Maine Legislative Leaders meet with President Obama

March 20, 2009

Contact: David Loughran, 287-1500 [Mitchell, Bartlett]

AUGUSTA– Maine’s Legislative leaders have concluded a two-day conference in the nation’s capitol with a meeting with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and several of their top officials. The forum was organized by the National Conference of State Legislatures and utilized no state funds.

“President Obama’s message to us was clear,” said Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree. “It will take all of us working together to get this economy moving again and he views state legislators as key allies in that effort. It was also very helpful for us, as state leaders, to be briefed together so that we’ll be working from the same page as we go forward.”

Focusing on the economy and efforts to implement the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA], Legislative leaders from Maine and across the nation gained insights from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor and Senator Debbie Stabenow at meetings in the US Capitol on Thursday.

“As the State works to fulfill its responsibilities with regard to the federal stimulus, it is helpful to hear first-hand from the President, Administration officials and Congressional leaders of both parties on details of the recovery plan,” said Senate Republican Leader Kevin Raye. “Likewise, it is useful to hear from our counterparts how other states are handling these issues." More than 60 legislative leaders from across the country attended the forum, including the following from Maine: Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, Senate Majority Leader Phil Bartlett, Senate Republican Leader Kevin Raye, Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree, House Majority Leader John Piotti and House Republican Leader Josh Tardy.

“States are on the front lines of the effort to jumpstart our nation’s economy. It is an encouraging sign that the President and Congressional leaders are seeking input from state legislators as we work together to put people back to work,” President Mitchell said. “As the stimulus money makes its way into the economy it is paramount that state and federal governments work together to ensure that we are doing everything we can to create jobs.”

During the question and answer portion of the meeting with the President and Vice President on Friday afternoon, Senator Bartlett asked President Obama what the next steps are in moving the country towards energy independence. The President responded that it was paramount that the country continues to fund research and development to ensure that both our energy production and consumption are as efficient as possible.

“We are gratified that the President is committed to reducing energy costs by making Maine’s homes and businesses more energy efficient. In both the stimulus package and in his budget proposal he has shown his dedication towards moving our country towards energy sustainability,” said Majority Leader Phil Bartlett.

Legislators also received briefings on the current state of implementation of the economic recovery package and met with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and officials from the Office of Management and Budget [OMB] prior to their meeting with the President and Vice President on Friday.

“It was truly an eye opening experience to meet with the President and other leaders in Washington,” said House Majority Leader John Piotti. “The leadership of the President and Congress on the recovery package has been much needed, and I was excited to learn more about the investments in the President’s new budget. As we have seen over the last six months, if we don’t invest in health care, education, and alternative energy, or economy will continue to sputter and recovery will be farther off.”

The group of legislators met with the President and Vice President for 35 to 40 minutes in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is part of the White House Complex.

“As state policy makers, we all share the same goal that the stimulus funds are dispersed with transparency and maximum effectiveness,” said Rep. Josh Tardy, House Minority Leader. “We also enjoyed meeting with Ray LaHood, officials from OMB and officials from Intergovernmental Affairs.”

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