According to the Maine Department of Labor, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have an unemployment rate of 8.7 percent, compared to 7.2 percent overall.

Congressman Mike Michaud and Husson University will host a job fair next month to connect Maine’s manufacturers with veterans in search of employment.

“As I travel the state, manufacturers often tell me that they often struggle to find workers with the skills they need. Meanwhile, our veterans are having a difficult time finding work when they come home,” said Michaud. “I hope that this job fair will benefit both our returning veterans and our manufacturers in need of qualified employees.”

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Maine State Capitol photo by Ramona du Houx

Four bond proposals that would make needed investments in Maine’s colleges and universities, research and development, land conservation, and waste water and drinking water treatment gained initial support in the Maine House late this afternoon. Additional votes on these proposals and other public investments in improving roads and bridges are expected tonight.

Democrats urged strong support for the total $95.6 million in bond proposals before the House and Senate.

“A jobs bond will give our economy a much needed shot in the arm,” said Rep. Emily Cain, the House Democratic leader. “The best way to improve our economy is by making more investments that will help small businesses, job training and public education.”

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The New Balance shoes manufactured in Skhowegan that Michaud gave to Pres. Obama

Congressman Mike Michaud, Chairman of the House Trade Working Group, yesterday sent a letter signed by 18 of his colleagues urging U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to maintain existing tariffs on footwear imports in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to ensure American companies such as New Balance can compete on a level playing field. Michaud and his colleagues sent a similar letter last year.

Vietnam, the world’s second largest footwear exporter to the U.S., is a participant in TPP negotiations and is pushing the U.S. to remove duties on footwear in the agreement. Like the footwear sector in China, Vietnam’s footwear industry benefits from government intervention, currency manipulation, and low labor standards.

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Today Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $1,268,173 in grants awarded to community health centers in Maine due to the new health care law – the Affordable Care Act. Penobscot Community Health Center, Inc.of Bangor will receive $498,173.Pines Health Service,of Caribou will get $270, and $500,000 will go to the City of Portland.

“President Obama’s health care law is making community health centers in Maine stronger,” said Secretary Sebelius. “For many Americans, community health centers are the major source of care that ranges from prevention to treatment of chronic diseases. This investment will expand our ability to provide high-quality care to millions of people while supporting good paying jobs in communities across the country.”

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By State Sen. Phil Bartlet

Maine, much like the rest of the country, is at a crossroads. We are at a make or break moment for many middle class Mainers and those working to make ends meet. We are at a critical point where we can make targeted investments to improve our economy; and, we can promote policies that empower individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses to create jobs. Or, we can adopt an approach that picks winners and losers and goes against our values and traditions.

Unfortunately, the tone in Augusta, under GOP leadership, has turned in to one that, at nearly every opportunity pits Mainer against Mainer. It ignores the balanced approach that is necessary for businesses to succeed and workers to prosper on the job and at home.

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95 million bond proposal will go to legislature in May photo of capitol by Ramona du Houx

“These public investments will create jobs now and grow good-paying jobs for the future,” said Rep. Peggy Rotundo of Lewiston, the lead House Democrat on the committee. “The state could afford to do even more to create jobs but there was little political will from our Republican colleagues to do so.”

The governor has said he won’t sign any bond proposals if he doesn’t get his proposed changes to the outstanding budget for the Department of Health and Human Services for 2013.

The five separate proposals include $51,000 million for transportation improvements; $7.9 million for water and wastewater treatment; $20 million for research and development grants; and $5 million for the land conservation.

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Democrats say they want a bond package to create jobs now. photo by Ramona du Houx

Democratic state lawmakers on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee expressed strong support for a jobs bond package today following a briefing from fiscal experts on the state’s capacity to bond.

“A jobs bond will give our economy a much needed shot in the arm. We can’t continue delaying job creation,” said Sen. Dawn Hill, of York, who serves on the Appropriations committee. “In the last year, Maine people have seen a continued drain on our jobs and income. Responsible bonding is a sure-fire way to get people back to work immediately.”

Maine has lost more than 1,000 jobs since 2011 and was recently rated 50th for personal income growth according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.Fiscal experts from the Legislature’s Office of Fiscal and Program Review told lawmakers that the state had the capacity to make public investment in a bond package for voters to approve.

“Before I can accept any bond proposal we must address the shortfall in the 2013 budget. Our welfare programs have become unaffordable and structural changes must be considered to reduce out of control spending,” said Gov.Paul LePage in a prepared statement.

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Workers stand up for their rights at the state capitol this year

Gov. Paul LePage signed three bills this week he said will help open the door to jobs. But advocates for Maine’s workers disagree.

LD 1913 is called, An Act To Review and Restructure the Workers’ Compensation System.The bill caps benefits for almost all injured workers at 10 years, even if their injury still prevents them from returning to work. It also makes it harder for injured workers to qualify for benefits by moving the threshold to receive workers compensation benefits from 12 to18 percent disabled.

“This is among the worst affronts in a series of Republican attacks on working people this year,” said Rob Hunt,of Buxton, who serves on the Labor, Research and Economic Development Committee, where the bill was first considered. “It won’t help create a single job or get our economy back on track.”

The previous law provided a safety net of benefits for severely injured employees who must deal with permanent loss of earnings. The system prevents workers who are injured on the job from suing their employers for negligence.

“Nobody goes on workers comp to get rich,” said Rep. Anne Haskell of Portland, “After 10 years, a permanent ailment doesn’t get better.”

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Maine State capitol

Early this morning, the Maine Legislature recessed until May 15 when lawmakers will return to take final votes on the governor’s proposed budget cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services for 2013. Votes were delayed on the DHHS budget after lawmakers learned the administration’s figures were inaccurate due to serious computer errors, which allowed more than 25,000 ineligible people to receive health care assistance.

“It’s disappointing that our work has been delayed,” said Senate Democratic Leader Barry Hobbins of Saco. “But what’s most important is that we work with trust and confidence that we are getting accurate information.”

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In a narrow party-line vote of 71 to 69, Republicans in the Maine House gave final approval to a measure that will drastically reduce disability benefits for severely injured workers hurt on the job.

“This is among the worst affronts in a series of Republican attacks on working people this year,” said Rob Hunt,of Buxton, who serves on the Labor, Research and Economic Development Committee, where the bill was first considered. “It won’t help create a single job or get our economy back on track.”

The bill, LD 1913, caps benefits for almost all injured workers at 10 years, even if their injury still prevents them from returning to work. It also makes it harder for injured workers to qualify for benefits by moving the threshold to receive workers compensation benefits from 12 to18 percent disabled.

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