1 January 2020
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Before I return full-time next week to the Legislature’s second session, I want to recap my goals for this winter and spring.
I intend to follow through with some of the successful work of the first session, specifically related to preparing to triple the state’s renewable energy generating capacity by 2030 and reducing Maine’s carbon emissions by 45% below 1990 levels by 2030 and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. As you likely already know, Governor Mills is committing the state to carbon neutrality by 2045. Maine is now a leader nationally and I am proud to be part of that team effort.
Further I am looking forward to supporting the state’s new ten-year strategic plan for economic development which seeks to build a talented workforce, increase wages, and support diverse regional economic hubs. My focus here will continue to be on expanded scientific R&D and commercialization, transportation systems, affordable housing, and early education.
Fortunately, state revenues appear to be stable and appropriations for state programs seem to be prudent and sustainable. On the Appropriations Committee, we are eager to learn the Governor’s priorities for any supplemental spending in the current two year budget which we enacted last June. And, as always, we will weigh the Governor’s priorities along with the diverse and sometimes competing interests of all of our colleagues across the state.
In the rear view, I am including below a summary of my reports from last year. Overall I am pleased with the way things went and am looking forward to getting further good work done with my legislative colleagues this winter and spring.
With gratitude and best wishes to all for 2020,
***
January 2019
- Legislative goals for 2019
- Swearing in to the 129th Legislature
- Mills names former House Speaker Hannah Pingree to head new office of innovation
- Indivisible MDI’s Women’s March rally in Bar Harbor
February
- Research firms can tap $3.5 million to improve health in Maine
- Maine’s next 2-year budget focuses on funding education and Medicaid expansion – with no new taxes
- Education funding in Governor Mills’ budget proposal
- Maine should plan for energy independence by 2030
- Testimony presenting LD 658: Resolve, To Direct a Plan for Energy Independence for Maine
March
- 2019 Maine state budget proposals and deliberations
- Janet Mills moves Maine in right direction on climate change
- Clarifying the “HOPE budget”
- Gov. Mills Signs $7.5 Million Spending Plan
- Downeast Maine Youth Climate Strike
- MDI High School to have more than 1,300 solar panels installed on roof
- Statehouse signs of spring:
April
- The Environment: Janet Mills, Paul LePage on two different planets
- Youth Climate Action at the State House
- Governor Mills Introduces Bill to Establish Maine Climate Council
May
- An Act To Promote Clean Energy Jobs and To Establish the Maine Climate Council
- Earth In Brackets
- MDI lab receives $18 million grant for biomedical research and training
- New law puts state on track to triple renewable energy generation
- Energy bill sails through
June
- The money at stake in the battle over CMP’s 145-mile electric line
- Budget process a welcome return to normalcy
- Maine Legislature approves new state budget of nearly $8 billion
- Maine legislature passes strong, bipartisan two-year budget
- …And we have a state budget
- Bills to energize renewable-power development in Maine go to governor
- Winners and losers of the 2019 legislative session
July
- MDI High School Summer Interns
- Russians likely targeted election systems in all 50 states, Senate report says
- At The End Of The Fiscal Year, Maine Reports Revenue Surplus And Increase In Cash Reserves
August
- How regional youth advocacy effectively can help move hard state policy:
- Maine offers rebates for buyers of hybrid and electric vehicles
September
- Free community college program teaches next generation of Maine loggers
- Hubbell praises students’ climate action
- Maine Schools Going Solar – Not Only To Protect Environment But To Boost Bottom Lines
- Global Climate Strike
- In address, Gov. Mills vows Maine will be carbon neutral by 2045, and challenges others
- Support for the environment
- Climate Council launch
- Gov. Mills launches Maine Climate Council with a call to action
October
- Experts urge “full speed ahead” on climate action
- 3Dirigo
- Support for reproductive rights
- Challenges of Climate Policy
November
- Maine’s prosperity depends on welcoming new families
- California, Maine and 21 other states widen challenge to Trump administration car rules
- Gov. Mills orders state agencies to step up Maine’s fight against climate change
- Maine is about to release its first 10-year economic plan. Here’s what to expect.
December