Dear Friends:

It's a great honor to have the opportunity to serve the people of Senate District 5 in the 131st Legislature. 

If you have a question or comment about what is happening at the State House, I would like to hear from you. Please contact me by email or phone at (207) 287-1505.

Here's an update on what is happening in Augusta and around the state.

Sincerely,

Russell Black

Senate District 5 includes:

In Franklin County: Carrabassett Valley; Chesterville; East Central Franklin UT; Farmington; Industry; Kingfield; New Sharon; New Vineyard;

Strong; Wilton; and Wyman Township.  

In Kennebec County: Rome; and Vienna.

In Somerset County: Anson; Athens; Bingham; Brighton Plantation; Cambridge; Caratunk; Central Somerset UT; Cornville; Dennistown Plantation; Embden;

Harmony; Hartland; Highland Plantation; Jackman; Mercer; Moose River;

Moscow; New Portland; Northeast Somerset UT; Northwest Somerset UT;

Pleasant Ridge Plantation; Ripley; Saint Albans; Seboomook Lake UT;

Smithfield; Solon; Starks; The Forks Plantation; and West Forks Plantation.

Republicans launch effort to bolster Maine's workforce through welfare reforms

Senate Republicans unveiled sweeping legislation last month to help combat the increasing number of unfilled jobs across the state. The “Getting Maine Back to Work” initiative is in response to data from the Maine Department of Labor that showed the State’s labor participation rate plunged to its lowest level ever in December 2022.

The ratio, defined as the number of those who are employed or looking for a job as a percentage of the population aged 16 and older, declined for a sixth straight month as enrollment in Medicaid – known in Maine as MaineCare – has risen to almost 400,000 residents, or nearly one out of every three Mainers.

According to Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Androscoggin, the current situation resembles a tale of two priorities – paychecks or welfare checks. Brakey said when MaineCare was expanded in 2019, Maine’s unemployment rate stood at 2.6% and the labor force participation rate was 62.5%. Today, those figures stand at 3.8% and 57.9% respectively, the latter of which has dropped lower than the 58.1% record low point seen at the height of the Mills Administration’s government-forced shutdown in April 2020.

He noted that the expansion of MaineCare to able-bodied working adults without kids hasn’t helped the labor force situation since work requirements were dropped by both the Mills and Biden administrations. Consequently, there is no incentive for those receiving benefits to get back to work so his solution is to put work requirements back in place for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and MaineCare welfare programs.

In addition to MaineCare’s expansion, Brakey said those who are currently working and receiving benefits may limit their income potential due to the requirement that if you make over a certain amount, all benefits are forfeited. Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart, R-Aroostook, agreed and said the goal should be lifting people out of poverty instead of trapping them in a never-ending cycle.

According to Stewart, Republicans are prioritizing getting people out of poverty and onto a path of self-sufficiency and success. He said government shouldn’t trap people on temporary programs that end up turning from a safety net into a hammock.

Senate Republicans also unveiled legislation that aims to tighten the unemployment system. Included in the proposals was a bill from Sen. Stacey Guerin, R-Penobscot, that gives employers access to a portal to report those who don’t show up for job interviews. Known as “ghosting,” she said the issue is affecting employers who schedule interviews for job seekers who are satisfying unemployment search requirements only to see those people never show.

Stewart said he’s also introduced legislation to adjust the term of unemployment benefits to market conditions. Currently, those who lose employment can apply for up to 26 weeks of benefits, which he said was too long given the current job environment.

Sportsmen's shows return in earnest

Sportsmen’s shows have been a staple of the early spring season in Maine for decades. They signify the approach of warmer weather and offer a chance for hunters, trappers, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts to prepare for the upcoming spring turkey, fishing and boating seasons.

The three main shows in the state, the Presque Isle Fish and Game Club’s Spring Sportsman’s Show, the Penobscot County Conservation Association’s Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show, and the Maine State Sportsmen’s Show all return this year.

After a three-year hiatus, The Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show is back to its home at the New Balance Field House on the University of Maine’s flagship campus in Orono. Now in its 82nd year, which organizers say makes it the longest-running show in the country, the show is scheduled March 10-12 and will feature many demonstrations by Maine guides, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife personnel, Fins and Furs and United Blood Trackers, among others.

In all, the show will have about 120 exhibitors on hand ranging from sporting goods dealers and outfitters to food vendors and hunting and fishing guides.

The Presque Isle show, which also went on a three-year-hiatus in 2020, returns March 25-26 to Gentile Hall on the University of Maine at Presque Isle campus. The show is a major fundraiser for the Aroostook County fish and game club, which is one of the largest in the state with 350 members.

The show will feature the return of the L.L. Bean fishpond with brook trout provided by Micmac Farms and new exhibitors such as Pedego Electric Bikes from Portland and Bike, Board and Ski of Presque Isle.

While all three shows were canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the Maine State Sportsmen’s Show returned last year to the Augusta Civic Center. This year’s show – a collaboration between The Maine Sportsman magazine and Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine – will be its 41st and is scheduled for March 31 through April 2.

