It is an honor and a privilege to represent our community in the Maine House of Representatives. Thank you for the opportunity to serve alongside two extraordinary public servants, Rep. Mo Terry, D-Gorham, and Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Cumberland, and work with people across the political spectrum to develop solutions to the challenges we face.
When I campaigned for State Representative last year, Gorham voters told me that we needed to do more to protect our democracy for future generations, especially when it comes to civics education. To that end, I have submitted legislation, “An Act To Promote Civics Education in Schools,” to change Maine’s graduation requirements to elevate the importance of democracy and citizenship education in schools.
In his inaugural address to Congress in 1797, John Adams warned the nation that schools were “the only means of preserving our constitution from its natural enemies,” which he named as “sophistry” [fake news], “party” [polarization], “intrigue” [conspiracy theories], “profligacy” [recklessness], “corruption” and “foreign influence.” Generations of Americans were educated in schools to understand this warning, value the awesome responsibilities of American citizenship and keep a watchful eye over our nation. Unfortunately, democracy and citizenship education has been demoted as a priority over the decades due to competing obligations imposed on schools by society and the state.
My civics bill proposes to pull “civics” and “government” out from underneath the “history” section of the graduation requirements and award a new category for the democracy and citizenship life skills that are already detailed in the Maine Learning Results: citizenship, government, personal finance and entrepreneurship. This simple fix elevates the importance of civics education without imposing a new course mandate on schools, without negatively impacting the American history requirement, and without increasing the total minimum basic requirements. Because I share the concerns of Gorham citizens who are passionate about the need to address racial and social injustice in our society, my bill also includes language to ensure that the teaching of American history incorporates the histories of “religious and racial minorities, women, and LGBT people.”
In addition to civics education, I have proposed legislation this session to create competitive grant programs for sustainable economic development and carbon reduction initiatives at the municipal level; to bond for an international customs facility at the Portland International Jetport that will generate tourism and economic growth in our region during the months and years following the pandemic; to study tax incentives for residential sprinklers that would make this life-saving investment more affordable for homeowners; to prevent lawmakers from repealing laws approved by Maine voters for a period of two years and allow only technical fixes; to reestablish the Maine planning office to assist towns and counties with better planning for the future; and to codify changes to absentee voting that were made this year, thereby making it easier for voters to participate in our democracy.
In addition to these bills, I am working with colleagues on legislation that range in scope from promoting volunteer service to making college more affordable. The committee on which I serve, the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee, will begin meeting on January 18 and will hear bills ranging from business licensing to workforce development. My committee will play an important role in finding creative solutions to the economic challenges facing our business and families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I welcome the opportunity to hear from you on these and other issues that matter to you. Please contact me with any concerns or questions.
Rep. Kyle Bailey, D-Gorham, is serving his first term in the Maine House of Representatives. He owns his own business and is a member of the Gorham Business Exchange. He serves on the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee. You can reach him by emailing kyle.bailey@legislature.maine.gov or calling (207) 939-8600. For immediate assistance, please send a text message.