3/6/09 Maine Statehouse Update

Governor's Budget & Legislature Overview

It was another long week of budget at the Appropriations committee.  I sat in for the hearing on Dirigo funding, and it does not look good for the program's continued health.  The funding mechanism (savings offset payment) is in yet another legal battle, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight, as long as the SOP is the funding source.  The director of Dirigo asked the committee to scrap that funding and install a new, less contentious and stable funding source.

Priority Areas  

Lung Cancer

Tobacco Tax:  We have started to get all the pieces together for a full blown campaign to raise the cigarette tax, and also to equalize other smoking tobacco products.  The budget also addresses non-smoking tobacco like snuff, snus, and chew.             

Fund for a Healthy Maine:  We have the Fund as a mechanism to fund the comprehensive cancer plan, so we will be walking a thin line to object to too many issues taking money from the Fund, yet have a straight face when we do it.  We will, of course, make funding the tobacco use prevention program our top priority.

LD 943, "An Act To Reduce Lung Cancer Rates in Maine" directs landlords to test their properties for radon.

Breast Cancer

We do not know of any breast cancer legislation at this point.

Colon Cancer

The Comprehensive Cancer Plan includes a new program to screen un- and under-insured for colon cancer.  This remains our funding priority.

Access to Healthcare

LD 290: "An Act To Allow Maine Residents To Purchase Health Insurance from Out-of-state Insurers," is a bill that would hurt Maine people who actually get sick, since they would not necessarily be covered by Maine insurance laws and regulations.  We will oppose this bill.

LD 323: "An Act To Improve Transparency in the Health Insurance Markets" is the result of our collaboration in the Maine Voices for Coverage campaign.  It's intent is to make it easier for people buying insurance individually to understand exactly what they are buying, and how it compares to other products on the market. 

Comp Cancer

LD 781:  "An Act To Designate a Specialty State Lottery Ticket To Benefit Cancer Education and Awareness" creates a scratch ticket to fund the comprehensive cancer program.  The public hearing is scheduled for March 20 at 10am.  ** We plan to have a press conference announcing the package of cancer funding bills at 12:30 at the statehouse.  All are invited to attend!

LD 909:  "An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Fund Research and Development for Cancer" creates a $25 million bond to fund cancer research.  It will be administered by the Maine Technology Institute.  The public hearing is scheduled for Wed. 3/11 at 9 am.

LD 919:  "An Act To Prevent and Treat Cancer in Maine by Implementing Critical Portions of the Comprehensive Cancer Program" funds the comprehensive cancer program by increasing the taxes on non-cigarette smoking tobacco to be equivalent to cigarettes.

Save the Date:  Lobby Day is Tuesday, April 14, 2009!  All staff and volunteers are encouraged to attend.  We will have a briefing in the morning at 8:30, followed by the opportunity to talk to legislators until about 1:00. 

* The issues that directly impact the NEDiv Business Plan and/or National Scorecard measures in blue.