Fund Maine clean elections
The big surprise of the 2016 campaign is how fed up the electorate is with business as usual.
Business as usual is a euphemism for a thoroughly corrupted system. Few trust either candidate for president. One made her money lecturing for $5,000 per minute and approving arms sales to Clinton Foundation donors. The other harassed his critics with lawsuits and dodged debts with bankruptcies.
I’m very cynical, angry and scared for our future. It seems there are only two ways forward. One would be chaos, while the other would be to strengthen and enforce the law. Political corruption requires prosecution and imprisonment, not the current wink-wink and quid pro quo.
The legal bribery of large campaign contributions is limited in Maine because voters passed last year a ballot initiative to strengthen Maine’s clean election system. Most candidates in the next election for state office have pledged to be clean election candidates, and if they collect enough contributions of $5 or more, they can receive state funds for campaign costs.
But our governor vetoed legislation that would replenish the fund, which could run out this year. He called it “welfare for politicians,” forgetting the alternative involves bribery of politicians. In a stroke, he dealt clean elections — the law — a mortal blow.
There is a long road before we get our country back. But one step, for which we already voted, is to enforce Maine’s clean elections. Put the governor’s feet to the fire on this issue. And let’s fight government corruption every chance we get.
Meryl Nass
Ellsworth
Return Cushing to Maine Senate
I want the people of Penobscot County to know how thankful I am for my senator, Republican Andre Cushing. I’m glad we have a state senator who believes in an efficient government accountable to the people. Cushing’s commitment to small government acknowledges God-given individual freedoms as well as our responsibility to help those less fortunate who truly rely upon others for assistance. He knows as long as state and local governments spend irresponsibly, it is the truly needy who suffer.
As the director of the Christian Civic League, I greatly appreciate Cushing’s consistent defense of the unborn, traditional values and our religious freedoms as he has served not only in the House and the Senate but also selflessly serving on the local level as town councilor and private citizen. Who organizes and attends community events more than Cushing?
While traveling, I am particularly thankful and proud to let folks know that Maine’s Senate is led by three Christian men whose faith plays a central role in their service to our state: Cushing, Senate assistant majority leader; Garrett Mason, Senate majority leader; and Mike Thibodeau, Senate president. All three of the senators lean upon their personal faith to guide them as they seek justice and prosperity for all Mainers.
Southern Penobscot County is blessed to have someone representing them with Cushing’s experience in public service and in the private sector. I hope its citizens support Cushing and return him to the state Senate.
Carroll Conley
Glenburn
Don’t jeopardize SNAP
The Maine Council of Churches objects to Gov. Paul LePage’s threats to end SNAP benefits in Maine because of his disagreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture over his proposal to ban the use of benefits to purchase certain foods. LePage’s choice to jeopardize the SNAP program is especially disturbing in light of food insecurity in Maine, where 190,000 Mainers rely on these benefits to put food on the table for their families.
The council takes seriously the biblical mandate to preach good news to the poor and believes the dignity of choice, particularly for a central necessity like food, should be preserved for all Mainers. Instead of policies that patronize those who live in poverty, we support proposals that encourage making healthy food choices with SNAP dollars, and we applaud the fact that SNAP purchases at Maine farmers markets have gone up 860 percent since 2010 in response to USDA incentive programs.
We urge the governor to reconsider his threat to end the SNAP program in Maine and to seek workable solutions that ensure food security and choice for our neighbors in need.
Cush Anthony
Board of directors
Maine Council of Churches
Falmouth