CARIBOU, Maine — Rep. Bruce Poliquin, Maine’s 2nd District Congressman, declined to comment on the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate the Essential Air Service program, which subsidizes air service in smaller communities such as Presque Isle.
Poliquin, who made an appearance in Caribou on April 15 to endorse the grand opening of a homeless veterans shelter, instead shifted the focus to matters pertaining to veterans in need.
“I want to talk just about this issue (veterans’ shelter, veteran health care, and the ARCH program) so I’m really not going to be discussing anything else,” Poliquin said on Saturday.
In response to a specific question regarding the EAS program, he said “the budget is submitted by the President as the first step in the process. This is a long process, and the Constitution makes it very clear that neither the President or his administration can determine spending priorities. Congress determines what the budget will look like.” Poliquin continued, “the President can submit anything, but we’re working on it and it’s a first step.”
The EAS program is essential to four airports in Maine, including the Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle. Of the annual $200 million spent on EAS, roughly $5 million goes to Pen Air’s daily Presque Isle-Boston route. For County-based business owners who rely on regular air travel, the next closest airports are more than two hours away in Bangor and Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Poliquin did not take a stance either for or against the potential elimination of EAS, saying that Congress is currently addressing a number of other issues, and won’t be concentrating on the budget until they’ve focused on “fixing this health insurance problem” and “moving into a tax reform package.”
The Congressman said “thank you” and walked away rather than providing specific comments regarding the EAS program.
Editor’s note: Brendan Conley, Congressman Poliquin’s press secretary, said Tuesday that Congressman Poliquin has repeatedly voted in support of funding for the Essential Air Service program, in every final funding bill that Congress has passed since being elected to Congress. Conley said the Second District lawmaker voted against an amendment last year that would have specifically defunded EAS (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll298.xml). He added that Congressman Poliquin has stated, since the day President Trump first released his proposal, that he has concerns with the proposal.
