Democratic minority leaders in the House and Senate answer questions about health care, welfare, the environment, voting rights, and the right-wing out-of-state agenda influencing in Maine. They also express their hope to be able to create a job package, working in a bipartisan way.

Representative Emily Cain —

The people of Maine overwhelmingly voted to restore same-day registration. Republicans even ran an extreme ad in the final days that pointed to a “gay conspiracy” theory. Why did they sink to such an outlandish concept?

The Republicans desperately reverted to their same-old campaigns based on fear and misdirection, after multiple failed attempts to create the perception of fraud in our voting system. The good news is that Maine voters saw through this deceitful campaign, rejected the change in the law, and restored sensibility and access to our elections. Democrats believe this attempt to roll back voting rights is just another example of Republicans pushing solutions in search of problems and trying to distract from the fact that they have not focused on job creation and improving our economy.

Over $260,000 was funneled into Maine for the No on 1 campaign. Do you think Maine voters understand that a national right-wing agenda was behind the effort to take away same-day voter registration because we have the presidential race in 2012?

I don’t think most Maine people care about national political maneuvering, but they are worried about heating their homes and making ends meet. Lawmakers owe it to Maine people to focus on policies that will help improve our economy, not rolling back voting rights or demonizing working people at every turn.

In Ohio on the ballot was a measure to give collective bargaining back to the people. It passed overwhelmingly with a 66 to 34 percent landslide. Here some collective bargaining measures were carried over to 2012; how do you think these issues will play out here?

Rep. Emily Cain. photo by Ramona du Houx

The nasty labor bills coming up this session are another page out of the national Republican playbook. Democrats oppose any legislation that undermines the rights of working people. Lawmakers should focus on policies that will help grow jobs and improve the economy, not issues that pit workers and businesses against each other. We won’t emerge from this recession unless we work together.

What are your hopes for this session?

Rep. Emily Cain in Augusta. Photo by Ramona du Houx

Democrats are anxious to have a daily focus on economic growth and job creation this session. We believe the governor and the Republicans must put aside silly distractions and stop scapegoating and dividing Maine people. We must pass policies that will result in job creation and economic growth — both now and in the future. If we don’t invest in fixing our roads and improving infrastructure in our state, we will be leaving jobs on the table and undermining future growth. We must pass a responsible bond package. We must work towards policies that help our small businesses grow and help put Maine people back to work. I believe that potential is there to work across the aisle to get this important work accomplished.

Last session you were successful, working with your caucus and environmental groups, in keeping Maine’s quality of life intact. However, the governor’s efforts continue to try and disband the Land Use Regulation Commission, which oversees our unidentified territories. Will Democrats be fighting to keep LURC as the best option to protect Maine’s environment?

Democrats and Republicans agree that LURC needs improvement, but abolishing the body altogether is a costly mistake for Maine’s natural resources and property-tax payers. Abolishing LURC and transferring its responsibilities to counties will end up costing money and taxpayers will have to foot the bill. Sadly, our natural resources will pay the price. It is the wrong solution. A balanced approach would be more appropriate. Democrats will support changes to LURC to improve its effectiveness, but we will push back against any effort that eliminates the body completely.

Last session you and fellow Democrats stood up for essential government programs. LePage is targeting reform in needed welfare programs. We are still coming out of this recession. What approach will you be taking?

Democrats will continue to fight for working people and the middle class in our state. Policies that hurt struggling families won’t create a single job. Instead, we should be focused on how we can improve our economy to help Maine people get back on their feet. Cutting off support for people in need doesn’t change the need. It just puts more pressure on local hospitals, shelters, and schools.

The health-care law LD 1333 has begun to show how detrimental it is for people throughout the state. What can be done to help these people?

We are seeing the negative impact of the reckless Republican health insurance overhaul across our state. While Democrats feared the law would result in 20 to 30 percent increases in health-care costs for people and businesses in rural Maine and Maine people over age 48, we are now seeing rates skyrocket between 40 and 60 percent across the state. Small businesses from York to Aroostook county have contacted our office to report dramatic rate hikes. Democrats will continue to strongly urge Republicans to reverse the worst elements of this law in January. We hope the public will contact Republican lawmakers to urge them to fix this harmful law. Democrats are ready now, as we were last session, to work with Republicans to take the harmful parts out of the law and work together towards implementing a full insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act passed by Congress almost two years ago.

“If we don’t invest in fixing our roads and improving infrastructure in our state, we will be leaving jobs on the table and undermining future growth.” — Rep. Emily Cain photo by du Houx

Everywhere I go, people still question why there hasn’t been a jobs package, despite LePage’s promises. Will you be pushing for a job bond package?

Absolutely. Republicans left jobs on the table last session by refusing to consider public investments in our state and local communities. When it comes to infrastructure and crucial investments in R&D, standing still is moving backwards. We will keep moving backwards until we make necessary investments in our state’s infrastructure, and the sooner the better! Democrats strongly support a responsible bond package for 2012 — both to create immediate jobs and improve our roads, bridges, and ports. Our long-term economic growth depends on the strength of our transportation network. There are several bond proposals before the Legislature that will invest in our roads, in our schools, in lowering the cost of energy, and in research and economic development in our state. We will urge our Republican colleagues to reject the misleading and extreme Tea Party rhetoric and build on Maine’s responsible track record of bonding for economic growth, to make the critical public investments our state needs right now.

Senator Justin Alfond—

The people of Maine voted by 60 percent to restore same-day registration. Folks celebrated at Bayside Bowl, your business. Tell me about the grass-roots campaign and why you think the vote went so well?

Sen Alfond is co-owner of Bayside Bowl. He shares his business experience with other lawmakers to help progress issues. photo by du Houx

The campaign was an unprecedented effort by Maine residents and progressive organizations. I think common sense and the “if it ain’t broke…” mentality won the day. Maine voters are proud and resoundingly defeated the barriers that the Republican Party, legislators, secretary of state, and the governor tried to implement.

Over $260,000 was funneled into Maine for the No on 1 campaign. Do you think Maine voters understand that a national right-wing agenda was behind the effort to take away same-day voter registration because we have the presidential race in 2012?

Yes. Most voters saw through the purely political efforts of the majority Republicans to try and game the electoral system to their benefit.

Do people understand the way in which the Maine Heritage Policy Center is invading Maine’s politics, from backing extreme measures like No on 1 to testifying in committees influencing the outcomes of legislation?

Every person has a right to testify in support or opposition to legislation before the Legislature. I think Mainers are waking up to the fact that national right-wing interests have targeted Maine as a place where they can deregulate and push a conservative agenda.

