Senator Joe Brannigan | Maine Senate Democrats

Map of District 9
Committees: Insurance and Financial Services
Contact Senator Brannigan

Senator Joseph C. Brannigan is currently serving his sixth term in the Maine Senate representing Senate District 9 which includes parts of Westbrook and Portland.

Prior to his service in the Maine Senate, Senator Brannigan previously served seven terms in the Maine House of Representatives and has chaired the Business and Commerce Committee, Judiciary Committee, Marine Resources Committee, Housing and Economic Development Committee, Appropriation and Financial Affairs Committee and Transportation Committee. He has served as the chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and as a member of the State and Local Government Committee. He was also Chair of Joint Select Committee on Health Care Reform Opportunities and Implementation.

Senator Brannigan attended Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington DC in 1955 following a tour with the United States Navy from 1951-1955. Following his undergraduate education Senator Brannigan attended St. John Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts and became an Ordained Maine Diocesan Priest serving in both South Portland and Fairfield and as a chaplain at the University of Southern Maine. He then continued on to complete his Masters in Counseling Education at the University of Southern Maine and subsequently became a licensed social worker.

Senator Brannigan is currently on the Executive Committee of the Council of State Governments–Eastern Regional Conference. Senator Brannigan’s commitment to the community and his civic involvement is unparalleled: For more than 34 years, Sen. Brannigan was Executive Director of Shalom House, Inc. – a position he proudly held for 34 years. Under Brannigan’s leadership, Shalom House, Inc. grew from a halfway house with 15 beds to multiple buildings and services serving more than 1,000 people annually.

He has also been involved in the City of Portland and United Way’s Emergency Shelter Assessment Committee, Cumberland Service Network, a trustee of The Park Danforth, and the chair of the State Correction Facilities Improvement Advisory Committee.

OPEGA AGREES TO INVESTIGATE DHHS WITHOLDING OF FACTS

Apr 10, 2012

According to lawmakers, “it’s time to repair trust” AUGUSTA—A request made by State Senator Joe Brannigan on behalf of legislative Democrats to investigate the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was unanimously approved by the state’s Government Oversight committee today. Sen. Brannigan presented the committee with a one-page statement and a two-page memorandum on...

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...

Radio Address: Brannigan says, Trust has been broken. We must find out who knew what and when.

Mar 30, 2012

Weekly Radio Address: Sen. Brannigan Trust has been broken. We must find out who knew what and when. Good Morning. This is State Senator Joe Brannigan of Portland. Earlier this week, I along with my Democratic colleagues in both the House and Senate strengthened our call for an independent, nonpartisan investigation into the cover up...

Democrats turn up the heat on DHHS | BDN

Mar 28, 2012

By David Farmer, Bangor Daily News, March 28, 2012 For the casual observer, government can get the feel of an ever-lasting partisan slap fight. It’s attack, counter-attack. Rinse, wash and repeat. But not every sharp point is for drama’s sake or intended solely to score political points. That was the case when Rep. Dawn Hill, D-York, smelled...

Democrats insist on OPEGA review of DHHS cover-up

Mar 28, 2012

AUGUSTA — Democratic lawmakers in the state Legislature today strengthened calls for a nonpartisan investigation into an alleged cover-up of a significant computer error in the Department of Health and Human Services. The error led to 19,000 ineligible Maine people receiving access to state health care services. Last week during a meeting of legislative leaders, Republicans in...

REPUBLICAN LEADERS TURN BLIND EYE TO DHHS INVESTIGATION

Mar 23, 2012

AUGUSTA—Democratic State Senator Joe Brannigan requested an investigation into the operations at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). During today’s Legislative Council meeting, Republican lawmakers rejected Sen. Brannigan’s request. “For months the leadership at DHHS has not been able to answer simple questions,” said Sen. Brannigan of Portland. “While the errors...

Greg Kesich: Senate Dems finally stand up against governor’s overreach

Feb 22, 2012

Sometimes the best deal you can reach through compromise is still not good enough. By Greg Kesich gkesich@mainetoday.com Editorial Writer That sound you may have heard emanating from central Maine last Thursday night was not ice breaking on the Kennebec River. The winter we’ve had, you’d be lucky to find a skim of ice on...

Weekly Radio Address: Sen. Brannigan

Nov 26, 2011

Weekly Radio Address: Sen.Brannigan Good Morning. This is State Senator Joe Brannigan of Portland. The holiday season has officially arrived. Many of us spent Thanksgiving with family and friends and reflected on the many reasons we have to be grateful and thankful. As we move toward the end of 2011 and start a new...

MAINE LEADER PARTICIPATES IN HEALTH CARE AND TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT

Nov 3, 2011

BALTIMORE, MD—Democratic Leader, Senator Barry Hobbins (D-Saco) was one of more than eighty legislators, corporate leaders, and academics from across the country who participated in the State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) and Johns Hopkins University’s 2011 Health Care Summit – Unusual Suspects: Using Technology to Build Partnerships that Will Improve Health and Health Care in...

Maine Voices: Same-day registration preserves right to vote under all circumstances

Sep 29, 2011

Read More at the PPH. Without it, people who move, change their names or are first-time voters might be denied a ballot. PORTLAND – Don’t be surprised if you get to the polls on voting day in 2012 and find that you cannot vote. You are not registered! “Why?” you ask. The recent enactment of...

LEGISLATION AIMED AT PROTECTING MAINE’S VULNERABLE CITIZENS BECOMES LAW

Jun 3, 2011

AUGUSTA – Senate Democratic Leader Barry Hobbins of Saco sponsored a bill this legislative session that would extend the right for an insured person to designate a third party to receive notice of cancellation of an insurance policy. The amended bill (LD 313) received unanimous support from the Maine Legislature and was recently signed in...

‘New Hampshire envy’ takes a seat in Augusta

May 24, 2011

Read More in the Portland Press Herald. By GLENN ADAMS The Associated Press AUGUSTA – Maine may have just turned red, politically speaking, but color it green — green with envy for its only American neighbor, New Hampshire. Unlike any of the other lower 48 states, Maine has only one neighboring state to compare itself...