Welcome to my web site, where it is my intent to keep you current with the happenings of the 126th Maine legislature, at least from my perspective. I feel honored and humbled to once again have earned your trust and support at the polls as I enter my final two years of public service in Augusta as the voice of House District 81 (Leeds, Livermore, Livermore Falls and Wayne). Having survived the Democrat wave where the majority Republican party was basically thrown out after only two years in control of the legislature, my role will be somewhat different but nevertheless just as important as I continue to advocate for the good citizens of my district and the greater constituency of the citizens of the state. Much good was accomplished over the last two years and, despite all the rhetoric of the campaign season, I believe both parties recognize that fact. We now must continue to collaborate and cooperate with each other as well as with the executive branch to make our great state a better place to live for all.
Immediately below these introductory comments you will find a weekly synopsis of some of the vital news events occurring in the capitol. These are essentially the same as those distributed through my weekly e-mails for those of you who have asked to receive same. I invite anyone who wishes to receive my weekly communications to call or e-mail with the appropriate address.
Other sections of the site provide data on how to reach me should I be able to assist you in some fashion. Frankly, that is one aspect of serving you that I particularly like. As your liaison with the myriad state agencies with which you might want to contact, I can assist you through what many see as a labyrinth of great challenge. That should not be the case and I invite you to call upon me when your personal search seems too unwieldy.
Since my first election I sat down every weekend to write a news column on some salient feature of the legislative workings. This article is printed in the LF Advertiser and a copy is provided to the town managers of the four communities weekly so that they might include it on the town's website should they wish. All citizens can visit my website if they do not have access to the newspaper or their community does not reprint it on its own site.
Finally, there are sections showing the bills that I have personally sponsored or co-sponsored. Efforts will be made to tie this website to the state's so that all legislative bills will be available to you.
Thanks for visiting my website. Should you have any questions whatsoever or need my assistance in any state matter, please let me know. It will be my privilege to serve you!
May 23, 2013 - Newsletter from the House
Citing DHHS Overspending and Hospital Debt, Moody's Affirms a Negative Outlook on Maine's Credit Rating
St
andard and Poor's (S&P) and Moody's Investors Service recently affirmed their credit ratings on the State of Maine's general obligation debt. Both reports cite MaineCare and outstanding hospital debt as hindering the State's bond rating. Late Tuesday the S&P affirmed its 'AA' rating with a stable outlook, and today Moody's affirmed their 'Aa2' rating with a negative outlook.
According to Moody's rating report, "The negative outlook reflects Maine's recurring challenges on the spending side of its budget, primarily in the Department of Health and Human Services," in addition to, "significant Medicaid reimbursements due to hospitals."
"It is obvious that the rating agencies have a significant concern about the General Fund position, the single largest factor being the unpaid hospital debt and Medicaid liabilities" said the State Controller Terry Brann. "We had hoped to have this liability addressed before the close of this fiscal year for the State's financial statements."
Reflecting on the challenges faced in Maine, the S&P ratings report pointed to continued budgetary uncertainty due in part to MaineCare funding requirements. They also noted that MaineCare covers 18% of the state\'s adult population, which ranks Maine at the third-highest level of all states.
On a positive note, S&P and Moody's both cited Maine's public pension reforms and an unemployment rate below the national average as strengths that contributed to their affirmed ratings. The pension reforms, which were proposed by Governor LePage, reduced the state's unfunded public pension liability from $4.4 billion to $2.9 billion in the last biennium.
Governor Signs Suicide Prevention Education Bill, Pledges Money to Train School Staff
Governor Paul R. LePage performed a Ceremonial Signing of a bill, L.D. 609, "An Act To Increase Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Maine Public Schools," that will ensure staff of all Maine schools is trained in suicide education and awareness. He additionally pledged $44,000 from his contingency fund to support that effort.
Joining the Governor in his Cabinet Room for the signing of L.D. 609 were more than a dozen suicide survivors, staff from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and legislators.
