1. What are your three top priorities?

a.Tax Reform
b. Universal Single-Payer Health Insurance
c. Funding for Rail and Mass Transportation

2. The past few years, Maine Housing Authority has utilized the HOME Fund (Housing Opportunities for Maine) to help finance fundamental programs as loans for first-time homebuyers, housing for people who are homeless, affordable rental housing, home repair, and housing for people with special needs. The Fund also helps finance programs that makes homes safer for children and makes homes accessible for people with disabilities. Over the last two years, the legislature has considered taking money from the HOME Fund in order to balance the budget. If elected, would you support the protection of the HOME fund? If so, what other ways would you suggest balancing the budget?  

As the only member of the Tax Committee to vote against raiding the HOME Fund for Historic Preservation, I believe I have demonstrated my support for the fund.

3. A major concern among young people is the rising cost of health care. 17,000 more Mainers are now uninsured since HMOs first arrived in Maine.  State-funded health care programs like MaineCare is facing consistent cuts, while publicly financed heath insurance like Dirigo, has a current freeze on new applicants. Many First World countries have supported comprehensive health care systems that cover every person with health care. Within the United States, states like Massachusetts and Maine have taken steps towards universal, comprehensive health care coverage. Would you support state legislation for universal single payer health care in Maine?   

It is one of my priorities.  I believe we will have a great road-map to achieve this when we get the results of the up-dated Mathmatica report.

4. It seems that every month there is another recall or concern about children's toys or consumer products.   The fact is that Maine families are exposed to hazardous toxic chemicals found in the consumer products that we use everyday. Toxic chemicals in the environment are among the causes of critical health problems that can be prevented. What would you do to help Maine ensure that hazardous chemicals in everyday consumer products are replaced with safer substitutes? 

I supported the Pingree "Toxics" bill.  I think it is a good start and puts a reasonable process in place for the future.


5. The State of Maine is currently a participant in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an innovative project geared toward cutting global warming emissions by establishing a cap-and-trade system for power plant emissions.  Do you support Maine's participation in RGGI? Would you support the establishment of an economy-wide cap-and-trade program in Maine that would cut greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors (i.e. transportation, commercial and residential heating, etc.)?

I attended a great conference sponsored by RGGI.  I support their work and the Statess' participation.


6. The Maine Department of Transportation estimates that it faces a shortfall of more than $2 billion to simply maintain the existing transportation infrastructure. What, if any, funding solution do you support: (yes or no)

I support a series of bond packages to maintain our infrastructure.  This is a sensible way to  pay for  our large capital investments.

a) LD 2019, An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Funding Passenger Rail, which would secure funding for transit by dedicating a portion of revenues from general fund sources like meals and lodging, sales tax, and car rental fees?

The rail system in Maine has taken a "transportation" back seat for many years. I have consistantly supported investment in rail, both for passengers and freight.  Some funding could come from the diversion of money from expansion of the highways and I would also support tax increades.

b) Using Maine Turnpike Authority funds, which are currently dedicated to highway maintenance and expansion, for all transportation projects, including transit?   yes

c) Raising car rental fees to subsidize transit?   yes

6a. Please detail other funding options you might propose or for which you might advocate: 

I believe it would be a wise and fiscally responsible use for bonding.

7. With the state facing a $200 million revenue shortfall in the current biennium (a projection that may change when April receipts are tallied).  Do you support increasing the sales tax in order to avoid balancing the budget entirely through program cuts? If you do not support a tax increase of any kind – and given that "enhanced government efficiencies" will provide only very modest savings if any at all -- which programs do you propose to cut and by how much?     

The budget we just passed does NOT reflect my Democratic values.  I proposed an amendment to the budget to prevent the BETR "double dip".  It would have raised $7 million dollars,It would have totally funded OPEGA and restored some of the cuts made to the care of the mentally ill.  I would support tax increases to prevent these cuts and I would prefer to have Tax Reform in place before we increase the sales tax but would vote for increases now to prevent cuts in necessary social programs.  The truth is that these cuts will end up costing us far more in human misery and dollars in the near future.


