In my last column, I shared my frustration that the Legislature had adjourned before completing its work, leaving a number of good bills in limbo. But as of this writing, we have been called back in and are now two days in to a special session. I’m thankful that a majority of my colleagues from each caucus agreed to come back and complete our work for the year, which includes approving funding for a number of important pieces of legislation.
The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee has approved several spending packages and are considering bond measures that the House and Senate will hopefully vote on during the special session.
As anyone who has driven over our roads and bridges can tell you, we need greater transportation investment. LD 1815, a transportation bond, would invest nearly $100 million in the state’s highways, bridges, airports, freight and passenger rail, ports and harbors and other transportation projects. It would also leverage more than $100 million in matching federal and other funds. This bond will go a long way toward maintaining and updating Maine’s infrastructure.
The committee is also considering bonds for the state’s public university and community college systems. Maine is facing a nursing shortage that is growing larger as more of the workforce retires. Maine’s Nursing Action Coalition has reported that, in order to close the gap and meet growing demand, we need to increase graduates in nursing programs by 400 per year. The committee is working on a bond that will assist in building capacity and infrastructure, allowing nursing programs at our universities to increase enrollment.
Likewise, the community college bond would invest $15 million to upgrade laboratories at the seven Maine community colleges. Investing in education now will pay off significantly down the road as we graduate a well-trained workforce. This bond proposal will also pay for improvements in the energy efficiency of community college campuses, which will allow the community college system to put more of its funding toward programs that train students.
Our work thus far has not been limited to spending bills. On Wednesday, the House passed LD 1914 to rename a bridge in Norridgewock the Corporal Eugene Cole Memorial Bridge. As of this writing, the bill is on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature. Renaming this bridge in memory of Corporal Cole, who was killed in the line of duty in April, is one way we can recognize his service and his sacrifice and preserve his memory.
Additionally, we have passed funding for the voter-approved Medicaid expansion, school funding, tax conformity, and county jail funding. These are all important measures we were unable to pass in April, but they have received significant bipartisan support during our special session.
By the time you read this, I am hopeful that we will have nearly completed the work before us and finished what you have sent us to Augusta to do. As always, please feel free to contact me with your questions and concerns.
Rep. Andrew McLean, D-Gorham, is serving his third term in the Maine House. He is House chair of the Transportation Committee and represents parts of both Gorham and Scarborough.
(207) 939-8482 | (800) 423-2900 | andrew.mclean@legislature.maine.gov