For Immediate Release                                                                                 
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025                                                                                                         
Media Contact: Katie Clark
Cell: 207-233-2230
 
AUGUSTA, Maine (Feb. 5, 2025) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome the newest members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and newly-elected officers. The slate of directors was confirmed at the Chamber’s membership meeting in November, 2024. The first board meeting was held on Friday, Feb. 24, 2025.

Joining the Maine State Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for a term beginning on Jan. 1, 2025 are:
Elise Baldacci, President of the Maine Credit Union League, Peter Cianchette, Vice President of Cianbro, David Daigler, President of the Maine Community College System, Sam Hight, Dealer Principal, Hight Ford Inc., Skowhegan and Hight Chevrolet GMC, Farmington, Nick Ireland, Chief Financial Officer at Seven Islands Land Company, Melinda Kinney, Vice President of Government Affairs at Martin’s Point Health Care, and Julie Rabinowitz, Communications Director for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Corp.

Also joining the Board of Directors to replace parting board members with unexpired terms are:
Jennifer DeChant, External Affairs representing Summit Utilities/Colorado Natural Gas, Barry Doyle, President/CEO at Kennebec Technologies, and Kristine Ossenfort, Senior Government Relations Director at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Elected as board officers are:
Michael Bourque, President and CEO of MEMIC was elected as Board Chair. Geoffrey Baur,  Vice President of Finance at IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. will serve as first vice chair, Beth Greenlaw, President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Sea Bags will serve as second vice chair, Paul Bolin, Executive Vice President and Chief People & Administrative Officer at Northern Light Health will serve as treasurer, Ann Robinson, partner and Chair of Pierce Atwood's Government Relations & Lobbying Practice Group at Pierce Atwood LLP will serve as secretary, Melinda Caterine, Shareholder at Littler Mendelson, P.C. will serve as a member on the executive committee, and LuAnn Ballesteros, Vice President, External and Government Affairs at the Jackson Laboratory will serve as the past board chair.

​For more information, and a full list of the Chamber’s Directors, see our website. 

For Immediate Release                                                                                           
Monday, February 3, 2025
Media contact: Katie Clark
207-233-2230 (cell)
 
AUGUSTA, Maine (Feb. 3, 2025) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce has been monitoring the news regarding President Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. The White House announced on Saturday that the planned tariffs would go into effect on February 4, 2025, and apply to all imports.
 
These tariffs would significantly impact trade relations with the United States' largest trading partners. Of particular concern for the State of Maine are the proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods and 10% tariff on energy imports. Canada is Maine’s top trading partner, and Maine is in a particularly unique situation being second in the nation both in the percentage of Maine’s imports coming from Canada (67%) and exports going to Canada (52%).    
 
The Maine State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Woodcock issued the following statement in response:
 
“The broad and significant tariff imposed on Canadian imports will be particularly damaging to our state’s economy given Maine’s unique and significant trade position with Canada. While we welcome a comprehensive strategy to promote domestic manufacturing, we are concerned that applying a tariff to all imports will be disruptive to existing supply chains and manufacturing in Maine, and result in a material increase in energy costs right when Maine businesses and households are struggling with energy bills this winter. We hope for a quick resolution so as to not disrupt supply chains and avoid extended increased costs on Maine households and businesses.”  

For Immediate Release                                                                                           Media Contact: Katie Clark
Friday, January 24, 2025                                                                                                      Cell: 207-233-2230

AUGUSTA, Maine – Katie Clark is the new director of communications at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Clark is responsible for directing the media strategy of the chamber and ensuring the mission, vision, priorities, and activities of the chamber are communicated to the media, elected and appointed officials, Chamber members and the public.
 
Prior to the chamber, Clark was chief operating officer of HistoryIT, a Maine-based digital preservation company, where she strengthened operational efficiencies and provided management, leadership, and vision to meet the company’s short- and long-term objectives.
 
Clark has a background in both corporate and nonprofit organizations with experience in communications, operations, and market research. Before joining HistoryIT, Clark held leadership positions at the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire, Portland Marketing Analytics, Maine Historical Society, and Diversified Communications. Clark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College and a Master of Philosophy degree in history from Trinity College Dublin.

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​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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​AUGUSTA, Maine (December 4, 2024) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce expressed continued concerns about the final Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program rules the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) announced today. Specifically, the Chamber is concerned that the compressed legislative timeline to meet the statutory deadline for implementation is challenging for employers and may undermine the program's successful rollout. The Chamber continues to believe that subjecting payroll taxes on employers and employees that do not intend to use the state system is inconsistent with the state statute and with other states’ PFML programs.
 
