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By Rep. Mark Bryant
February 13, 2009
Last month, it was an honor to return to the Maine House of Representatives to serve as a state representative for Windham and Gray for the third time. I had some colleagues ask me if it seemed like it’s becoming a routine for me – being sworn in, submitting bills, getting hearings scheduled – but I’m glad to say that while I feel pretty comfortable with the business of the Legislature, I continue to meet each of our new challenges with fresh energy and spirit.
After all, there’s nothing “routine” about budgeting in a tough economy, important forthcoming legislation on families, preserving education funding, and helping constituents with their day-to-day struggles. It is, as I have said, an honor to be serving once again.
This session, I will continue to be a member of the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary. I was pleased to return to this committee, as I have served on it for the past two terms, and the Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over many issues important to our area. Besides dealing with the court systems, the Attorney General’s office, civil and human rights issues, Native American Affairs, and confidentiality and privacy laws, this committee also oversees laws related to child protection, family law, domestic relations, and adoption. Windham has the most foster families per capita in our entire state, so it’s been important to me to learn as much as I can about how to help these parents who give so much to children in need.
I will also be serving this session as a member of the Taxation Committee, with oversight over Maine Revenue Services, tax laws, exemptions and credits, business tax increment financing programs, municipal revenue sharing agreements, tree growth tax issues, and property valuation and rebate programs. To answer your first question – no, I can’t get our local property taxes lowered directly. That’s a decision made at the local level. But as a committee member, I am interested in what more the state can do to help modernize our sales and income tax codes to lower our overall burden and boost state rebate programs to make them work better for the average Mainer.
On that note, I’d also like to remind local residents that you can still apply for the Property Tax and Rent Rebate program for property taxes or rent paid in 2007. The program closes at the end of May. Additionally, the State Treasurer will be printing a list of unclaimed property in the Maine Sunday Telegram sometime in March, but you can check the list any time online at State Treasurer, or nationally at MissingMoney. The list includes bank accounts you might have forgotten to close, money from settlements, employers, insurance companies, etc that went to the wrong address, gift certificates, death benefits, stocks and refunds among other types of financial property. I’ve found money on the list before for family members, friends and neighbors, and it’s worth checking out. In this economy, every little bit helps.
As a reminder, I’m very interested in doing whatever I can to assist people with state government and listen to your thoughts on pending legislation. Please feel free to call me at home at 892-6591, or e-mail me at Rep. Bryant.