Action 86 – MAINE legislation week of April 7-11
Attached is a table with my (Abbie McMillen’s) thoughts about whether to support or oppose. You may think differently and that’s fine! You may also want to add bills that are important to you and which I don’t know enough about to have even a preliminary opinion. I encourage you to check the complete listing here: https://legislature.maine.gov/Calendar/#PHWS. Form your own opinion! A few notes about some of the bills:
On Monday there is a hearing on a group of bills that would change the Maine Constitution and provide for the popular election of the Constitutional Officers: the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the State Treasurer (another bill would add the State Auditor to the list). Currently, Constitutional Officers are chosen biennially at the first session of the Legislature in a joint convention of the House and Senate. Your elected representatives, whatever their party affiliation, have every incentive to select Constitutional Officers based on their qualifications and lack of party favoritism. Popular election might seem like a good idea, unless you have had experience in other states where some of these positions are indeed elected officers. What often happens is that a position that requires certain professional qualifications becomes an expensive political popularity contest – witness the recent judgeship contest in Wisconsin - and a platform for grandstanding by a politically ambitious person who may be likeable but unqualified (or worse, corrupt). The proponents of these popular election bills are Republicans, most notably Mr. Faulkingham from Hancock County. It would seem that they don’t like the incumbents, and are proposing this draconian measure to express their displeasure. All these bills should be defeated: LDs #147, 148, 149, 150, 452, 455, 508, 1068, 1161. LD 1052 would establish the State Auditor as a Constitutional Officer, and this seems like a good idea as long as they are not popularly elected – you want your auditor to know what they are doing! We need to know more about how LD 1193 would function in practice before having an opinion.
Also On Monday, there are two anti-vax, anti-science bills that should be defeated: LD 174 and LD 727.
On Thursday, the legislators proposing LD 1286 apparently haven’t read our Action 58 (NO to cryptocurrency) which you can read at https://isledems.org/initiatives/
On the attached Table, bills that I think are extra-supportable (or should definitely be defeated) earn an exclamation point!
Here’s your refresher Tips for weighing in on Legislation:
1. Find the text of any bill at: https://legislature.maine.gov
2. Maine Legislative Committee schedules change frequently. Please check Committee Schedules
3.You can submit testimony in writing or online, or virtually via Zoom or in person in Augusta (have 20 copies of your written testimony available to be distributed to Committee members). Be sure to submit testimony or call BEFORE the public hearing.
4. Put your reps on speed dial, or at least in your address book so you don’t have to go look them up every time.
5. If you are looking at a bill that’s listed in a work session (meaning its had a public hearing already), you still can influence its outcome by writing to your representative or senator, since they will have to vote on it eventually.
