Maine Attorney General Janet Mills and Lincoln County Democratic legislators headlined a stimulating program March 15 at a Lincoln County Democrats St. Patrick's Day dinner in Damariscotta.  Mills, Senator Chris Johnson, Representative Bruce MacDonald, and also Democratic National Committee member from Maine Phil Bartlett, updated attendees on the important issues being dealt with in the legislature, and called on them to make their views known in Augusta in coming days and weeks.

Mills, back in office for just over two months after a previous two-year stint as attorney general, said she has been working with groups in Washington on measures that will help senior citizens, and on acquiring federal funding that will help people facing foreclosure to get relief, especially those dealing with national banks.

Commenting on efforts to get the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn California’s Proposition 8, which prohibits same sex marriage, and the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), she said, “I am proud to be one of this nation's 26 state attorneys general who, in signing amicus briefs, took a step toward ensuring that marriages in our state and others are recognized under federal law, and that all married people are entitled to the same social security benefits and tax advantages, or disadvantages...” Mills went on to discuss some other issues she is working on, including student debt, domestic violence and prescription drug abuse, which she said is the biggest contributor to crime in Maine.

Senator Chris Johnson filled in the audience on the efforts in the legislature to craft a budget, and on recent unanimous reports from the Marine Resources Committee regarding Maine's lobster and elver fisheries.  

Johnson spoke of the hundreds of people who went to Augusta to speak about the impacts of revenue sharing on their communities, and their constructive suggestions for revenue alternatives to property tax. He said some Republicans in Augusta share Democrats' views on revenue sharing and some revenue alternatives, and he believes there are opportunities for both parties to work together to find a balanced solution to Maine's budget problems.

In talking about his work on the Marine Resources Committee, Johnson said, “We received some great news for Maine's lobster industry last weekend.  It received certification as a sustainable fishery from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a global organization that promotes sustainable fishing practices around the world.”  Neither Canada nor other New England states have this certification.  MSC's certification will be useful in marketing programs for Maine's lobster industry and, in turn, help to drive up demand and lead to better boat prices for lobster.

Johnson said the elver fishery, which, with prices expected to reach approximately $3,500 per pound this year, was under a great deal of pressure. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) placed limits on the numbers of elver licenses issued and nets used, so the state needed to set limits on Passamoquoddy gear and licenses to ensure that Maine complies with ASMFC's management plan. “After the public hearing I encouraged tribal chiefs and the Department of Marine Resources to negotiate,” Johnson said.

Representative Bruce MacDonald, chair of the House Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, said that Maine's public education system is facing the same challenges as schools around the nation.  MacDonald believes that public education is under attack from Republicans who are demeaning the model of all public service, including government, healthcare and education. “With 60 million Americans attending public school every day, private corporations see the money involved and are trying as hard as they can to tap into it. Concurrently, they are trying to lower standards for teachers while trying to implement teacher evaluation methods that have become punitive, judgmental and, in many ways, unfair,” said MacDonald.

MacDonald concluded his remarks by pointing out that shifting the tax burden to property owners will be devastating to public education and other services.

Attendees enjoyed a festive supper of corned beef and cabbage prepared by chief cook Sandra Rumery and a crew of volunteers.  The evening was topped off by the 50-50 raffle drawing, and a “just for fun” Irish trivia quiz.

Lincoln County Democratic Committee chairperson Lisa Miller, who presided over the program, announced that the committee's next meeting will be on Wednesday evening, April 24.  The topic will be Gov. LePage's proposed revenue sharing. Selectmen from various towns will explain what the changes will mean to residents. For more information, visit www.lincolncountydemocrats.com/.