By Sen. Troy Jackson
I have served in the State House for eleven years, working with hundreds of lawmakers from across the state who have different ideas, but a common goal: let’s make Maine the best state it can be. In my time here, I’ve never seen one man stand in the way of that goal as often as Governor LePage does. Under his watch, we are missing opportunities to create jobs, strengthen our economy, and make our state healthier.
While other states have been recovering from the recession, Maine lags behind. We have recovered less than one-third of the jobs we lost in the recession—far behind our New England neighbors. In fact, since Governor LePage took office, Maine ranks last in job creation.
We are not the only ones who have noticed. Earlier this summer, a business journal ranked Governor LePage the second worst governor in the country for his jobs record. The governor likes to say he is the business governor, but it seems business disagrees.
And the governor’s actions and policies have made the situation worse. Earlier this year, he changed the rules in the middle of the game, breaking an agreement with a global company prepared to invest millions of dollars in Maine and create hundreds of jobs for its off-shore wind energy project. With this deal, Maine would have been at the forefront of a high-tech, developing industry. Instead, we have lost that opportunity.
The legislature’s Workforce Committee developed a bipartisan, first-of-its-kind workforce development bill to address the skills gap by providing training and education to make sure Maine people have the skills they need for the jobs of the future. The bill was unanimously recommended by the committee, and overwhelmingly approved by legislators in both the Senate and the House. The governor vetoed it.
Twice, the governor had the chance to accept the federal government’s offer to increase access to health insurance for nearly 70,000 people. These are people who are working, but are caught in the middle: they earn too much to get health insurance for low-income people, but they don’t earn enough to afford health insurance on their own. These are people who work hard and do the best they can for their families, but sometimes just can’t make ends meet.
Accepting this deal would have provided them with the care they need when they need it, and it would have brought millions of dollars into our economy and created more than 3,000 jobs to Maine, including 280 jobs and $24 million right here in Aroostook County. Instead, the governor rejected the deal. Twice.
For two and a half years, the governor has refused to release $100 million in voter-approved bonds, which would strengthen our economy by investing in our education system, funding needed research and development, and repairing our crumbling roads and bridges. Holding back the bonds prevented 4,000 people from getting back to work this construction season.
We all want to see the words “Made in the USA” more often, which is why I sponsored a bill to strengthen American manufacturing by encouraging the State of Maine to buy American at every reasonable opportunity. American Manufacturing is still fighting to come back, and even Walmart is pledging to spend $50 billion over the next 10 years on American made products. But the governor vetoed the Buy American bill.
Supporting our workers and our businesses will strengthen our economy. But it requires more than just signs and slogans. It requires a willing partner in the government who will prioritize the needs of Maine people over political games. It requires investment in our workforce and our small businesses, and a strong education system to provide a good foundation for economic growth.
We can do this. But it will be harder if Governor LePage doubles down on the same bad policies that aren’t working.
Sen. Troy Jackson (D-Allagash) is serving his third term representing Aroostook County in the Maine Senate. In the Senate, he serves as assistant majority leader and as chair of the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee. He can be reached at either 398-4081 (home) or 436-0763 (cell), or via e-mail at SenTroy.Jackson@legislature.maine.gov
