Maine State Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Improvements in Transparency of Legislature

​For Immediate Release                                                                                           Media Contact: Katie Clark
Tuesday, January 14, 2025                                                                                                  Cell: 207-233-2230

AUGUSTA, Maine (Jan. 14, 2025) - The Maine State Chamber of Commerce welcomed the adoption of rules changes that will improve legislative transparency and called upon the Legislature to continue to build upon the work to make the legislative process publicly accessible and work to improve the efficiency of the Legislature. 
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Maine State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Woodcock issued the following statement in response:  

“The Maine State Chamber of Commerce appreciates these rule changes adopted today and encourages the Legislature to build on this work to ensure that the legislative process is transparent and accessible to the public.”  

In December, the Chamber sent a letter to legislative leaders urging them to take action this month to eliminate egregious use of concept drafts and ensure that specific legislative language is available to the public prior to public hearings and work sessions. This continued the Chamber’s advocacy for greater transparency at the Maine State Legislature, the Chamber having testified on the need for greater transparency at the Legislature’s Joint Rules Committee hearing in July 2024 and inviting all Maine House and Senate candidates to respond to a questionnaire asking where they stand on transparency in the legislative process (results here). 

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