I was pleased to see people from our area among those confirmed by the Senate that day. Jonathan Mapes of Springvale was confirmed as a member of the Maine Board of Environmental Protection, and David Ferguson of Limerick was appointed to the Maine School of Science and Mathematics’ Board of Trustees. All told, the confirmations took only about an hour as the nominees had all been previously vetted and voted on by legislative committees.
Though the Senate was only in for an hour, most lawmakers stuck around for the entire day and senators were joined by representatives as the Legislative Council (the 10 members of legislative leadership) met to vote for the final time on the bills being proposed for the 2016 legislative session. This time around, they were voting on appeals of bills they had already voted to not let move forward. It’s important to note that this is not passing a bill, but rather letting the title and concept of a bill be considered during the session – a hurdle bills must pass only every other year.
I had one bill up for appeal, and thankfully the Legislative Council reversed its initial decision and decided to let the bill, “An Act to Increase Access to Treatment for Opiate Addiction in Maine,” be considered in 2016. The bill proposes to set the MaineCare reimbursement rate for outpatient methadone treatment at a level equal to the rates in effect prior to the 2010/2012 cuts, making the operation of clinics such as Sanford’s more viable. Sanford and Westbrook both had clinics close following the cuts in recent years. I submitted this legislation after hearing from many community members and folks who work in the social services/addiction field about the vacuum left by the closure of the methadone clinic in Sanford.
On Oct. 13, I attended the Community Conversation on heroin/opioid abuse and learned a lot. It is a scary topic, and one we certainly need to address. There is no easy answer, but treatment certainly needs to be a part of the solution. We are fortunate to have many people in our area working on the issue and driving community awareness. Sanford Police Chief Thomas Connolly, the York Public Health Liaison Adam Hartwig, and Connie Roux from the Partners for Healthier Communities are only a few of the knowledgeable, caring people who are working to help our area fight this epidemic.
Enforcement cannot be ignored as part of the solution, certainly, but I believe it must be focused on the dealers who profit from others’ pain. Addicts must be treated, and we also must raise awareness and educate people about the danger of these drugs before they get hooked.
On a completely different note, I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to fill out and return the survey included in my legislative mailer. There is still time to fill it out, and if you prefer to fill it out online you can find the link at my “Woodsome for Maine” Facebook page. Hearing from constituents really is important as I consider the many issues on which we are asked to vote in Augusta. I am here to represent you, and to do so effectively knowing your opinions is essential.
In addition to filling out the survey, please don’t hesitate to be in touch on any state issue. My email is dcwoodsome@gmail.com and my phone number is 432-5643.
— Sen. David Woodsome represents Senate District 33 which includes Cornish, Limerick, Newfield, Parsonsfield, Sanford, Shapleigh and Waterboro.
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