With the first session of the 127th Legislative session about to end (who knows when ), and the final two year budget is up and ready to go, maybe we can return to some civility in Augusta.

When I left Augusta on Tuesday, June 23, there were 94 bills sitting on the Appropriations table. I haven’t heard how things are turning out with those bills. They have a fiscal note to them, so I guess that means they’ll effect our two year budget one way or the other. Many of them deal with taxes (income, sales, property, etc.). One bill I did hear about is LD11 — an Act to Exempt the Sale of American Flags. Unfortunately, the Appropriations Committee voted to keep a sales tax on the American Flag. In talking to Rep. Stanley Short (Pittsfield), sponsor of the bill, he told me that the fiscal note attached to LD11 is ridiculous. Another bill of interest to military retirees is the State of Maine Income Tax Exemption — I haven’t heard anymore on that bill. Hopefully, I’ll have all the results for you next week.

Tuesday, June 23, The House and Senate voted on LD1280 — An Act to Provide Income Tax Relief by Expanding Gaming Opportunities (a Resort Casino in Southern Maine). This bill would allow for another casino in Maine. When up and running, it’s estimated that the slot revenue, tax rate 46 percent, will be $137,600,000 and for net table games, tax rate 16 percent. The estimated net revenues will be $34,400,000. A breakdown of distribution for Maine veterans: 6% of slot tax $8,256,000 and 16% table tax $5,504,000. With that kind of revenue for veterans, we won’t have to go before our Legislators and beg for funds to support veterans in Maine. Maine veterans will have some financial independence!

With this kind of distribution from a casino in southern Maine, Maine veterans will be able to support our Maine state Veterans Cemeteries and perhaps solve the problems of our cemetery chapels. We’d be able to supply our Maine State Veterans Homes with comfort items. We could re-establish the Veterans Emergency Assistance Fund, fund more Veterans Courts (only one in Maine) and do something about finding homes for homeless veterans in Maine. Women veterans are also a priority. A transportation system for veterans, their families and survivors could be implemented. We’d also be able to beef up our VSO (Veteran Service Officer) Assistance Program to rural parts of our state. We need to do more for our new era of veterans (Iraq, Afghanistan) such as counseling services for PTSD, housing, employment, etc., etc. Again it sounds like a dream too good to be true! Not so, if we the veterans stick together and urge our Legislators to pass LD1280. This bill did go before the House on Tuesday, June 23 and was passed. It went to the Senate the same day and failed. LD1280 will re-visit the House on Tuesday, June 30 and more than likely will also re-visit the Senate on the same day. Veterans are urged to call their Legislators and ask them to support LD1280. In the Senate: the Democrats office is (207) 287-1515, Republican office (207) 287-1505. For House members call (207) 267-1400, leave your name, hometown and request the support of LD1280. Note: The vote last Tuesday was supported by Sen. Gerzofsky (Brunswick) and Sen. Baker (Topsham). Both Senators worked hard to get this bill passed in the Senate. Veterans in Mid-Coast area owe them thanks. Our local members of the House all voted in favor of the bill: Paul Chase (Durham), Mattie Daughtry (Brunswick), Ralph Tucker (Brunswick), Joyce McCreight (Harpswell), Jennifer Dechant (Bath), Jeff Pierce (Dresden), Denise Tepler (Topsham), Brian Hobart (Brunswick), Stephanie Hawke (Boothbay), Jeff Evangelos (Friendship), Joan Welsh (Rockport), Gary Sukeforth (Appleton). Again, we owe these Legislators our thanks.

On the Federal level, veterans are urged to call our Congressional delegates and ask them to support Blue-Water sailors (Agent Orange) HR969 – S681, also (Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act) — HR1384/S743. Lots of other stuff happening in Washington — Integration Counseling. We need to do something about this problem and also the discrimination against veterans suffering from PTSD (housing and employment etc.). We need to be more active with the Small Business Association as it applies to Maine veterans.

Paul Loveless, Military Retired Office at the Mid-Coast Veterans Resource Center will provide me with an update on other matters affecting military and veteran family issues — recommendations from the Military Compensation and Modernization Commission, Tricare, military pay increase, Commissary, Basic Allowance for Housing, C-123 Agent Orange, and many more. We hope to report on HR1735 – the House Defense Authorization Act.

The American Legion’s annual State Convention was held the weekend of June 19,20,21 in Bangor, Maine. American Legion Post 20 Brunswick fared well with awards. The 4th Estate Award for best newspaper went to editor Rob Montana, Brunswick Times Record; the Law Officer of the Year went to Officer Jonathan O’Connor, Brunswick Police Dept.; State Americanism Award to Gil Ormsby and Joe Donahue, Post 20; Veteran Service Officer state runner-up Rich Kowalczyk; National Honor Ribbon for membership and National Post Excellence Award to Post 20, Brunswick (fourth year in a row). Speaking about George T. Files Post 29 Brunswick, we will be signing a contract for acquisition of the Evergreens Senior Center on July 13. A Post dedication ceremony will be held Aug. 1. National Commander Mike Helm will be on hand for the dedication. More on this event coming.

Scanning our local newspapers some interesting opinions — on June 25, from the Northern Forecaster by Julie McDonald-Smith, “Legislature’s budget affair is nothing to cheer,” very interesting views and worth reading. Also in the same paper, by Edgar Allen Beem, “Trans Pacific Partnership is terrible public policy” — well reported and again worth reading. Also, from Gorden Weil of Harpswell in The Times Record, “Government secrecy erodes democracy.” Nice job. The column speaks the truth. Nice going, Gordon.

From the Coffee Crowd: Dante asks, “What’s happening to my country? Things are getting worse.” Cliff said, “We should be concerned more about what’s going on with terrorism around the world.” Lots of conversation about Augusta ( Governor versus Speaker Eaves) and then there’s the Red Sox, in the cellar. Been their so long, looking now to establish a game room.

Finally, thanks to the Brunswick Mid-Coast Veterans Council for their generous donation to assist Post 20 during this transition period.

Till next time, Keep the Faith

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Chick Ciciotte is the legislative chairperson for the Mid-Coast Veterans Council. He lives in Topsham.