We have a problem in Maine, and that problem is Big Pharma. Something needs to be done to rein in the excessively high costs of prescription medications. In 2018, Americans spent $535 billion dollars on prescription drugs, an increase of 50% since 2010. The Maine Health Data Organization reports that last year, Mainers paid an additional $165.5 million over the previous year for the 25 drugs sold in Maine having the highest price increases. Also, in 2018, the CEOs of three major drug companies were paid a total of more than $90 million dollars.

AUGUSTA - Rep. David McCrea, D-Fort Fairfield, Rep. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, and Rep. Roland "Danny" Martin, D-Sinclair, have released statements in support of the Biden administration's decision to reopen the Canadian border in November for nonessential travel. The new rules will allow fully vaccinated individuals in Canada to enter the United States regardless of the reason for travel.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Mike Sylvester, D-Portland, will be one of a number of speakers attending a Restaurant Wage Reform event hosted by Ruby's West End in Portland on Tuesday, October 12 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sylvester will speak about a bill he is proposing for the upcoming session, the Maine Food Workers Bill of Rights, which will address the current staffing crisis throughout the Maine food system economy and support small business employers who are struggling to fully reopen with limited staff.

I recently finished reading an interesting book that was sent to me and fellow members of the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee by a concerned Maine resident. She sent this book to us at her own cost to share with us how other communities have implemented high speed internet and how that implementation has grown their economies and bettered their communities.

As you may have read in the paper or heard on the news, the Maine Legislature has just completed our work on redistricting. Maine is constitutionally mandated to redraw district lines after the federal census has been completed and the data is released. This includes the two congressional districts, the 35 state senate districts and the 151 house districts, as well as the county commissioner districts.

Our small businesses are the cornerstone of the Maine economy. They are also the heart and soul of our lovely seaside community.

That is why I was honored to join our local Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 6 for its annual awards banquet. The chamber and its members do great work to support our business community and local economy, and I was glad for the opportunity to thank them for all they do.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, will be awarded the Lewis and Clara Lamont Brain Injury Advocacy Award at the annual conference of the Brain Injury Association of Maine on Wednesday, October 13. The award was established for individuals who have provided outstanding advocacy on behalf of Maine citizens who have experienced life-altering brain injuries.

AUGUSTA - On Monday, all three Democratic leaders in the Maine House of Representatives shared supportive statements at the news of Bates College staff and adjunct faculty organizing in Lewiston. The two top Democrats are union members themselves. Maine unions saw their ranks swell to 82,000 members in 2020 from 69,000 in 2019.

AUGUSTA - Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, and Sen. Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, will host a virtual constituent office hour event via Zoom on Wednesday, October 13 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This online event is an opportunity for constituents to connect, ask questions and share ideas and concerns. Participants are encouraged to submit questions here.

AUGUSTA - The four Democratic state representatives serving Bangor, Reps. Barbara Cardone, Joseph Perry, Sr., Amy Roeder and Laura Supica, each received a 100% rating on votes to support state workers, according to a recent scorecard released by the Maine State Employees Association, Local 1989 of the Service Employees International Union (MSEA-SEIU).