Maine is falling behind while other states are growing their economies, saving money on energy costs for their people and businesses and creating good local jobs. How are they doing it? Solar power. Right now, legislators are considering a bill, LD 1711, which would help Maine capture those same benefits. According to an analysis done […]

I am writing in support of LD 1491 “An Act to Establish the Work Tax Credit,” because working Mainers with low incomes need to meet their basic needs, and they deserve to keep the money they earned to do it. The legislation would allow working people to pay for transportation, child care and other basic […]

Mainers have long prided themselves in their ability to think independently. However, the failure of LD 211, or “An Act To Open Maine’s Primaries and Permit Unenrolled Voters To Cast Ballots in Primary Elections” is an example of the people’s independence being undermined by their representatives in Augusta. Thirty-five percent of Maine voters are not […]

Solar energy will lower energy costs for Mainers, and by removing the arbitrary cap on community solar participants, we can make it accessible to more people. In Auburn, many of us live in buildings where we can’t put solar on the roof — we rent or we can’t afford the upfront costs of installing solar […]

Recently, the Maine Legislature voted down an issue that was approved by 80% of Mainers eligible to vote. I want to thank the legislators who voted for it, including Senate President Troy Jackson and Speaker of the House Sara Gideon. The ones who didn’t vote for it need to answer “why.” LD 211 was a […]

The overwhelming deluge of plastic bag pollution in the world’s oceans is causing real harm to ocean wildlife, including Maine’s local whale, bird, seal and turtle populations. Plastic bags also litter our beautiful forests, beaches and waterways. Unless action is taken now, plastic bag pollution will continue to negatively impact regional wildlife and the environment, […]

Sixty years ago, my family began a long struggle with substance use disorder. Our loved one became addicted to prescription pain medication. We lost her 20 years later to the ravages of that addiction. Stigma, shame and ignorance kept our family’s burden hidden, and so treatment never arrived for her. All of us were wounded. […]

The plan is for a utility in Quebec to create electricity from water power and for Maine, i.e., Central Maine Power, to move that power to Massachusetts, providing residents there with much needed “clean” energy. The Quebec company should make money; CMP should make money; and folks in Massachusetts will pay their electric bills, in […]

I write in response to an Associated Press article printed in the Sun Journal June 3 regarding the Pentagon’s reaction to an order from the White House to hide the USS John S. McCain from view, while President Trump visited the Naval base in Yokosuka, Japan. The writer indicated that the vessel was named after […]

It seems to me that it is not dignified at all to ask for help to kill one’s self, even if terminally ill. In truth, there is no dignity there because it takes more strength and purpose to live, in spite of pain and suffering, leaving out entirely the debate whether there are eternal consequences. […]