On today's House calendar a Joint Order was presented by Representative Cynthia Dill (D-Cape Elizabeth). The Joint Order would direct the Joint Standing Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs to report out legislation that would create a citizens' recall process for state legislators, constitutional officers and the governor.
Currently there are 18 states that have a recall process. Maine's constitution allows for the impeachment of state civil officers --a legal process whereby the House votes on an indictment, and the Senate acts as jury and votes to convict or not.
The recall process that Representative's Joint Order would seek to create would be in statute and be a political process that citizens would engage in similar to the citizens' veto and petition.
I support the initiative and believe it is a simple matter. Maine people expect accountability for the actions of the people they elect to represent them. I am accountable to the voters of District 92, and I am happy to have that accountability increase -- because I think it encourages me to continue to constantly do a better job. This initiative is nothing more than a matter of consistency with existing policies.
• Here in Maine we have one of the easiest to access citizen initiative processes in the country, and as a result we have ballot measures in almost every election cycle -- accountability;
• We have a provision for a people’s veto and that has been exercised with increasing frequency -- accountability;
• We are required by the Maine Constitution to seek voter approval of certain types of long term debt obligations -- accountability;
• Our new state treasurer wants to expand the involvement of voters in approving even more of the state’s financial transactions that have long term implications -- in the name of accountability;
• Some legislators are proposing that any initiative that would raise taxes and even certain fees must be approved by voters before they can become effective -- again, in the name of accountability.
We affirm constantly that accountability is a good thing -- and in order to be consistent, we need to facilitate the ultimate accountability tool -- the power of Maine voters to recall their state elected officials. I am happy to submit to that continuous accountability, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support the initiative.
The Joint Order was Tabled today by Republican leadership. I hope this Joint Order comes off the Table before the end of the session for a vote so that I can cast my support for this important initiative.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
There's Gold in the Hills
Last weekend, we celebrated Maine Maple Sunday -- a sure sign that we are in the middle of sugaring season -- that annual Maine tradition that signals the coming of spring. Maple syrup is great on our pancakes, but it is also an important part of our overall economic picture as a state.
Last year, I met with a constituent in Rangeley Plantation who has a commercial maple sugaring operation. He had one question for me -- Why isn’t the State of Maine during more to promote Maine Maple products on a regional, national and international basis? I didn’t have a good answer, so I did a little research -- and as a result, I put in a bill, LD 109, to establish a study commission to investigate what appears to be a very promising development and job creation opportunity for Maine’s woods.
In doing the research that lead to the bill, here’s what jumped out at me --
• Maine is one of the nation’s top three producers of maple syrup, ranking well behind Vermont and just a little behind New York State.
• Although Vermont is the recognized leader among United State maple producers with a very strong brand identity and annual production that is more than double what Maine markets, Maine forests contain 50% more hard maple trees than Vermont forests based on US Forest Service inventories.
• Far and away the largest producer in North America is the Province of Quebec, Maine’s neighbor for much of our northern and western borders.
It looked like an opportunity, but left me with this question -- Given our forest resources, a growing export market for maple products, and our relatively low production in relationship to the total inventory of hard maple trees, what could we do to better utilize this resource to create jobs and revenues for Maine people?
Other Maine producers -- potato farmers, blueberry growers, lobstermen -- have enjoyed thoughtful assistance from the state in marketing and product development that has led to superior product branding. I wondered if maple products could offer another such opportunity for our state.
Since there were too many questions that I couldn’t answer, I decided to propose a short-term study commission that would look at the information and determine if there was some value in making a major effort in this area. Specifically, I am asking that a group of experts report back to the Legislature about:
• Potential for expanding both the harvesting and processing of maple sap for sugar;
• Obstacles to expanded production;
• Opportunities for enhancing a Maine Maple brand;
• Value Added Processing potential and its economic implications;
• Increased export marketing potential and its economic implications;
• Structures or network associations that could increase sustainable production;
• Potential competitive or collaborative opportunities with North America’s largest producer, Quebec, and;
• Investment or actions that could be taken by the state that would produce a tangible economic return.
