Just before Christmas I found myself in Bath’s City Hall auditorium exchanging introductions with state representative Jennifer DeChant, someone I’ve cast my vote for but until then had never officially met. We were waiting for a few other invited constituents to arrive before starting a scheduled hour-long informal conversation on another proposed tax break for Bath Iron Works.

Three weeks earlier I’d emailed her asking how I might obtain a copy of her legislative request, LR 2789, regarding a continuance of BIW’s long-standing Shipbuilding Facility Tax Credit. Though reported in the media as an additional $60 million in tax relief, I could find no mention of the proposed bill on the Maine State Legislature website.

Her reply cordially explained that as a “LR” it was currently just a concept bill, title only, no established content, and asked if I’d I like to be part of a discussion where she would lay out the process for the legislative request and how to best stay informed throughout the legislative session as the bill headed towards becoming an actual legislative document or “LD.”

Due to a conflict in meeting at her private residence, and then Patten Free Library’s unavailability, City Hall became a last minute unplanned “public venue” perception of what was still an agreed upon private meeting. Despite appearances otherwise, or assumptions made by those misinformed by spurious social media speculation, the meeting was never intended as a public forum.

Hearing that narrative just before others arrived, I advised Rep.DeChant that the Internet was abuzz with impassioned misconceptions about the eventual choice of venue, and that I myself had no idea how many might come uninvited. As it happened, only a few unplanned attendees showed up. One, equipped to film and record the event, politely left when told that the meeting wasn’t meant to be a public event. Four others, two of which had actually been invited but hadn’t replied as to their acceptance, were invited to stay if they wished. The meeting then proceeded in a mostly orderly and civil exchange.

It’s always good to be set straight, and despite the undercurrent of adversarial conflict established by the awkward and confusing start of the meeting the remaining hour turned out to be an excellent tutorial on how legislative sausage is actually made.

As to the many subsequent exchanges and commentary by those not present, yet critical of what they imagined had occurred and questioning the legality of the meeting, I found nothing improper about where the meeting took place or what occurred. Rep. DeChant and Sen. Vitelli were very helpful in informing those openly in opposition to their sponsored bill as to how the legislative process works and how to best become involved in exercising opposition influence upon that process. It was all about empowering constituent participation and certainly no attempt to undermine opposition.

With respect to all who wish to find something underhanded in what transpired, so as to hopefully derail a political policy they oppose, I respectfully suggest that we all save our energy for a more constructive and concerted means towards that end, rather than becoming entrenched in misguided vindictiveness. How a private meeting to assist the tactical prowess of those wising to organize the defeat of a bill one is sponsoring can be construed by anyone as a legislator’s miscarriage of the democratic process is difficult for me to comprehend. It would have been far easier, and more beneficial to their bill’s objective, to simply forgo extending an invite to meet at all, anywhere.

When the first Shipbuilding Facilities Tax Credit was approved 20 years ago, it was similarly sponsored by Bath’s two legislators at the time. However, when that legislation negatively impacted the livability of Bath’s South End it was those same two legislators that then stood against BIW, empowering their constituents’ fight to protect their neighborhoods even while being thrown under the bus by city government. A grateful shout-out to former Rep. Judy Peavey and then Sen. Mary Small.

That was long ago in a much less divisive political reality, without so much anger towards, and demonization of, those with whom one disagrees. Despite today’s far more hostile political landscape, I have no doubt that Rep. DeChant and Sen. Vitelli, like their counterparts two decades ago, hold the best interests of their constituents as their fundamental guide. As a constituent, BIW has every right to expect representative assistance in the legislative process, as I expect the same in opposing their objective.

For those disagreeing with BIW’s current request, the playing field is hardly any more level now than it was for those opposing 1997’s original tax break. However, today the economic bum’s rush of corporate fear tactics brought to bear on organized taxpayer opposition is no longer the slam dunk it once was. Giving tax breaks to already well-established economic engines is more and more recognized as being the unjust corporate welfare that it is.

My question is: “What major facility investment, rivaling BIW’s massive LLTF, do they now propose in order to qualify for another equally valued Shipbuilding Credit?

Gary Anderson lives in Bath.