If there's one issue I am passionate about, it's transforming Maine into a place where young people can obtain economic opportunity. I often hear folks I've met on the campaign trail say that Maine's environment is "anti-business" and that we need to do more to attract good paying jobs. I believe that it's time to shed that reputation and recognize how business-friendly Maine can be. We've got a wonderful quality of life, a low crime rate, beautiful scenery, and great geographic resources like deep water ports which are ideal for transport.
Rob Brown, the executive director of Opportunity Maine, recently co-wrote an editorial which outlines a wonderful plan to get Maine on the right economic track. As some of you may know, Opportunity Maine is a program which allows those who earn an associate or a bachelor's degree at a Maine school to be reimbursed for education loan payments through a state income tax credit during any year in which they continue to live, work and pay taxes here after graduation.
Programs to guide Mainers to self-sufficiency
A new joint effort focuses on meeting high-wage employers' needs by helping low-income workers develop their skills.
By ROB BROWN and AUTA MAIN
The days when a high school diploma assured a good job for life are long gone. Like most growing industries, even Maine's manufacturing sector now frequently require education well beyond high school just to get in the door, let alone advance up the career -- and income -- ladder.
To make better jobs available to more Maine people, we must better align educational programs that should be ladders from poverty to self-sufficiency.
To that end, Maine's Department of Labor and Opportunity Maine are working together to promote a more comprehensive vision of work force and economic development that will improve business growth, create good jobs and raise incomes in Maine.
Maine has the lowest incomes and the lowest rate of degree attainment of all the New England states. We have a surplus of low-skilled workers and a shortage of middle- to high-skilled workers, leaving many businesses struggling to grow.
For the sake of our economy, common sense dictates that we invest in developing the ability of those low-income workers to gain the skills needed to meet this shortage.
Recent business surveys bear this out. For the National Association of Manufacturers, 90 percent of respondents indicated a moderate to severe shortage of skilled employees.
For the Maine Development Foundation, 42 percent of respondents ranked "educated work force" as their No. 1 need, ahead of other concerns such as taxes, transportation or utility costs.
Furthermore, Phillip Trostel, a research economist at the University of Maine's Margaret Chase Smith Center and School of Economics, has demonstrated that the states with the highest percentage of degree-earners also have jobs that pay the highest salaries. High-wage employers in need of high-skilled workers are not going to locate in a state with a work force like ours.
To improve the composition of our economy, we need to change the composition of our work force. We must invest in educational opportunity. Any economic strategy for Maine that does not have coordinated investments in the skills and capacities of our work force at its core is not sustainable and would not be likely to succeed.
Recognizing this fact, Maine recently passed two innovative laws aimed at increasing access to higher education and developing the state's work force:
READ ON
Monday, August 4, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
My opponent and off-shore drilling
In a recent editorial in the Camden Herald, my opponent endorsed John McCain's plan to lift regulations on off-shore oil drilling. In his piece, Dr. Walker writes:
I remember a time when America's unions were fighting the outsourcing of American's manufacturing jobs by promoting the "Made in America" label. I thought that was a good idea. I think they should have used their platform last month to promote using oil that is "made in America," too.
While I whole-heartedly agree that the US needs to do everything it can to make our country energy independent, I have not seen one shred of proof to suggest that big oil companies will keep the oil in the United States and not sell it to the highest bidder on the open market if they are allowed to drill in environmentally protected areas. There is also no credible evidence to suggest that lifting the ban will bring the price of gas down. The only people who will benefit are the shareholders and CEOs of the Big Oil companies that have already enjoyed record profits during my opponent's party's national reign of the past eight years.
Although the issue of peak oil is one of my big concerns, the problem right now is not a shortage of oil. What we have now is an enormous demand for the black stuff from developing countries which pretty much ensures that the price of oil will not significantly go down - EVER. I've talked to folks on the campaign trail who have expressed their support for drilling in environmentally protected areas with the stipulation that the oil STAYS IN AMERICA. However, what I always have to ask is this:
Given the amount of power and excess our federal government has granted to big business, what makes you think it would enforce any effective regulation that would force the oil companies to comply with this proposal?
In a response to Dr. Walker's editorial, Jerry Call of Midcoast Healthcare Reform recently wrote:
Peter Drucker, a famous business consultant who aided in the creation of the automobile industry and General Motors in particular, once said, “The problem with the railroads was that they thought they were in the “railroad” business. They would be just as strong today if they had only realized they were in the transportation business.” Likewise, the oil industry needs to realize (for themselves and their stock holders) that they are in the “ENERGY” business and get with the renewable program. Just imagine if that one oil company that proudly proclaimed they had spent $41 Billion last year on oil exploration and research, had instead said that they had spent that money on developing a wind or solar farm like the one oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens has built.