We need jobs in Maine -- and in our part of Maine, the woods have provided an important livelihood for many families for generations. Anything we can do to help us grow a sustainable resource-based industry that could employ people in a variety of areas -- is something we should take a hard look at.
There have always been concerns expressed every time the state has invested resources in a particular area. However, the results speak for themselves. Few would argue that some of our most important agricultural products -- whether it is potatoes or blueberries -- or others, have suffered as a result of the state’s investment of time and resources in marketing and market supports. The purpose of this legislation is not to foster new regulations or new controls or to waste money -- it is just the opposite. I want this commission to look for ways to make it possible to make our forests even more productive through the renewable activity of tapping and harvesting the sap.
Maine’s maples may well be an “untapped resource” for sustainable growth in jobs, business revenues and tax revenues. In my opinion, the best way to find out is to get the right people around the table to talk about it -- and that is why the bill will create a study commission. At the end of the process, this study group will report back to the Legislature and if warranted -- I plan to work on a bill to support initiatives identified by the study commission.
So next time you pour the syrup on your pancakes -- think about the job potential for an industry that we can grow and that will create jobs and new investments in our economy. I hope the bill will pass, and we get some good insights from the work of the study commission it will create.
Last year, I met with a constituent in Rangeley Plantation who has a commercial maple sugaring operation. He had one question for me -- Why isn’t the State of Maine during more to promote Maine Maple products on a regional, national and international basis? I didn’t have a good answer, so I did a little research -- and as a result, I put in a bill, LD 109, to establish a study commission to investigate what appears to be a very promising development and job creation opportunity for Maine’s woods.
In doing the research that lead to the bill, here’s what jumped out at me --
• Maine is one of the nation’s top three producers of maple syrup, ranking well behind Vermont and just a little behind New York State.
• Although Vermont is the recognized leader among United State maple producers with a very strong brand identity and annual production that is more than double what Maine markets, Maine forests contain 50% more hard maple trees than Vermont forests based on US Forest Service inventories.
• Far and away the largest producer in North America is the Province of Quebec, Maine’s neighbor for much of our northern and western borders.
It looked like an opportunity, but left me with this question -- Given our forest resources, a growing export market for maple products, and our relatively low production in relationship to the total inventory of hard maple trees, what could we do to better utilize this resource to create jobs and revenues for Maine people?
Other Maine producers -- potato farmers, blueberry growers, lobstermen -- have enjoyed thoughtful assistance from the state in marketing and product development that has led to superior product branding. I wondered if maple products could offer another such opportunity for our state.
Since there were too many questions that I couldn’t answer, I decided to propose a short-term study commission that would look at the information and determine if there was some value in making a major effort in this area. Specifically, I am asking that a group of experts report back to the Legislature about:
• Potential for expanding both the harvesting and processing of maple sap for sugar;
• Obstacles to expanded production;
• Opportunities for enhancing a Maine Maple brand;
• Value Added Processing potential and its economic implications;
• Increased export marketing potential and its economic implications;
• Structures or network associations that could increase sustainable production;
• Potential competitive or collaborative opportunities with North America’s largest producer, Quebec, and;
• Investment or actions that could be taken by the state that would produce a tangible economic return.
We need jobs in Maine -- and in our part of Maine, the woods have provided an important livelihood for many families for generations. Anything we can do to help us grow a sustainable resource-based industry that could employ people in a variety of areas -- is something we should take a hard look at.
There have always been concerns expressed every time the state has invested resources in a particular area. However, the results speak for themselves. Few would argue that some of our most important agricultural products -- whether it is potatoes or blueberries -- or others, have suffered as a result of the state’s investment of time and resources in marketing and market supports. The purpose of this legislation is not to foster new regulations or new controls or to waste money -- it is just the opposite. I want this commission to look for ways to make it possible to make our forests even more productive through the renewable activity of tapping and harvesting the sap.
