Each Candidate in The Monument's news area was offered space to submit a 400-word or so position piece. Their essays are below. The Monument thanks all who participated and wishes all of you good luck November 2.

Maine Senate, 15th District,
Sen. Neria Douglass and candidate Lois Snowe-Mello

Snowe-Mello had served 4 consecutive terms in the House, she is now running for Senate against incumbent Senator Neria Douglass in the Maine Senate 15th district, comprised of Auburn, Poland, New Gloucester and Durham.

Looking to our future
By Sen. Neria Douglass, Senate District 15

During the last Legislature I voted to negotiate with drug companies to provide lower cost prescription drugs to Maine citizens through the Maine Rx Plus Card. This is what the federal government does with the Veterans Administration and Medicaid. This Maine program was introduced in my first term six years ago, and I am proud to have been a cosponsor. However, the drug companies sued the State of Maine and delayed it until we won in the United States Supreme Court. With bulk purchasing power, the program is not an entitlement, but a way of using our own population to get better prices. Independent Governor King signed the bill because he liked this idea.

I also voted to commence a public/private health insurance initiative called Dirigo Health. Again, the idea is to use the population of uninsured and small businesses in Maine for the purchasing power we have as a group. At present, too many people are unable to purchase health insurance because of price. Not being in a large group, they will continue uninsured.

When hospitals must deliver care that cannot be fully paid for and insurance premiums must make up the difference, prices go ever higher. Dirigo Health incorporates a board that will look at reducing healthcare costs, another that will consider high-risk pools, and a governing board. This public/private solution to the healthcare crisis is unique in our nation, and many other states are looking to us for leadership.

Finding solutions is important to me and has always been important to my constituents. Complaining about a problem without offering a solution is not my style. However, my votes on Maine Rx Plus and Dirigo Health are being criticized by some as anti-business (MERI, Alliance for Maine's Future).

These same groups support my opponent for voting against them and say that's good for business. I don't think so. I think local businesses want to have lower cost prescriptions for their employees and customers. I think small businesses want the opportunity to buy health insurance for themselves and their employees at a reasonable cost. But you the voters will hear these claims and ought to know what they are about. I hope you'll vote for me because you know I work for you and not for the outside interests that fund these groups. Thank you for your support.

Neria R. Douglass
465 West Auburn Rd.
Auburn, ME 04210
782-1518
October 25, 2004

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Rep. Lois Snowe-Mello

Representative Lois Snowe-Mello announced today that, after serving 4 consecutive 2-year terms in the Maine House of Representatives, she is seeking the District 15 State Senate seat. District 15 includes the city of Auburn and the towns of Durham, New Gloucester and Poland. During her tenure in the Maine House, Representative Snowe-Mello served on several important policy committees including Health and Human Services, Criminal Justice, and Insurance and Financial Services.

As a Representative, she has distinguished herself as an advocate for small business and has worked diligently to help Maine become a more attractive place to grow a business and to create high quality, good paying jobs. Due to her efforts, she has consistently earned high ratings from key organizations such as the Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI) and the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB).

Representative Snowe-Mello has also been endorsed by Alliance for Maine's Future, Maine Forest Legacy. Representative Snowe-Mello received an award for Legislator of the Year on Family Values from Maine Christian Civic League and in the past received an award from Maine Merchants Association for being Legislator of the Year. SAM and NRA have endorsed Representative Snowe-Mello.

Representative Snowe-Mello has worked with her colleagues over the past two years in an attempt to bring an affordable health insurance delivery system to Maine, based on similar programs in other states that allow for increased competition and more affordable healthcare. Such a system would drive down the high cost of health insurance and would potentially reduce premiums and deductibles significantly.

"Exorbitant health care costs in Maine are forcing people to make choices between heat or doctor visits, food or much needed medical prescriptions," said Representative Snowe-Mello. "Our state's Medicaid system is spiraling out-of-control and we are being served a steady diet of untested and untried solutions.

Among her priorities, Representative Snowe-Mello believes strongly in ensuring that K-12 and higher education is adequately funded, Maine's regulatory burden is addressed and Maine's tax burden is reduced. She believes fervently in the principles outlined in the constitution of Maine and the United States and uses these two documents to guide her as she makes legislative decisions. "The Maine Legislature has, for far too long, attempted to tax our state into prosperity," said Representative Snowe-Mello.

"This approach has been proven ineffective. It is high time that we address the burdensome tax obligations of Maine's residents. High taxes stifle the economy, force people out of their homes and drive jobs across Maine's borders. We need to readjust Maine's priorities and policies to allow people to keep more of the money they earn."