I’m not anti business; I’m anti status quo when it is a clear detriment to America’s future.
Food for thought. Instead of "made in [insert nation of origin] oil," which has brought us war, global warming, and our current energy crisis, why not have "made in Maine renewable energy?" It's there and it's waiting for us to harness it. It's time for us to elect folks who have the courage to stand up to big money interests and invest in our future. Our addiction to fossil fuels is not going to be cured through off-shore drilling. We need to invest in renewable energy and we need to do it now.
Listen to Angus King's May 23 speech at Bowdoin College entitled "The Saudi Arabia of Wind: Confronting Maine's Energy Catastrophe" and you'll see what I mean.
I remember a time when America's unions were fighting the outsourcing of American's manufacturing jobs by promoting the "Made in America" label. I thought that was a good idea. I think they should have used their platform last month to promote using oil that is "made in America," too.
While I whole-heartedly agree that the US needs to do everything it can to make our country energy independent, I have not seen one shred of proof to suggest that big oil companies will keep the oil in the United States and not sell it to the highest bidder on the open market if they are allowed to drill in environmentally protected areas. There is also no credible evidence to suggest that lifting the ban will bring the price of gas down. The only people who will benefit are the shareholders and CEOs of the Big Oil companies that have already enjoyed record profits during my opponent's party's national reign of the past eight years.
Although the issue of peak oil is one of my big concerns, the problem right now is not a shortage of oil. What we have now is an enormous demand for the black stuff from developing countries which pretty much ensures that the price of oil will not significantly go down - EVER. I've talked to folks on the campaign trail who have expressed their support for drilling in environmentally protected areas with the stipulation that the oil STAYS IN AMERICA. However, what I always have to ask is this:
Given the amount of power and excess our federal government has granted to big business, what makes you think it would enforce any effective regulation that would force the oil companies to comply with this proposal?
In a response to Dr. Walker's editorial, Jerry Call of Midcoast Healthcare Reform recently wrote:
Peter Drucker, a famous business consultant who aided in the creation of the automobile industry and General Motors in particular, once said, “The problem with the railroads was that they thought they were in the “railroad” business. They would be just as strong today if they had only realized they were in the transportation business.” Likewise, the oil industry needs to realize (for themselves and their stock holders) that they are in the “ENERGY” business and get with the renewable program. Just imagine if that one oil company that proudly proclaimed they had spent $41 Billion last year on oil exploration and research, had instead said that they had spent that money on developing a wind or solar farm like the one oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens has built.
I’m not anti business; I’m anti status quo when it is a clear detriment to America’s future.
Food for thought. Instead of "made in [insert nation of origin] oil," which has brought us war, global warming, and our current energy crisis, why not have "made in Maine renewable energy?" It's there and it's waiting for us to harness it. It's time for us to elect folks who have the courage to stand up to big money interests and invest in our future. Our addiction to fossil fuels is not going to be cured through off-shore drilling. We need to invest in renewable energy and we need to do it now.
Listen to Angus King's May 23 speech at Bowdoin College entitled "The Saudi Arabia of Wind: Confronting Maine's Energy Catastrophe" and you'll see what I mean.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
The Strawberry Festival
Much thanks to everyone who showed up in support at the Strawberry Festival! Here are some photos:
Everyone says this should be my new lawn sign design
See you on the campaign trail!
Everyone says this should be my new lawn sign design
See you on the campaign trail!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Bai tou! Bai tou!
My fiance just arrived from Taiwan a few days ago. Her father was a legislator in the Taiwan government for several years, so she's very familiar with the way political campaigns run. Unfortunately she's already informed me that there is no way that she would ever ride on a float, smiling and waving like her mom did when her father was running. However, she has made some nifty designs for my campaign. During election season in Taiwan, there is seldom a moment when there isn't a blue truck plastered with election signs and blasting music and campaign slogans over loud speakers, barrelling down any given city street. I think I'd be breaking some ordinances if I tried that here, but here's what my truck would look like if I did!
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Issues
Hey folks,
It's been a while since I've updated because I've been extremely busy getting this campaign together. But so far the support I've received has been amazing! Last Sunday we had our first organizational meeting and about twenty-five people showed up to volunteer for various tasks. Tomorrow we're sending out a mass mailing to voters in our district, reminding everyone to vote in the June 10 primary. My palm cards are almost ready and I'll be out in your neighborhoods very soon, hitting doors and discussing the big issues. In the months ahead I will begin to lay out my ideas on how we can improve our communities here in District 44. However, first I'd like to turn your attention to my opponent's record, so that you can get an understanding of how we have been represented in Augusta.