You sit on the Education Committee and Cultural Affairs Committee, as well as being the minority leader in the Senate. Sen. Kevin Raye pushed through a law that changes funding to schools, saying it makes the system “equal.” However studies show it will do the opposite. What’s the danger here, especially during a time when funding is so limited?

Electrician installing solar panels on the roof of a building. Both lawmakers agree more R&D bonds are necessary to grow Maine's clean an innovative economy.

Sen. Raye’s bill was not framed at making the Essential Programs Services (EPS) funding formula equal, but rather correcting what he billed as a funding “injustice” to rural Maine schools. His law takes funds away, around $6.1 million yearly, from mostly larger schools and diverts them to rural schools under 1,200 students. However, the facts never support his argument. His bill was built on the fact that most school districts all think the EPS funding formula is unfair. I want to invest more in rural school systems as well, but not at the expense of students in urban and suburban school districts. This was the first time a legislator successfully intervened in the EPS funding formula. I believe we should be working to ensure all school districts get the funding they need, regardless of where they live and who represents them.

You were successful in helping businesses with permitting reform. How can you build on what you achieved?

Implementation and marketing of the new permitting reforms will be my main goals.

The governor and Senator Raye continue to try and disband the Land Use Regulation Commission, which oversees our unidentified territories. Will Democrats be fighting to keep LURC as the best option to protecting Maine’s environment?

Yes. Democrats will continue being inclusive by listening to all concerns and perspectives from those in the field. Democrats want the best parts of LURC to continue while solving the challenges with LURC. Democrats are ready to make improvements and adapt LURC. The idea that LURC should be gutted or eliminated is not the answer.

Last session you and fellow Democrats stood up for essential government programs. One in six need some sort of government assistance. More middle class families are falling through the cracks, because of the protracted recession. Should we be hearing a call for creating jobs instead of the governor targeting welfare recipients with “reforms”?

Absolutely. Democrats’ top priority is creating an environment where jobs can be sustained and created — especially from small businesses across the state. Democrats know that for businesses to stay and locate here, we need to have educated and adaptable graduates and workers. We need to become a highly educated state, so that business leaders want to be in Maine. Unfortunately, Governor LePage and the Republicans continue to push many issues that do not create any jobs. For example their welfare and health-care cuts will not only hurt our elder, young, and those who truly need help but somehow they ignore the fact that these costs are just shifting to the hospital emergency rooms.

Justin & Racheal Alfond’s newborn son, Jacoby

Everywhere I go people still question why there hasn’t been a job package, because LePage promised to create jobs. Will you be pushing for a job bond package?

The first priority of Maine Democrats is to create an environment where jobs can be sustained and created. The use of bonds to invest in our infrastructure is one tool to put people back to work. For example, the construction industry has over 20 percent unemployment, and I’m sure the construction trades would like the work. It’s also strategic because interest rates are at record lows, and Maine not only has strong bond ratings but we also have been conservative in how we retire and add new debt. There is nothing but rhetoric stopping Maine from investing in a strategic bond package to create jobs and upgrade our infrastructure. I hope that the majority Republicans will work with Democrats not only on a bond package but also to stay focused on the economy this short session.

The health-care law LD 1333 has begun to show how detrimental it is for people throughout the state. What can be done to help these people?

Republicans who serve in leadership positions should have allowed Anne Graham’s proposal to fix some of the issues on LD 1333. PL 90 [or what was LD 1333] was influenced and driven by the Maine Heritage Policy Center. The market driven reforms are built around the backdrop that more young people will enroll creating lower premiums and more competition in Maine. Many of these assumptions have played out in other states and the results are lower outcomes for patients and more influence by insurance companies. Additionally, I am very concerned that insurance companies are now taking elements of the new law and jacking premiums of many rural small businesses across the state. Sadly, the Republicans on the Legislative Council could have addressed some of these small business concerns with a legislative request from Rep. Anne Graham. However, it was denied, so I urge all Mainers to contact their representatives with examples of how this new law is increasing rates and decreasing access.

Two young, dynamic leaders in the Legislature exhibited great commitment and direction to improve Maine last session, as they skillfully worked with their caucuses to hold back extreme, conservative measures. Health and Human Services were spared draconian cuts, and environmental laws stayed intact, as regulatory reform was enhanced by Democratic leadership. Two legislators who worked on these issues and stood up for working people and their families are Rep. Emily Cain and Sen. Justin Alfond. Here are Rep. Cain’s insights from the session:

Rep. Emily Ann Cain is a fourth-term legislator, having served on the Appropriations Committee, and the Educational Committee. The determined leader is charming, intelligent and utilizes strategy with zeal and skill. Cain has a master’s degree in higher education from Harvard University and is working on a PhD at the University of Maine. Outside the Legislature, Cain works at UMaine in the Honors College half-time as the coordinator of advancement. As well as being an accomplished singer, she ran her first Tri for Cure triathlon this summer. Rep. Cain is 31 years old.

Why didn’t Gov. LePage have a bond package; the people of Maine always vote for them?

“Not having a bond package of 2011 means we are leaving hundreds of jobs on the table. No bonding is like moving backwards by standing still.

“We need the shot in the arm for our transportation industry, for businesses in the research-and-development sector, with more investment in the Maine Technology Asset Fund. We need the shot in the arm for our educational infrastructure, for the safety of our schools, colleges and the university system, so they can keep costs down for accessibility and affordability. We need more funds for conservation like the Land for Maine’s Future program, so we can continue to support Maine’s natural resource economy.

“This is the biggest economic disappointment from this session. Even a modest-size bond package would make a huge difference right now. People want to see consistent long-term investments. They provide short-term job creation with long-term economic benefits, and we can afford them.

“The people of Maine have not been afraid to say yes to jobs. Republicans were too afraid to give Maine people the chance for a bond package.”

Gov. LePage says he want to create jobs, yet his stance has been similar to the Gov. of Wisconsin. How can anyone be for jobs but against labor?

“This entire session has been a disconnect for me, because I think we should be fighting for working families in Maine, those that are in unions and those that are not. I don’t understand why union workers aren’t considered to be just as important as non-union workers in the eyes of some Republicans. For the first time since I’ve been in session, we’ve really seen attacks on working families. I think that’s bad for Maine. I want to focus on how we can create jobs for all the people of Maine.

