The Kennebec Journal

February 18

Liberals air long wish list for Washington

By Ethan Wilensky-Lanford ewlanford@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- A group of advocates led by the Maine People's Alliance gathered Wednesday at the State House to urge Maine's Congressional delegation to take steps to improve life in Maine.

"Maine is now looking at a 16-year high in unemployment. Over the past 35 years, Maine has seen a 46 percent decline in manufacturing positions, which were once the backbone of a good life," said Don Berry, president of Maine AFL-CIO, a labor union. "Washington needs to put aside party differences and get down to doing the the people's work."

The news conference coincided with the one-year anniversary of President Barack Obama's signing of the $787 billion American Recovery and Revitalization Act, better known as the federal stimulus.

Christopher "Kit" St. John, executive director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said the bill was an effective step, but more should be done.

"There isn't presently a vehicle in the Senate to support the state fiscal relief that we feel is so important," St. John said, "but we are urging our senators to include such support at the earliest possible opportunity."

April Thibodeau of the Maine Small Business Coalition said her 2,800 member businesses want "comprehensive health care reform that lowers costs, covers more people and makes it easier for small businesses to insure themselves and their employees."

"There is much lip service from Washington about small business being the engine of job creation, and the backbone of the economy," she added. "It is time for Washington to put its money where its mouth is and take some real steps towards helping small businesses thrive and succeed."

Another advocate spoke primarily about how immigration reform could help Maine's economy. Blanca Santiago, executive director of El Centro Latino Maine, was born a U.S. citizen of Puerto Rican descent. She pointed out that Maine has one of the oldest populations in the country, but only 3.4 percent immigrants.

"Immigrants are a young population," she said. "As our state's population ages, immigrants and their children will play a key role in shaping the economic and political landscape of the Pine Tree State."

Ethan Wilensky-Lanford -- 620-7016 ewlanford@mainetoday.com