I have served on and off in the Maine Legislature for decades now. In my experience, this has been one of the most challenging sessions, because despite the Legislature’s best efforts, the governor continued to block progress by putting politics ahead of good policy. At more than 80 vetoes, Gov. Paul LePage vetoed more bills than any governor in Maine’s history.
Despite this difficult environment, there were some successes, and I would like to share two of them with you.
One very important issue to me is early childhood development and the need to better fund programs that invest in our future by investing in our children. Research has shown that early childhood programs have significant economic and societal value, and increase a child’s chances at becoming a productive member of society. Early childhood education generates a strong return on investment from every tax dollar and reduces the need for expensive remedial education and special education later on. It also saves taxpayer money by reducing dropout rates, crime and incarceration.
Maine children need full access to quality learning beginning at birth, but unfortunately, many children are still waiting to be a part of early childhood programs. This is due, in part, to inadequate funding of Maine’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
I put in a bill to correct this problem, and the Health and Human Services Committee combined it with another bill to create a broader measure aimed at putting early childhood development on stronger footing. This combined bill passed both the Senate and the House unanimously.
Unfortunately, it was then vetoed by the governor, and that veto was sustained because House Republicans changed their votes. I’m no stranger to politics, but I do not believe that political games should be played with our children, particularly children who through no fault of their own are born into poverty. I am reminded of the Book of Matthew in the Bible, which says that we are judged by what we do to the least of those amongst us.
One bill that received broad bipartisan support (but that has not become law yet) is a bill I sponsored to better sustain emergency medical services throughout the state of Maine. I work as an emergency medical technician, and have seen the financial pressures that both municipal emergency medical services and private ambulance companies are facing. For many years, MaineCare reimbursement to EMS providers has been much lower than the cost of providing these services.
We are required by law to respond to all requests for emergency care, regardless of whether the provider will be reimbursed. It is required, but we also believe it is our duty.
Emergency medical services are essential, and it is essential to do whatever we can to make sure they can continue to be provided as effectively as possible, as efficiently as possible, and to all residents of the State of Maine who might need them. My colleagues and I worked out a compromise with the Appropriations Committee that will put these services on a more solid footing.
Despite that setback, however, both of these bills represent real progress. Legislators from both parties worked together to solve real problems, and passing these bills gives us a better opportunity to continue to move forward with common-sense policies that help working Mainers and their families.
— Sen. John Tuttle is a Democrat representing District 3, Sanford and Springvale. He is the chairman of the Veterans & Legal Affairs Committee and a member of the Judiciary Committee.
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