Rep. Emily Cain takes a break at the Captiol. photo by du Houx

“Unions have a strong history in Maine, and we have stood proudly and strongly with them. From the Governor’s Office, its been a consistent drumbeat of rhetoric that seems more connected to events outside of Maine, like Wisconsin, rather than addressing things happening within Maine. The sate treasurer has been running around promoting statements he wants people to believe are facts — about our state’s economy — to force an antigovernment agenda against union jobs.

“Democrats are on the side of Maine people and working families every time — whether it was the pension fight, right-to-work legislation, protecting the rights of collective bargaining, child-labor laws — we fought to the end. We stand up and stand with the people of Maine. We have not turned into Wisconsin.”

What kind of message is Gov. LePage sending to businesses that are thinking about coming to Maine or expanding here?

“Part of the Maine brand has always been our hardworking people, and we should be extraordinarily proud of them. They should be part of our pitch to companies that are coming from away to invest in Maine, or companies from Maine that want to expand here.

“We should always value and promote the hard-work ethic of the people of Maine. It’s defined both by organized labor and our small businesses that are on every street corner in Maine and every small town. We should have leadership that brags about all those people — not pit ourselves against each other. That’s a huge disservice to Maine workers, and we hurt our brand when we devalue Maine workers.”

You have served on the Appropriations Committee as a member and as co-chair. As the minority leader of the House of Representatives, you partake in committee budget negotiations. Coming out of this recession, the budget was austere and benefited wealthy Mainers. Why did it pass?

“It was a true compromise. When you look at how far we came from the original budget proposal, we did comparatively well. The Appropriations team was incredible. They put in a hundred percent effort. This was a values-driven process that focused on keeping our promise to state employees, maintaining the safety net, and protecting the most vulnerable by lowering the amount of the tax cuts from $203 million to $153 million.

Rep. Emily Cain listens to debate in the House of Repersentatives in Maine. photo by Ramona du Houx

“Democrat’s are not opposed to tax cuts. We proposed a different way of implementing them that would have been more responsible. Our plan focused on middle-income people and on things like making your Earned Income Tax Credit refundable, rather than just tax cuts for the wealthiest in the state.

“We were in agreement with some things related to structuring of the income tax, and small businesses. Democrats focused on the needs of low- to middle-income families, and workers — to keep money in their pockets.

“The good news is that Democrats have laid the groundwork for staying involved in the budget process next year and into the future.”

What was it like being in the minority for the first time since 1972?

“In the minority we had to redefine how we look at success. Working with my caucus, we have defined success three ways this session:

• First and foremost is the bipartisan work that we have done, like LD 1 regulatory reform and the budget.

• The second way is how we moderated initiatives and prevented harm within proposals like the environmentally extreme measures that were initially rolled out in LD 1. We managed to get rid of the most extreme measures. Our process was to moderate and mitigate harm to Maine people.

• And the third way is where we draw the line. There are stark differences between Democrats and Republicans that came to the front this session. Like with the law that repeals Election Day registration. There is no doubt Democrats are on the right side of this issue. We did not have the votes to win it, though we fought our hearts out.

The House of Representatives in Maine. photo by du Houx

“It’s a new way of thinking about success. We want to work together when and where we can. We have shown we can be excellent negotiators. We also are not afraid to say no when we identify a piece of legislation that is completely wrong for Maine people.

“I believe the best work we do, we do together. We can never forget that, but we do have strong differences. We have different values and principles. Democrats are on the side of working people and maintaining a safety net for people when they need it. We are on the side of accessible, affordable health care and higher education. We are working to make high-quality local schools that support kids from an early age. We look to our natural resources as a great economic asset that we need to sustain. We want and promote innovation. We value research and development. We want to be able to invest in a ma-and-pa store that has a great idea for a new product, which will grow jobs and employ more people.”

“This session has been an opportunity for us to take ownership of our core values, to defend and promote them. We did not let the Republicans roll back the progress that we have made over the last three decades. We haven’t and won’t stand on the sidelines — we will continue to stand with Maine people. This is our opportunity to remind people we are the best choice for Maine. For our economy, our schools, for people of all ages — we stand up for you.

How did your experience as a residential assistant in college help you to develop and manage a strong, successful caucus which held back most of the extreme Republican measures?

“My job was to help a large group of people to adjust to a new reality — that same concept helped me at the beginning of the session. I wanted people to get their sea-legs right away, so they could function at their highest level as soon as possible in a team effort, which they did extraordinarily well. They were great. I have a great team who listen and channel energy, effort, and work in positive directions.”

What has been your biggest challenge as minority leader in the House?

“When we came back after the election, it was like looking through the looking glass in Alice in Wonderland. We were in the opposite role. I’m the first Democrat to be minority leader since 1972. I have the most amazing caucus, 71 strong — full of energy, ideas and experience, expertise that inspire me every day.

“My biggest challenge has been my biggest opportunity — which was to redefine this role. When I look at this session and how well we have done being on the right side of issues, on standing up for our values and principals, I’m proud.

“Could we have done better? Of course. Are their battles we wish we had won? Absolutely, but at the end of the day there is not one of us who is not proud of our accomplishments; we have no regrets. How can we? We stood up for all the people of Maine. That’s what they sent us here to do.”

Two young, dynamic leaders in the Legislature exhibited great commitment and direction to improve Maine last session, as they skillfully worked with their caucuses to hold back extreme, conservative measures. Health and Human Services were spared draconian cuts, and environmental laws stayed intact, as regulatory reform was enhanced by Democratic leadership. Two legislators who worked on these issues and stood up for working people and their families are Rep. Emily Cain and Sen. Justin Alfond. Here are Sen Alfond’s insights from the session.

In January State Senator Justin Alfond became the assistant democratic leader of the Maine state Senate, after only serving one term previously. The young, energetic, intelligent entrepreneur also started his own business last year in Portland—Bayside Bowl. The restaurant/bowling alley is invigorating the community, and Alfond has brought his businesses experience to Augusta serving on a special regulatory reform committee.

In 2004 Alfond founded the Maine chapter of the League of Young Voters. He then became the Maine chapter’s state director, leading initiatives such as Opportunity Maine, the Maine Energy Efficiency Disclosure Form, and Portland’s inclusionary zoning ordinance. Prior to that, he attended Tulane University and earned a degree in Business Administration. Last year Alfond married, and he is now, age 36, celebrating the birth of a child.

You served with Gov. John Baldacci; how was that legislative session different from this one?

