Rep.
Austin Pushes for Safer Toxic Waste Disposal
Current household hazardous waste disposal methods
are viewed as inadequate.
Augusta--The lack of safe disposal sites in most communities
for household hazardous waste and the desire of Mainers
to be good stewards of the environment prompted LD
1806, "An Act to Provide for the Safe Disposal
of Household Hazardous Waste." The bill, co-sponsored
by Rep. Susan Austin (R-Gray) aims at having municipal
officials work together on a countywide basis to designate
an existing transfer station as a year-round hazardous
waste disposal site.
Currently, citizens have limited opportunities in
which they can properly dispose of old paint, furniture
stripper, rodent and insect pesticides, and other
toxic household items. Municipalities schedule annual
"drop off days" where cities and towns collect
the waste, but LD 1806 will provide citizens with
a permanent drop off location. Municipalities will
be granted the ability to impose adequate disposal
fees in order to cover the program costs.
The bill was presented to the Natural Resources Committee
Tuesday, January 13th and a work session was scheduled
for Thursday, January 15th.
Rep. Susan Austin serves in 121st Maine Legislature
representing the people of Gray and part of New Gloucester.
She is the lead Republican on the Business, Research
and Economic Development Committee.
Immigration
Reform Group Rates Maine's Congressional Delegation
FAIR, the Federation for American Immigration Reform,
released last week its assessment of Maine's Congressional
delegation based on their votes during the past
year on immigration issues.
Neither Maine's 1st District Congressman Tom Allen
nor 2nd Congressional District Rep. Mike Michaud
cast any votes with FAIR during the 108th Congress
in 2003 and in fact they voted against FAIR's position-
twice for Michaud and three times for Allen. Allen
and Michaud both opposed House Vote Number 409 H.AMDT.293
- Tancredo Sanctuary Amendment which would prohibit
any Department of Homeland Security funds from being
allocated to states or localities that refuse to
share information with the Bureau of Immigration
and Customs regarding an individual's citizenship
or immigration status as required by a 1996 law.
Michaud and Allen also voted against House Vote
Number 367 H.AMDT.246 - Hostettler Consular ID Amendment
which authorized the State Department to regulate
the issuance of foreign consular ID cards, such
as the Mexican matricula consular, in the United
States. The FBI and the Department of Justice say
that matricula consular cards are not a reliable
form of identification and pose "major criminal
threats" and a "potential terrorist threat."
Hostettler's amendment directs the Secretary of
State to issue regulations that would require foreign
missions issuing consular ID cards to collect information
on every card recipient and make that information
available to the State Department.
FAIR also took exception with Allen's support for
H.R. 1684 - The Student Adjustment Act of 2003.
This bill would allow illegal aliens to attend state
universities at in-state tuition rates, while unfairly
denying those benefits to U.S. citizens and legal
immigrants from other states. The bill would also
grant amnesty to illegal aliens under the age of
21 who have been in the United States for five consecutive
years. Allen cosponsored this bill. Michaud did
not cosponsor this bill.
On the Senate side, neither Senator Susan Collins
nor Senator Olympia Snowe cosponsored any of the
seven bills the group tracked. The group pointed
out that Snowe cosponsored a bill FAIR opposed:
S. 1645 - Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits,
and Security Act of 2003 (AgJOBS). This bill would
provide an amnesty for illegal aliens engaged in
farm work and their spouses and children. The bill
also expands the H-2A agricultural guestworker program.
Yarmouth Lumber Company Update
Gray-- The Town of Gray and the Department of Environmental
Protection have been working with Yarmouth Lumber
Company on cleaning up the company's truck refueling
site in South Gray since it was discovered two years
ago that a steady dribble of spilled fuel had eventually
contaminated the earth and groundwater of the company's
land and some nearby residential wells. Some of
the environmental issues have been mitigated, but
others are under ongoing discussion and dissension
as to the extent of the cleanup.
