Attendance:  15 people

Legislative Update

State Supplemental Budget

Over 1,000 people turned out at the State House on March 12th to tell how the proposed budget cuts will hurt people.  Some legislators said that they were impressed with the attendance. 

The public hearing before the Appropriation Committee and the Health and Human Service Committee on the proposed cuts was held that same day.  Rose Hoad did a great job testifying on behalf of MAIN and sharing her own story opposing the podiatry and prescription drug cuts.  We had several other testimonies from MAIN members that we handed in since people either couldn’t attend or had to leave before they could testify.

The committees also heard testimony on other proposed cuts in mental health, domestic violence programs and to programs that serve senior, developmentally disabled, and other people with disabilities.  Those communities were well represented at the State House on March 12^th.

Taxpayers need to speak up.  If we make these deep cuts, the fabric of the community will suffer – less jobs; hurt businesses especially local ones; workers experience more sickness and other problems that bring them closer to the edge; more burden on local government and shift burden to jails, hospitals, nursing homes, and mental institutions.  A three-prong solution is needed:  raise taxes and fees; use some of the rainy day fund and look for more efficiencies in all state programs.

There are sections of the state budget that have not been touched at all in these cutbacks.  This is not equitable. 

Tax luxuries like restaurants, ski lift tickets, and snow mobiles.  Increase taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and motels.  There is a call to do a real analysis of business tax breaks because we really don’t know how much benefit our communities are getting for these tax breaks.  Councils, commissions, and committees funded by state dollars should also be reviewed to make sure they are being used wisely. Let’s make sure in all these programs that we’re getting our monies worth.  We need sensible solutions and fiscal responsibility.

Maine Heritage Policy Center testified in favor of the cuts.  They question whether all people covered by MaineCare are the 'worthy poor'.  They want to eliminate the noncategoricals (childless adults with income below 100% of poverty) and parents (with income between 150% - 200% of poverty) from MaineCare. 

Maine should be proud that we have the lowest uninsured rate in the nation. We got praise from the Maine Development Foundation, not always our allies, for covering more people because we then have a more reliable work force.

Many of the cuts will push the costs down to the towns.  To handle the need, towns would have to increase property taxes to handle more General Assistance claims and fill in the gap in school funding. Many towns have already had to increases taxes to deal with heating assistance this winter.  Federal funding has been cut and in some cases never passed through to states putting a much bigger burden on states and local government.

Next budget steps:  The Health & Human Services Committee will make recommendation to the Appropriations Committee then Appropriations will form a budget to present to the full legislature.  The vote will take place by before April 1st. Once passed, this budget will go into effect on July 1, 2008.

TAKE ACTION!  Maine Can Do Better coalition has a website so people can easily oppose the wholesale cuts.  Go to the site to sign a petition and send an email to legislators and the Governor.  Please share this website www.mainecandobetter.org with everyone you know.  Those without Internet access can use the toll-free legislative message service to contacts their legislators:  Senators – 1-800-423-6900; Representatives – 1-800-423-2900.  Letters to the editor are also needed.

DIRIGO Health LD 2247 has been proposed to provide sustainable funding of DIRIGO. It would repeal the savings offset payment and fund the program with a 50 cent increase in tobacco tax and a health assessment on providers.  The public hearing is today, March 13th, at 1:00.

Maine Council on Poverty and Economic Security LD 1100 This bill creates the Maine Council on Poverty and Economic Security to advise the Governor on ending poverty and providing economic security to disadvantaged citizens in the State.  They will set goals and make annual reports of progress to the governor and legislature.  The bill received a unanimous ought-to-pass vote in committee.  It did not get funded but authorizes the commission to raise the money to make it happen.  Funds would have to be raised to at least cover travel expenses, and possibly a stipend for people with low income commissioners.  Appointments will be recommended to governor.  MAIN will set up a process to recommend people to this commission.

MAIN Leaders’ Report

Fundraising Ideas:

1.  Use the internet to raise funds.  Because MAIN is not a tax-exempt nonprofit group (501 C-3), we will ask ROSC, a MAIN member organization, to be our fiscal agent.

2.  Set up bake sales at events:  possibly at UMA

3.  Ask organizational members to make donations yearly and/or support specific activities.  Ask new organizations to join.

4.  Calendar of MAIN photos and events.

5.  Theme basket to raffle:  get people to donate one item based around the theme, fill the basket and sell tickets at an event.  Ask businesses for donations.

MAIN needs help from members for input on ideas and doing the fundraising -  staffing tables;  getting donations;  working on a calendar;  putting together a mailing to member organizations and individual members;  making follow-up calls after letters are sent.  If you can help, please contact MAIN leader, Pam Morin 458-2210.

From Every Village is holding statewide events to mark the 5^th anniversary of the invasion and occupation in Iraq.  MAIN agreed at the February meeting to add its name as a supporter of these events.  Currently, $12 Billion is spent each month on the occupation.  This money could/should be going to support domestic programs that create real security – living wage jobs, health care for all, healthy food, affordable housing, and a clean environment.  The statewide events are also supporting the Iraq Veterans Against the War (www.IVAW.org) who are holding hearings in Washington DC from March 13 – 16 called Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan.  Active duty soldiers and veterans are sharing their experiences on the ground in these countries and also their experiences getting needed services or benefits when they return.

Grassroots community organizing

At the last MAIN meeting, we talked about doing virtual ‘town meetings’ on the Internet to help people make connections and discuss issues.  Not everyone is online but for those who are, especially young people, it would be a great place to start organizing.   From these connections, MAIN hopes to then do some real meetings within communities.  When we are making fundraising plans, we should keep this project in mind and seek out a grant so we can do the ‘real’ community forums.

Enforcement of economic human rights

Jan Lightfoot-Lane from Hospitality House spoke about how we have many good programs and policies in place but we need to work harder to make sure that the rules and regulations are followed.  She’s hoping that MAIN will take this on.