Maine: Pingree

The Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 (H.R. 1409, Reps. Michaud and Pingree as original cosponsors, now up 222 members) was introduced this week in Congress, and so it is back in the news.

A rally in support of it was held yesterday in Bangor, and the BDN has this report:

A group of about 20 held a rally Wednesday morning at Food AND Medicine in Brewer, an organization that formed in 2002 to assist laid-off workers with food, medicine and other necessities. Jack McKay, director of Food AND Medicine and the Eastern Maine Labor Council, called the event a success if for no other reason than it keeps the debate going.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci outlined an ambitious plan Tuesday to help lift Maine out of the current recession by investing in energy and health care while continuing to streamline state government.

In a speech to a joint gathering of the Legislature, Baldacci acknowledged the tough economic conditions that have left thousands of Mainers jobless and forced lawmakers to pare down state government at a time when many are seeking more support.

But the governor was also optimistic, saying Maine is well-positioned to emerge from the recession stronger because of its abundant natural resources and hardworking people.

“The dawn of a new economic day in Maine is not here yet, but it is coming,” Baldacci said in his annual State of the State address.

Rep. Chellie Pingree announced this morning that Jackie Potter will be the point person in her Portland office to "help Maine businesses, organizations and individuals understand and take advantage of federal funding from the Economic Recovery Package recently passed by Congress."

More from the press release:

"The Recovery Act makes provides for significant investments in the Maine economy," Pingree said. "We estimate 15,000 jobs will be created or saved over the next two years.  We will see investments in education, healthcare, construction and clean energy. But all of that isn't going to happen by itself and we will need to work hard to get this money into the economy quickly and efficiently.

WASHINGTON — During a speech in which Republican senators often remained seated while Democrats applauded, Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe stood up when President Obama referred to the passage of a $787 billion stimulus package. They and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., were the only GOP senators to vote for the bill when it passed the Senate.

After the president’s speech Tuesday night, Snowe released a statement lauding Obama’s “aggressive and ambitious agenda,” saying bipartisan cooperation will prove even more important now given the challenges facing the nation.

Snowe singled out Obama’s plan to reform the American health care system, the details of which the president said he would outline as soon as next week, as a good idea to address a “mounting crisis” affecting more than 47 million uninsured Americans.