Allowing uncertified entities to repair products could pose safety risk to consumers
 
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following testimony was delivered by Megan Diver on behalf of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce in opposition of LD 1977, An Act To Ensure A Consumer's Right To Repair Certain Electronic Products, on Thursday, January 23, 2020, before the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business. We have reprinted it here for your review.
 
Senator Herbig, Representative Daughtry, distinguished members of the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business (IDEA) committee: I am Megan Diver, senior government relations specialist at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, a statewide business association representing both large and small businesses across the state. The Chamber supports policies and priorities that help Maine businesses prosper and our economy flourish to make Maine as competitive as possible. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: We have reprinted a Letter to the Editor from Jason Judd, Ed.D., executive director of Educate Maine, from Thursday, January 23 for your review and consideration. It also appears online at www.pressherald.com/2020/01/23/letter-to-the-editor-state-should-expand-child-care-options.
 
As your January 9 editorial, “Child care access is a Maine workforce issue,” points out: Today, too many working parents with young children must make a choice between spending a significant portion of their income on child care, finding cheaper but potentially lower quality child care, or leaving the workforce altogether to care for their children. Whether because of limited availability, high costs, or program hours that don’t work with parents’ schedules, child care challenges are driving parents out of the workforce.

On Tuesday, January 21, the Maine State Chamber testified in support of LD 1898, An Act Regarding Property Taxes on Certain Energy Generation Projects, sponsored by Sen. Heather Sanborn (D-Cumberland). The bill would require Maine Revenue Services (MRS) to value property of an energy generation project that is located partially in the unorganized territory and partially in organized territory and to allocate the value to the organized territory appropriately.   

On the evening of Tuesday, January 21, 2020, Governor Janet Mills delivered her first State of the State Address to the Maine State Senate, the Maine House of Representatives, cabinet members, invited dignitaries, and the citizens of Maine. Centering on themes of readiness and resilience, the speech lasted approximately an hour and was televised live on Maine Public. We have reprinted the Governor’s remarks as they were prepared.
 
“President Jackson, Speaker Gideon, Chief Justice Saufley, distinguished members of the 129th Legislature and honored guests, I am here tonight to continue the story of our state — to talk about the progress we have made, the challenges we face, and the strength and resilience of the people of Maine.

Tuesday, April 28 through Thursday, April 30, 2020
 
In collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the national Association of Manufacturers

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce takes pride in putting together this unique opportunity for our members. As we continue to find ourselves in the middle of important issues in Washington that have a significant impact on our members, such as health care, energy, taxes, regulations, etc., the Washington, D.C., Fly-In has proven to be extremely beneficial to our member attendees as well as to our Congressional Delegates.

On Tuesday, January 21, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce will be testifying in strong support of LD 1898, An Act Regarding Property Taxes on Certain Energy Generation Projects. Sponsored by Sen. Heather Sanborn (D-Cumberland), the bill would require Maine Revenue Services (MRS) to value property of an energy generation project that is located partially in the unorganized territory and partially in organized territory, and to allocate the value to the organized territory appropriately.