“Gov. Baldacci truly respected the legislative process. He understood that there are three branches of government. He knew his role as the executive was to work with everyone in state government. He, as the executive, had his goals, and he understood they weren’t always what the legislative goals were. He kept a laser focus on getting Maine through a very tough economy by reducing state budgets and making tough decisions that didn’t make everybody happy. He wanted to ensure that the person who followed him would be in a better place than when he was first elected to office. He treated everyone with respect. When he needed to be tough and firm, he was. He governed with strategy and reason.

“When Gov. LePage came in with his harsh, brash style of speaking and governing, it seemed like he felt he could treat the Legislature like a bunch of worker bees. We were expected to do what he wanted, when he wanted, and how he wanted. He was either inexperienced, didn’t understand that every word mattered, or just didn’t care how he interacted with the Legislature or the press. At on point, twelve Republicans in the Senate wrote an open letter saying that Gov. LePage’s public antics were bad for the state. They told him enough is enough.

“Where were the jobs — what was he doing to help the economy? People wanted to know if he was going to keep his promises. He spread out his agenda so thin all at once, not focusing on any issue fully, making it hard to take any action to actually solve pressing problems. It was a 180-degree shift from Gov. Baldacci.”

When the recession took hold, Gov. Baldacci and the Legislature passed a comprehensive bond package to create jobs immediately. Why didn’t Gov. LePage have a bond package?

“Thousands of jobs were left on the table, while we are still climbing out of the recession. It’s shortsighted not to help out people with job creation, improving our education system, and transportation systems. It directly counteracts Gov. LePage’s message about creating jobs, improving the economy, and getting Mainers back to work.

Sen. Alfond speaking out for all the people of Maine

“When Gov. Baldacci left office, we had a Rainy Day Fund with over $100 million. We had transportation, public works, and education bonds that strengthened our economy and put thousands of people to work. The last bond package we put through helped put construction workers who had no jobs because of the recession back to work. This governor has stopped that progress in its tracks.

“The reason we aren’t doing bonds is that lawmakers and the people of Maine were given a false premise that somehow the state’s fiscal environment is in such a crisis that we can’t pay our bills. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The state has been unbelievably responsible meeting our obligations, looking at our liabilities, and paying them back. We have a sterling bond rating. This governor and especially the state treasurer started running around Maine creating a firestorm of ideas that the state has this enormous liability, that we’ve been spending widely, racking up debt. With Gov. Baldacci, the state was fiscally responsible, had surpluses every year excluding the recession, and increased the Rainy Day Fund.

“Gov. LePage and Republicans also prevented thousands of jobs from being created from moral obligation bonds, which help hospitals and other educational entities and affordable housing. Moral obligation bonds don’t require the people’s vote to be issued — they do require the governor to sign them, which he refused to do.”

The last thing anyone should want to do during a recession is to cut jobs. But by cutting state government, public servant’s jobs have been lost. What’s Gov. Le Page thinking?

“To Gov. LePage everything was wrong with state government. It’s so far from the truth. It’s a disservice to state employees and the legislators who have really worked so hard to come up with bipartisan decisions, year after year. There are certain Republicans that want people frustrated, angry, and distrustful at government, so they can shrink government to the smallest size, thinking the private sector can take care of everything.

“I think the private sector does incredible things, but they can’t do everything. Government and nonprofits play important roles. These three legs of the stool make a healthy, strong state, environment, economy, and culture to raise children.”

Gov. LePage has continually bashed union workers and state government workers, but in the same breath he says he’s for workers and creating jobs. Isn’t that a big conflict?

“This governor has the most anti-worker administration that Maine has seen in a very long time. You can’t grow jobs and be anti-worker at the same time. It’s a conflict every single day. His policies and rhetoric have really created an environment that has become a disincentive to business. It lacks a marketing plan to incubate business to grow or attract businesses. No business wants to go to a place that is unstable, unpredictable, and has public policies that are anti-worker. That’s what this governor has done.

“He has devalued state employees from the first day in office. They want to do the best they can to make the state strong. Attacking workers doesn’t bring in new jobs and businesses.

Members of the appropriations committee discussing the budget that gave the wealthiest the biggest tax breaks. photo by Ramona du Houx

“So much of his agenda is based on a national, Republican-driven agenda, which is funded by the Koch brothers [billionaires who donate to extreme Republican campaigns and causes]. They want to put a cookie-cutter, small-government, larger-private-sector solution on Maine. LePage is looking to multistate and large corporations — disregarding small businesses. We know small businesses are the backbone of Maine’s economy, but they don’t rate in the LePage administration.

“The people of Maine said no to his extreme environmental and business agenda, when we successfully changed his original LD 1 proposal. Now we have real regulatory reform, and our environment remains protected. It’s so sad that this governor is so committed to going after policies that hurt workers, instead of thinking how we can we create an environment that is pro-worker, pro-business.”

Coming out of this recession, the budget was austere and benefited wealthy Mainers. Why did it pass?

“I voted for the budget, because I saw the original, radical, extreme proposal improved considerably by the committees of jurisdiction and the Appropriations Committee. I was involved with the negotiation process on the Appropriations Committee, and we took that proposal and made it a lot better. What concerns me mostly is that it is a blueprint to starve the people of Maine of the services that they need by being forced to create smaller government. The tax cuts are $153 million. These tax cuts are unfunded — benefiting the top ten percent disproportionally. In the next biennium budget, we will have a $400 million hole from these tax cuts that we will have to fill.

“The irony is that the same people that live in rural Maine, that voted for LePage, that count on government services, will now be squeezed going forward. Health and Human Services, transportation, education in future budgets will be squeezed, because of the tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest Mainers. Essential programs that create the infrastructure and confidence for businesses to invest in Maine will have to be trimmed for tax cuts that mean no more than a $100 for the middle class — and $72 of that for every person with health coverage will have to go to a new Republican health-insurance tax.

“Everybody wants good schools, roads, health and human service programs to maintain Maine’s quality of life. This session we didn’t get to invest in transportation, energy efficiency, and education the way we should have with bonds. The budget’s priority was tax cuts. State revenues can’t keep up with those tax cuts.”

What is the role of government to you?

Thousands of jobs, like these, were lost because LePage refused to do a bond package. photo by R. du Houx

“Government should make investments that individuals and communities can’t make on their own. Those investments should be geared towards improving society, making better infrastructure for roads, and making education be successful. Government should look at research and development to grow businesses. We should look at how we can streamline regulations in order to grow businesses. We need to look at the environment, our quality of life, and brand, and ask, How do we create a healthier balance — to work on Maine’s asset of being different from other states, and grow small and large businesses here?

