EDITORIALS
The national Insurance Industry for Highway Safety is pushing to raise the driving age from 16 to 17 or 18. The Industry says car crashes are the leading cause of death among teens.
A Saco legisllator has proposed flex days for local schools. Flex Days would give local school boards the option of scheduling for day school days instead of the current five. The law currently requires schools to be in class 175 days a year. Flex days would change the law to allow classroom hours as opposed to classroom days.
For decades the cry from the tourism industry has been promoting inland lakes and mountain development. LURC, the Land Use Regulation Commission, responded with its decision to support the Plum Creek revised plan for development in the Moosehead Lake region. The final implementation plan is expected early next year.
Maine has a new legislature. The first order of business must be to establish spending priorities. The Governor has already requested department heads to pair budgets by 10 percent. That was a target that suggests using a meat ax to cut some $600 million from state spending. A meat ax is the wrong instrument to use. A surgeon's scalpel is needed. The fact is we've got more spending programs, more government than we can afford and something's got to go.
Veteran's Day
It is a day to honor our Veterans. Fighting in World War one ended November 11, 1918 when an armistice between the Allied Nations and Germany went into effect. World War one was known as the war to end all wars. That didn't hold true. Thousands of Maine men and women have since served in World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
We oppose passage of Question three on the State Ballot. Although we favor the projects in the bond we object to bonding relatively small projects with high interest rates when they should be paid from the general fund.
When we borrow money it must be paid back, with interest. There is a bond proposal on the Maine ballot, approved by the last legislature. It asks voters to approve a $3.4 million bond to "support drinking water programs, to support the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and to leverage $17 million in other funds." With interest that $3.4 million jumps to more than $4 million.
Nuts. That is the best way to describe the idea floated by about 100 University and College presidents who are calling on lawmakers to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18.
Federal Law requires States to collect and report students who have been disciplined for prohibited behavior. That includes drug or weapon offenses or serious bodily injury inflicted by one student or another.
You see it every day...drivers distracted by electronic toys, barking dogs and unruly kids.
The good news is Maine is no longer number one as the highest taxing state in the country. The bad news is that it is number 15.
Maine's seniors are at high risk. The Chiefs of Police in Portland, Lewiston and Bangor worry about survival next winter. The ever growing increase in food, fuel and medicine has forced some seniors to make serious cuts. Local senior - care experts have issued warnings for family members and neighbors to be alert for warning signs such as skipping meals and medications.
One of the new roles for the soon to be closed Brunswick Naval Air Station has been announced. The Southern Maine Community College will expand to 14 acres of land and four buildigns donated by the federal government which will allow the campus to better serve the mid-coast region.
The state of Maine is touting alternative energy, windmills, natural gas, wood pellets, wood chips, wood fired boilers, coal as means of surviving a long cold winter. Why doesn't the state insist that alternative energy sources be used in designing new public buildings?
We said we support the proposal to build new electric transmission lines to accommodate new power generators and ship the power to the rest of New England. Gordon Weil, Maine's first public advocate and a consultant on electric transmission lines responds.
We said if a successful people's veto petition drive will force voters in November to either approve or defeat a new law to add a tax on soda, beer and wine to help pay for Dirigo Health. Doctor Lisa Letourneau responds.
Central Maine Power wants to expand the main power lines that deliver electricity from Maine to the New England power grid.
Central Maine Power wants to expand the main power lines that deliver electricity from Maine to the New England power grid
It has taken 20 years but the 85 mile rail corridor rehabilitation project from Hancock to Pembroke in Downeast Maine has begun.
Maine has a Freedom of Access law. It guarantees access to public records and public proceedings of local and state agencies, and bodies.
I'm Fred Nutter with this WCSH 6 Editorial
I'm Fred Nutter with this WCSH 6 Editorial.
I'm Fred Nutter with this WCSH 6 Editorial.
I'm Fred Nutter with this WCSH 6 Editorial.
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