4/24/09 Maine Statehouse Update

Governor's Budget & Legislature Overview

Although the revenue reprojection committee will announce their official updated figures April 28, this morning the Appropriations heard some updates: 

Overall budget:

•        $510 - $570 million shortfall for FY 10-11

•        $100 million shortfall in FY 09

FHM revenue:

•        $4.1 million shortfall in FY 10

•        $7.5 million shortfall in FY 11

Priority Areas  

Lung Cancer

LD 1347:  "An Act To Deter Initiation of Tobacco Use by Increasing the Tax on Tobacco Products" raises the tax on cigarettes by $1, and is the focal point of our tobacco tax campaign.   It is scheduled for a public hearing May 5 at 1:00.

LD 919:   "An Act To Prevent and Treat Cancer in Maine by Implementing Critical Portions of the Comprehensive Cancer Program" funds the comprehensive cancer program by increasing the taxes on non-cigarette smoking tobacco to be equivalent to cigarettes.   It is scheduled for a public hearing May 5 at 1:00.

LD 943, "An Act To Reduce Lung Cancer Rates in Maine" directs landlords to test their properties for radon.  The public hearing is scheduled for April 29 at 1:00.

LD 1429:  "An Act To Strengthen the Workplace Smoking Laws and Other Laws Governing Smoking" cleans up some loopholes in current law, including eliminating the smoking rooms which are allowed, although very difficult to have legally.  The public hearing is scheduled for April 29.

Colon Cancer

The Comprehensive Cancer Plan includes a new program to screen un- and under-insured for colon cancer.  This remains our funding priority.

Access to Healthcare

LD 323: "An Act To Improve Transparency in the Health Insurance Markets" is the result of our collaboration in the Maine Voices for Coverage campaign.  It's intent is to make it easier for people buying insurance individually to understand exactly what they are buying, and how it compares to other products on the market.  It was voted "ought not to pass" in deference to another bill, submitted by the Commissioner of Insurance which did much of the same things.

LD 1091: "An Act To Reduce the Cost of Health Insurance" was voted "ought not to pass."

LD 1228: "Resolve, To Direct Action on Health Disparities of the Passamaquody Tribe and Washington County" directs many groups to form an action plan to combat the unacceptable health disparities in Washington County, particularly within the tribe.  It is not yet scheduled for a public hearing.

Comp Cancer

LD 701: "An Act To Fund the Screening and Early Detection Elements of the Statewide Cancer Plan" funds the cancer plan with the Fund for a Healthy Maine.  The committee will discuss it again April 30.

LD 781:  "An Act To Designate a Specialty State Lottery Ticket To Benefit Cancer Education and Awareness" creates a scratch ticket to fund the comprehensive cancer program.  The committee voted 10 - 3 to kill it, but some are vowing a floor fight.

LD 909:  "An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Fund Research and Development for Cancer" creates a $25 million bond to fund cancer research.  It is still in limbo in committee.

LD 919:  "An Act To Prevent and Treat Cancer in Maine by Implementing Critical Portions of the Comprehensive Cancer Program" funds the comprehensive cancer program by increasing the taxes on non-cigarette smoking tobacco to be equivalent to cigarettes.   It is scheduled for a public hearing May 5 at 1:00.

Quality of Life / Pain Management

LD 1193: "An Act To Establish Uniform Protocols for the Use of Controlled Substances" allows only pain specialists to prescribe opioids, and allows only one prescriber per patient.  It was voted "ought to pass as amended," and I do not have the amendment.

Several other pain management bills I have been following have been killed.

Congress:  Health Care Reform

      ( This is a new addition to our weekly update, but with more GRA time dedicated to it, and as it moves up the organizational priority list, I wanted to keep you all appraised of progress.)

As you have no doubt seen in the news, Congress is working feverishly toward health care reform (HCR).  At the helm of that effort are Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), Chair, and the ranking republican member, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) of the Senate Committee on Finance, which oversees healthcare finance.  On a parallel track, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, which also oversees health and healthcare, is working on the issue.  Together, they are working to produce bipartisan HCR legislation.

The Society and ACS CAN have made access to healthcare and HCR a priority, and now has a seat at the table moving the issue forward, putting the cancer lens on the complex issues that make up our present health care system.  Our own Senator Snowe sits on the Senate Committee on Finance, and is therefore a key vote in the HCR debate.  Sen. Collins is also a key vote - she sits on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, which has to work on funding any proposals. 

As a result of our two key Senators, both of whom have been working on this issue for years, we are creating a very focussed campaign, to educate them on our priority issues, here in Maine; we will be doing what the other 49 states are doing with their Congressional members and then some.  We have a local version of a national coalition which includes:  AARP, SEIU, Families USA, and Consumers Union.  In Maine, we have brought other players to the table, and are working now to pull in other appropriate partners in the campaign.  As a group we have already met with Sen. Snowe (see article on listening session), Rep. Pingree, and have appointments to meet with Rep. Michaud and Sen. Collins.

Below is an update from Dan Smith, VP of ACSCAN, which describes what is going on in Washington, DC, this month.  Also attached is the list of our priorities.

* The issues that directly impact the NEDiv Business Plan and/or National Scorecard measures in blue.