The Augusta show will feature many of the same exhibitors, demonstrations and seminars along with a carving contest and special hands-on activity area for kids. The show will also hold the State of Maine Firearms Auction, which is the state’s annual auction of seized, surplus and donated guns. The auction will be held at noon on Sunday, April 2.

For details about each show including admission prices and a schedule of demonstrations, please visit their respective websites.

March marks the beginning of Ice Out season

Springtime generally means a mix of mud, floods and receding ice in southern Maine while the northern regions still have heavy snowpack and thick lake ice. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) reminds those who are enjoying outdoor activities that March begins the “Ice Out” season when temperatures begin to warm and ice starts to thin and disappear on Maine’s lakes, ponds and rivers.

According to BPL, Ice Out is defined when you can navigate unimpeded from one end of a water body to the other. While ice may still cover some areas in coves or along the shoreline, the ice is considered to be out when a person can traverse the entire waterbody without being stopped by ice floes.

Ice can also be unstable and unsafe during any time of year. Biologists with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) reported at the end of January that ice conditions were poor and inconsistent across the state. While colder temperatures in February helped shore up lake ice in some areas, March begins the next cycle when temperatures warm up. BPL urges extra caution during the spring thaw.

The Bureau also has a table to track when Ice Outs occur; simply visit their Ice Out website. The site also has tables dating back to 2003, which can give you good historical data of when to expect the ice to be out at a particular lake or pond. You can also sign up for their daily ice out report text alerts by texting ICE-OUT to (888) 514-7527.

Maine IF&W also reminds anyone who owns a shack or temporary structure used for ice fishing that they must remove the shack or structure (1) In any area of the State in which there is a closed ice fishing season, by ice out or 3 days after the close of the ice fishing season, whichever is earlier; and (2) In any area of the State in which there is no close of the ice fishing season, by ice out or March 31, whichever is earlier.

Website offers medical comparison shopping

The Maine Health Data Organization and Maine Quality Forum created CompareMaine.org years ago to help Maine residents compare prices and services between medical providers. The Maine Legislature created the collaboration to provide the public with more transparent medical costs and provider quality upon passage of LD 1544 in 2009.

The website was originally developed with financial support from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and launched in 2015. It has been enhanced over the years to include comparisons of more services than the ones originally included in the original legislation.

CompareMaine shows information on over 310 healthcare procedures from 325 facilities that are organized into 168 facility groups. These facilities include hospitals, physician practices, specialty care centers, labs, and radiological and imaging centers. If you search for a procedure, you may not see every facility listed because not all facilities perform all procedures. CompareMaine does not include information for a facility that performs a procedure only a few times each year.

The website also provides information on seven hospital quality measures, ranging from patient survey results to how well hospitals prevent patient complications, injuries and readmission. Comparisons for the most utilized prescription drugs were added in 2019.

The cost estimates for procedures on CompareMaine are median payments that are meant to serve as a reference point for comparison. It includes two kinds of payments in the calculation: the amount paid by insurance companies and patients’ out-of-pocket costs.

For more information or to use its comparison tool, visit CompareMaine.org.

FAME offering financial aid literacy courses

College preparation season is upon us and the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) is offering a series of courses in March and April that aim to help high school students and their families who are seeking financial aid. The courses cover topics ranging from best practices in seeking financial aid to tips on comparing financial aid offers. The courses are as follows:

“So there’s money left to pay” – March 8, 1-2 p.m. Online

For most families, the financial aid available doesn’t cover the total bill owed to the college. Sometimes this can be a startling figure for families. In this webinar, FAME staff will discuss ways to pay that remaining balance and provide tips to help students and families create a plan to pay.

“Virtual Financial Aid Information Session” – March 21, 6-8 p.m. Online

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available on Oct. 1, 2023. Now is the time to get ready to apply for financial aid. FAME staff will be available to assist with any questions families may have during this session.

“Understanding & Comparing Financial Aid Offers” – March 23, 6-8 p.m. Online

Understanding and comparing financial aid offers are two of the most important steps in the financial aid process. It is important that families understand the true cost for each school before making a final school selection. In this session, families will get the information needed to navigate financial aid offers including what to look for, how to compare offers and even what to do if financial circumstances have changed.

“Payment Plans, 529 Withdrawals, Private Student Loans, Home Equity Loans – Oh My! – Options for Paying the Tuition Bill” – April 7, 1-2 p.m. Online

FAME staff will discuss the various financing options students and their families may consider using when paying higher education expenses not covered by financial aid. April is a great time to plan since college and university tuition bills are typically due in July. They will also discuss combining and the timing of using the various options when you have to pay for multiple years of a student’s academic program.

A little state trivia...

What park in Maine has had three names in the time of its existence? (answer at the bottom)

Republican Radio Address

In our Republican Radio Address, Sen. James Libby, R-Cumberland, talks about the need to reform Maine’s educational system amid the alarming drop in Maine’s test scores released in the “Nation’s Report Card.” He also discusses the need to put parents back into the center of their children’s education.

Please follow the link above to watch the address or read its text here.

Answer: Acadia National Park, which was originally called Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916 before being renamed Lafayette National Park in 1919 when it became the first national park east of the Mississippi River. It changed to Acadia in 1929.

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