As Legislative session approaches, what are the local legislators' goals?
By Elizabeth Prata

The First Regular Session of the One Hundred and Twenty-Second Maine Legislature was scheduled to convene on Wednesday, December 1, 2004. The Monument Newspaper asked Sen. Lois-Snowe-Mello (R-Poland) a few questions as to her goals as a representative in District 15. A former Representative, Snowe-Mello was elected in November to her first term in the Senate. She represents Androscoggin County towns of Poland, Durham, and Auburn, and in Cumberland County, New Gloucester. Below, Snowe-Mello

What are your goals for this session?

There is so much that needs to be done it is overwhelming.

1.) tax relief and tax reform,

2.) working to make Maine business friendly in order to provide better jobs and to get the economy stimulated and going in a positive direction, and

3) Fixing the Health Insurance dilemma we have in this state, which still is not working, by bringing competition and rolling back regulations set 10 years ago. We must do this in order to make premiums and deductibles
more affordable to folks in Maine, along with Welfare Reform.

How successful will the Republicans be?

I believe that the Republicans want tax relief and want a strong business environment in order to provide good jobs and quality jobs for Maine's people. I believe that Republicans believe that we continue on fixing the health care and Health Insurance delivering systems and to also provide necessary Welfare reform.

What are the Democrats going to do?
I am not a Democrat so I cannot tell you at this time what their goal is. Perhaps they plan to continue down the path of destruction with the Dirigo Health Plan that will only bankrupt the state. Perhaps I will also find out more on what the Governor's plans are after we are there for a week next week.