Legislature approves Jackson bill to boost Twin Rivers in Madawaska
For generations, Maine workers have relied on paper mills, including Twin Rivers, to earn a living and provide for their families in northern Maine. Despite the hardship Twin Rivers has experienced this year, the company has committed to PFAS-free food packaging to meet the challenges of the 21st century, sustain and grow its operations in Madawaska, and ensure the future financial security of its workers and its regional community. This bill would create a tax credit to support good-paying jobs in the forest products industry and facilitate these types of long-term investments in Maine.
Senate approves Jackson child care proposal
Too many Maine children and families lack access to quality, affordable child care. At the same time, Maine child care providers continue to operate at a loss to care for our kids. The system isn’t working for anyone and it’s only been made worse by the pandemic.
Senate approves Jackson bill to promote good-faith negotiations in public sector employee contracts
Where I’m from, your word means something. However, right now agreements reached through the arbitration process are meaningless for employees and employers because they simply aren’t binding. As a result, neither management nor employees have any incentive to keep their end of the bargain. Our public employees — our teachers, our firefighters, and snowplow drivers — deserve better.
Buy American, Build Maine earns Senate approval
Maine small businesses and the hardworking people who keep them running don’t just drive our economy, they really are a part of our communities. Small business owners sponsor our little league teams, help out with band fundraisers and donate to our community food banks. They are our family members, neighbors and friends. Buy American, Build Maine is about lifting up these workers, businesses and quality-manufactured products in our own backyard. Throughout this pandemic, Maine workers, businesses and manufacturers have stepped up to serve and support our communities in the toughest of circumstances. We owe it to them to have their backs.
Senate sends HOMED Act to the governor’s desk
Year after year, politicians in Augusta talk about the need to attract and retain young workers as Maine’s current workforce prepares to retire. But between student debt and Maine’s outrageous housing market, too many young people can’t afford to return to the state they love to live, work, raise a family and eventually retire. Now instead of just talking about it, Maine lawmakers are doing something about it by creating a program that will help young people purchase homes through student debt relief.
Jackson bill to lower energy costs, support wood-based energy heads to governor
AUGUSTA – The Maine Senate unanimously enacted a bill from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, to lower energy costs by embracing Maine’s wood energy industry on Wednesday. LD 597, “An Act To Establish the Wood Energy Investment Program” would provide incentives and low- or no-interest loans to businesses that produce energy using biomass. “This bill is about writing […]
HOMED Act earns bipartisan support in the Senate
AUGUSTA — A bill from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, that would reduce student debt and help young Mainers compete in a tough housing market earned unanimous support in the Maine Senate on Monday. LD 1709, “An Act To Promote Home Ownership by Minimizing Education Debt,” otherwise known as the HOMED Act, would create a […]
Senate approves Jackson bill to lower energy costs, boost biomass
“This bill is about writing the next chapter of Maine’s logging and forest products industry and lower energy costs for working Maine families,” said President Jackson.
Senate approves bill to ban aerial spraying of toxic chemicals
In northern Maine, our environment is a critical part of who we are, what we do for work and where we spend our time. Aerial herbicide spraying puts all of that at risk for ourselves and future generations. It’s simply a risk that we can’t afford to take so some large can generate a large profit in the short term. We must band together and ban this harmful practice, not protect the status quo.
Committee unanimously approves bill to support Twin Rivers in Madawaska
AUGUSTA – A bill from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, to create a tax credit to support Twin Rivers Paper Company got unanimous approval of the Taxation Committee on Thursday. The amended version of the bill — LD 1713, “An Act To Increase Workforce Skills for the Revitalization of Maine’s Paper Industry through the Establishment […]