June 4, 2013

AUGUSTA - The House on Tuesday took up two bills concerning military recruiters in public schools. The first, LD 1502, requires that public high schools allow recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to students who elect to take it. Under the bill, recruiters, not school staff, would take the time to administer the test, which would remain voluntary for the students.

That bill was rejected mostly along party lines, 74-68. Majority Democrats ...

October 11, 2012

To the Lincoln County News

By Rep. Jeff Gifford

When I went to work in 1964 at Eastern Fine Paper, every dime I earned was left alone by the state. The mill looked like it would operate forever, and those of us working there knew that with hard work, we would have our jobs as long as we wanted. Back then we did not have a state income tax. We paid taxes to the state in the form of sales tax and property tax, but the state had the common sense to leave the money we worked for in our han...

October 11, 2012

To the Lincoln News

By Rep. Jeff Gifford

As we look ahead to the next legislative session, the rising cost of energy must be a priority issue. Dealing with this problem head on will help both the small business owner and the retired homeowner on a fixed income worried about heating oil costs.

It is time to take a comprehensive approach on energy, one that includes new ideas and also embraces ways of making old ideas work better. We need to pursue what works.

In my capacity a...

March 5, 2012

House Republican Office

March 5, 2012

For more information:

Jay Finegan, 287-1445

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUSTA -The Legislature's Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) Committee voted March 1 to send an amended bill to reform the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) to the full Legislature for consideration. The vote comes after almost a year of deliberation, study and negotiation.

Last spring, the Legislature formed a nonpartisan committee of land owners, local...

November 30, 2011

House Republican Office

November 21, 2011

For more information:

Jay Finegan, 287-1445

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ray Wallace sworn in as Legislature's newest member

AUGUSTA - State Rep. Ray Wallace was sworn into office today by Governor Paul LePage after winning a special election to fill a vacant seat in House District 24.

Rep. Wallace (R-Dexter) said he was motivated to run for office by the reform agenda championed by the Republican majorities in the House and Senate...

May 17, 2011

AUGUSTA - The Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry today heard testimony regarding a bill to abolish the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) and transfer its rule-making authority to county governments.

The legislation, LD 1534, is "An Act To Reform the Land Use and Planning Authority in the Unorganized Territories." The bill's sponsor, Rep. Jeff Gifford (R-Lincoln), said the measure, if passed, would free up landowners to make productive use of their property. "This would be ...

May 5, 2011

AUGUSTA - Landmark legislation to revamp Maine's health insurance market cleared a critical hurdle today in the House of Representatives by a vote of 76-72. The measure, designed to generate more competition and bring rates closer to national norms, now moves to the Senate. Final enactment votes in both bodies could come as early as next week.

"The people of our state are the winners today," said House Speaker Robert Nutting. "For years, reasonable proposals to fix a dysfunctional health insur...