What is one new policy that the state should embrace to make housing easier to build and afford?
Prioritizing the reduction of electricity costs through the minimization of stranded costs (the “public policy” part of your Versant bill) should be a primary focus. Energy costs drive the cost of everything else, including the cost of building supplies and general goods, which makes inflation worse. We must start with what we can control, and that’s our energy policy in Maine. That will dictate whether everything– including the cost of homes and new construction– increases or decreases over the next few years
Transmission lines, solar incentives and offshore wind development have been controversial over the past several years. What steps should Maine take to meet growing demand for electricity?
Consideration should be given to more hydro power, nuclear power (including micro plants in various parts of the state), and gas power plants. These are reliable energy sources that are cheap and if we don’t change course on our energy trajectory now, we can anticipate rolling blackouts in the not-so-distant future. All this, to say nothing of the cost of energy policy in Augusta now. Simply put, it’s out of control.
Should the state make changes to its tax laws? If so, outline your priorities.
Absolutely. We are one of the worst states in the nation for taxes. We can and must lower our income tax across the board and get a handle on what’s happening with property taxes. I worry about how people are going to get through the winter with the rising costs of everything at the store, increasing light bills, and out-of-control property taxes. To quote Reagan, “The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.” That’s certainly the case in Maine and what do we get for it? Our roads aren’t better, our school tests scores are the lowest in the nation and yet year over year we’re asked to pay more for worse results under the current “leadership” coming from Augusta.
We are closing in on the one-year anniversary of the Lewiston mass shooting. Are further legislative responses required around guns, mental health, supporting victims and families or other policy areas?
The Lewiston tragedy was senseless and preventable. Government failed in this case. I don’t believe that more government and more regulations on everyone (law-abiding citizens) is the right move. We had the laws in place already to stop the shooter, but human error was the fundamental flaw. The thing we can control is how much we devote in resources to help people struggling with mental health. This can and is something that the state legislature can work on next year, and I’m committed to doing just that if I’m sent back to Augusta. .
Describe a unique attribute or area of focus that you will bring to the Legislature.
My motto is “Government that governs the least, governs the best’.
