Memorial Bridge

Memorial Bridge

We need to replace the Memorial Bridge with a new bridge that will continue to carry vehicular traffic between Kittery and Portsmouth. Governor Baldacci’s support and the recent creation of the Bi-State Bridge Funding Task Force are certainly two steps in the right direction. We need to keep the pressure on the task force, our congressional delegation, the next legislature and the next governor to keep this process moving forward!

Economy

Maine is 8th highest is the country for cost of doing business (Moody’s economy.com). With such an economic climate, businesses are less likely to come to Maine, and more likely to leave. Since businesses aren’t locating here, our young people leave Maine to find good jobs. As a result Maine has the highest median age of any state in the country, which does not bode well for our future.

To promote economic development, we need to bring health care costs down (the #1 impediment to economic development according to the Maine Chamber of Commerce). We need expand the role of our Community College System to work with the private sector in training students for 21st century jobs in Maine. We need more high-speed internet connectivity, which will lure telecommuters to live and work from Vacationland. Maine’s “quality of place” is our chief competitive advantage; let’s use it to bring more high-skilled workers to our state.

Jackson Labs, a pioneering genetic research lab that employs 1,200 Mainers in Bar Harbor, recently chose to expand in Florida instead of here in Maine. That was a huge loss to our state and it was simply inexcusable. We need to do whatever it takes to prevent such economic disasters from occurring again.

Health Care

According to a survey of over 1,000 Maine business owners by the Maine Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Development Foundation, high health care costs are the biggest obstacle to private investment and economic development in Maine.  Maine’s per capita health care spending is 24% higher than the national average. In the legislature I will do whatever I can to bring down our high health care costs so that more jobs can and will be created.

We need more wellness programs in public education to guide students towards healthy lifestyles. We also need incentives for preventative care since it is much less expensive than visiting the emergency room. Healthy people are much less expensive than unhealthy ones.

Education

This year the federal department of education held a national competition between the states for education grants. Thirty-six states, including Maine, participated in this “Race to the Top.” In this comparison between these thirty-six states looking at best educational practices, Maine finished a dismal 33rd, and missed out on $4 billion that was awarded to several other states. I will work to create more innovative, 21st century practices in Maine’s K-12 education system. We need to look at best practices from other states, and consider emulating them. Above all, we need to promote teacher quality, far and away the #1 factor when it comes to student learning. An outstanding education for Maine students is their best hope for competing in the global economy.

A recent Georgetown University study concluded that over the next decade, Maine will not be able to attract as many high-paying jobs as neighboring states, saying “by 2018, less than 60 percent of jobs in Maine will require a post-secondary degree – the lowest number of all New England states.” We need more college graduates if Maine is going to attract the best jobs. Maine’s Community Colleges provide access to higher education at an affordable rate, and they are our best hope for increasing the educational attainment for the most Mainers over the next decade.

Government

There is an estimated $1 billion shortfall anticipated in the next state budget. To bring our spending in line, we will need to make cuts to programs. We must re-examine every state program, and make these cuts fairly across the board. Everything and every program must be on the table when the legislature tackles this very difficult undertaking.

Energy

We must continue to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels. Maine must continue on a road to greater energy independence. We can become a leader in clean renewable energy, especially with regards to on and offshore wind power. Maine needs a more diversified energy portfolio, which includes more wind, solar, tidal and geothermal power. But first, we need to make home weatherization our first big step towards greater energy efficiency. I will support the effective programs of Efficiency Maine and local efforts like the Seacoast Energy Initiative to weatherize our homes and save Mainers money.