“The Maine State Chamber recognizes the Maine Department of Labor is operating against an extremely tight timeline to meet the state PFML program law’s January 1, 2025, implementation deadline, and we appreciate MDOL’s diligence and efforts over the last several months,” said Patrick Woodcock, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. “Maine’s PFML program is arguably the most significant regulatory initiative in decades, is extremely complex, and the Maine State Chamber and employers across the state are concerned that the tight 3–4-week timeline for implementation will impact the program rollout’s success, and that employers that will opt in to a substantially equivalent private plan are required to contribute to a program they will never use.”

The Chamber notes that several states, including Maryland, Oregon, and Delaware, have revised their PFML implementation timelines to ensure their programs are launched effectively. Maryland, for instance, adjusted its timeline, with contributions now beginning in July 2025 and benefits starting in July 2026. Similarly, Oregon faced delays, pushing the benefits availability date from January 2023 to September 2023. Delaware has also extended its contribution start date from a prior date to January 2025, with benefits scheduled for January 2026.
 
“Ultimately, the DOL should have the flexibility to implement the program unhindered by arbitrary statutory deadlines and on a timeline that works for employees, employers and ultimately the administrator of the State program,” said Woodcock.

Maine businesses have consistently raised concerns regarding the taxation requirement for companies that will opt in to a substantially equivalent private plan from the onset and do not intend to use the state system. Forcing these businesses to contribute to the state fund—even temporarily—is viewed as inconsistent with statute's intent. Comments from the Maine State Chamber argued this provision is unconstitutional. Specifically, the rule amounts to an unconstitutional taking without just compensation, violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution, and violates the due process clause of the Constitution.
 
Woodcock added, “The Maine State Chamber of Commerce urges policymakers to consider adjustments to the PFML program timeline and to remove the tax on employees and employer under existing PFML that will never utilize the state system. Maine’s PFML program should be executed in a manner to ensure an effective implementation. By addressing these concerns now, at the beginning of this upcoming legislative session, Maine can develop a successful PFML program that supports employees while minimizing unintended consequences for employers.”
 
The Maine State Chamber has expressed its concerns and recommendations surrounding Maine’s PFML program with the goal of making Maine’s PFML program more workable for employers and employees throughout the legislative and rulemaking process, including in July 2024 and August 2024.
 
For more information on the Maine State Chamber’s recommendations to MDOL on the proposed PFML rules, please see the Chamber’s June 10, 2024, public hearing testimony before MDOL and a recording of the Maine State Chamber’s June 6, 2024 roundtable with businesses. 

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​AUGUSTA, Maine (Monday, December 2, 2024) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce and five other business associations delivered a letter to Governor Janet T. Mills today outlining concerns over the proposed Chapter 428: Stewardship Program for Packaging rule that is being considered by Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection (BEP). In advance of a BEP meeting this Thursday, December 5, 2024, the letter to Gov. Mills highlights significant challenges with the proposed rule, including the unknown cost to producers, new recycling access goals, and a structure that diverges from the four other states that have enacted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging laws.
 
Current EPR packaging law rulemaking continues following the Maine Legislature passing L.D. 1541, An Act to Support and Improve Municipal Recycling Programs and Save Taxpayer Money in July 2021. The law established the Stewardship Program for Packaging to reduce the volume of packaging material, increase recyclability, and was intended to save municipalities money by requiring producers to cover the cost of managing packaging material. While the law provided a broad framework for the program, the Maine BEP is now considering adoption of the Chapter 428 proposed rule, drafted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which provides specific details on how the program will be operated, reporting requirements, payment structures, goals, and compliance enforcement. 
 
“Over the last several months, the Maine State Chamber has heard from members who are currently budgeting for 2026, but the unknown cost of this program is creating significant uncertainty,” said Patrick Woodcock, President and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. “Maine should consider alignment with other states that are implementing the extended producer responsibility programs with clear cost controls and with additional flexibility for producers while maintaining the program’s worthy requirement of reducing waste.”
 
The Maine State Chamber is committed to supporting effective environmental stewardship, and urges policies that are fair, predictable, and conducive to Maine’s economic growth. Among concerns outlined by signers of the letter to Gov. Mills is that the cost to be covered by businesses if recycling performance goals are unmet will significantly increase the cost of the program. In addition to outlining concerns with the proposed rule, the letter urges Gov. Mills to ask for a pause in adoption so adjustments to the rule can be made that provide for greater alignment with other states and strike a balance between environmental goals and economic sustainability.
 
On Friday, November 29, 2024, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection emailed a public meeting and hearing notice that the BEP will meet on Chapter 428 and other issues beginning at 9:00 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, December 5, 2024. BEP will accept in-person public comment at the meeting.
 
Organizations that signed the letter to Gov. Mills are the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN), Consumer Brands Association, Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association, Hospitality Maine, and the Retail Association of Maine, whose CEO authored an opinion column - Maine must take a balanced approach to packaging law - that was published in the Portland Press Herald today, Monday, December 2, 2024.

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