Minimum wage hike harmful
Although attention has been focused on the presidential race, Maine voters will be faced with referendum questions that will have a drastic effect on our small businesses and the tourism industry as a whole.
Question 4 proposes increasing the state’s hourly minimum wage to $12 by 2020 — a 60 percent increase — indexing future rate increases to inflation and eliminating the tip credit for service workers over a decade.
Maine’s small-business community has significant concerns about Question 4 because of its all-but-certain impact on operating budgets, workforce and regional competitiveness if the initiative is approved by voters.
The Maine Tourism Association is not opposed to increasing the minimum wage. In 2015, the organization supported a measure that increased the rate to $10 per hour. But Question 4 is too much, too fast.
Should Question 4 pass, Maine will have one of the highest minimum wages in nation. At $12 per hour, Maine’s minimum wage would be the highest in New England. And since the rate will automatically adjust to inflation in the future, there is no telling what minimum wage will be down the road.
Maine’s tourism is extremely susceptible to mandated increased payroll costs. A hike of $4.50 in the minimum wage over three years coupled with changes in the federal overtime rules is a perfect storm and may result in some businesses deciding to close their doors for good. Please join me on Nov. 8 in voting against Question 4.
Diane Johanson
Government affairs director
Maine Tourism Association
Hallowell
Kornfield for House District 125
I support the re-election of Democrat Victoria “Tori” Kornfield to represent Maine House District 125. Kornfield has been a pillar of strength for the last three terms in Augusta.
A veteran teacher in the Bangor school system for more than 30 years, Kornfield has been a tireless worker on the Legislature’s Education Committee helping to craft useful reforms in spite of obstacles established by the governor, including refusing to name an education commissioner.
Kornfield has delivered for her constituents and deserves another term.
Ken Huhn
Bangor
Cain supports carbon tax
Is Rep. Bruce Poliquin aware that Canada has quietly adopted a carbon tax? Does he know that the money raised from a tax on carbon in Maine would be returned to the state and its people? Or that already we are feeling the adverse effects of climate change (sea-level rise, violent storms)? And that sooner rather than later our economy will not improve but decline?
And the most serious consequences of ignoring these facts will fall on our families and, in particular, all of our children. Their future depends on us. I support Emily Cain’s commitment to a tax on carbon.
Sandra Lane Johnson
Orono
Carpenter for Senate District 2
As an instructor in career and technical education and president of the Association for Career and Technical Education — Maine, I am excited about a candidate for the Maine Senate who supports educational opportunities for students to study the trades that have built and maintained this state: Democrat Mike Carpenter of Houlton.
Carpenter served as Maine attorney general for four years, and he has never given up on his democratic principles. He will work hard to restore Social Security benefits for our state employees and teachers that have been reduced by federal government offsets. Carpenter will stand with the working class and supports career and technical educational opportunities for all students in our state. He has been endorsed by the Maine Education Association.
He will fight for the little guy and help small businesses prosper. He is a small-business man who runs a law office in Houlton.
On Nov. 8, I’ll be voting for Carpenter to represent me in Maine Senate District 2, and I urge independent, Democratic and Republican voters from Presque Isle to Lee to do the same.
Robert “Bo” Zabierek
Sherman Mills
Waldo County needs Thibodeau
In the present day climate of divisive politics we need to keep Senate President Mike Thibodeau as our senator from Waldo County.
Now more than ever, we need people in positions of leadership with the proven ability to work with all partisans for the greater good of all the people. Thibodeau has shown that ability during some tough times these past months. He has shown that he can and will keep the good of the people above politics as he works for those who care about their community, county and country.
Our votes will be for Thibodeau.
Faith and Don Garrold
Searsport
Marijuana madness
Our biggest problem with Question 1, which would legalize recreational marijuana, is how more drug exposure may affect our children. At Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado, there has been 51 percent increase in children under age 18 needing emergency room treatment for marijuana-related conditions over the last two years. A lot of these kids are getting their marijuana by ingesting marijuana edibles — candy, cookies, lollipops. Do you want pot shops and pot bars opening up next to your schools, churches, houses, parks and playgrounds?
Meanwhile, many of us have seen the TV ads, supported by more than a millions dollars from Washington-based New Approach PAC looking to make more money by not telling the whole truth. Proponents say this will free up police to pursue more serious crimes. In 2014, 1,700 people were charged with marijuana possession, but how many were charged because they were doing something else criminally wrong?
Proponents also say it will generate more money for the state. Much of the profits could go outside the state to “Big Marijuana” companies. Meanwhile the taxpayers will have to pay more for more local enforcement, and with only a 10 percent tax, there may not be enough money even for the state to regulate and enforce.
This is not working well elsewhere — just look at Pueblo. Residents there are voting on Nov 8 on whether to repeal the city’s ordinance that permits retail marijuana operations to stop the madness in their city. Please, do the same and vote no on Question 1 before the same marijuana madness starts happening here.
Cindi and Lionel Menard
Kennebunk
Election notice
The BDN is no longer accepting letters and OpEds related to the Nov. 8 election. Not all submissions can be published.