Sen. Hickman receives perfect score on education record

Posted: November 15, 2021 | Senator Hickman
Sen. Craig Hickman

AUGUSTA — Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, earned a 100 percent from the Maine Education Association for his voting record on education issues. Sen. Hickman is one of 16 state senators to earn a perfect score from MEA for their 2021 voting record.

“Educators are the backbone of our society; they provide the greatest service to our children and families. The quality of the education our children receive has a direct impact on the future of our state and our economy,” said Sen. Hickman. “I am proud of all the work we did this session to support our educators and am honored to have received a perfect score from MEA.”

This year, Sen. Hickman championed efforts to fully fund education at 55 percent for the first in the state’s history since it was mandated by voters in 2004. Sen. Hickman also voted in favor of bills to ensure a good starting wage for school support staff including education technicians, school librarians and career and technical education teachers. Making sure these hardworking professionals are paid a fair wage will help schools attract and retain quality workers. 

As chair of the Labor and Housing Committee, Sen. Hickman played a key role in bringing some of these bills to the floor. LD 734, “An Act To Set a Minimum Wage for School Support Staff,” started in the Labor and Housing Committee and establishes a minimum wage for school support staff. Additionally, Sen. Hickman played a large role in stopping the passage LD 97, “An Act To Ensure the Right To Work without Payment of Dues or Fees to a Labor Union,” which MEA opposed. LD 97 was a “Right to Work” bill, which would have weakened unions and decreased wages.

MEA represents 24,000 Maine teachers and advocates for policies and investments that ensure that educators’ voices, values and priorities are heard and respected both in the workplace and at the State House.

Sen. Hickman remains committed to fighting for Maine students, teachers and school staff in the Legislature.

The complete Maine legislative scorecard from MEA can be found here.