From the Maine House
By Rep. Bob Saucier
My top priorities as your representative in the Maine House are helping the citizens of Aroostook County and listening to my constituents about their needs and concerns.
One reason Aroostook County is unique is our proximity to the Canadian border. Many older U.S. citizens were born in Canada because there was no nearby hospital in their town at the time, but they are still U.S. citizens because they have American parents.
Over the year, some are unable to prove legal residence in the United States because they cannot supply their parents’ birth certificates and do not have other documentation to prove their citizenship status.
That is why, last year, I submitted legislation to make it easier for U.S. citizens born outside the country to renew their driver’s licenses.
I first submitted this legislation when one of my constituents informed me that he had been unable to properly renew his driver’s license for years now. Instead, every time he went to renew his driver’s license he was given a 60-day temporary license.
The new law allows the Secretary of State to exempt a driver from the requirement of producing a birth certificate, passport or similar documentation, if the person has continuously held either a non-driver identification card or a valid driver’s license since Dec. 31, 1989 or was born before Dec. 1, 1964.
Last year, this bill successfully passed “under the hammer,” meaning that it had unanimous support in the both the House and the Senate, and was signed into law by the governor.
I was approached by another constituent last year, about the expense of handicap accessible equipment. I submitted legislation to make it a little easier for those who are already struggling to purchase the equipment.
My bill exempts the sale of adaptive equipment to make a vehicle handicap accessible from sales tax will become law in July 2014. It also passed “under the hammer.”
I am also proud of my work on other bills in the Legislature that benefit both the citizens of Aroostook County and the state as a whole.
Currently, I am cosponsoring legislation to help Maine military service members better understand their employment rights under federal law. The bill would help distribute information to service members about their rights under the Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. The federal law addresses the rights of uniformed service members to return to their civilian employment, including rights around seniority, pay or pensions.
While the outcome of this bill has yet to be determined, be assured that supporting Maine veterans will always be a top priority for me.
I’m grateful that my constituents have turned to me with their questions and concerns around state government. The more I hear from my constituents, the more effective I can be in representing our district.
You have my promise that I will continue to work hard for my constituents and for Maine.
Rep. Robert J. Saucier (D-Presque Isle) can be reached at 227-1160 or via email at saucierforpi@gmail.com.
