway to the resources one needs to get the right job. In partnership with LinkedIn, Work Reimagined also showcases employers who are not only hiring, but who value the skill set of experienced workers. This is one tool that can help Maine employers meet experienced workers in our state.
By working together, and with the right vision and leadership, we can build a stronger economic future for Maine.
Christian Gonzalez
AARP Maine Interim Outreach Director
Portland