“People want to live here for the quality of life, to take a bike ride, get in a kayak, go for a walk, discover downtown, and enjoy a healthy environment. These are things that make Maine successful and brand our state. Government could work by being a partner with businesses and workers to improve our brand. To make sure that our profile in the U.S. is something where people continue to have this nostalgia about Maine of, ‘I want to be there — send my kids there for camp, and maybe go there and start a business, or retire there.’

“Unfortunately this governor has moved our state backwards in so many of these pieces. He goes out and boasts about how he has improved the sate, but a trickle-down economy has been proven to fail. It failed the Bush administration with their tax cuts. Trickle-down economics is a race to the bottom. Companies in other states that get huge tax cuts come into communities and set up for a few years. Then when costs become cheaper overseas, they pull out; they have no commitment to the community they are doing business in. To them, it’s about their bottom line, which I understand, but it’s not a race we want to be in. It’s not how to grow jobs in Maine.”

Senator Justin Alfond went from being the chair on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee to the lead on the committee in the 124th legislature. A number of his bills passed others he will likely re-introduce if he is re-elected. This exclusive interview is about some of his work on education this session.

According to the Maine Department of Education’s child nutrition 2011 report, nearly 45 percent of all Maine students qualify for a free or reduced-cost lunch. How does your bill to feed hungry schoolchildren during the summer work?

Hunger is a twelve-month problem, not just a school-year problem. When a student is hungry, you can’t study, you can’t focus, and your attitude darkens. Hunger prevents our children from being the best students that they can be.

I’m part of a stakeholders group from Cumberland County who looked at hunger, food programs, and food pantries in the county. There are 16,000 meals served during the school year. In summertime that number drops to under 6,000. Ten thousand students in Cumberland County, a place people don’t think of as having hungry students, weren’t being fed every day.

We identified what some school distracts were doing to have summer food programs. Then we created a path for more schools to have summer food programs or if they didn’t want them to create public/private partnerships for nonprofits and businesses in the area to do so.

This summer the Department of Education has been working with school districts where 74 percent of their students receive free or reduced-cost lunch to create summer food programs. The program is up and running. As more students are identified in Maine, more federal funds will come to the state to help administer these programs. Most of the food — served during breakfast, lunch, and snack time — will be paid for by the federal government.

Your Act To Encourage the Use of Electronic Benefit Transfer Funds at Farmers’ Markets did not pass, why?

EBT benefits low-income people. The card readers are expensive for farmers’ markets to purchase and so are the transaction costs to the EBT cardholders. My bill would have increased the availability of fresh foods to Maine people, helping families and farmers.

I wanted to create a public/private partnership to donate more card readers to farmers’ markets, so they could accept more EBT transactions. I was going to work with the banks to reduce or eliminate the fees. But all the Republicans on the Health and Human Services Committee voted in a block against the legislation.

It wouldn’t have cost the sate a penny. All I was asking for was two letters: one from the Department of Health and Human Services, and one from the Department of Education.

Your Act To Update Maine’s High School Graduation Requirements passed, what does it do?

It will help better prepare Maine students using a standards-based system. Common-core standards and standards-based evaluations are becoming more prevalent in our schools; they need to be working in concert with the Maine Learning Results. This measure merges the three systems, so educators and parents will be clear on graduation requirements.

Sen. Justin Alfond at work at the Capitol.

Another successful law creates a new Web site for parents to compare Maine colleges, why?

When you are spending a lot of money on higher education for your children, you shouldn’t have to become a detective. You should be able to go online at the Department of Education’s Web site and see graduation and retention rates. That will now happen.

You had two measures to increase college enrollment, but they did not pass, why?

Former House Speaker Cummings passed these measures on a voluntary basis. I wanted to make them mandatory. Some high school students are so afraid of the costs of a higher education they don’t know that there are resources and grants and scholarships available. I wanted every student to fill out a financial aid FASA, form so they could see the aid available. Today jobs require higher-education skills. We need to get more students graduating from certificate programs, two-year community colleges, and four-year universities. I wanted students to fill out a college application.

You introduced a number of bonds for Maine’s institutes of higher education, but they were pushed back to next year, why?

We need investments in all our higher-educational facilities. But Gov. LePage and the Legislature would not have the necessary conversations about bonds to put more funds into our rural campuses, to improve STEM and increase access to technology. Thousands of jobs were left on the table, while we are still climbing out of the recession. It’s shortsighted.

Charter schools —

Rep. Mason, a first-year, Tea Party representative, introduced a charter-school bill which passed with amendments. Ten charter schools will be implemented in Maine over ten years. You are against charter schools, why?

There isn’t any clear evidence that bringing charter schools to Maine would positively change the results for Maine students. The bottom line is that there is a belief system that says, “choice is going to change results.” With that concept, proponents of charter schools believe that the competition which charter schools bring will make public schools better. Education is not corporate business.

I did some research of other states with charters and their graduation rates were much worse than the state of Maine’s public school graduation rates.

Maine has made a huge commitment to streamline and consolidate costs in every area, under Gov. John Baldacci. In education we have tried to control costs by bringing school administration districts together. To cut down on administrators, superintendents, busses heating, electrical and maintenance costs. We need to spend as much money as possible on our kids, in their classrooms. That is the objective. And we have cut costs, and improved education throughout the state, because we are cutting out bureaucracy.

Charter school legislation is adding a huge amount of bureaucracy to government—when Gov. LePage said he wanted smaller government. An entire new charter school commission of seven members is being created; three members will be from the Board of Education, others they will pick. This commission will have the power to approve a charter school in any town, anywhere in Maine, without holding any public meetings. People living in their communities will have no say and may have no knowledge of a charter school being built. No real conversation at the local level with the community has to happen.

The funding to public schools will be hurt in unimaginable ways. If a child leaves to go to a charter school, 99 percent of funding for that child will be taken away from the public school that child currently attends. So, local public school funding will decline, but that public school still has to fund all the programs that it currently has. I worry about the slow drain of students to charter schools, draining away money from our public schools.

Right now we need $400 million to be injected into public school spending to get to the voter mandated 55 percent of state funding. That doesn’t seem likely in the near future, especially now we have charters. It is absolutely the wrong time to be introducing more bureaucratic costs — especially when the results aren’t glorious.

New EPS school funding —

The Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding is designed to treat schools across the state equally, disbursing state funds for educational services. But a new law pushed through the State Legislature by conservative lawmakers favors rural school administrative districts over cities and towns with growing school populations. How did this pass?

This law will hurt schools beginning in 2012-2013, when it takes existing money from schools that are growing in size and redistributes it to schools that are regularly losing students. Schools will be forced to cut funding, fire people, or raise local taxes.

