Congratulations, to Waynflete School from Portland, Maine for winning the Reserve Cup Challenge at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston on November 22, 2011. Waynflete is the first school from Maine to win the New England title!  Congratulations to Steve Kautz (team leader) and his team for bringing home the championship!  The Reserve Cup Challenge is a competition offered annually that brings together high school student teams to participate in a quiz show format that tests their knowledge in a variety of financial matters, specifically financial literacy, economic education, and personal finance.  The final competition is conducted in front of a studio audience of fellow students.  Each New England state is encouraged to register a maximum of 15 high school teams to participate in elimination rounds that eventually produce the state's representative team at the Reserve Cup Championship in Boston.  This year, Maine had the most high school teams participating in the first round and registered a total of 14 teams.

This is a HUGE achievement for Waynflete, the State of Maine, and Maine Jump$tart as they welcome Steve Kautz, one of the organizations newest members.

For more information about the Reserve Cup Challenge, visit http://www.reservecup.org/

Did you know that 90 percent of students who file the FAFSA end up attending college within one year?  Consequently,  FAME continues to focus on FAFSA completion as a critical step for high school seniors and others interested in pursuing higher education.  College Goal Maine makes it easier for all involved to accomplish this goal.

The College Goal Maine Program offers FAFSA completion labs throughout the state during the months of Janaury and February.  All College Goal Maine sites will be held in computer labs and/or in locations that offer internet access.  At many schools, filing the FAFSA as soon as possible is critical so that students receive the maximum amount of financial aid that students are available to recieve.  Although completing the FAFSA is easier than ever, many students and families appreciate the expert assistance that is offered at College Goal Maine sites.  Additionally, all students that participate in College Goal Maine are eligible to enter a drawing for a $500 scholarship.

There are ten regional sites scheduled for Sunday, January 29, 2012 and more than 35 events scheduled at local sites around the state during the months of January and February. Sites, dates, times and locations are available on the website at www.collegegoalsundaymaine.com. Sites will continue to be added to the College Goal Maine Web site as details are finalized. 

The November 8 ballot had four questions representing both citizen-initiated and legislature-initiated measures.  The results were as follows:

Question 1:  People's Veto

Do you want to reject the section of Chapter 399 of the Public Laws of 2011 that requires new voters to register to vote at least two business days prior to an election?

Result:  Yes won 60% to No 40%

Question 2:  Citizen Initiative 

Do you want to allow a slot machine facility at a harness racing track in Biddeford or another community within 25 miles of Scarborough Downs, subject to local approval, and at a harness racing track in Washington County, with part of the profits from these facilities going to support specific state and local programs?
 

Result:  No prevailed 55% to Yes 45% 

Question 3:  Citizen Initiative 

Do you want to allow a casino with table games and slot machines in Lewiston, with part of the profits going to support specific state and local programs? 

Result:  No won 63% to Yes 37% 

Question 4:  Constitutional Amendment 

Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to change the years of redistricting the Maine Legislature, congressional districts and county commissioner districts after 2013 from 2023 and every 10th year thereafter to 2021 and every 10th year thereafter? 

Result:  Yes prevailed 53% to Yes 47%

Gov. LePage recently informed legislative leaders that the Department of Health and Human Services budget has a $71 million budget hole this year.  Most of the cost overruns are in the MaineCare program.  The Legislature's Appropriations Committee likely will meet in December to address the matter, depending on when it receives the Governor's emergency budget proposal.

Conversely, the Appropriations Committee recently heard an update from Maine Revenue Services that state revenues were higher than expected in the first three months of the fiscal year, which began July 1.  The LePage administration will present lawmakers with a supplemental budget in January to make sure the state's $6 billion two-year spending plan stays in balance.  At least $25 million in cuts must be made to the second year of the budget.  When lawmakers passed the budget in June, they left a $25 million hole and created a task force to recommend cuts.

Legislative leaders sorted through about 300 new bills recently as they decided which are worthy of consideration during the 2012 session.

Additionally, there over 100 bills considered last session but carried over by lawmakers to 2012.  The list does not include Gov. Paul LePage's agenda, which is expected to focus on education, energy and the economy.

At a recent meeting, the Legislative Council denied nearly 60 percent of the 300 bills submitted for consideration during Second Session.  Approximately 125 bills were approved and will be added to 120 carry-over bills that will be considered during the session that begins in January.

Bills submitted for consideration during the second regular session are supposed to be budget-related or fit the definition of "emergency."

Some bills that were approved included: 

• An act to allow the Maine Educational Loan Authority to issue bonds.
• An act to expand the availability of natural gas to Maine residents.
• An act to establish a pilot program as an alternative to drug court.
• An act to define, prevent and suppress gang activity in the state.