8 OCTOBER 29, 2010 | NEWS + FEATURES | THE PORTLAND PHOENIX
SEEKING THE STATE HOUSE HOUSE DISTRICT 113
WOULD YOU Vote to allocate funding to widen I-295?
WOULD YOU Vote to cut tax breaks for businesses?
WOULD YOU Vote to increase: a) income taxes on Maine’s ultra-wealthiest residents, or b) meals/lodging taxes on those who vacation (or staycation) in Maine?
WOULD YOU
Vote to expand: a) Medicaid/MaineCare eligibility to more Mainers or b) government subsidies for Mainers to use to reduce the cost of private health insurance?
WHAT IS Your first choice of legislative committee on which to serve?
HOUSE DISTRICT 115
MARK DION*
JASON HARRIS
PATRICK CALDER
PETER STUCKEY*
SETH BERNER*
STEPHEN LOVEJOY
DEMOCRAT
REPUBLICAN
REPUBLICAN
DEMOCRAT
GREEN INDEPENDENT
DEMOCRAT
No. Available funding should be directed towards alternative transportation models.
Yes, I would support funding to widen I295. Portland is growing, and I think its most significant roadway needs to grow as well.
Depends on how much funding we’re talking about. My gut response is “no.”
No.
No.
No, we have much more important things to fund at this time.
No. Tax strategies should focus on “freeing” dollars for joint business-government development opportunities.
No. Maine was just voted 50th out of 50 on the list of states conducive to doing business. We need to help small business — not hamper it.
Businesses are already taxed too much. I would not vote to tax them more.
Yes, and I would propose using the revenue to create more subsidized child care and affordable health care, more access to vocational and higher education, and more investment in our cyber and physical infrastructures.
Yes, though I would consider ways of helping small Mainebased businesses.
I would vote to cut tax breaks under the BETR and BETE programs for out-ofstate companies, or companies that do not have offices and employees here in Maine
a) No. We should work toward reducing income tax rates for all brackets. b) Yes.
Neither! It’s because of the tax rate that many of our well-todo residents leave Maine for other states.
I support a progressive income tax, but it’s not a good idea to excessively tax the people who are responsible for wealth creation in the job market.
Absolutely and absolutely.
Yes to both.
The recently rejected tax-reform package did increase meals and lodging taxes, and I would support it again.
Yes.
If the establishment of public charter schools allows more money to reach teachers, helping them to do their jobs, then I would support that effort.
Yes. I strongly support school choice and funding for students, not schools.
Not at this time, because I believe we should keep our fiscal resources and creative talents committed to and focused on improving the existing public schools system.
Yes, provided that the schools are non-profit, are required to accept all students, and give hiring preference to qualified teachers who get downsized from public schools as a result.
Not at this time, but when an appropriate funding mechanism can be developed I would.
a) No. Before expanding the existing patient pool we should strengthen the financial viability of the current model through appropriate cost containment policies. b) Yes.
No. However, I do think there needs to be a complete overhaul of Medicare/ MaineCare. I would not favor government subsidies for private health insurance. I’d rather see more providers who compete.
We need to take care of the people already on these programs before adding more. I support allowing health insurance across state lines to help lower the cost of health care.
I would support both as efforts to move us toward a public, universal singlepayer system that ensures affordable, accessible, good quality health care for all Americans.
Yes to both.
I would vote to expand MaineCare eligibility.
Business, Research and Economic Development.
Taxation; Business, Research and Economic Development.
Appropriations.
Health and Human Services.
Taxation.
Education.
Vote to allow public charter schools in Maine?
WOULD YOU
HOUSE DISTRICT 114