Thursday was Girls’ Day at the State House. Some 101 7th and 8th grade girls from all over Maine came to Augusta to learn about politics and get a hands-on civics lesson. And they were encouraged to think about running for office.

The girls met women legislators, watched the House and Senate during session, and held a mock public hearing and mock press conference about Rep. Sean Faircloth’s bill that would prohibit school vending machines from selling junk food.

Rep. Deborah Simpson, D-Auburn, greeted a crowded room of girls in the State House’s Welcome Center, saying as a young woman she helped others campaign for office, “”but I never thought of myself as a candidate. Part of that was because I’m a female. …You can help other candidates, but you can also run yourself.””

Rep. Elaine Makas, D-Lewiston, agreed, and said she hopes someday they serve in the Legislature. “”We need more women. We have something to contribute.””

Gov. John Baldacci told the girls he never thought he’d be governor, “”but I believed in myself, I was encouraged, and I took the chance to do it.”” He can’t wait until Maine “”has the first women governor, after the next eight years,”” Baldacci said with a laugh.

In the State Office Building, the girls were divided into groups then coached about how to hold a press conference. One group was proponents, another opponents, and a third group, reporters.

Grace Wright, a 7th-grader in Brunswick, played the part of a Pepsi lobbyist opposed to the bill, saying how soda companies are there to help “”those who think young”” with needed revenue. She was good.

Seeing state politics up close was worthwhile, the girls said. “”I don’t really know about Maine government, so this is teaching me a lot,”” Wright said. Girls’ Day would plant seeds in some to consider office or participate as citizens later on, she said. “”I’d be interested in going to a public hearing. I want to be more active.””

The 7th annual Girls’ Day was sponsored by the Maine Women’s Policy Center, a sister organization of the Maine Women’s Lobby. Both groups work to give women a louder voice in politics. There’s work to do. Out of 151 House members, only 37 are women. Out of 35 senators, 13 are women.

Franco Day is Wednesday

Wednesday, March 19, is Franco Day at the Legislature, where the French language will be spoken and celebrated. A busload of 42 Francos from Lewiston, some who have never been to the State House, will attend, along with dozens of French students, artists, dancers, musicians and dignitaries. French will be spoken during legislative proceedings.

On Thursday before meeting with reporters, Gov. John Baldacci spoke some French. He said, “”Ecoute et repetez apres moi,” which is: “”Listen and repeat after me.”” I’m not sure of the context. Was he getting ready for Franco Day, or instructing reporters?

“”Print and pray?””

The Maine Heritage Policy Center has distributed a brochure to lawmakers asking them to ask tougher questions about Gov. John Baldacci’s budget, the one he wants passed by April 1.

The handout asks lawmakers to consider how much the budget is shifting the tax burden, does it have one-time money to pay for ongoing bills and is it a “”print and pray”” budget?

Every governor uses the “”print and pray”” strategy — booking savings the administration hopes it will achieve. But does this budget do too much of that, the paper asks.

In the interest of disclosure, a senior policy analyst for the Maine Heritage Policy Center is Roy Lenardson, long-time Republican legislative staffer who was campaign manager for Republican gubernatorial candidate Peter Cianchette.

Showing off her Irish

Rep. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, may be the only, or at least one of the few, legislators who is a native of Ireland. With St. Patrick’s Day close by, on Thursday Craven was showing getting in the spirit. She wore a green jacket, shamrock earrings and a scarf with shamrocks.

In 1964 when she was 17 years old, Craven emigrated from Ireland to Boston.

“”Middle class people in Boston wanted girls to come and do housework,”” she said. “”They would give you a job and pay for your fare and you worked for them a year or two. That’s how I got here.”” Being an Irish girl working in Boston was overwhelming, she said.

Eventually she got her higher education and met her future husband in Boston.

“”He was from Maine. When we came to Maine to visit his parents, I liked Maine better.”

The Irish village Craven is from is the same that Rep. Tom Kane’s parents came from, Connanara, west of Galway.

Quote of the week:

“”Maybe some people here have more experience with marijuana than I do,”” Sen. David Carpenter, R-Springvale, speaking in the Senate about what’s a usable amount for determining punishment for possession.

Bonnie Washuk is the Sun Journal State House reporter.

Copy the Story Link