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1. Climate Change/Protecting the Environment: As one constituent noted “If we don’t protect our planet, then nothing else matters.” I have a 100% lifetime voting record on issues such as conservation, clean energy, & PFAS remediation, and I sponsored the climate resiliency funding bill for businesses/communities this session. But we have more to do.
2. Housing: See Q3 below for an expanded answer
3.Tax relief: As the House Appropriations Committee Chair, I led a budget that fully funded municipal revenue sharing at 5% & funded 55% of K-12 education. We expanded senior tax relief programs and passed a refundable Dependent Tax Credit. I am committed to providing meaningful tax relief to those in need, including families & older Mainers.
When they say "Democracy is on the ballot"...it is true. You can’t have civic engagement if you can’t vote. Protecting Maine's elections, ensuring access to absentee voting, & blocking restrictive voting bills earned my 100% rating with Democracy Maine. Consistent outreach to my community also encourages engagement. Prompt replies to emails & phone calls, attending community & local government meetings, & holding community discussions are important ways I connect with residents. I post information frequently on social media, send electronic newsletters monthly, & mail print newsletters twice a year to every home. I also love to host students of all ages in Augusta and tell them to “See yourself here someday.” They are incredibly inspiring!
A recent study noted that ME needs 84,000 units in the next seven years. As House Chair of the Appropriations Cmte., I led efforts to include historic levels of funding in our budget (over 200 million dollars) to support every level of housing need. This included funding for critical emergency shelter and services for those who are unhoused, support for first-time home buyers and for mobile home park tenants, rent relief for those most in need, and construction of rural and low-income housing. Revising Comprehensive Planning in Maine (which protects environmental resources and identifies growth areas for housing at local levels) is also my top priority. These holistic strategies should continue to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
I was honored to receive an award in 2023 from Maine Family Planning for my decades of work in providing and supporting access to reproductive health care, including passing a bill this session to ensure continuity of care after a merger/acquisition (requiring the new entity to keep providing reproductive care regardless of affiliation. This is critically important, especially in rural Maine.) I also voted to increase funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, ban debt collectors from charging interest on medical debt, lower the cost of prescription drugs, invest in veterans’ homes and nursing facilities, increase access to mental health care, and create a Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Health care is a human right.