Maine’s maples may well be an “untapped resource” for sustainable growth in jobs, business revenues and tax revenues. In my opinion, the best way to find out is to get the right people around the table to talk about it -- and that is why the bill will create a study commission. At the end of the process, this study group will report back to the Legislature and if warranted -- I plan to work on a bill to support initiatives identified by the study commission.
So next time you pour the syrup on your pancakes -- think about the job potential for an industry that we can grow and that will create jobs and new investments in our economy. I hope the bill will pass, and we get some good insights from the work of the study commission it will create.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Rep. Peterson calls for formal evaluation of federal program dollars to create jobs
For Immediate Release
March 21, 2011
Contact: Jodi Quintero [Peterson], 287-1488, c. 841-6279
Local lawmaker presents resolve for one-time analysis of federal initiatives to support state job creation
AUGUSTA – State Rep. Matt Peterson, D-Rumford, introduced legislation that would require economic development officials to provide a one-time report to lawmakers evaluating federal initiatives and pending Congressional legislation that provide federal funding to create jobs in Maine. The report would be due by Dec. 1, 2011.
“I want to make sure that our state and local leaders in economic development have a systematic and formalized process to maximize our use of available federal resources, and that we are coordinating state investments, both existing and emerging, with federal opportunities,” said Peterson. “We need a thorough review of what tools exist to better inform policy decisions.”
The proposed legislation directs Department of Economic and Community Development to monitor and evaluate federal development incentives and analyze how state programs and resources, including tax policies and training programs coordinate with these federal initiatives to make sure that Maine is maximizing and taking advantage of all available resources to create quality jobs for Maine citizens.
This resolve would help identify new economic opportunities that would provide jobs for dislocated workers as well as jobs for people who are newly entering the workforce. “Jobs must be created by the private sector, but the state has a role to play in creating a climate for business to grow and for entrepreneurs to invest,” said Peterson.
Andrew Gilmore, President of ABG Strategies, a Yarmouth based businesses and consulting firm, spoke in support of this legislation at the public hearing. “In addition to utilizing federal programs and tools that perhaps we haven’t yet fully maximized or used at all, I think we can do a better job using some of our existing available incentives such as tax increment financing to help encourage business investment and job growth.”
A work session is scheduled for March 24.
March 21, 2011
Contact: Jodi Quintero [Peterson], 287-1488, c. 841-6279
Local lawmaker presents resolve for one-time analysis of federal initiatives to support state job creation
AUGUSTA – State Rep. Matt Peterson, D-Rumford, introduced legislation that would require economic development officials to provide a one-time report to lawmakers evaluating federal initiatives and pending Congressional legislation that provide federal funding to create jobs in Maine. The report would be due by Dec. 1, 2011.
“I want to make sure that our state and local leaders in economic development have a systematic and formalized process to maximize our use of available federal resources, and that we are coordinating state investments, both existing and emerging, with federal opportunities,” said Peterson. “We need a thorough review of what tools exist to better inform policy decisions.”
The proposed legislation directs Department of Economic and Community Development to monitor and evaluate federal development incentives and analyze how state programs and resources, including tax policies and training programs coordinate with these federal initiatives to make sure that Maine is maximizing and taking advantage of all available resources to create quality jobs for Maine citizens.
This resolve would help identify new economic opportunities that would provide jobs for dislocated workers as well as jobs for people who are newly entering the workforce. “Jobs must be created by the private sector, but the state has a role to play in creating a climate for business to grow and for entrepreneurs to invest,” said Peterson.
Andrew Gilmore, President of ABG Strategies, a Yarmouth based businesses and consulting firm, spoke in support of this legislation at the public hearing. “In addition to utilizing federal programs and tools that perhaps we haven’t yet fully maximized or used at all, I think we can do a better job using some of our existing available incentives such as tax increment financing to help encourage business investment and job growth.”
