What are we telling
the folks back home?
-
why they opposed giving people a chance to go shopping for lower-cost health insurance outside of Maine
-
why they voted to add a tax to health care services in order to prop up a failing Dirigo health plan
-
why they refused to cut the size of the House of Representatives by 20 seats and save $1.6 million in the state budget
-
why they were willing to jeopardize jobs by voting to allow a ban on the rights of local companies
The intent of our mailings is to start conversations between legislators and the people they are charged to represent. We hope they listen, learn and change their attitude toward Maine businesses that provide hundreds of thousands of jobs, health and retirement benefits for Maine employees and billions of dollars in taxes to Maine state government. The private sector is the engine of the entire economy but these legislators' votes are choking off the fuel.
To give these legislators a "heads-up" regarding the mailing, we sent them a letter explaining our objectives and what to expect. Copies of the letter also are being sent to their local municipal officials to help them understand their state legislators' voting records.
This is a serious discussion about accountability and Maine's future. We hope legislators and our readers engage in a respectful and constructive conversation. At minimum, we hope the representatives do a better job as they undertake the state's work in the second session of the Legislature.
If you want to see how your legislators voted on these and other issues, click here.
Also, please help fund additional mailings to the districts of other under-performing legislators. We would deeply appreciate your support.
Please, click here to make an online contribution today or drop us a check payable to Alliance for Maine's Future, PO BOX 645 Augusta, ME 04332. Thank you! We could really use your added support.
If anyone asks...
In response to last week's newsletter about the lack of legislators with business experience, one business owner made the following generous offer:
"If you ever need someone to testify [to the Legislature] about why I'm in business (to make money) and why I hire people (to help me make money) and what happens when legislators "craft" bills, sometimes in order to "protect" workers, whose consequences make it more expensive for me to do business and make money (as shameful as that is) and what happens as I cut my expenses to remain profitable (first all charitable giving goes, then I make my employees pay for a portion of their health care which I pay for 100% right now, then I may consider a pay cut for myself and if I still need to cut expenses, I start laying people off)...if you'd like to have me [talk to] these people on the reality of running a business, just call me."
We will. In fact, we wish he would run for the state legislature. How about you? If you're ready to run or want to help, drop us an e-mail at tpayne@allianceformaine.org
Pass it on, please!
We really appreciate your support and engagement and hope you continue to find our newsletter of use and interest. In the meantime, please pass this and future newsletters along to your friends, family, co-workers, customers and vendors. Knowledge is power. Thanks so much!
Need a speaker?
We are always looking for opportunities to talk about Maine's economy and the impact of public policy on jobs, capital investment and the cost of government. Please let us know if your company, service organization or trade association would like to have a speaker. Just drop us an e-mail and we'll get back to you.
|
