EDITOR’S NOTE: The following testimony was delivered by Megan Diver on behalf of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce in support of LD 602, An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Support Research and Development in Maine, at a public hearing held on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, before the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs. We have reprinted it here for your review.
Senator Breen, Representative Gattine, distinguished members of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs 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 Maine State Chamber of Commerce is also proud to be a co-leader of the MaineSpark Coalition, which is dedicated to achieving the state goal that 60 percent of Maine adults will hold a credential of value by 2025.
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The Second Session of any legislature here in Maine is traditionally the time to complete any “carried-over” bills from the First Session, as well as to decide the fate of any “emergency” or new legislation. As we predicted at the end of last year, it appears that the Second Session won’t have a shortage of weighty topics to debate.
Chamber’s “On the Horizon” briefing gave businesses a preview of the legislative issues ahead
On Monday, January 6, more than 100 employer representatives packed the conference room at Augusta’s Bangor Savings Bank for an in-depth issue briefing on what’s ahead for the Second Session of the 129th Legislature. Generously sponsored but Bangor Savings Bank and Moderated by the Maine State Chamber’s advocacy team, event attendees heard panelists discuss the top issues for employers in 2020. University of Maine offering tuition-free early college spring courses for high school students1/9/2020 Through a partnership between the Maine Department of Education and the University of Maine, tuition is waived for all qualified high school students in Maine to cover full tuition for up to 12 college credits per year at the University of Maine, the state’s flagship public university. Eligible students are able to earn college credit while still in high school.
Editor’s Note: At a press conference just before press time, Governor Janet Mills released her plans for health care/insurance agenda. The advocacy staff will be carefully reviewing this proposal and will provide our members with details about it in subsequent editions of this newsletter. In the interim, we are reprinting the press release for your review and consideration.
On Wednesday, January 8, 2020, Governor Janet Mills, Senate President Troy Jackson, and Speaker of the House Sara Gideon announced legislation to improve private health insurance for Maine people and small businesses. LD 2007, The Made for Maine Health Coverage Act, would make some of the most common medical visits free or less costly, simplify shopping for a plan, leverage federal funds to help make premiums more affordable for small businesses, and put Maine in the driver’s seat to ensure that all Maine people have clear choices for their coverage. As you can imagine, we’ve got an exciting year ahead. At E2Tech, we’re known for our informative forums and events, and for bringing people together around growing business and “doing well by doing good.” All of our efforts are nonpartisan, and we do not lobby or advocate. Several forums are planned which are important for readers to know about.
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