President of the Senate Kevin Raye did something unprecedented. He injected politics into the EPS funding formula and changed three elements that move over $6 million from some communities to others. He believes that rural schools do not make out equally with the EPS funding formula. He provided no substantial evidence to back up his claims. The Education Committee saw this and stated — in a bipartisan report — that we were against the concept of these changes. But the bill went ahead and passed the House, even though the majority of the representatives will see less funding going to their school districts.

No piece of public policy has ever changed the EPS formula. Now there is precedent, so if majorities switch back, someone could use their political power to change EPS funding again. The pendulum could go back and forth. This would be devastating to schools, because they would not have the confidence to plan needed curriculum and programs for the future of all our children.

Gov. John Baldacci’s introduced the EPS funding formula, and after public input safeguards were added. Raye had no reason to change the EPS formula, because of these funding protections for school administration districts.

There are two separate funds. One is a small, isolated school fund for $5 million to help districts with declining enrollment. The other is a $20 million fund to help communities that all of a sudden loose a lot of students — like Brunswick will with the navy base closure.

If this was so important than Raye should have put in a funding request to the Appropriations Committee to get new funding, not to take money away from one school district, depleting their resources, to give to another. Portland will lose almost $1 million, and others will face similar losses.

Bright, young and energetic Herbig is in her first term serving as a representative from Belfast. Erin, who just turned 30, came back to Maine after getting her degree at Boston College.

Trained as a graphic designer, Erin landed a job in her hometown of Belfast at Moss, a tensioned fabric structure manufacturer. An athlete with a passion for getting involved with her community, Herbig started coaching at Belfast High School and serving on the board of several community organizations. As a volunteer and organizer on the Obama campaign, her skills became apparent, and Emerge Maine enlisted her in their training for Democratic women to run for elected office.

“When I started the program, I never imagined that I would run for office. I love working in my community and wondered where that might lead,” she said. “I also felt my generation wasn’t fully represented in Augusta. There are myths out there that young people don’t want to live in Maine; that couldn’t be further from the truth. In my experience, there are just too many hurdles for most to overcome. Low-paying jobs, high cost of health care, high housing costs combine to create an equation that isn’t in the best interest of a young professional just starting out or of a young family. There is also a myth that a good job gives you health care — that’s not always true in Maine. I’ve had good jobs but didn’t have health insurance. Today’s workplace is very different than what many legislators have experienced.”

Rep. Erin Herbig in the Labor CRED committee in Augusta photo by Ramona du Houx

Recently two bills that would take away child protections came before the committee. One measure, LD 1346, would establish a ”training wage” at $5.25 per hour for the first 180 days of employment for students less than 20 years of age — and increases the number of hours minors can work. The other measure, LD 516, would increase the number of hours 16- and 17-year olds are allowed to work during the school week from 20 to 24 hours and extend the allowed hours of employment to 11 p.m. on a school night.

“I see these students on a day-to-day basis, as a coach. Not long ago I was in high school and I had a job. I know if you work too much it takes away from your academics and could diminish your chances to go on to higher education,” said Herbig. “Education and work are not be opposing forces. These bills just send the wrong messages about education — making it a race to the bottom. Maine doesn’t have enough college graduates. Why are we taking jobs from parents by increasing work hours for students? We need to protect children and do what is in their best interests. Both these bills are appalling.”

The first act of the Republican controlled Capitol was to combine the Labor Committee with the Economic Development committee, forming LCRED. At that time there was a worry amongst some lawmakers that conflicting interests may get in the way of what is best for all the working people in Maine.

“For the most part it works. It has been helpful to bring in the different aspects on some bills. But when you discuss an issue like child labor and you have business lobbyists testifying, it becomes a difficult conversation, because you are forced to decide between one or the other,” said Herbig.

Erin has a bill to extend the Historic Preservation Act, which would extend tax incentives for economic development. The preservation bill makes it competitive for developers to renovate historic buildings, like the Hathaway Center in Waterville has successfully done.

“We’re always talking about how Maine can be more attractive to business; this is one known way,” said Herbig. “My bill is to expand the law for six more years. It has already added to the creative economy in Belfast. Revitalizing downtowns with the historic preservation is a sustainable way to economic growth, while creating jobs and affordable housing.”

Rep. Erin Herbig listens to testimony on Child Labor Laws in Committee photo by Ramona du Houx

“And I listened to voters. I told them why I wanted to be their voice in Augusta,” said Herbig.

As a community organizer Herbig worked with people from various political parties. She doesn’t like partisan politics.

“I’m in the moderate caucus; we meet every Thursday. We discuss things together like voter registration or charter schools. I love it. Sure, we differ on some things, but we actually have a lot more in common,” she said.

Erin’s parents worked hard all their lives. Her mother is an ed-tech in a Belfast school; her father is a maintenance man at the hospital.

“Now they are about to turn sixty, and they still have incredible stress in their lives. To feel that it’s so touch and go at this point in their lives — is wrong. So many Mainers are like them and don’t feel any sense of security in their lives,” said Herbig. “I want to change that.”

Ultimately, Erin is in Augusta because she believes in fighting for the working people of Maine.

“In my very core I want to increase stability for the middle class. I want younger families to move to Maine. I want to decrease the burdens of high insurance costs, high housing costs, and college and health-care debt. I want to help create jobs that pay good salaries with health-care coverage,” said Herbig. “We’re asking people that have already given so much to give up more. We need to focus on the middle class. The road America is currently on, with a really divided political climate, is creating a wider divide between the wealthy and hardworking people that will eventually eliminate the middle class entirely unless we take action.”

I remind people that Gov. LePage won only by 38 percent; if you combine the people who went for Elliot Cutler and the voters who went for Libby Mitchell, it’s similar to the people who voted for Mike [Michaud] and I.

Even though we lost control of the Legislature, and we have a governor who won in a three-way race, it wasn’t as if the state said, “We don’t have any progressive values.” We are Maine. Voters were all over the map. No one can credibly say that we turned into a Red state. At the same time, we are all very worried about what’s happening with the situation with the governor and the Statehouse.

We worked very hard. People underestimate how much people put into a campaign. I had a great team. The newspapers kept reporting on polls that said our opponent’s attacks were working and that the races were close. I think that motivated people to get out and vote. We had a huge volunteer turnout with people making calls and knocking on doors. Some of my opponent’s tactics went too far and made people mad. People don’t like the personal side of politics; they like you to stick to the issues. Maine voters actually are fairly progressive and common-sense oriented.

