OpEd to the Brunswick Times Record
The recent election in Maine and across the nation was focused on jobs and the economy. As it should always be.
Over the course of the campaign season, I had the opportunity to meet with many of the residents in this area and from most conversations there was a common concern with government. The people of this state want their voices to be heard.
I want you to know I am listening. I have always been listening.
The upcoming legislative session is going to be filled with several significant challenges and just as many hard decisions. However, I am confident that we can weather this economic storm by working together. Mainer’s are known for helping each other out and fighting for what is right.
Just like we did with the closing of the Brunswick Navel Air Station (BNAS), our region pulled together with a common vision to redevelop the site. Because of this kind of resolve, the region has seen the addition of over 600 jobs and certainly more to come in the near future.
Additionally, the focus on job creation is why I worked so hard to get legislation passed to attract businesses to the air station. I listened to what the residents wanted.
I will continue to work with the business community to find better ways of creating quality jobs. As we did with the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) legislation, we took the red tape out of the way for job creation. This is the kind of stuff people expect the Legislature to do as part of its business.
The Legislature also needs to be there for the working people of Maine. Unfortunately, some members in the newly-elected leadership considered eliminating the very committee that has always been a place where everyday workers have a voice at the State House, the Labor Committee.
In Maine, legislative committee’s are designed to serve the various interests of our state. The Labor Committee is not just for unions. It deals with important matters like equal pay, minimum wage, enforcement of wages, worker safety, family and medical leave, sick leave, unemployment and hundreds of other work-related issues facing the 700,000 working men and women. In fact, since its creation in 1887, the Labor Committee has worked on important bills in every legislature even during some of the hardest times, like the Great Depression.
The proposal to eliminate the Labor Committee did not make sense to me. In fact, the timing could not have come at a worse time. Our state has already taken a hit and seen enough jobs lost. Now is the time when we should be putting people first, especially the working men and women, as we work for a stronger economy.
It is important to understand that the proposal to do away with the Labor Committee was not going to shrink government or make it more efficient. It was not going to get rid of the issues facing Maine’s working population. And it certainly was not putting people before politics. Needless to say, I did not sit quietly to watch this pass.
Once again, I listened and I am proud to report to you that they did not get their way.
Because of my previous involvement as the House Chair of Joint Select Committee on Rules and member of the Labor Committee, I was asked by my colleagues to serve on the Joint Select Committee on Rules this session to decide the fate of the Labor Committee and other committee organization for the upcoming 125th Maine Legislature.
With an understanding that the people of Maine expect their elected officials to work together, I was able to work with the Joint Select Committee on Rules and Legislature to agree on a compromise to keep the Labor Committee.
As a result, we went from 17 legislative committees down to 16 and the Labor Committee is now referred to as Labor, Commerce, Research, and Economic Development. The newly-created committee maintains the integrity of the Labor Committee and enhances it with additional areas of responsibility in job creation and economic development. This will be important for our region as we continue our efforts to redevelop BNAS and create new and better jobs for all Maine workers.
I will not allow politics to get in the way of the best interests for the people of Maine. I am proud to represent the residents of Brunswick, Freeport, Harpswell, and Pownal and I appreciate the overwhelming support and trust put in me to serve as your State Senator. Please know I am listening and will continue working for you.