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July 22, 2009
As a new legislator, I heard many stories about the late-night sessions, short tempers, back-room “deals” and many challenges which confront the Legislature in the final, packed days of a session. The 124th Maine State Legislature completed its first session work professionally, efficiently, and in the best interests of the people of the State. As we read about the extreme financial distress facing other states as they try to balance their state budgets, I think that Maine has worked through these extraordinary challenges very well.
The first session of the 124th Legislature considered almost 1,500 bills including the state’s biennial budget which took much of our attention. Some of these bills became law, some became law after a number of amendments were debated and approved, and some died for lack of support, either in committee or when they reached the full body.
We dealt with several major topics this session including the state budget, a tax reform and relief package that will reduce taxes for the vast majority of Mainers, bills addressing Maine’s energy needs, and several economic development initiatives. Beside those major issues the Legislature’s 17 Joint Standing Committees each worked on many pieces of legislation that will be of interest.
I serve on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, and we were presented with many proposals this session. Among the Education Committee highlights this session, the Legislature approved a new Medical School program in Maine (a Tufts University Medical School/Maine Medical Center collaboration) that will provide clinical and residency training of allopathic doctors in Maine and will help to provide desperately needed medical coverage to Maine’s more rural areas. Loan forgiveness will go to those doctors who practice in Maine. Although enabling legislation for public charter schools passed in the House, it was defeated in the Senate. Graduation standards were adjusted, but the committee delayed implementation, and directed the Department of Education to rework the standards-based system in line with Maine learning results.
The most contentious and challenging issue our committee faced was the administrative school consolidation law. We heard over 40 bills that dealt with various aspects of this law. The Legislature did not vote to repeal the law, which means that the repeal question will be on the ballot in November. The Legislature did vote to delay penalties for a year (to give school districts more time to resolve the many issues of consolidation), and to exempt some districts which, although not islands surrounded by water, were most certainly isolated and remote. There are many more changes and adjustments to the law that the committee wishes to make if the repeal does not succeed; however we are currently prevented from doing so by the upcoming referendum.
As we face ongoing budget challenges, the efficiencies of consolidation hold much promise for long-term help to Maine’s communities as we strive to provide high quality, creative public education programs in the most cost-effective way possible.
Maine’s higher education system faces real challenges in these times. We spend much less time on this sector of our educational system than we do on the K-12 part of the educational pie. I want to work to strengthen our higher educational institutions, to make Maine’s higher educational institutions magnets for our own young people and others “from away,” to offer unique programs in which Maine leads the way in research and academic excellence, and to invest in our public higher education institutions so that they can become the engines and the partners with the private sector to grow Maine’s economy. There is so much potential in Maine – in areas like renewable energy, natural and marine resources, biomedical research, and agriculture. With real investment, these can be the most exciting of times.
The second session of the 124th Legislature will convene in January 2010. However, I continue to work on issues of interest to me and of importance to the state.
I welcome your thoughts, your ideas, your concerns, and your questions. Please feel free to contact me via email at Rep. Nelson;or by phone, 781-3750. If you wish to be on my email distribution list, please send me an email indicating that you would like me to add you to my mailing list. Thank you for your support during this past session; it has been an honor to serve the citizens of Falmouth in Augusta.