A work session is scheduled for March 24.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Update From Augusta
Spring must be coming -- the Legislative session is in full swing, with activities and deliberations four or five days a week. What follows are some general observations as well as some specifics of legislation that I have introduced and will be working to promote.
The General Mood
The session opened with predictions and warnings coming from all sides. “There will be a revolution and a massive shift in priorities.” “Maine’s government and institutions will be fundamentally transformed.” “This will be the end of ‘business as usual’ under the dome in Augusta.” “The interest of Maine citizens will be sacrificed to a radical agenda.” And on and on. After a couple of months of overheated rhetoric, the actual picture is beginning to emerge.
Yes, the historic realignment between the parties has meant some significant change in Augusta, but they have not been as earth-shaking as either side predicted. The people pursuing a strong political agenda from either side are still pursuing their agendas -- but overall legislators from both parties tend to do most of their work together in the middle. That does not seem to have changed. The atmosphere is not overcharged with partisanship and the vast majority of legislators in both parties are looking for ways to work together to get things done for their constituents -- Maine citizens.
The Budget
The centerpiece of any legislative session is the deliberation of the biennial budget, or modifications to that budget based on changes in the state’s revenue forecasts. Our budget, more than any other piece of legislation, reflects our priorities as a government and our values as a state. The same is true this year. It is always difficult for any newly elected Governor to come off the campaign trail and immediately start the process of developing a new two year budget. This year has been no exception.
Governor LePage’s budget as originally submitted to the Legislature makes a clear statement about his priorities and his political philosophy. The deliberations to this point have followed a familiar pattern, and the Legislature is now “circling the airport” a bit waiting for the Governor to release a change package -- modified proposals based on the new information that has been received -- both in terms of changing revenue projections as well as some early reactions to the initial budget document.
Once the “Governor’s change package” has been released, the negotiations will intensify, but it seems clear now that the final budget will be a document based on compromise and consensus as it has been in most past years. Since the budget must be in place by July 1st, and no regular bills -- including the budget -- go into effect until 90 days after the adjourned of the Legislature, once we reach April 1st, the budget must be passed as emergency legislation (which means it can go into effect sooner than the 90 days post-adjournment mandated by the state’s constitution). Emergency legislation requires a 2/3rds vote of the Legislature -- so the budget will move to the center where it must be supported by members of both parties.
That process, while cumbersome, produces a budget that is usually more in line with the values and common sense of Maine people -- and I expect that will be the outcome this session. There will be drama and lots of rhetoric from all sides, but in the end, I expect we will pass a budget that will continue to serve Maine people. No one will be 100% happy with the outcome -- but the document will end up being much more centrist than the early commentaries have indicated. Hold on for a long and lively debate.
Specific Legislative Proposals
So far this session, I have presented a few bills and more are scheduled in the next few weeks. Here is a brief update on these initiatives.
• L.D. 109 Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Promotion and Expansion of the Maine Maple Sugar Industry. I have presented a bill to look more closely at our Maple products industry to find new ways to promote these products -- better utilize our natural resources and create more jobs. The bill was heard on February 10th by the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and was generally well received. A work session will be scheduled soon, but since this is “sugaring season” that discussion will wait until more of the interested processors are out of the woods and available to help the committee in its deliberations.
• L.D. 679 Resolve, To Leverage Federal Opportunities for Job Creation in Maine. On March 17th, I presented this bill to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development where it was discussed and a work session will be scheduled in the near future. This bill calls upon the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development to look for ways that federal and state resources may be leveraged together to create more job opportunities for Maine citizens.
