Martin and term limits
Isn’t it rich, John Martin is lobbying to eliminate term limits and increase pay for legislators. Who would have thought it? Repeal a vote of the people and increase his own pay dramatically. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The citizens initiated term limits in good part to get Martin out of the seat of House speaker.
Is it possible that Martin thinks we have all gotten old and died off since then? Maybe he thinks we just cannot remember that far back.
Well, I can, he is the main reason I voted for term limits. His recent actions verify, to me, that my vote was the correct one.
Bob Mercer
Bucksport
Preserve Maine Forest Service
Regarding Gov. Paul LePage’s budget proposal for the next couple of years, like many things in life, there are things in the budget that I like and things I don’t like. One big thing that I was surprised about and deeply concerned about is the destruction of our Maine Forest Service.
Working in the woods most of my life and seeing and living with this department close by, I learned to appreciate what they did out there all around us. They would keep a watchful eye on the harvesting and illegal harvest taking place. Another big part of their job is to keep a watchful eye out for forest fires.
The biggest reason I don’t want to see the department destroyed is back in 2008 when we had a devastating flood. Having the Maine Forest Service on the scene helping and guiding us through the disaster was beyond valuable. The helicopter and other equipment close by was of great help, but the professional people that came to the command post were outstanding. It would be sad to see that go away.
Gutting this department wouldn’t be felt so much down south, but up in northern Maine gutting the Maine Forest Service would endanger the two biggest sources that we have — our people and our forest. I hope our elected officials put some thought behind the cuts that are being presented to them in this proposed budget.
Tony Theriault
Fort Kent
LePage’s budget is harmful
As a representative of the Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network, a faith-based community that is guided by belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, justice, equity and compassion in human relations and respect for the interdependent web of all existence, I am registering our concerns related to the governor’s proposed budget and all its ramifications.
Relying on a regressive sales tax places an unfair burden on the lowest earners. Asking nonprofits to make up for the loss of revenue sharing to towns will likely lead to cuts in the myriad services those organizations provide, from meals served by Good Shepherd Food Bank to mental health services Shalom House makes available. Forcing those who rely on methadone to switch to Suboxone will likely result in more relapses and negative outcomes for families and communities.
The budget proposed is touted as a way to “drive business investment and increase migration to Maine,” yet there’s little objective evidence to support these contentions. The proposed budget ignores the needs of many and puts Maine on a path towards becoming a less just and less compassionate state, and one that fails to recognize how our lives are interconnected.
Maryann Larson
Portland
Overturn Citizens United
Right now, money is considered “free speech” and corporations are considered “persons” for the purpose of being allowed to spend unlimited money on elections. Supreme Court decisions dating back 100 years have given corporations progressively more rights. The 2010 Citizens United decision made spending by corporations on political campaigns the same as “free speech” (and thus may not be restricted). Polls show that 80 percent of Americans oppose the Citizens United decision.
A Supreme Court decision can only be overturned by a constitutional amendment, which must be written either by Congress or by a constitutional convention made up of delegates from each state. Congress has shown a lack of will to write such an amendment, so the alternative is to attempt a constitutional convention.
Legislation has been submitted in Augusta that would, if passed, become an official application from the state of Maine for a constitutional convention to draft an amendment to the U.S. Constitution saying that “corporations are not people” and “money is not speech.”
This is a prime opportunity to overturn Citizens United, to help reverse the trend toward more and more corporate domination of our government and our lives. For more information, visit wethepeoplemaine.org.
Bob Lodato
Charleston
Bad budget
Where has common sense gone? The budget proposal being considered in this legislative session is guaranteed to increase individual property taxes, taxes for small business, expand the scope of the sales tax, yet reduce income taxes for those earning more than $175,000 as well as for corporations. It places more of a burden on our local communities to provide basic and essential services.
At the same time, this administration’s policies and attitudes toward the poor and struggling among us is to demonize them for being victims of an economic, social and political system that forces many to move to, or remain in, remote and rural areas, away from jobs and volunteer opportunities. Now they are proposing punishing municipalities that provide too much General Assistance by changing the reimbursement formula and giving less to towns that exceed an arbitrary figure. Belfast officials are looking to treat fellow citizens in need with the respect, assistance and fairness, that any one of us deserve. At times in our lives, well planned or not, anyone among us might need help.
As a former overworked case manager for the Office of Aging and Disability Services, I served many vulnerable adults in crisis. There are many people in need out there. Most did not qualify for our very limited program. We could use more case managers and frontline workers to assist in navigating our complex underserving social service system.
When will common sense prevail and we focus on meeting human needs on all levels?
Mitzi Lichtman
Northport