Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree will introduce an amendment to preserve federal funding for the Downeaster passenger rail line in a transportation funding bill now being considered by the House.

“The Downeaster is critical to communities throughout our state,” said Michaud. “A lot of hard work has gone into making it a success. As our economy continues to recover, it just doesn’t make sense to eliminate support for a service that Maine businesses and families rely on.”

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“At a time when our economy is growing and creating jobs at a faster clip, we’ve got to do everything in our power to keep this recovery on track,” said President Barack Obama when he unveiled his budget proposal.”Part of our job is to bring down our deficit. And if Congress adopts this budget, then along with the cuts that we’ve already made, we’ll be able to reduce our deficit by $4 trillion by the year 2022. . . We can cut back on the things that we don’t need, but we also have to make sure that everyone is paying their fair share for the things that we do need.

“We need to restore American manufacturing by ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, giving them to companies that are creating jobs right here in the United States of America. We need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by ending the subsidies for oil companies, and doubling down on clean energy that generates jobs and strengthens our security. And to make sure our businesses don’t have to move overseas to find skilled workers, we’ve got to invest in places like NOVA, and make sure higher education is affordable for every hardworking American.”

To accommodate the reduced federal spending caps adopted in the Budget Control Act signed into law last year, the President’s budget does not include an extension of the Bush tax cuts for families making more than $250,000 a year. It also eliminates special tax breaks for oil and gas companies and corporate jets.

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“Nearly 99 percent of all women have relied on contraception at some point in their lives –- 99 percent. And yet, more than half of all women between the ages of 18 and 34 have struggled to afford it. So for all these reasons, we decided to follow the judgment of the nation’s leading medical experts and make sure that free preventive care includes access to free contraceptive care,” said President Barack Obama.”Whether you’re a teacher, or a small businesswoman, or a nurse, or a janitor, no woman’s health should depend on who she is or where she works or how much money she makes. Every woman should be in control of the decisions that affect her own health. Period. This basic principle is already the law in 28 states across the country.”

The President Obama went on to announce that his Administration will implement a policy that accommodates religious liberty while protecting the health of women.

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Congressman Mike Michaud offered an amendment to H.R. 1734, a bill which would establish a BRAC-style commission to identify ways for the federal government to save money by reducing its inventory of federal properties and consolidating government agency offices.

Michaud’s amendment, which failed to pass, would have ensured that facilities providing health care, job training and homelessness assistance to veterans would be exempt from the consolidation process. During his floor speech, Michaud cited the need for VA to have the flexibility to provide care to an aging veteran population as well as the 2.3 million soldiers who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

“I applaud the other side for looking for ways to cut government spending, and there are clearly improvements to be made in the area of federal properties, but we can’t pursue the goal of reduced government spending at the expense of our veterans,” said Michaud. “As Ranking Member of the VA Health Subcommittee, I have heard firsthand the difficulty veterans have with accessing care, and threatening to close facilities through a BRAC-style process will only worsen the problem.”

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President Obama in Maine in 2010 photo by duhoux

President Barack Obama is coming to Maine next month to raise money for his reelection campaign, according to the Maine Democratic Party.

Obama will be at two fundraisers on March 30 according to Sam Spencer, who represents Maine on the Democratic National Committee. Spencer also said he is hoping to ensure the President visits the Second Congressional District during another visit.

“We are very excited about it,” said Lizzy Reinholt, Maine Democratic Party spokeswoman. “We don’t have a lot of details yet.”

Last September The First Lady, Michelle Obama, came to Portland for a fundraiser.

President Barack Obama outlined his Veterans Jobs Corps today. The proposed Corps will hire Veterans to work in our National Parks rebuilding roads. Police and fire stations will also prioirtize Veterans as workers. And a network will match skill sets with jobs. Here are highlighted segments of his speech:

“The war in Iraq is over. The war in Afghanistan is moving to a new phase — we’re transitioning to Afghan lead. Over the past decade, nearly 3 million service members have transitioned back to civilian life, and more are joining them every day. . .

“Our veterans are some of the most highly trained, highly educated, highly skilled workers that we’ve got. These are Americans that every business should be competing to attract. These are the Americans we want to keep serving here at home as we rebuild this country. So we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that when our troops come home, they come home to new jobs and new opportunities and new ways to serve their country.

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Olympia Snowe has been in Congress since 1979. After 33 years as a career Washington politician, Snowe should know better than to assail one party for the current “dysfunction.” While I agree with Snowe’s dismay of the Senate’s failure to enact a budget since 2009, I disagree with her partisan tactics to “pass the buck.” All 100 Senators are responsible for this failure of leadership. If I am given the privilege to represent Maine in the United States Senate, I will not only be calling on Republicans and Democrats alike to compromise, but will work tirelessly to bridge the partisan gap to reach an intelligent and balanced consensus.

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President Obama delivers his State of the Union. White House photo

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq. Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought — and several thousand gave their lives.

We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world. (Applause.) For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. (Applause.) For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. (Applause.) Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.

These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces. At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They’re not consumed with personal ambition. They don’t obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together.

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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. today about the potential for tidal and wind energy off the Maine Coast. Pingree talked about recent reports detailing the potential for tidal power off the Maine coast.

Last week, Energy Secretary Steven Chu released a report detailing the enormous potential for tidal energy off the U.S. coasts.

“Maine’s wave and tidal current resources offer real opportunities to generate renewable energy using water power technologies in the future,” said Energy Secretary Chu. “Together with new advances and innovations in water power technologies, these resource assessments can help to further develop the country’s significant ocean energy resources, create new industries and new jobs in America, and secure U.S. leadership in an emerging global market.”

“There is enough there to meet up to one-third of the country’s energy needs—and he singled out Maine,” said Pingree on the floor of the House.

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