Question 5 is a $7,925,000 bond issue that will make the state eligible to secure $39,625,000 in federal grants.
Passage, followed by issuance of the bond by the LePage administration, will provide the 20 percent match Maine must provide to secure the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund capitalization grants for 2012 and 2013. Simply put, one state dollar gets us five federal dollars.
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A water or wastewater system can get a loan from the State Revolving Fund for a 2 percent lower interest rate than a conventional market rate loan. For a $1 million loan over 20 years, the interest savings is $223,000.
The state treasurer has projected that the interest on all the bonds on the ballot would be $18,741,938 during the 10-year life of the bonds. The calculated interest attributable to Question 5 is $1,961,438.
Compare that to the fact that access to $39.6 million of federal money will result in an interest savings of nearly $10 million for the systems that finance their projects under this program.
Many of these infrastructure projects are compliance-driven and cannot be deferred until the economy or the state’s indebtedness improves. If State Revolving Fund financing is not available, local ratepayers will have to pay the entire cost of the higher conventional interest rate loan.
Tough times or not, Maine residents expect their water to be safe to drink. They also expect wastewater to be adequately treated before it is discharged into our rivers, streams and coastal areas.
We encourage a “yes” vote on Question 5.
Jon Ziegra
president, Maine Water Utilities Association
Jeffrey C. McBurnie
president, Maine Wastewater Control Association
Augusta
Dill will represent Maine, not super PACs or elitists
A brutal senatorial race has been unfolding in Maine. Millions of dollars have been spent on behalf of Charlie Summers, to divide our vote between the Democratic nominee and the independent so Summers can just walk right into the Senate by default. Don’t let out-of-state fat cats swoop in and make fools out of us Mainers!
The U.S. Senate is full of Republicans who were bought and paid for by these ultra-conservative super PACs. They have done nothing except focus on stopping the president from being re-elected rather than doing their actual job by trying to help Americans get back on their feet.
As for Angus King, he’s a man who, when he was done being governor, left us with more than a billion-dollar debt. We really don’t need another rich elitist like that looking out for our interests in Washington.
Just because the man is familiar, or near your age, doesn’t mean the guy is worth voting for. We need to send someone who is willing, ready and able to help the president from Day One, someone who will represent the best of what this state has to offer.
We should everything we can to help the president who Mainers will re-elect for four more years. That’s why I say, “Vote the ticket,” and vote for Cynthia Dill for U.S. Senate.
She supports state businesses, has fought to protect our natural resources, and she will fight to protect and save Medicare for the seniors. She is in favor of education reform and will fight to protect a woman’s right to choose. That’s why I say, “Vote Cynthia Dill for U.S. Senate!”
Douglas S. Jones
Brunswick
Public-sector spending keeps money where it helps
Jobs, jobs, jobs. Let’s look at jobs in two economic systems and see which system provides the most jobs.
Let’s say that we have $20 million moving through a taxpayer-based, government system (local, county, state and federal governments) and $20 million moving through a private-enterprise, for-profit system, and attempt to count jobs in each system.
First, the taxpayer system: $20 million most likely goes to salaries of government employees — teachers, cafeteria managers, game wardens, government accountants, FBI, military, etc., etc.
These are mostly middle-class people who buy cars from local dealerships, get mortgages from local banks, buy their lunches from mom-and-pop stores, gas, groceries, toys for kids, clothes, etc. etc.
Not much to save after buying all of that. Tax money goes back into the consumer system to keep these small and large businesses working. Just look at the businesses around Augusta as an example — your taxpayer dollars at work.
Second, the private enterprise system: Take away the CEO’s salary (let’s say, $13 million of which is stashed away outside of the U.S. in the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, Singapore).
So all of that is not available for local banks to provide loans to small businesses or mortgages, or to buy consumer goods from U.S. businesses, etc. It does provide jobs, but in the Caymans, Switzerland, Singapore. That leaves $7 million for jobs in the U.S. private sector.
So which system supports more local businesses; which system keeps more money in the U.S. for jobs? Think about it.
Eleanor Saboski
Kennebunkport
Personal experience reveals Summers’ sterling character
Charlie Summers’ character is being falsely attacked by Angus King, who has received millions of dollars from out-of-state contributions, including groups tied to billionaire Michael Bloomberg, in an attempt to buy the U.S. Senate seat of Maine.
I would like to offer my personal opinion about Charlie, a true patriot.
While called up for service to our nation in the Navy Reserve, called to Iraq in 2003 and 2004, Charlie launched his campaign against Tom Allen for Congress.
Prior to his departure, my wife and I offered our home/gallery for a local “meet Charlie” fundraiser. Charlie was very professional and cordial to us for our effort.
One day, months later, after Charlie had been in Iraq for some time, a package arrived from Iraq.
Charlie was aware that I was a passionate artist and that Lori and I ran a gallery out of our home. So he sent us a gift: an original painting that he had purchased from a sidewalk Iraqi artist, because he cared.
Also, on the night of his defeat to Tom Allen, we had gone to Portland to be a part of the election night gathering and stayed overnight because of the hour and distance.
The next morning, when we went to settle our bill with the inn, we were told that the room had been paid for. Charlie paid for our room out of appreciation, quietly to show us that he cares.
This is a true account of working Maine residents whose lives were touched by Charlie.
He quickly became a friend to us, and we know him to be a kind-hearted, caring, patriotic and serving person.
We have no doubt that he would bring these characteristics to the U.S. Senate, serving Maine well and also our wonderful nation.
Mark Chesebro
New Harbor
Gay marriage will disrupt traditional family structure
There is a missing element this time around in this debate about redefining marriage, and that is the right of a child to be raised in a family with his/her mother and father, if at all possible.
