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Prosperity through voter action |
March 30, 2010 |
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Mitchell's "sick leave" bill dies
The long fight to defeat LD 1665: An Act to prevent the spread of H1N1 sponsored by Senate President Libby Mitchell finally succumbed this morning when the House indefinitely postponed the bill without a roll call vote effectively killing it for this session.
Considered one of the most economically damaging bills of the 124th Legislature, the Labor Committee last week affirmed its opposition to an amended version that would have required all employers to provide up to five days of sick leave without pay and without justification. Maine employers did a good job of making their feelings and wishes known.
Those voting "yes" wished to defeat this bill. Those voting "no" wished the bill to become law.
Labor Committee Votes:
| Senate: |
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| Y Troy Jackson, Chair (D-Aroostook) |
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| Y Stan Gerzofsky (D-Cumberland) |
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| Y Peter Mills (R-Somerset) |
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| House: |
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| Y John L. Tuttle, Jr., Chair (D-Sanford) |
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| Y Herbert E. Clark (D-Millinocket) |
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| Y Timothy E. Driscoll (D-Westbrook) |
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| N Anna D. Blodgett (D-Augusta) |
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| N Steven J. Butterfield II (D-Bangor) |
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| N Paul E. Gilbert (D-Jay) |
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| Y Andre E. Cushing III (R-Hampden)* |
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| Y James Michael Hamper (R-Oxford) |
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| Y Michael D. Thibodeau (R-Winterport) |
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| Y Bruce A. Bickford (R-Auburn) |
Cell phone bill finally disconnected
The Alliance on the air
Measures of Growth, the annual report of the Maine Economic Growth Council, was the topic of discussion recently on MaineBiz Sunday aired in Portland and Bangor. I had a chance to join Laurie Lachance of the Maine Development Foundation, State Senator Chris Rector and Betsy Biemann of the Maine Technology Institute in evaluating the benchmarks for success or failure of the state's economic performance. To view any of the three segments, click here.
Bill to allow double-dipping passes
An emergency bill (LD 1626) sponsored by Rep. Hannah Pingree of North Haven that would allow laid off workers to begin drawing unemployment benefits before exhausting their vacation pay passed both the Senate and the House on roll call votes. The last hurdle for the bill is to pass the appropriations committee as it will cost state government approximately $53,000 to cover its own laid off workers.
Archived Newsletters
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You can make a difference! Thanks!
Tony Payne Executive Director
207-232-7830
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