Election Day is creeping up as the candidates hustle to win votes. Are you informed about the candidates and the issues they’re willing to fight for? Don’t be in the dark on Nov. 5. Read on to find out who is who and what they plan to contribute to the state of Maine if elected.
Maine is divided up into districts, which house different candidates running to represent their district. Because there are so many districts, no two ballots will name all the same candidates. However, the major gubernatorial and senate seat candidates will be common to all ballots.
On the ballot two women square off for the U.S. Senate seat. Democratic candidate Chellie Pingree, a former state Senator and Republican candidate Susan Collins, presently the U.S. Senator, vie for position.
Although both women stress the importance of advocating education and healthcare, their approach to problem-solving is quite different. While Collins promoted a $250 tax cut for teachers, which essentially repaid any out-of-pocket school supply spending that may have taken place throughout the year, Pingree stated that it was “a ridiculous notion” to pay teachers back for money that they never should’ve had to spend. Pingree believes that the government should be paying for these supplies from the start.
Collins also has succeeded in obtaining extra funding for reading programs, rural schools, and teacher training.
Both women have plans to increase funding for higher education but plan to implement varying programs. Collins already has helped to increase student loan funding as well as federal Pell Grants for needy students. Pingree’s route to increasing student aid is a bit more diverse, incorporating a proposed $12,000 portion of tuition to tax deduction. Also, she would like to downsize student loan fees, while allowing for a $1,500 tax deduction on student loan interest.
Collins and Pingree agree the healthcare system needs revamping to assist more Mainers in affording prescriptions and coverage. Collins fought to reduce prescription drug prices through a proposed generics program, but it was a failed venture. She also proposed an increase in Medicaid benefits, which fell through as well.
Pingree, while seated on the health and human resources committee, created a program called Maine Rx. This program allows for 325,000 uninsured Mainers to gain access to decreased prescription drug prices. Although pharmaceutical companies are holding up the implementation of this program, the U.S. Senate has passed a law allowing this program to become a national model so other states may adopt it.
Pingree believes a single-payer healthcare system is the answer to Maine’s healthcare problems but Collins disagrees.
Another point of dissent between these candidates surrounds the bill that was recently passed allowing President Bush to take unilateral military action against Iraq. Pingree said she would have voted against it but Collins voted in favor of it, and said it should be used only as a last resort.
The U.S. Senate candidates are not the only two who disagree on the newly passed foreign policy. Republican candidate Steve Joyce, running for U.S. House of Representatives, has accused his competitor, Democrat Tom Allen of being “unpatriotic” because of his opposition to unilateral action.
Allen, along with other members of congress, created an alternative to Bush’s unilateral action resolution stating that, “Our country is strong enough to attack Iraq and win. But we ought to be wise enough to achieve our ends with allies and without war.”
He also pointed out that handing complete power of military action over to Bush places the U.S. functioning outside of the Constitution, which states Congress and the president share power in declaring war.
Joyce has suggested the military itself should be the deciding factor in the declaration of war, not Congress. Joyce’s views extend to deporting foreigners with expired visas and closing immigration to “terrorist harboring nations.”
Spending for defense is a priority to Joyce, and he blames Allen and others for cutting defense spending during Clinton’s term “which crippled the military,” and contributed to the tragedy of Sept. 11.
Both candidates agree that healthcare prices are becoming problematic. Allen proposes to gain access to grants assisting small businesses in covering their healthcare costs. Joyce, opposed to the “government program,” suggests an alternative government sponsored program asking that insurance premiums be tax deductible for small business owners.
Allen is also concerned with implementing increased Medicare coverage and lowering prescription drug prices, while Joyce said, “All the other things – prescription drugs, the environment – are important, but if we can’t protect our citizens, those issues are irrelevant.”
In addition to choosing a candidate, there will also be a series of referendum questions to answer pertaining to bonds and the potential creation of a constitutional amendment.
Two of the three questions refer to the use of bonds. Bonds are a form of loan to the state. Through bonds, which any citizen may purchase, the state raises funds for projects. The legislature decides prior to Election Day which projects to fund with bonds. Questions 1 and 2 address the projects selected by the legislature.
This year, the citizens of Maine will decide by answering Question 1, whether or not to fund a new correctional facility in Machias as well as make improvements upon the correctional facility in South Windham.
Question 2 pertains to the issuance of a $24.1 million. This bond would allocate certain monies to clean up tire stockpiles, support public recycling, protect public health, and many other ventures.
Lastly, the third referendum questions whether to amend Maine’s constitution to allow short-term debt to accrue while improving Maine’s transportation avenues. Maine’s constitution includes a clause that prohibits the state from accruing debt beyond a certain amount. Approving this amendment would allow the state to accrue additional debt to rework Maine’s highways, bridges, and other roadways. This additional debt would be paid back to the state by the federal government within a 12-month period.