"This bill has my full support, and I want to ensure that teachers have the training they need to move forward and make a difference," said Governor LePage. "I would like to work with the National Alliance on Mental Illness to make this a matching challenge for communities across Maine," the Governor added.
The law requires all staff of Maine schools to participate in a one-to-two- hour suicide education and awareness training. It also requires one staff for every 500 students in each school district to complete a day-long Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper training so they can serve as a specialized resource for those with the basic training.
Trainings will need to be renewed every five years. This bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was signed by the Governor last month.
For more information about suicide prevention in Maine, visit www.maine.gov/suicide/.
Attorney General Mills Advises Consumers to be on the Lookout for Travel and Timeshare Scams
With Memorial Day approaching more Mainers may start to receive solicitations from bogus companies enticing them take a free or incredibly cheap vacation or for an exceptional opportunity to sell their existing timeshare. Attorney General Mills asks consumers to be leery of any consumer deal that sounds too good to be true, because it probably is.
Not sure if you're dealing with a travel scam? Access the AG's website to learn how to identify these scams.
Read more about timeshares and vacation plans on the Federal Trade Commission's website at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0073-timeshares-and-vacation-plans.
If you think you may have been targeted by a scam, report it to the Maine Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-436-2131 or 626-8849 Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - noon and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. or by email at consumer.mediation@maine.gov.
Annual Reports for Business and Nonprofit Entities are Due June 3, 2013
Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap reminds all business and nonprofit entities on file with the Secretary of State\'s office as of December 31, 2012, their 2013 Annual Reports are due June 3, 2013.
Business and nonprofit entities can file quickly and easily using the Secretary of State\'s online filing system. To file online, go to https://www10.informe.org/aro/index_on.html . Payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, electronic check or with a subscriber account.
The Annual Report fee is $85 for domestic business entities, $150 for foreign business entities and $35 for domestic or foreign nonprofit corporations. Entities that filed online in a previous year will be able to review the information provided at that time, and will simply need to update that information as necessary prior to filing this year\'s report. For account subscribers, the online filing service includes additional functionality to assist with managing multiple annual report filings.
For entities that prefer to file a paper annual report, a preprinted form can be downloaded at: http://www10.informe.org/aro/form_download.html.
A substantial late-filing penalty will be assessed, and may not be waived, on all reports received after June 3, 2013, the legal filing deadline.
The Secretary of State\'s Corporations Division is available to answer questions regarding Annual Report filing or changing an address. The division can be reached at (207) 624-7752 or by email at cec.corporations@maine.gov.
May 16, 2013 - Newsletter from the House
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Lyme disease is the second most commonly reported infectious disease in Maine, with over 1,100 cases reported in 2012. That is why the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is proud to join Governor Paul LePage who has officially proclaimed May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is carried by the deer tick. Cases have increased over the last five years in Maine, and occur in all 16 counties. Lyme disease is most common among school age children and middle age adults. As the weather continues to get warmer, more ticks will be out in the open, and most infections in Maine occur during the summer months.
The most common early symptom of Lyme disease is an expanding red rash that occurs at the site of the tick bite within 3-30 days after being bitten. Fever, join and muscle pains may also occur. Lyme disease is treatable, and the majority of patients recover after receiving appropriate therapy.
Lyme disease is preventable. Maine CDC recommends following the "No Ticks 4 ME" approach which includes:
· Wear protective clothing
· Use insect repellent
· Perform daily tick checks
· Use caution in tick habitats
Ticks must be attached for 24-48 hours before the bacteria can be transmitted, so prompt removal of ticks is extremely important. Anyone with a known tick bite or who has been in a tick habitat should watch for symptoms for at least 30 days after the exposure. If symptoms develop, call your physician.
Maine CDC has numerous educational materials available on our website at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/ddc/epi/vector-borne/lyme/index.shtml
New Report Describes the Graying of Maine's Workforce
The decisions Baby Boomers are making now about work and retirement hold important implications for Maine's workforce and job outlook for years to come. A new report from the Center for Workforce Research and Information details how the state's slow population growth combined with thousands of workers aging to retirement will slow workforce growth.
