Summer '10 Update

Although the 124th Maine Legislature adjourned back in April, there is still plenty of work to be done during the off-season and the summer of 2010 has been no exception.

In July I drove to Washington D.C. to meet on Capitol Hill one-on-one with each of the four members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation; Representatives Michaud and Pingree and Senators Snowe and Collins.

The major focus of our discussion was, of course, jobs and the economy. I stressed my firm belief in the need to strengthen our existing manufacturing base while positioning Maine to be a part of the future employment market. There was little disagreement amongst us that we constantly need to be seeking ways to keep Maine’s bread-and-butter paper producing roots intact while simultaneously improving our educational system so that the next generation is well prepared for the science, technology, and engineering employment opportunities for which the demand is always increasing.

Another talking point during my discussions came directly from my conversations with local providers and constituents. I asked each member of our delegation to support the extension of the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which is used to calculate the amount of Federal share of state expenditures for services. Extending FMAP as part of the ongoing economic stimulus is essential to maintain the social services safety net for people with a disability and seniors. Given our demographics and economics, many Maine citizens depend upon support from the federal and state government to live independently. I am committed to the most sustainable and cost-efficient service delivery system, but that system must be adequately funded -- and in this economic downturn greater participation by the federal government is essential to bridge the gap as the Maine economy recovers.

I also stressed that now is the time to promote full funding of the federal portion of special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Maine’s public schools are struggling with the impacts of state budget cuts that have reduced state aid to education in light of declining state revenues. One of the largest expenses for schools is the money spent to serve children with special educational needs. This is also a very vulnerable population where an early investment can pay lifelong dividends for the individual as well as society as a whole. When the IDEA was passed, creating specific mandates for states and local schools, the federal government agreed to pay its share of the costs associated with those mandates. That promise has never been kept. The federal government is providing local school districts with just under 20 percent of its commitment rather than the 40 percent specified by the law, creating a $10.6 billion shortfall for states and local school districts. I pointed out that now is a perfect time for the federal government to honor those commitments by fully funding special education mandates for local schools and that H.R. 3578/S. 1652 is an appropriate mechanism to accomplish this funding.

The final issue I raised during our discussions was the fact that as a result of our involvement in two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the number of young Maine citizens with serious disabilities is increasing. We owe an enormous debt to these wounded warriors, and we must make adequate investments to insure that we support them now that they have made a significant sacrifice for their country. Not only must we insure that the resources are available through our Veteran’s facilities, but we must also insure that there are adequate resources in the broader community to support their full re-integration into community life. Simply put, we must invest directly in our soldiers who are returning with some type of disability, but we must also invest more broadly in the communities that will continue to serve them. Such investments will create the largest possible return.

On the last day of my visit to Washington D.C, I responded to an invitation to present at the National Council of Independent Living’s (NCIL) Annual Conference on the importance of each of us as citizens taking a role to access and influence the lawmaking process. NCIL is the longest-running cross-disability, grassroots organization in the nation. This year their annual conference was attended by over 700 people. I was honored to be invited and excited to share with them the progress we’ve made in Maine in promoting systems change in areas such as home and community based long-term supportive services.

I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy start to the school year. With a fresh start comes a renewed sense of hope and new opportunities to succeed. Good luck in all of your endeavors this academic year and I look forward to watching everyone work hard in the classroom and on the sports field.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Representative.