I lost a lot of good colleagues. It’s been frustrating to watch the Republicans trying to push their right-wing agenda.

Many progressive organizations, Civil Rights groups, and everyday citizens are worried about the Tea Party agenda that seems to be dominating House issues. Do they have reason to be?

They are too busy doing things that aren’t creating jobs and aren’t’ helping the country during this tough economic time. They spend their time on the floor trying to defund Planned Parenthood, National Public Radio, and dismantle environmental protections. These are people who want to undo protections of workers and defund education, while they undo Social Security and take apart Medicare. They have no desire to work together or to compromise. Anytime we get close to a workable budget agreement, the Tea Party just says, “We are not voting for anything unless you follow our right-wing agenda.”

That’s scary. They are intent on putting on a show for their base at the expense of the American people.

Is it harder being in the minority in the House or being in the majority?

Congresswoman Pingree talks to concerned citizens about measures she has taken to rebuild the bridge connecting Maine to NH

You owned and operated a successful business in Maine — Northern Island Yarn, which became North Island Designs. You understand the needs of businesses. Last year you held town halls on health care and business needs. In April you’ll be holding a government procurement workshop. What’s it about?

We are hosting General Services Administration procurement workshops in Maine. There are a lot of businesses that are interested in understanding how they can sell their products to the Department of Defense — they just don’t know how, or that there is that opportunity there. We’re hosting the workshops to make sure our constituents have that information.

We look for opportunities in the district that don’t require bringing a bill to the floor. And we are looking at ways to modify legislation that we can find agreement on. Whether you are in the majority or the minority there are always ways you can find to help your constituents, grow the economy and create jobs.

The Tea Party have made it plain that they are extremists but, as in Maine, aren’t there reasonable Republicans that you can find common ground with?

I work with Walter Jones, who is a Republican from North Carolina. He cosponsored the public financing bill with me. He and I are both part of the activists against the war. So, yes you can find reasonable Republicans to work with.

I’m on the Agriculture Committee. It doesn’t tend to be partisan; it’s more about what area of the country you are from and if you are old-guard, big-chemical-commodities agriculture or if you represent small, local farms, like me. [Pingree was an organic farmer in Maine, so she understands the needs of Maine’s farming community.]

We’re looking for ways to work with the Republicans on the committee.

With the working waterfront bill, we have a Republican from Virginia. He has a lot of small fisherman who fish crabs and oysters. So he is very familiar with the kind of coastline we have and the waterfront development pressures fishermen face while they are trying to make a decent living.

We look for opportunities to progress where we can, but on the big legislative agenda it is basically gridlocked.

People want us to work on jobs and the economy. They want us to get something done, and they are very worried. So many jobs have been outsourced, big corporations get all the tax breaks and the little guy is getting hurt. If there aren’t changes around that, then they are just going to say at election time, “We will throw the bums out.”

Pingree talks with women involved with Emerge Maine photo by Ramona du Houx

The idea that the Republicans’ practically first act was to get rid of all the recycling products we used in the cafeteria, down to the compositing of the garbage, is so ridiculous.

At first we were stunned, asking, “Are you kidding?” They weren’t. Now we all cringe when we see the Styrofoam containers. Some of our staff bring in reusable containers of their own. When I tell people they did this they look at me in disbelief and shock asking, “Really? They went back to Styrofoam?”

It’s so ridiculous — especially at a time when we are at war, and coming out of the recession.

Do you think that Republicans are consciously making the income gap bigger, squeezing the middle class?

There’s no question that the Republican agenda is creating a wider gap in incomes.

Gov. LePage’s ideas of getting rid of a huge part of the Medicaid safety net, hurting people with disabilities and the elderly, rolling back child-labor laws and people’s wages, are all ideas the Tea Party has here. They’ve got the same playbook. These are all national trends that we are fighting back.

As a state senator you helped seniors get the medicines they needed and created Maine Rx. Now Gov LePage wants to eliminate the program. What do you think about that?

Gov. LePage is really going after the wrong people. He’s more willing to help out the insurance and drug companies than the citizens of Maine.

Maine continues to work towards building offshore floating wind farms. You were there when the Department of Energy Sec. Steven Chu came to UMO to see the research that could make this a reality. Getting the electricity to market once the platforms are up and running requires transmission lines being built. But the Midwest is trying to usurp New England by lobbying to have those transmission lines for the national grid. That would cut Maine out. What’s the status on those lines?

The congressional delegation continues to lobby for the transmission lines being built in New England. It’s imperative that any agreement that comes out of talks with the states that are a part of the Eastern Interconnect has transmission lines in New England. And Maine is the best location in New England.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree addresses business leaders about how they can obtain government contracts.

Secretary Chu continues to be very supportive about the possibilities of offshore wind in Maine. It’s a very important opportunity to grow Maine’s clean-energy economy. It will be a great project with 15,000 jobs, and means Maine businesses will be able to manufacture and erect the turbines.

How will the president’s energy initiatives help Maine?

We passed a comprehensive energy bill in the House last session, but unfortunately it didn’t make it through the Senate. There was plenty in it that would have been beneficial to Maine.

Any funding that helps with weatherization and supports clean energy is great for Maine because we are so oil dependent. When oil and gas prices go up, that goes right to people’s bottom line. A lobster fisherman told me the other day that he was happy that they were finally getting a good price for lobster, but he said it would all disappear in diesel fuel.

The Republicans are trying to repeal weatherization funds. This is not a partisan issue. It represents good jobs. There are a lot of people who have been trained in Maine, retooling their businesses to do weatherization. We are doing everything we can to make sure these people aren’t cut off. With all this volatility happening in the Middle East what are we thinking being so dependent on oil?

The president has remained committed to creating new sources of clean energy that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We have abundant clean-energy resources — like wind and tidal power. And we also have a tradition of innovative, small business that can provide the components to build clean-energy projects.

You sit on the House Armed Services Committee, where you can and have asked General Petraeus difficult questions. Why are you are opposed to the war in Afghanistan?

There is no good argument for it anymore. We really can’t afford it with the lives we continue to lose, and financially. Sec. Gates just told us that the cost would go down to $40 million — a month — for the wars we are in.

Pingree with Commander Fitzgerald at the ceremony opening Brunswick's former navy base up for comercial flights

Intelligence reports say that there are a hundred members of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. How much money are we willing to spend on a hundred men?

What do you think about President Obama’s actions in Libya?

