Sen. Vitelli receives perfect score on education voting record
AUGUSTA — Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, earned a 100 percent rating from the Maine Education Association for her voting record on legislation to support students, teachers, and families. Sen. Vitelli is one of 19 state senators to earn a perfect score for their 2022 voting record from MEA.
“I’m glad we were able to accomplish so much this year to support Maine students, teachers and school staff,” said Sen. Vitelli. “There are many educators in my family, and they are some of the most caring and dedicated professionals I know. Especially after these difficult few years, I’m proud to stand up for educators and the important work they do for our children and communities.”
This year, Sen. Vitelli voted to continue funding free, universal school meals, fully fund education at 55 percent, invest in career and technical education, and provide two years of free community college for Maine high school graduates from the graduating classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. In addition, she supported the creation of an Education Rainy Day Fund to ensure the state is able to continue funding K-12 public education at the 55 percent threshold. Last year marked the first time in the state’s history that the Legislature met the threshold mandated by Maine voters at the ballot box in 2004. This fund will ensure the Legislature fulfills its obligation going forward and will alleviate the burden that often falls on property taxpayers.
Sen. Vitelli also voted in favor of bills to expand family and medical leave protections for hourly school employees and ensure that teachers can take time off for COVID-19 related illness even if they don’t have accrued leave.
In the past several years, Sen. Vitelli has sponsored legislation to create and expand the Local Foods Fund, which helps schools purchase food from local farmers and food producers, bringing fresh and healthy food to Maine students. She has also focused on student debt reform, sponsoring laws to protect student borrowers and their cosigners from predatory lending practices. This session, Sen. Vitelli sponsored a law to help more students and graduates access their transcripts, allowing them to enter the workforce, join the military or return to school for further education.
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. Vitelli remains committed to fighting for Maine students, teachers and school staff in the Legislature.
The 2022 Maine legislative scorecard from MEA can be found here.
