By Sen. Troy Jackson
This month, I want to give you a brief update on some of the issues going on at the Statehouse in Augusta. Recently we passed a measure to keep our funding promise to our towns, and overrode Gov. LePage’s veto of a bill to prevent student hunger. We also have major challenges ahead, including the recent layoffs at Great Northern Paper in Millinocket.
Since 1972, the state has partnered with cities and towns to give back 5 percent of all state sales and income tax revenue. This partnership is called revenue sharing. For years it has helped ease the property tax burden for homeowners and business owners and ensure towns are able to continue providing essential services, including maintaining our schools, our roads, and our police and fire departments.
While state revenues have increased under Gov. LePage’s administration, aid to our towns has plummeted. Last year, Gov. LePage tried to completely eliminate revenue sharing, which would have amounted to a $400 million tax shift onto the backs of property taxpayers.
Fortunately, the Legislature was able to restore two-thirds of the funding in the budget, and earlier this month, we passed a measure that restored $40 million in funding to our communities.
The Legislature also voted to override Gov. LePage’s veto of a bill to feed hungry children during summer vacation. There are 84,000 children in Maine who qualify for free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program while school is in session. But during summer vacation, 70,000 of them do not have access to a summer food program.
My colleague Senate President Justin Alfond sponsored a bill to change that by requiring schools to have a conversation about starting a summer food program. If schools have more than half of their students eligible for the school lunch program, and they offer summer activities, the federal government will cover 100% of the cost of food. If the school finds the administrative costs would be too high, or they can’t find a partner organization, such as a church, nonprofit, civic group, or other school, they can opt-out of the summer food program.
As my colleague Sen. Colleen Lachowicz said, at a time when more families are struggling to make ends meet and more children are hungry, it is irresponsible and unconscionable of us not to do everything we can to reduce student hunger. Most lawmakers agreed, and since two-thirds of us voted to override Gov. LePage’s veto, the bill will now become law.
There is always more work to do, though, and one urgent issue is to make sure we are taking steps to keep the mill in East Millinocket productive and keep people on the job.
On January 23, the Great Northern Paper Company shut down the East Millinocket mill, citing the need for a new business plan to deal with high energy and production costs. On February 6, the company laid off 212 of its 256 workers for 16 weeks.
My colleagues and I in the Legislature are working with Cate Street, the organization that owns Great Northern Paper, to revitalize the mill and increase its competitive edge. For years, Cate Street has sold extra power generated at the mill back into the grid. One proposal we are putting forward would allow Cate Street to renegotiate what they are paid for this extra power.
One of the key elements of this deal is to make sure that all of this is done without any reduction in the labor force. It is extremely important that we make sure hard working Mainers are being kept on the job.
We have many challenges ahead, and I will continue to work for common sense solutions for the people of Maine. If you have any questions, feel free to call my office at the Statehouse at 287-1515. When I am back in the district my home phone number is (207) 398-4081 and my cell is (207) 436-0763. You may also email me at jacksonforsenate@hotmail.com.
Sen. Troy Jackson (D-Allagash) assistant majority leader and chair of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. He can be reached at either 398-4081 (home) or 436-0763 (cell), or via email at SenTroy.Jackson@
legislature.maine.gov.
