Sen. King needs to lead on national park
Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins and Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s Nov. 20 letter to President Barack Obama regarding the president’s consideration of designating a piece of land owned by Elliotsville Plantation Inc. east of Baxter State Park as a national monument left me confused, to say the least.
On one hand, they expressed “serious reservations and significant concerns” about the proposed monument designation, while on the other they laid out nine conditions the administration should include if it creates a monument — the vast majority of which the landowner acknowledges are entirely realistic and indeed already part of their proposal to designate the land as a national park.
Within days, Poliquin introduced legislation that would limit the president’s ability to designate land as national monuments by requiring approval of host governors and state legislatures, thereby clarifying his true feelings about the proposal. Now is the time for King to clarify his position. I believe King has what it takes to be a real leader in the effort to bring a new national park to Maine. He understands the economic and environmental benefits of national parks. He also knows that a tried and true first step to a future national park is a national monument designation.
Maine needs King to step out on this issue quickly. It isn’t every day that a private citizen offers to invest $100 million in land and capital in Maine, and it isn’t every day that we have a national leader that understands the importance of conservation to our United States.
Kathy Remmel
Portland
Stop trying to snare LePage
I think that if the Democrats put some effort into doing the people’s business and less time into trying to snare Gov. Paul LePage we would be better off. The BDN has published pictures of drug dealers who are black so I can understand why the governor referred to white women being impregnated as dealers don’t have time to look for black women. Listen to LePage and get a life.
The Republicans should smarten up also and do our business instead of trying to push their careers.
William McNeal
Brewer
Save Katahdin schools
As the Regional School Unit 50 school configuration debate continues, it has become clearer than ever how negativity breeds negativity. I continue to reject the antagonistic nature of many throughout our communities because it is counterproductive. I am disappointed in those who continue to be unsupportive and unwilling to give anyone the benefit of the doubt before casting judgment upon their character. In my opinion, this has in part led us to where we are today.
Here is a message for those whose glass is always half empty: If they aren’t part of the solution, then they must be part of the problem. We must deal with reality as it is, not as we wish it to be. We have real challenges facing our local school district, and we need people who are willing and capable to confront them head-on.
The financial reality is simple, if we want to retain a local school in our community, then we first must be willing to pay for it. It’s time to stop finding fault as we need remedies. I do not want to lose any of our local schools. I understand the ramifications of not reaching a collaborative solution. I look forward to the day that our community advocates for passing budgets and positioning our children educationally so they are able to compete globally.
I am asking the school board to vote against closing Katahdin Middle High School. Please allow us the opportunity to work together constructively toward creating a sustainable plan for our future.
Richard Schmidt
Patten
Raise gas tax to fund road repairs
This is a call to action for the Maine Legislature and Gov. Paul LePage. There are four current facts that should not be ignored. First, Maine’s infrastructure is in desperate need of repair. Second, many high-paying industrial and skilled-labor jobs have recently been lost in Maine. Third, the costs of asphalt, steel, concrete and other materials are lower than they have been in years. And fourth, gasoline and diesel prices are almost $2, the lowest they’ve been in six years. Maine now has an opportunity to fix its roads and bridges and employ workers for decent pay at a time when the state can afford it.
I suggest a temporary 15-cent per gallon increase in road fuel taxes, renewable every 180 days and tied to the price of a barrel of oil. If oil prices increase dramatically, we reduce or eliminate the tax. We do not want strangle the economy with new taxes or create a permanent new tax, but we have a rare opportunity to fund needed infrastructure and create needed jobs. I suggest we take it.
Mark Foley
Brewer