3-8-10 Maine Statehouse Update

Maine Statehouse Update

March 8, 2010

Governor's Budget & Legislative Overview

http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Gov+News&id=86597&v=Article-2006The Governor presented his second "change package," based on increase revenue both through tax receipts and Federal help, last Wednesday.  While this means there is less of a budget hole, there is still over $300 million in cuts.  Each committee of jurisdiction (including Health and Human Services) met quickly last week to go over what cuts the Governor proposed eliminating, and had their recommendations to the Appropriations committee today.  Appropriations' goal is to finish this budget by this Sunday, March 14.  There is a lot to be done, and attention is still being given to raising the tobacco tax for some revenue and to curb the rise in youth smoking.  More on that below.

Priority Areas  

Lung Cancer

Tobacco tax: This week we begin a full court grassroots and media push - you should see large print ads (below) in most daily newspapers and hear them on several "talk radio" stations.  We are also going to get our grassroots volunteers involved - if you have Captain's Meetings this week, bring some action alerts along!  (Eileen can access them for you, if you didn't receive one already) Our final editorial came from the Bangor Daily News on Friday.  This week is really "do or die" on this issue, so I'll keep you posted as the week progresses.

Access to Healthcare

LD 1620: "An Act To Protect Health Care Consumers from Catastrophic Debt" is tabled in the House until members can caucus.  We have bipartisan support, so we are hoping for good votes on both sides.

Congress:  Health Care Reform

Have you seen the petition?  ACS CAN and our national partners have already generated tens of thousands of signers!  If you don't have a stack to bring to your Captain's Meetings, Eileen or Melissa can provide paper copies to you!  Each day we wait, people die.