Over the next few weeks, other bills I am sponsoring will be coming before the appropriate committees and I will provide updates as they approach. Already printed, but not yet scheduled for public hearings are:
• L.D. 504 An Act To Prevent the Disclosure of Student Social Security Numbers
• L.D. 683 An Act To Enhance Long-term Care Services for Maine Citizens
• L.D. 818 Resolve, To Improve the Training and Retention of Maine's Professional Direct Care and Personal Supports Workforce
• LD 889 An Act To Regulate Boxing and Prizefighting in Maine
• LD 1035 Resolve, To Establish Baseline Information on Health Impacts from Grid-scale Wind Energy Development
I will post updates as these and other initiatives continue to develop throughout the remainder of the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature. In the meantime, I can always be reached by phone at 776.8051 and via email at petersonhouse08@gmail.com. As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
The General Mood
The session opened with predictions and warnings coming from all sides. “There will be a revolution and a massive shift in priorities.” “Maine’s government and institutions will be fundamentally transformed.” “This will be the end of ‘business as usual’ under the dome in Augusta.” “The interest of Maine citizens will be sacrificed to a radical agenda.” And on and on. After a couple of months of overheated rhetoric, the actual picture is beginning to emerge.
Yes, the historic realignment between the parties has meant some significant change in Augusta, but they have not been as earth-shaking as either side predicted. The people pursuing a strong political agenda from either side are still pursuing their agendas -- but overall legislators from both parties tend to do most of their work together in the middle. That does not seem to have changed. The atmosphere is not overcharged with partisanship and the vast majority of legislators in both parties are looking for ways to work together to get things done for their constituents -- Maine citizens.
The Budget
The centerpiece of any legislative session is the deliberation of the biennial budget, or modifications to that budget based on changes in the state’s revenue forecasts. Our budget, more than any other piece of legislation, reflects our priorities as a government and our values as a state. The same is true this year. It is always difficult for any newly elected Governor to come off the campaign trail and immediately start the process of developing a new two year budget. This year has been no exception.
Governor LePage’s budget as originally submitted to the Legislature makes a clear statement about his priorities and his political philosophy. The deliberations to this point have followed a familiar pattern, and the Legislature is now “circling the airport” a bit waiting for the Governor to release a change package -- modified proposals based on the new information that has been received -- both in terms of changing revenue projections as well as some early reactions to the initial budget document.
Once the “Governor’s change package” has been released, the negotiations will intensify, but it seems clear now that the final budget will be a document based on compromise and consensus as it has been in most past years. Since the budget must be in place by July 1st, and no regular bills -- including the budget -- go into effect until 90 days after the adjourned of the Legislature, once we reach April 1st, the budget must be passed as emergency legislation (which means it can go into effect sooner than the 90 days post-adjournment mandated by the state’s constitution). Emergency legislation requires a 2/3rds vote of the Legislature -- so the budget will move to the center where it must be supported by members of both parties.
That process, while cumbersome, produces a budget that is usually more in line with the values and common sense of Maine people -- and I expect that will be the outcome this session. There will be drama and lots of rhetoric from all sides, but in the end, I expect we will pass a budget that will continue to serve Maine people. No one will be 100% happy with the outcome -- but the document will end up being much more centrist than the early commentaries have indicated. Hold on for a long and lively debate.
Specific Legislative Proposals
So far this session, I have presented a few bills and more are scheduled in the next few weeks. Here is a brief update on these initiatives.
• L.D. 109 Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Promotion and Expansion of the Maine Maple Sugar Industry. I have presented a bill to look more closely at our Maple products industry to find new ways to promote these products -- better utilize our natural resources and create more jobs. The bill was heard on February 10th by the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and was generally well received. A work session will be scheduled soon, but since this is “sugaring season” that discussion will wait until more of the interested processors are out of the woods and available to help the committee in its deliberations.
• L.D. 679 Resolve, To Leverage Federal Opportunities for Job Creation in Maine. On March 17th, I presented this bill to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development where it was discussed and a work session will be scheduled in the near future. This bill calls upon the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development to look for ways that federal and state resources may be leveraged together to create more job opportunities for Maine citizens.
