Maine lauded for animal cruelty laws
For the fourth time in as many years, Maine has ranked among the best in the country for its tough animal cruelty laws.
Since 2006, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has published a list of the best and worst states to be an animal abuser. Maine earned high praise from the group in 2006 because Maine animal abusers can be charged with a felony and sent to
prison, judges can force abusers to give up their pets or livestock, and abusers can be banned from owning any new animal, sometimes forever. That first year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund ranked Maine ranked fifth in the country for its laws.
As Maine instituted stronger animal cruelty reporting laws and created provisions to help animal shelters recoup the costs of caring for rescued animals, the state moved even higher on the list. In 2007 it ranked third. It 2008 it ranked second.
This year, Maine ranked second for the second time. It is the only state in New England to be named among the top five.
Also in the top five: Illinois, Michigan, Oregon and California.
In the bottom five: Kentucky, North Dakota, Hawaii, Idaho and Mississippi.
— Lindsay Tice
On Thursday representatives of Maine Change That Works, who want health reform, sang parodies of Christmas songs at the Lewiston office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. A group of 11 “carolers” sang six songs. The lyrics to one, called “Deductibles,” was sung to the tune of “Deck the Halls.” It went like this:
“Deductibles are bounding higher!
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
For health consumers, that’s quite dire!
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
More fee payments out of pocket!
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Coverage merely catastrophic!
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Real insurance kicks in sooner!
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
So health bills aren’t a budget ruiner!
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Reform will limit out-of-pocket!
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
So we need it – now let’s rocket it!
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
— Bonnie Washuk
Teen speeders
Two 17-year-old drivers made the dishonorable Maine Department of Public Safety “speeders of the week,” Maine State Police spokesman Steve McCausland said Friday.
On Dec. 12 a Brunswick girl was cited by troopers after being clocked driving 99 mph on I-295 in Gardiner. She had a new license, “which she will lose,” McCausland said. Troopers also chased a 17-year-old South Portland boy who they clocked driving at 100 mph, also on the Interstate that day. The teen ended up ramming a police cruiser before he was arrested.
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