2018-02-16 Update
2018-02-16
Update
You can always tell as the
legislature begins the process of “gearing up.” The hallways get
louder, the Chamber gets louder, and the politicians speak more
passionately.
This week was a very busy week with two legislative
sessions, three committee meetings, and the State of the State Address by
the Governor.
There’s lots to write.
First, and foremost,
I was a “first witness” to real grace and courage this week.
When the Governor closed the Downeast Correctional Facility over the
weekend, one would expect some reaction.
But it was the
comments and the remarks by Representative Will Tuell of East Machias
which will stick with me for a very long time.
It was on Tuesday at
the conclusion of the legislative session that Representative Tuell asked
to speak on the record. He was interrupted by his own legislative
leadership in anticipation that Representative Tuell’s remarks would be
a condemnation of the Governor’s weekend actions.
Instead,
Representative Tuell acknowledged the difficulties of the weekend, but
also enjoined us all to be patient, to be respectful, to trust the system
to do the best work when it comes before the legislature. In
Representative Tuell’s own folksy way, he pointed us toward better
thoughts and loftier considerations. This was truly “grace
under pressure.”
On Other
Issues
LD1440 - An Act To Create the Bar
Harbor Port Authority
On this bill, I parted company with
other members of the house. The state of Maine does not
have port authorities in other areas of the state, and the mandate for the
creation of this port authority left too many open doors for me to feel
the bill would best represent the voters of the whole region. On
this issue, I voted negatively. The measure carried anyway.
This issue, the creation of a port authority, is important for
some interesting reasons. I do believe that there are limits
to growth, and that Bar Harbor is the place it is because of its pristine
wilderness. Second, I do firmly believe that Bar Harbor is much more
than a single town - Bar Harbor includes all of Frenchman’s Bay, and
those voters need to be included in the decision making
process. Those considerations should have been written into
the bill from its inception, not added as an afterthought. My vote
was in the minority - but that’s OK. This was a vote of
environmental conscience for me.
LD 692 - Funding Meals on
Wheels. -
There was considerable floor debate on this
issue. It seems so important to fund a relatively small program with
such big impact. Meals on Wheels not only delivers meals to
qualified persons who are often shut-ins, but it is also a way for others
to “check in” on those who may need help and are in fact “shut
ins.” If all people are important, we need to find ways to protect
them.
LD 584 - An Act To Create the Fund for Municipalities
To Improve Pedestrian Safety
While the Department of
Transportation does a good job in maintaining roads and walkways in the
state, recent pedestrian deaths really should cause us to focus more
specifically on those pedestrian based issues. Given the recent
pedestrian deaths, we need to take the time to focus on what it means to
be a pedestrian. And we need to have a special focus until these
issues are resolved.
LD 1666 - An Act To Ensure the
Successful Implementation of Proficiency-based Diplomas by Extending the
Timeline for Phasing in Their Implementation
We are
looking at a bill to extend the deadline for Proficiency Based Diplomas
for a year. At first, based on the remarks made in Lewiston, I was
not in favor of extending the deadline. Now, however, I’m changing
my mind based on the testimony of MEPRI, the research group, and more
importantly the remarks of a whole variety of people in the field.
Fundamentally, school systems seemed to have “switched” traditional
grading practices for this “1-4” grading system. That “1-4”
system is no place in the legislation, and it causes such great
confusion.
House Calendars
Weekly Calendar of Legislative Events/Meetings
Bill
Text can be found using this link called Directory of
Bills
Bill
Text
Link to Bill Status
Bill Status
Events Calendars
Click this link ot see an events calendar - Events
Or, see the calendar in the side bar to the left.
As
always, feel free to contact me at rfuller@mainenet.org