Recently Dr. Walker drew the lines between Democrats and Republicans in an op-ed which was printed in the Bangor Daily News entitled Two sides to story of legislature or The Myth of Bi-Partisanship (as it was called in the Camden Herald). I encourage everyone to read this column, but to give you a quick summary, Dr. Walker's message was, "Democrats and Republicans don't get along."
This is probably not news to anyone reading this post, but since our representative seems so irritated with the ruling party for not supporting the legislation he has sponsored and supported, I think it is extremely important to analyze his record during his recently completed freshman term.
Votesmart.org is an excellent resource for the vigilant voter and you can view Representative Walker's voting record here.
The State of Maine Legislature website provides a list of bills sponsored by each representative.
Here are the three bills Dr. Walker has introduced in the legislature during his term (all of which were killed):
LD 912 (HP687)
An Act To Return Affordable Health Insurance to the State*
LD 1325 (HP933)
An Act To Ensure Adequate Funding for Students of Alternative Schools
LD 1271 (HP899)
An Act To Establish Health Care Practitioner Immunity for Consulting Physicians in Critical Specialties or Subspecialties
* see my last post
I encourage everyone to take a look at these bills and draw your own conclusions if you have the time. In the coming months I will provide my own analysis.
We're trying to launch a debate blog soon, so hopefully we'll both have the chance to present our views in the same forum. More on that later!
- Andy
It's been a while since I've updated because I've been extremely busy getting this campaign together. But so far the support I've received has been amazing! Last Sunday we had our first organizational meeting and about twenty-five people showed up to volunteer for various tasks. Tomorrow we're sending out a mass mailing to voters in our district, reminding everyone to vote in the June 10 primary. My palm cards are almost ready and I'll be out in your neighborhoods very soon, hitting doors and discussing the big issues. In the months ahead I will begin to lay out my ideas on how we can improve our communities here in District 44. However, first I'd like to turn your attention to my opponent's record, so that you can get an understanding of how we have been represented in Augusta.
Recently Dr. Walker drew the lines between Democrats and Republicans in an op-ed which was printed in the Bangor Daily News entitled Two sides to story of legislature or The Myth of Bi-Partisanship (as it was called in the Camden Herald). I encourage everyone to read this column, but to give you a quick summary, Dr. Walker's message was, "Democrats and Republicans don't get along."
This is probably not news to anyone reading this post, but since our representative seems so irritated with the ruling party for not supporting the legislation he has sponsored and supported, I think it is extremely important to analyze his record during his recently completed freshman term.
Votesmart.org is an excellent resource for the vigilant voter and you can view Representative Walker's voting record here.
The State of Maine Legislature website provides a list of bills sponsored by each representative.
Here are the three bills Dr. Walker has introduced in the legislature during his term (all of which were killed):
LD 912 (HP687)
An Act To Return Affordable Health Insurance to the State*
LD 1325 (HP933)
An Act To Ensure Adequate Funding for Students of Alternative Schools
LD 1271 (HP899)
An Act To Establish Health Care Practitioner Immunity for Consulting Physicians in Critical Specialties or Subspecialties
* see my last post
I encourage everyone to take a look at these bills and draw your own conclusions if you have the time. In the coming months I will provide my own analysis.
We're trying to launch a debate blog soon, so hopefully we'll both have the chance to present our views in the same forum. More on that later!
- Andy
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About Me
- Andrew O'Brien for District 44!
- My name is Andy O'Brien and I am the Democratic candidate for the Maine State House of Representatives in District 44, which includes Islesboro, Lincolnville, Hope, Appleton, Searsmont, Liberty and Morrill. I was born in Lincolnville, Maine and I attended local schools. From 2001 to 2007, I lived and worked in Taiwan as a teacher. In 2007, I returned to the US to pursue a degree in education. I was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2008. When I am not serving in the Legislature I work as a landscaper. I am currently in my second year of graduate school at the University of Southern Maine. These past two years have been rewarding and educational. Although our state continues to face hard times, I believe strongly that where there is hardship, there is opportunity. In my work, I have met countless local small business men and women who form the backbone of the Maine economy. As your representative in Augusta, I will continue to stand up for working Mainers and look for innovative ways to build a more sustainable local economy in which small businesses are supported and not hindered by state government.