It would follow that the homosexual “marriage” supporters would be uncomfortable with this, as all scientific studies continue to show that a child is best raised by both of the natural parents in a family. This is not supportive of the “Marriage Equality” slogan.
Equality doesn’t exist in every aspect of our lives, thankfully. Behavior, urges, ideas, ideologies, relationships and many more parts of our life are not equal. And rather than having a referendum to say otherwise, maybe we should be thankful for the tradition of having Mom and Dad raising kids.
As a lifelong educator and social worker, I have taught and will continue to teach, young (and old) people to seek truth rather than invent it.
Donald Mendell
Palmyra
Gay pair hoping to marry embody love, commitment
My husband and I have been married for 28 years and have lived in Maine for 27 of those years.
We’ve raised four children as well as a bonus kid we like to think of as family.
After the birth of our third child, feeling the weight of our responsibility as parents, my husband and I decided to draw up a will that included a declaration of legal guardianship for our children. Just in case.
We both have big families, and that made the decision difficult. After some thought, it became clear who would be the best parents for our children if we weren’t around.
My husband’s cousin Stephen and his partner, Thom, have an extremely stable relationship.
They value family. They are clear communicators. They each have found work that they love.
But most importantly, their love for one another is a wonderful model for all those around them. They would make perfect parents.
But in the state of Maine, this couple who daily remind me what commitment means; who embody compassion, perseverance, compromise and caring; who have been together for almost 20 years — Stephen and Thom cannot get married. Yet.
Three years ago, during the brief window of marriage equality, Stephen and Thom dreamed of a wedding.
We imagined what it might look like for them to get married under the great pine tree by my garden.
We imagined the relief and joy their aging parents would feel celebrating their wedding.
We danced a bit.
But sadly, our hopes were dashed when months later their right to marry was cruelly taken away.
Today their marriage license still sits in our town office, pending.
On Nov. 6, please think of Stephen and Thom and many, many others like them. Please vote “yes” on Question 1.
Wendy Briggs
Arrowsic
King will bring record of job creation to Senate
Whether you are Republican, Democratic or neither, you have probably heard the buzz about “binders full of women” and ensuing discussions about women in the workplace. Truth be told, I’m one of those women in the binders.
I’m a highly educated woman with a successful professional resume, having just earned my doctorate from Stanford University. Now I’m searching for a job in Maine using my expertise in fisheries biology and environmental science, and striking out in my home state.
I’m not alone — two of my girlfriends recently relocated from Portland to Boston for jobs. Another moved to Europe. Others choose to stay in Maine but find themselves underemployed — or, worse, unemployed.
Job creation is our most critical issue. Who do I trust to create opportunities for hardworking folks who want to work in Maine? Angus King.
King’s record demonstrates his ability to grow our economy and create jobs. Under his watch, Maine added 70,000 new jobs — approximately 175 new jobs each week, every week, for eight years. Impressive. Maine unemployment was below national averages and fell as low as 3.1 percent under Gov. King (1995-2003). Impressive indeed.
His pragmatic approach and business skills will bring market solutions and public-private partnerships to Maine, all of which create jobs. King has already succeeded at this in establishing the Maine International Trade Center and the Maine Technology Institute.
King is a proponent of Portland’s Gulf of Maine Research Institute, with its mission of science, education and community. Founded through public-private partnerships, these organizations bring more than jobs to Maine. They foster economic stimulation — employment, academic excellence and community-building resources.
Successes like these demand creative thinking, beyond party lines.
Vote with me for independent Angus King for U.S. Senate.
Kristen Honey
Portland
Gov. King presided over ‘period of fiscal restraint’
An old Washington joke says, “A coupla billion here, coupla billion there, pretty soon you’re talkin’ real money!”
Senate candidate Charlie Summers tried to shock us by breathlessly announcing that at the end of Gov. Angus King’s term, state spending was $2.6 billion! So, you ask, what does $2.6 billion mean? What actually happened?
From 1995 to 2003:
• State spending rose by 53 percent.
• Gross state product, a measure of Maine’s total economic output, rose 47 percent.
• Personal income rose 54 percent.
• State spending as a percentage of personal income fell from 7.6 percent to 7.5 percent.
• General obligation debt fell by 30 percent.
In 2006, the Legislature’s Office of Fiscal and Program Review did a report on Maine’s tax burden. It found that from 1995 to 2003:
• State taxes per capita, after inflation, rose by 10 percent.
• State taxes as a percentage of personal income fell from 7.9 percent to 7.5 percent.
Standing by itself, the number “$2.6 billion” means nothing. When I look at the facts, I see an eight-year period of fiscal restraint.
Disclosure: I voted for Angus King before and plan to do it again.
Lloyd C. Irland
Wayne
Trade group’s endorsements dismay credit union member
As a member of a credit union, I would like other members to know that their credit unions belong to a trade association called the Maine Credit Union League.
Credit unions cannot directly endorse candidates, but through their trade association, they are making candidate endorsements this election.
I was not asked if I wanted my credit union to indirectly endorse candidates, I was not even informed that this was a practice their trade association engaged in. I wonder how many credit union members know this is going on.
When I telephoned the MCUL, I was told that all credit unions in Maine belong to the league. I don’t think credit unions should be endorsing candidates at all, even if it is indirectly.
An organization can function like the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association and lobby in Augusta for bills that benefit their members without endorsing candidates.
If you do not think that credit unions should be endorsing candidates through their trade association, I urge you to contact your credit union today and ask that this practice be ended.
Susan Siens
Unity
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