Over the next few weeks, other bills I am sponsoring will be coming before the appropriate committees and I will provide updates as they approach. Already printed, but not yet scheduled for public hearings are:
• L.D. 504 An Act To Prevent the Disclosure of Student Social Security Numbers
• L.D. 683 An Act To Enhance Long-term Care Services for Maine Citizens
• L.D. 818 Resolve, To Improve the Training and Retention of Maine's Professional Direct Care and Personal Supports Workforce
• LD 889 An Act To Regulate Boxing and Prizefighting in Maine
• LD 1035 Resolve, To Establish Baseline Information on Health Impacts from Grid-scale Wind Energy Development
I will post updates as these and other initiatives continue to develop throughout the remainder of the First Regular Session of the 125th Legislature. In the meantime, I can always be reached by phone at 776.8051 and via email at petersonhouse08@gmail.com. As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Testimony Presenting LD 679
Today was the Public Hearing for my bill, L.D. 679 Resolve, To Leverage Federal Opportunities for Job Creation in Maine. This bill was referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development. Below is my testimony presenting LD 679.
Good afternoon, Senator Rector, Representative Prescott and distinguished members of the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development, I am Matt Peterson and I represent District 92 which includes the Oxford County towns of Andover, Byron, Roxbury, and Rumford, as well as the Franklin County communities of Weld and plantations of Rangeley and Sandy River plus the unorganized territories of West Central Franklin and Madrid Township. I am here today to present L.D. 679 Resolve, To Leverage Federal Opportunities for Job Creation in Maine.
I know that I do not have to tell this distinguished committee how essential the process of job creation and promoting new investment is for all of our communities. In my part of the state, western Maine, we are seeing sustained economic turmoil as our traditional, resource based industries seem to be losing some of their competitive advantage in an expanding world market, and we are not yet finding those new economic opportunities that will provide the jobs and prosperity for dislocated workers as well as those people who are newly entering the workforce.
I understand that economic development is really a mosaic where many pieces have to be identified and fall into place in order for us to be successful. Jobs must be created by the private sector, but the state has a role to play in creating a climate for business to grow and for entrepreneurs to invest. The marketplace is competitive -- with incentives being offered by state and local governments to attract new investments and encourage the creation of new jobs.
The federal government, too, has been playing a role in providing stimulus for economic development. The best of that stimulus role has come when the federal government has created incentives to investment in new and expanding sectors -- both manufacturing and service business. As our economy continues to struggle, the federal government has been developing new approaches and devoting new resources to job generation at the local level. While the federal budget is tight -- and getting tighter, there will continue to be resources and investments from the federal government to maintain and stimulate our economic and job growth.
The purpose of this resolve is very simple -- I want to make sure that our state and local policy leaders in economic development are looking for all of the ways to maximize our use of available federal resources, and that we are coordinating state investments -- both existing and emerging -- with those federal opportunities.
I do not have an extensive business resume -- but I do understand the simple concept of leverage, and that is my goal with this bill. I want to make sure that the business tools we have in place can take maximum advantage of targeted federal business incentives. This is a developing landscape, and I expect we will see some new initiatives as we enter the 2012 election cycle. I want to be sure Maine is positioned to take the best advantage of any of these emerging opportunities.
To that end, I am proposing that the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development will monitor and evaluate the existing and emerging federal development incentives, analyze how state programs and resources -- including tax policies, training programs and everything else -- coordinate with these federal initiatives. The question is simple -- Are we maximizing our position to take advantage of resources to create new quality jobs for Maine citizens?
There is no fiscal note attached to this initiative, we are not creating a new bureaucracy or a new study commission or other entity. Instead, the bill attempts to raise an important issue and ask the Department of Economic and Community Development to examine alternatives and report back to this Committee by the end of the year. In this way, we can determine if there are areas where we can suggest new policies or approaches that may complement our efforts to expand jobs and economic activity in the state.
A great deal of attention is being focused on the business climate in Maine -- questions are being raised about the regulatory environment and obstacles that it may raise to the expansion of businesses and jobs. I think these are important questions and issues that we should be addressing.