Maine is the oldest state in the United States, with a median age of 43.2 years. Currently, 46 percent of private sector workers are at least 45 years old. The report points out that, within the next 20 years, at least 40 percent of the current workforce will be 65 or older.
As a group, the Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, began to reach the traditional retirement age of 65 in 2011; the youngest of the group will reach 65 in 2029. Of immediate concern are those who will be eligible to retire during the next ten years who will need to be replaced. The effect of near-term replacement needs depends on the industry; however, all industries will need to replace experienced workers in a variety of occupations.
Two sectors stand out due to the large share of workers 55 and over--the health care and social assistance sector and the education sector (public and private). In addition to high replacement needs, jobs in both of these sectors are expected to increase faster than average between 2010 and 2020.
Annual Reports for Business and Nonprofit Entities are Due June 3, 2013
Business and nonprofit entities can file quickly and easily using the Secretary of State\'s online filing system. Payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, electronic check or with a subscriber account.
The Annual Report fee is $85 for domestic business entities, $150 for foreign business entities and $35 for domestic or foreign nonprofit corporations. Entities that filed online in a previous year will be able to review the information provided at that time, and will simply need to update that information as necessary prior to filing this year\'s report. For account subscribers, the online filing service includes additional functionality to assist with managing multiple annual report filings.
Another online service allows noncommercial clerks or noncommercial registered agents to change their addresses. Additionally, this service allows an authorized individual of a foreign entity (organized outside Maine) to change the principal or home office address. Anyone wishing to make these address changes separately from the online annual report filing service, should visit HERE .
For entities that prefer to file a paper annual report, a preprinted form can be downloaded.
A substantial late-filing penalty will be assessed, and may not be waived, on all reports received after June 3, 2013, the legal filing deadline.
The Secretary of State\'s Corporations Division is available to answer questions regarding Annual Report filing or changing an address. The division can be reached at (207) 624-7752 or by email at cec.corporations@maine.gov .
MDIFW Urging Beachgoers to Stay Away From Piping Plover Nests
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is asking beachgoers to help protect piping plovers by staying away from their nests in southern Maine.
These endangered shorebirds have arrived in Maine and are just beginning to set up nesting territories on white sand beaches after spending the winter on beaches in North Carolina and further south as well as Mexico and the Caribbean.
Protecting every piping plover nest and chick is vital to retaining this rare bird in Maine. Beachgoers are reminded to make sure their dogs do not disrupt these nests by keeping their dogs on leash and avoiding nesting areas.
Piping plovers are small, pale shorebirds whose sandy brown and white colorings act as camouflage on a beach. While this protects them from predators, their camouflage also works so well that many people do not see them or their sand-colored eggs when walking along the beach. Subsequently, nests and eggs can be easily and inadvertently destroyed. Nesting areas are identified with signage and stake and twine fencing.
People should stay away from the fencing and should only observe piping plovers from a great distance away with high-powered binoculars. Beachgoers should also be on the lookout for piping plover chicks that leave the next after hatching and are flightless for 25 to 35 days.
These birds have been federally listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1986 and were listed on the state's Endangered Species list in 1997.
For more information on birds in Maine, please visit www.mefishwildlife.com
Maine History Corner
Did you know one of the biggest international celebrities of the late 19th/early 20th century was born in Farmington? Lillian Nordica was born in the western Maine town as Lillian Norton in 1857. She would later attend the New England Conservatory of Music and became a major star internationally during what is known as the 'Golden Age of Opera.' Performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, opera houses in London, Germany, Australia, and dozens of other sites, Nordica was not only known for her operatic talent, but also for her high-fashion style of dress and for her friendships with famous people such as the Duke of Edinburgh. Nordica used her vast fame to advocate for the cause of women's suffrage - a contentious issue when she was at the height of her celebrity.
