When legislators' individual economic voting records are laid out, you can see in black and white which legislators get a "thumbs up" for supporting a strong business climate and a more efficient state legislature. You also can see who gets a "thumbs down" for opposing jobs or efficiency in the Legislature. And, of course, there are many who have a mixed record on these issues - a record you'll have to judge when you take a look.
If you wish to look at all seven votes cast by your local legislators, please drop us an e-mail and we'll send it to you as a pdf attachment. Unfortunately, we cannot display the information within the narrow dimensions of our web page. You also can link to the individual issues and roll call votes by clicking on the bill titles below.
Twenty-five go Seven for Seven (very good)
The following 25 legislators consistently voted to protect Maine's business climate and tried to reduce the cost of running the state Legislature. Many others, by this measure, also have a strong record in support of jobs and state spending.
Rep. Susan Austin of Gray: 7/7 (seven for seven)
Rep. Michael Beaulieu Auburn: 7/7
Rep. Bruce Bickford of Auburn: 7/7
Rep. William Brown of Vassalboro: 7/7
Rep. Kathleen Chase of Wells: 7/7
Rep. Philip Curtis of Madison: 7/7
Rep. Andre Cushing of Hampden: 6/6
Rep. Peter Edgecomb of Caribou: 7/7
Rep. Edward Finch of Fairfield: 7/7
Rep. Leslie Fossel of Alna: 7/7
Rep. Jayne Giles of Belfast: 7/7
Rep. James Hamper of Oxford: 7/7
Rep. Peter Johnson of Greenville: 7/7
Rep. Henry Joy of Crystal: 7/7
Rep. Jane Knapp of Gorham: 7/7
Rep. Gary Knight of Livermore Falls: 7/7
Rep. Howard McFadden of Dennysville: 7/7
Rep. Everett McLeod of Lee: 7/7
Rep. Joan Nass of Acton: 7/7
Rep. Gary Plummer of Windham: 7/7
Rep. Wesley Richardson of Warren: 7/7
Rep. Kimberley Rosen of Bucksport: 7/7
Rep. Meredith Burgess of Cumberland: 7/7
Rep. Douglas Thomas of Ripley: 7/7
Rep. Windol Weaver of York: 7/7
Four go Zero for Seven (very poor)
Despite pleas from the business community to reject some proposals or pass others, four legislators chose to vote every time against a healthier economy or more efficient Legislature. Anyone concerned about jobs in Maine should not look to these legislators for support.
Rep. Sheryl Briggs of Mexico: 0/7 (zero for seven)
Rep. Paul Gilbert of Jay: 0/7
Rep. James Schatz of Blue Hill: 0/7
Rep. Thomas Wright of Berwick: 0/7
Thirteen go One for Seven (poor)
These 13 legislators seemed to have something on their minds other than jobs and reducing state spending this past session. Based on these votes, they should not claim to be champions for good jobs and a strong economy.
Rep. Herbert Adams of Portland: 1/7 (one for seven)
Rep. Andrea Boland of Auburn: 1/7
Rep. Campbell of Newfiled: 1/7
Rep. Sean Flaherty of Scarborough: 1/6
Rep. Robert Hunt of Buxton: 1/6
Rep. Veronic Magnan of Stockton Springs: 1/7
Rep. John Martin of Eagle Lake: 1/6
Rep. Terry Morrison of South Portland: 1/7
Rep. Andrew O'Brien of Lincolnville: 1/7
Rep. Diane Russell of Portland: 1/7
Rep. Sara Stevens of Bangor: 1/7
Rep. Peter Stuckey of Portland: 1/7
Rep. Melissa Walsh Innes of Yamouth: 1/7
Here are the issues
LD 962 An Act To Protect Family Caregivers would have added a whole new ill-defined class of people to the Maine Human Rights Act
encouraging litigation and removing flexibility most employers already allow when taking care of sick family members.
LD 121 An Act To Reduce the Length of the Legislative Sessions would have
trimmed legislators' time in Augusta by 10 days in the six months they meet during their first session and by five days during the second three month-long session. The bill would have saved money without impairing the ability of the Legislature to do its work.
Few of us ever know how our legislators vote on important issues and even fewer of us know if they are voting as we wish they would. We hope you find this helpful and ask that you
let your legislators know how you feel.
Tax Foundation Ranking Moves Maine Closer to the Average
The Washington-based foundation considered Maine's cut in the top personal income tax bracket from 8.5% to 6.5% as the major factor of measurable improvement. However, according to Tax Foundation analysts, the inclusion of a higher income tax of 6.85% for those earning more than $250,000 prevented the state from moving even higher in the rankings.
Still Fed Up With Taxes, proponents of repealing the tax reform, have submitted signatures to repeal the law. If enough signatures are validated, the law will
not go into effect until a referendum election is held next spring.