This bill tries to take a complementary approach -- instead of looking at the obstacles, I want the Department of Economic and Community Development to be looking at the opportunities we might have if we can better leverage federal, state and local resources to expand our employment and business base. We need to be looking at both sides of this equation if we are really going to do our best as a body intent on strengthening the Maine economy.
I hope you will support this idea and send it to the floor with a unanimous recommendation. I look forward to answering your questions now and will be available when you schedule a work session on the bill. Thank you for your attention and interest.
Good afternoon, Senator Rector, Representative Prescott and distinguished members of the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development, I am Matt Peterson and I represent District 92 which includes the Oxford County towns of Andover, Byron, Roxbury, and Rumford, as well as the Franklin County communities of Weld and plantations of Rangeley and Sandy River plus the unorganized territories of West Central Franklin and Madrid Township. I am here today to present L.D. 679 Resolve, To Leverage Federal Opportunities for Job Creation in Maine.
I know that I do not have to tell this distinguished committee how essential the process of job creation and promoting new investment is for all of our communities. In my part of the state, western Maine, we are seeing sustained economic turmoil as our traditional, resource based industries seem to be losing some of their competitive advantage in an expanding world market, and we are not yet finding those new economic opportunities that will provide the jobs and prosperity for dislocated workers as well as those people who are newly entering the workforce.
I understand that economic development is really a mosaic where many pieces have to be identified and fall into place in order for us to be successful. Jobs must be created by the private sector, but the state has a role to play in creating a climate for business to grow and for entrepreneurs to invest. The marketplace is competitive -- with incentives being offered by state and local governments to attract new investments and encourage the creation of new jobs.
The federal government, too, has been playing a role in providing stimulus for economic development. The best of that stimulus role has come when the federal government has created incentives to investment in new and expanding sectors -- both manufacturing and service business. As our economy continues to struggle, the federal government has been developing new approaches and devoting new resources to job generation at the local level. While the federal budget is tight -- and getting tighter, there will continue to be resources and investments from the federal government to maintain and stimulate our economic and job growth.
The purpose of this resolve is very simple -- I want to make sure that our state and local policy leaders in economic development are looking for all of the ways to maximize our use of available federal resources, and that we are coordinating state investments -- both existing and emerging -- with those federal opportunities.
I do not have an extensive business resume -- but I do understand the simple concept of leverage, and that is my goal with this bill. I want to make sure that the business tools we have in place can take maximum advantage of targeted federal business incentives. This is a developing landscape, and I expect we will see some new initiatives as we enter the 2012 election cycle. I want to be sure Maine is positioned to take the best advantage of any of these emerging opportunities.
To that end, I am proposing that the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development will monitor and evaluate the existing and emerging federal development incentives, analyze how state programs and resources -- including tax policies, training programs and everything else -- coordinate with these federal initiatives. The question is simple -- Are we maximizing our position to take advantage of resources to create new quality jobs for Maine citizens?
There is no fiscal note attached to this initiative, we are not creating a new bureaucracy or a new study commission or other entity. Instead, the bill attempts to raise an important issue and ask the Department of Economic and Community Development to examine alternatives and report back to this Committee by the end of the year. In this way, we can determine if there are areas where we can suggest new policies or approaches that may complement our efforts to expand jobs and economic activity in the state.
A great deal of attention is being focused on the business climate in Maine -- questions are being raised about the regulatory environment and obstacles that it may raise to the expansion of businesses and jobs. I think these are important questions and issues that we should be addressing.
This bill tries to take a complementary approach -- instead of looking at the obstacles, I want the Department of Economic and Community Development to be looking at the opportunities we might have if we can better leverage federal, state and local resources to expand our employment and business base. We need to be looking at both sides of this equation if we are really going to do our best as a body intent on strengthening the Maine economy.
I hope you will support this idea and send it to the floor with a unanimous recommendation. I look forward to answering your questions now and will be available when you schedule a work session on the bill. Thank you for your attention and interest.
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