I understand why the president was moved on the humanitarian side, particularly given that the Qaddafi regime is such a ruthless dictator. We can’t sit by when the people ask for our help, knowing the likelihood of them being massacred would happen if we did nothing. I just don’t think we can afford to have a projected involvement there. I worry about getting into a third war, and the cost.

Do you believe that the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act saved us from a depression? Why?

Some economists think if not a depression then the recession would have been much, much worse. I absolutely think we had to do it. I can’t imagine what would have gone on in the country if we hadn’t taken action.

I know it was extremely helpful to Maine, supporting firefighters, police, and teachers, and creating infrastructure and weatherization jobs. Whether it was the expansion of our rail, bringing the Downeaster to Brunswick, or funds for Medicaid, or broadband infrastructure — it’s done a great job.

The biggest argument in Congress was whether we were doing enough. It was a big fight to get enough votes in the Senate just to pass what we did.

States still need our help, but until the Republicans can see that they have to compromise to move forward, we are in gridlock. That’s very unfair to the American public at a time when people are really struggling.

What’s the issue facing Maine right now that concerns you the most?

The economy. People are worried, with the cost of oil rising. There are so many corporations sitting on cash, not making investments. There are still too many people out of work or in a job that doesn’t meet their skills. Many businesses are still on the edge. We need to be able to compete in the global economy.

The president said he wants to double exports over the next five years. We need to. If you look at countries like China, when they decided alternative energies are where they need to go — they invested. They are manufacturing solar panels faster than one can imagine. America used to lead in solar panel manufacturing, not anymore. But we could.

We need to bite the bullet and invest in education, green technology, and end the war.

Congratulations on the new arrival to your family. Have you had time to celebrate with Hannah [former speaker of the Maine House of Representatives]?

Congress was on break so, yes, I got to visit two weekends. I got to cook for her — it’s been great. My granddaughter is just so beautiful.

For the first article on Pingree click here.

The LePage proposals seem so radically different from Democratic ideals. How do you resolve those issues?

We have to find common ground on many issues. But there are fundamental issues that are so entrenched in Democratic roots and principles — of social justice and equality, and of being stewards of the environment, that we simply have to continue to uphold them to the best of our abilities. It’s the right and only thing to do.

We will be realistic with regard to permitting and licensing. We will accept changes that make it more efficient and effective, but we won’t allow Maine to regress to the time when our rivers were polluted and our forests were stripped from clearcutting. We will not regress back to where we were in reproductive freedom. We will not give up collective bargaining rights that enable workers to get better wages and working conditions. These are fundamental issues we are going to stand up for.

There are many instances where the language the LePage administration uses in its proposals has constitutional scholars saying certain provisions are unconstitutional — both in Maine’s Constitution and in the U.S. Constitution. What will you do about that?

At some point we might need court action if he has violated Constitutional tenants. We will have to review the documents if rights have been violated.

But it is incumbent to remember that nothing has been done so far. We are in the middle of the budget process. I’m confident that the budget proposal that is being worked on now will not be the final budget. People are taking their stories to the Appropriations Committee, testifying. They are sharing their stories of how the proposal affects them and their communities directly. Their lives and livelihoods will remain our chief concern.

But we do have limited funds. It’s very difficult. There will be shared sacrifices. We have to make sure that one sector of society is not unfairly asked to take on more of the burden than others. Our public servants and teachers dedicate their lives to help all the people of Maine; they deserve to be treated with respect.

Gov. LePage signed an executive order creating a special committee to advise him on business. The order exempts the business advisory council from the state’s Freedom of Access Act, which means its meetings and records will not be open to the public. What are you doing about that?

I wrote a letter to the governor voicing my concerns. I commend the governor for forming the council and offered to help, but I am concerned that what we have here is a shadow government forming — one where we don’t know who is involved or what’s on their agenda.

Sen. Hobbins in committee at the state house photo by Ramona du Houx

We want transparency in government. We don’t want issues talked about in secrecy.

Maine is noted for bipartisan budgets, but this current budget proposal is targeting areas that democratic legislators feel strongly about. How do you find working with LePage?

I respect the office of the governor. I’m trying to build a relationship with him. It’s very important to have a working relationship. I’m a consensus builder. But I will not hesitate to constructively criticize him, when I feel he’s not going down the right route.

Democrats are not obstructionists. We want to progress with our own agenda and not just react to the administration’s proposals. We have to offer solutions. We are working with different stakeholder groups to hold back the attack that is going on regarding basic human rights and the environment.

All major economists say the economy won’t grow without investment. There are certain areas where the state and federal government invest, like infrastructure, because the private sector doesn’t. LePage has said he doesn’t want to bond. What about progressives?

We are going to continue to promote Land For Maine’s Future bonds, transportation infrastructure bonds, and research and development bonds. We have to continue to make investments in education as well. We simply can’t afford to regress.

Last session, we passed a bond package which created about 3,000 jobs. We need to continue that process, otherwise we will fall behind. Bonding is a prudent, long-term investment. Bonding is like buying a house. If everyone waited until they had enough money to purchase a home, the majority of people would never own their own homes.

What about Maine’s emerging clean-energy economy?

The last six years we have made great strides in renewable energies. We are a model for the country when it comes to ocean energy, onshore and offshore wind energy. We are way ahead of the curve in those areas, producing 95 percent of New England’s wind energy.

Wind jobs, created temporarily or long-term, have come by developing our renewable energy sources. I hope the governor will continue in that direction — especially now with energy costs going up and up.

We cannot continue to use fossil fuels like we do. Unfortunately, we’ve had another wake-up call in Libya and the Middle East. We cannot rely on an energy source that’s controlled by politically volatile countries.

We have laid the groundwork and the infrastructure. We interfaced the University of Maine with entrepreneurial individuals who are developing these renewable resources. There are companies using the composite technologies developed at UMaine. These new businesses are creating jobs.

I hope we can have that vision to keep the momentum going.

Democrats took a “shellacking,” as President Obama said, in the last election. Do you think, in Maine, Democrats got too complacent?

Yes. Now it’s time to fight back. We call ourselves the Mighty Fourteen of the Senate.

Democrats have a huge responsibility. I think its harder being the minority party. We want to empower people who are in communities across the state, so they know that their grassroots efforts make a difference. I’m cautiously optimistic about the future of the Democratic Party. I’m confident we can turn things around in 2012.

In 2012 the Mighty Fourteen will become eighteen. We are the party of the people, of workers, of jobs, of the environment, and human rights. We believe in and fight for equal opportunity and justice for all. We need to get that basic message out to the people of Maine.