Maine State Representative Erik C. Jorgensen
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Issues
  • Legislation
  • Occasional Blog
  • Where in Deering?
  • Contact
  • Sec of State

A Look Back at the First Session of the 127th Legislature

12/10/2015

1 Comment

 
​The Maine Legislature limped across the finish line during the summer, having endured six months of bruising work and narrowly avoiding a state shutdown.  It did not have to be that way, but contention and division have become the hallmarks of governance during this frustrating period.  It’s one where Maine is beginning to feel a little too much like Washington.  Whether one measures dysfunction by the hundreds (!) of vetoes, the Governor’s choice to withhold voter-approved bonds, the state boards and commissions being hobbled by a lack of appointments, or by various bizarre diversions from the important business that the state is facing, nothing seems to be running smoothly. Add to it all a steady beat of anti-Portland rhetoric, and the picture, though not without some notable bright spots, is pretty bleak.

  I am the first to acknowledge the validity of different political viewpoints, even those I don’t agree with, but only harm comes when arguments turn personal, and “my-way-or-the-highway” politics become the norm.  This fall, the most frequent comment I’ve heard from people is some version of “I don’t know how you stand it up there”.  And while my standard response has been to smile and acknowledge that I don’t know either, I want to reiterate that despite the difficulties, I’m grateful to represent this city. We are getting things done, and –perhaps just as significantly-- we have been able to block some very bad policies from taking effect. 

We found funds to rebuild the Hall Elementary School, to support the rail improvements at the international Marine terminal, and expand the homestead exemption. We increased funding for higher and K-12 education, and we passed legislation encouraging local community renewable energy.  We also stopped the Governor’s devastating cuts proposed for the Drugs for the Elderly program and a dangerous weakening of mining rules, just to note a few examples.  

There’s every indication that the upcoming session will continue to be a roller coaster ride, likely to be made worse by posturing around next year’s critical election.  That said, I remain what is probably best described as a “pathological optimist” – I believe that good things can happen when we focus on the immediate work at hand, bill by bill, issue by issue.  And while that’s not necessarily the expansive statewide vision I would prefer, it is a pragmatic approach to assure that we will, at the end of next year, continue to make progress, regardless of what happens around us. I’m grateful for my talented and very hard working colleagues in the Portland delegation, and for the hard work of city officials, led by Mayor Brennan, who has been relentless in coordinating our efforts, and advocating for this city and its needs. 

As for the coming session, I’d just urge you to hold on tight.
1 Comment

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Author

    Erik C. Jorgensen represents Maine House District 41 - Part of Portland. This blog represents his own opinions and not those of the Maine Legislature, Maine Democrats, or anyone else. To read more about me, click here

    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2019
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    February 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All
    126th Legislature
    Angus King
    Baseball
    Bicycle Coalition Of Maine
    Bicycles
    Birds
    Blueberries
    Bonus Depreciation
    Campaign
    Casco Bay High School
    Cat Food
    Courts
    Dakota Access Pipeline
    Difficult Votes
    Electric Cars
    Endorsements
    Energy Mix Solar
    Environment
    General Assistance
    Governor LePage
    Hair Braiding
    Health Care Cost
    Help Fix Me Program
    Hospitals
    Hybrids
    Hydro Power
    Immigrants And Asylum Seekers
    Independent Transportation Network
    Judicial Branch
    League Of Young Voters
    Maine
    Maine Care Expansion
    Maine Conservation Voters
    Maine State Retirement System
    Marriage Equality
    Mayor Brennan
    New Brunswick
    Paul R. LePage
    Portland Business Development
    Portland Community Health Center
    Portland Harbor
    Portland Maine
    Portland Maine
    Project Bazia
    Quebec
    Renewable
    Rep Daughtry
    Rep Jorgensen
    Rep Jorgensen
    Rep. Kruger
    Rep. Richard Farnsworth
    Revenue Sharing
    Riverview Psychiatric Center
    Ryan Reid / Ryan Flaherty
    Senator Gratwick
    Senator Haskell
    Speaker Mark Eves
    Speaker Mark Eves
    Student Debt
    Supplemental Budget
    Tax Conformity
    Transportation
    Voter Education Brigade
    Wildlife
    Zinke

All pages Authorized and © 2012-2020 by The Committee to Elect Erik Jorgensen, 83 Highland Street Portland Maine 04103
​