What is one new policy that the state should embrace to make housing easier to build and afford?
To increase Maine’s housing supply, we need to reduce unnecessary rules and regulations. Currently, there are many regulations that make building cumbersome and expensive, which means fewer homes available and those that are available are more costly. Many of the rules and regulations are outdated, unnecessary, and burdensome, but remain in place because there’s no system to review and remove them over time.
We should institute regular review (“sunset review”) of all regulations, to clear the path for more housing to be built. This would encourage more competition, new ideas, and investment, leading to more affordable homes being built. By cutting down on red tape, we can make it simpler for builders to meet the demand for homes, making it easier for Mainers to afford a place of their own.
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?
In 2019, the legislature mandated that CMP purchase power produced by community solar fields at more than twice the cost to produce it, and then sell that energy at a quarter of the original price. Maine customers end up paying for these corporate solar subsidies, and we’ve seen the cost of electricity skyrocket since that law went into effect.
We should fully repeal these expensive solar subsidies, and also remove the state government from being in a position of regulating power generation in Maine. When we leave energy generation to the free market, we will see an increase in lower-cost energy options. Mainers should be in the drivers’ seat when it comes to making decisions on how they light and heat their homes, and be able to take advantage of the most affordable means possible.
Should the state make changes to its tax laws? If so, outline your priorities.
Yes, Maine needs comprehensive tax reform to ensure a brighter economic future for Maine citizens. We currently have the 4th highest overall taxes in the nation, and 10th highest income tax. That equals limited economic opportunities, and contributes to our young adults leaving Maine for states with lower taxes and greater prospects, leading to Maine being the oldest state in the nation. In order to create a more prosperous future for all Mainers, we should repeal the income tax. Naysayers insist it can’t be done, but we have an example in New Hampshire with no income tax, and their entire overall tax burden, INCLUDING property taxes, is lower than Maine’s burden. Let’s emulate them, and start to compete for the businesses that currently bypass Maine.
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?
Maine has been experiencing a mental health crisis for decades. That crisis has reached a breaking point, with a woeful shortage of facilities and providers in our state. In order to increase the supply and lower the cost of mental health services, we must repeal our Certificate of Need (CON) law. This outdated law artificially restricts healthcare supply, contributing to shortages, and even rationing, of healthcare. South Carolina repealed their CON law last year, and is already seeing growth, with a new inpatient mental health facility now under construction. We must remove all barriers to care, even those (like CON) that the special interests in Augusta want to keep in place for financial reasons. Maine citizens’ mental healthcare SHOULD supersede special interests.
Describe a unique attribute or area of focus that you will bring to the Legislature.
I am committed to making our state government more accessible, and consider it a significant part of my job to educate my fellow Mainers on what goes on in Augusta. I want to see more citizens taking action and engaging in democracy. I have a track record of standing up to Democrats and Republicans alike, to make sure Maine people are heard over special interests. I will continue to demand transparency in our state government, so that Mainers know what is going on in their State House, and can use that knowledge to hold their government accountable.