Reflections on the 125th Maine Legislature
MEA will be hard at work to ensure our elected representatives hear from educators when the 125th Maine Legislature reconvenes in January to consider issues that affect K-12 schools and higher education.
As we prepare for the next session, it may be useful to reflect upon those elected leaders who supported public education in 2011. While the end result was sometimes bitter and frustrating, there are legislators who consistently vote in support of public education.
On pages 8-10 of the December issue of the Maine Educator, you will find a scorecard that lists legislators' votes on bills that should matter most to MEA members. These include the attacks on educator health insurance, charter schools, child labor, voting rights, and anti-union legislation.
A number of legislators voted in concert with MEA's position on every issue and earned our gratitude.
There were eight state Senators and 31 House members who voted with the MEA members 100% of the time. Among those who always stood with MEA members and public education include: House Minority Leader Emily Cain of Orono, House Assistant Minority Leader Terry Hayes of Buckfield, Senate Minority Leader Barry Hobbins of York, and Assistant Senate Minority Leader and Education Committee Member Justin Alfond of Portland. These elected officials are just a few of the committed allies MEA can count on when the Legislature debates our pension plans, funding for our schools, and efforts to reform our public schools.
For a full list of legislators with 100% voting records, check out the names in bold on the legislative scorecard found on pages 8-10 in the December issue of the Maine Educator.
Others, who may not have a 100% voting record, earned MEA appreciation for their courageous stands on critical issues. For example, during the heated debate in the Senate on LD 1326, a bill designed to destroy the MEA Benefits Trust, three Senate Republicans bucked party leadership by voting to defend educator health insurance plans.
Sen. Tom Saviello (R-Franklin), Sen. Earle McCormick (R-Kennebec), and Sen. Roger Sherman (R-Aroostook) all resisted heavy pressure from their party to cast their votes against LD 1326. In the House, Rep. Michael Beaulieu (R-Auburn) voted against this bad bill and Rep. Ken Fredette (R-Newport) voted against LD 1326 on a procedural motion trying to stop it from moving forward.
Rep. Dana Dow (R-Waldoboro) pledged to oppose efforts to weaken labor unions through so-called "right to work" bills and he maintained his commitment as a member of the Labor Committee.
This fight over the 2012-2013 Biennial Budget was difficult and painful because it was funded in part by a raid on the teacher retirement plans provided by the Maine Public Employee Retirement System (MePERS).
Governor LePage's budget funded tax cuts for Maine wealthiest families by cutting back and freezing retirement benefits for current and retired teachers. Over the next 16 years, this raid will cost public employees more than $5 billion.
While the final budget was an ugly compromise and legislators voted for or against it for different reasons, it is important to acknowledge those who voted against the budget because of the retirement cuts:
Sen. Troy Jackson (D-Aroostook), Sen. John Patrick (D-Oxford), Sen. Cynthia Dill (D-Cumberland) and Sen. Phil Bartlett (D-Cumberland).
Rep. Anna Blodgett (D-Augusta), Rep. Sheryl Briggs (D- Mexico), Rep. Mark Bryant (D-Windham), Rep. Alan Casavant (D-Biddeford), Rep. Ben Chipman (I-Portland), Rep. Paul Gilbert (D-Jay), Rep. Adam Goode D-Bangor), Rep. Denise Harlow (D-Portland), Rep. Peter Kent (D-Woolwich), Rep. Stephen Lovejoy (D-Portland), Rep. Andrew O'Brien (D-Lincolnville), Rep Matt Petersen (D-Rumford), Rep. Diane Russell (D-Portland), Rep. Peter Stuckey (D-Portland) and Rep. Sharon Treat (D-Hallowell).
Sen. Richard Woodbury (I-Cumberland) opposed the budget because he believes any pension reform should apply to future years of service only, not to work already completed, and that those already retired, or close to retirement, should have been held harmless.
In the final days of the budget debate, Rep. Maeghan Maloney (D-Augusta) offered an amendment that would have increased the cap on Cost of Living Allowance from the first $20,000 to the first $25,000 earned by a retired MePERS participant. Although the amendment lost on a close vote, Rep. Maloney tried her best to limit the damage.
Association members should hold elected officials accountable when they fail to protect and advance public education and, be equally diligent in thanking and supporting those who stand with us.
Please, write, call or send email to those legislators who have earned your respect in the first session of the 125th Legislature and thank them for standing up for public education.
FMI: John Kosinski at jkosinski@nea.org or call 622-4418 ext. 2217.
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