Senator Phil Bartlett | Maine Senate Democrats

Map of District 6
Committees: Energy, Utilities and Technology; Joint Rules
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Phil Bartlett is serving his fourth term in the Maine Senate representing District 6, which includes the communities of Gorham, Scarborough and Westbrook. He served as Senate Majority Leader for the 124th Maine Legislature.

Since his election to the Maine Senate in 2004, he has chaired the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy and the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Energy Future. He has also served as a member of the Natural Resources Committee, the Labor Committee, and the Government Oversight Committee.

Phil grew up in Gorham and attended Gorham public schools. He was actively involved in scouting throughout his youth, steadily working his way from Cub Scout through the ranks to Eagle Scout. Scouting provided opportunities to visit the State House and meet the governor, to go camping on a regular basis, and most importantly, to learn the value of community service and civic leadership.

After graduating from Gorham High School in 1994, Phil went on to Tufts University. At Tufts, he majored in economics and political science. Following Tufts, Phil spent the next three years at Harvard Law School. His love of economics and public policy led him to join the Harvard Journal on Legislation, for which he eventually served as president, and to teach introductory economics to Harvard undergraduates. He also obtained a fellowship to write a law and economics paper on incentives created by certain employment law statutes.

In 2001 Phil was admitted to practice law in Maine and Massachusetts. He moved back to Gorham and spent the next year clerking for Chief Justice Leigh Saufley of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He also began writing for his local newspaper, the Gorham Times. He has served as president of the Gorham Historical Society as well as president of the Baxter Memorial Library Association. He currently serves on the board of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, and he has been appointed to the board of the Gorham Economic Development Corporation, the Gorham Recreation Advisory Board and the Cumberland County Human Services Advisory Committee. Phil is also a member of First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham.

Phil is the proud father of Abigail Ann.

GOP APPROVES HEALTH CARE CUTS

May 17, 2012

GOP APPROVES HEALTH CARE CUTS Cuts also impact drug costs and Head Start funding By Susan M. Coverscover@mainetoday.com State House Bureau AUGUSTA — Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate, despite pressure from groups opposed to MaineCare cuts, passed a budget Tuesday that eliminates health care coverage for more than 20,000 people, cuts prescription...

SENATE REPUBLICANS GIVE INITIAL PASSAGE TO BUDGET HARMING THOUSANDS OF MAINE PEOPLE

May 15, 2012

AUGUSTA—In a vote of 19 – 16, Senate Republicans gave initial passage to a harmful and reckless budget that will hurt Maine’s elderly, children, working families, and economy while giving away additional unfunded tax breaks. “This budget is a sham, a shift, a shaft, and a shame for Maine people,” said Senator Dawn Hill...

May 15, 2012

Maine Senate Rejects Controversial “Takings” Bill GOP-led measure would have opened flood gates for lawsuits and pit landowners against taxpayers AUGUSTA – The Maine Senate through “indefinite postponement” rejected a controversial overhaul of regulatory land-use rules, known as the “takings” bill. If passed, LD 1810 would have allowed property owners to initiate action without going through...

Democratic Weekly Radio Address: Bartlett asks Governor to stop divisive rhetoric and rebuild our state

Apr 27, 2012

TARGETED INVESTMENT WILL SPRINGBOARD MAINE TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE Democratic Weekly Radio Address: Sen. Bartlett April 2012 Good Morning. This is State Senator Phil Bartlett of Gorham. Maine, much like the rest of the country, is at a crossroads. We are at a make or break moment for many middle class Mainers and those...

INJURED WORKERS LOSE PROTECTIONS UNDER GOP LEADERSHIP

Apr 13, 2012

AUGUSTA—The Maine Senate GOP voted late in the evening in favor of a measure, LD 1913, that takes away critical benefits to Maine’s most injured workers. The bill as passed caps benefits for almost all injured workers at 10 years, even if their injury still prevents them from returning to work. It also makes it harder for...

GOP LAWMAKERS SUPPORT MEASURE THAT “UNRAVELS” BENEFITS TO UNEMPLOYED WORKERS

Apr 11, 2012

AUGUSTA—In a party-line vote, the Maine Senate voted 18 – 16 on a measure, LD 1725, that some Democrats call an “ill conceived” bill that reduces benefits to unemployed Maine workers. The bill delays unemployment benefits until after the laid off employee has used up their vacation time and reduces the time frame...

SENATE REPUBLICANS NEGLECT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS AND PUBLIC NOTICE IN HEALTH INSURANCE BILLS

Apr 5, 2012

Two GOP-Championed Measures Continue Empowering Insurance Industry AUGUSTA – The Maine Senate Republicans supported two insurance-related bills with anti-consumer consequences. In a straight party-line vote, Maine Senate Republicans voted in favor of one bill that despite its title, does nothing to set up a health care exchange in Maine. LD 1497, “An Act to Comply...

BDN: Maine Senate GOP approves resolution to support Keystone Pipeline

Mar 31, 2012

By Eric Russell, BDN Staff AUGUSTA, Maine — Another partisan debate erupted on the Maine Senate floor Thursday over a joint resolution submitted by Republican Leader Jonathan Courtney urging the president and Congress to support a controversial oil pipeline in the midwest. The 17-15 vote to support the resolution was entirely along party lines and signified...

GOVERNOR’S ENERGY PROPOSAL UPENDS PROVEN EFFICIENCY POLICIES

Mar 14, 2012

Public opposes Governor’s bill that would cost Maine families and businesses more money AUGUSTA—The Maine Legislature’s Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee held a public hearing on the first of the governor’s energy proposals that will undercut Maine’s energy efficiency and renewable energy policies. The hearing lasted for more than four hours with more than...

DEMOCRATS FIGHT FOR ELECTION LAW TRANSPARENCY

Mar 14, 2012

Senate Republicans defeat measure that calls for disclosure of political advertising sponsors AUGUSTA—Democrats in the Maine Senate fought today for a measure that would have increased transparency in political campaign advertising. The measure was defeated in a party-line vote of 19 – 16. “Voting against this measure turns a blind eye to...

MAINE’S CLEAN ELECTION SYSTEM GUTTED IN FIRST ROUND OF VOTES

Mar 8, 2012

AUGUSTA—The Maine Senate took initial votes on a measure impacting Maine’s Clean Election Act. In a largely party line vote of 18 – 15, Senate Republicans supported a “do nothing” option gutting Maine’s clean election system. “The message from Maine people has been loud and clear—keep big monied, private interest out and keep clean...

Weekly Radio Address: Sen. Bartlett

Mar 2, 2012

Democratic Weekly Radi Address: Sen. Bartlett Maine’s Energy Policy: Good for Our Economy, Good for Maine People, and Good for Our Environment. Good Morning. This is State Senator Phil Bartlett of Gorham. I serve on the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee. Recently a retired couple from Peru, Maine made the front page of the...