The State Department of Environmental Protection
has issued an Administrative Consent Order to Yarmouth
Lumber Company. The parties are expected to meet
over the next two weeks to discuss the details of
the Order. The Order requires Yarmouth Lumber Company
to submit plans for soils and groundwater investigation
and cleaning of contamination by petroleum products;
installation of a holding tank for the garage floor
drain; standards for operating any fueling of vehicles
and pay the State $60,000.
Annual Dividend Refund
Gray-- The Maine Municipal Associations Unemployment
Compensation Fund has distributed a dividend rebate
to participating communities. Gray has received
a check in the amount of $2,134 which will be considered
a miscellaneous revenue. The premium that we have
budgeted for in this fiscal year is $5,436. The
net effect of the rebate is that it reduces this
year's actual payment by 39%.
Maine Municipal Association Dues
Gray--The annual subscription to the MMA has been
invoiced. The amount of $6,345 is based upon their
formula. This has been paid and it also permits
the Town to continue to be a member of the various
insurance pools.
Registry of Deeds Internet Access:
Gray--The Registry of Deeds has started an internet
subscription service allowing towns to access their
data base to confirm land record information. This
will be extremely helpful and cost effective to
the Town as liens and notices must include mortgage
holders. The service will cost $50 per month with
a search and view fee of $.75 per viewed document.
The Town looks forward to participating in this
come March 1.
Jonathan Carter Endorses Kucinich
Congressman Dennis Kucinich, candidate for President
and the self-avowed "Progressive's Choice"
took his message to Bates College on Wednesday where
he spoke to students and faculty members about his
campaign.
Kucinich also announced that he has picked up the
endorsement of Jonathan Carter, one of the founders
of Maine's Green Party and a former candidate for
Governor. Carter's endorsement was announced in
the same press release where Kucinich accepted the
endorsement of Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers,
the Pakistani Public Affairs Committee, and the
US Marijuana Party.
In his endorsement, Pat Simmons said, "Dennis
Kucinich is the only candidate out there who has
the answers America needs to restore integrity to
the office of the Presidency. The others have all
made concessions and compromises with private corporate
interests while Mr. Kucinich remains a true supporter
of the rights, liberty and security of the American
people."
10th
Annual 'Swish-Out' Childhood Cancer Challenge Makes
Call For
Teams Teams of Businesses, Organizations, Or Friends
Encouraged To Enter Benefit Event
Westbrook-- In its ten-year history, the Swish-Out
Childhood Cancer Challenge, sponsored by Maine's
credit unions, has raised more than $27,000. When
the tenth edition of the event tips off on Sunday,
February 15, 2004, the goal is to add to that total.
This year's event is once again happening at the
University of Southern Maine in Gorham. The tournament
is a three-on-three, co-ed, double-elimination event
and is open to adults 21 or older. The entry fee
is still only $100.00 per team and 100% of all funds
raised go directly to the Maine Children's Cancer
Program.
This year's event is once again coordinated by the
Maine Credit Union League and sponsored in part
by Portland Volvo, Dead River Oil Co., Sam's Club,
Oakhurst Dairy, Casco Federal Credit Union, Time
Warner Cable of Maine and WPOR (101.9) Radio.
Teams may be of any size and the only stipulation
is that a member of the opposite sex is on the court
at all times. All participants receive a prize just
for playing and plaques and t-shirts will be awarded
to the top sixteen teams. Space is limited to the
first thirty-two teams to register and this event
has sold out for the past four years.
For an entry form and/or for more information, please
contact Jon Paradise at the Maine Credit Union League
at (207) 773-5671, ext. 273 or e-mail jparadise@mainecul.org.
Maine Rx Plus launched last weekend
AUGUSTA -- Governor John E. Baldacci, joined by
state legislators, the Attorney General and advocates,
announced that a comprehensive plan to lower prescription
drug prices for many Maine citizens was now available.
Over 100 Maine pharmacies will offer Maine Rx Plus
to provide significant discounts to all Maine residents
with incomes at or below 350% of the Federal poverty
level.
The link below will bring you to a website that
shows a list of the participating pharmacies. The
link was provided by Governor Baldacci's office,
and it was noted that new pharmacies are being added
daily. Click on the box fourth from the top,"
Rx Plus."