8. As municipalities continue to provide what are increasingly expensive public goods (like education, police and fire protection), what is your plan for controlling growth in property taxes while maintaining these fundamental government services?   

Two sessions ago the Legislature passed LD 1 which was supposed to rein in municipal spending.  I do not believe LD 1 has performed as expected.  Since the major source of income for cities and towns is the property tax I would (and have) proposed a Local Option Tax.  This would allow Portland to add an additional 1 per cent tax to Meals and Lodging and keep the revenues.  Most of these taxes would be paid by Mainers who can afford to dine out and the lodging tax would be paid by visitors.

9. The Opportunity Maine program will allow students who graduate from any Maine college or University, and continues to live, work and pay taxes here, to be reimbursed for student loan payments through a state income tax credit or an employer tax credit.

Projections show that in ten years, this strategy could cost the state as much as $55 million annually, but the return on that investment is conservatively estimated at $75 million in new state and local tax revenues and decreased social expenditures. If elected, will you commit yourself to protecting this long-term economic development strategy, without any reduction in the credit's size or availability?   I wholly supported Opportunity Maine and believe in its goals.  With Tax Reform we can stabilize our revenues and go a long way to prevent the unexpected short-falls.  Proper planning  for the spending of our tax dollars will enable us to set our priorities.   I see Opportunity Maine as a priority.  This is a long term plan and future Legislatures must keep to alive and well particularly until the evidence of its success is evident.

10. Portland schools are seeing less funding from the state due, in part, to increasing value of residential and commercial property.
Although property valuation is a measure of taxable resources, it is not necessarily a good indicator of the ability of taxpayers to meet the funding needs of our schools. What are your thoughts on how to balance local and state contributions to school costs?
Portland Legislators have done a fantastic job (against great odds) of getting a fairer shake for Portland but much more needs to be done.  The "Circuit Breaker" program has been a boon to many Portland residents.  We must incrementally increase the benefits to relieve the strain of high property taxes and high rents.  Another avenue is Revenue Sharing.  This is additional State help given to service centers such as Portland.  We provide services to an entire region and only Portlanders foot the bill.  Increases in Revenue Sharing present a difficult fight in Augusta but I believe we can achieve it.

11. What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the state's new school district consolidation law, particularly as it affects Portland?  

I support the original consolidation plan.  By regionalizing administrational duties, large group purchasing of goods and services we can save millions of dollars a year without negatively impacting the education of our children.  This will have a positive effect on Portland.


12. Given Mainers' struggle to balance work with family care responsibilities would you support: (yes or no)

a)  Paid sick days to full and part-time workers   Yes - I spoke on behalf of this bill on the floor
b)  Paid family and medical leave    Yes
c) Legislation that allows workers to request flexible work schedules without employer retaliation   Yes


13. Do you support current Maine law (22 M.R.S.A. § 1502), which allows minors to consent on their own behalf for health care including contraceptive counseling, mental health care and substance abuse treatment?   

Yes-I have consistantly supported this health service for minors.

14. Currently seventeen states fund abortion care for poor women on the same or similar terms as other pregnancy-related and general health services in their state-run Medicaid program.  Maine's Medicaid program only covers abortion care when the life of the pregnant woman is at risk or she is the victim of rape or incest. Would you support funding abortion care for women covered by Medicaid in Maine?   

Yes- I do not approve of the "double standard" that currently exists for women of means and the poor, particularly as it pertains to health matters.


15. There is a significant move in Europe, Alaska, and Southeast Asia toward the independent certification of fisheries as sustainably-harvested.  In effect, consumer demand for sustainable fisheries is moving faster than regulatory bodies to save fisheries from overfishing. New England is behind the rest of the world in this regard; Maine has no independently certified fishery. Would you support a similar move toward independent certification in Maine?    

I am not familiar with "independent certification" but if it helps protect our fish stocks and prevents overfishing I support it.

16. What do you see as the biggest challenge for Maine fisheries over the next five years? Biggest opportunity?

  Depleted stock     High Fuel costs    
  Aqua culture    People continue to love sea food from Maine

17. Do you favor creating a path of citizenship that allows undocumented immigrants to come forward and begin the process of permanent residency and then legal citizenship?  (yes or no)  

YES