A Message from State Senator Doug Thomas
December 17, 2010

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

It is an honor to represent you in the Maine Senate, and I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me to work for the betterment of our region.

The State of Maine, like many of us, is experiencing tough economic times. Currently the state is facing an estimated $800 million revenue shortfall for the next two-year budget. In order to bring the budget into balance, the Governor, along with the Legislature, must make some significant changes in the way state services are delivered and how taxpayer money is spent. We are committed to crafting a budget that reins in the unsustainable growth of state government, prioritizes core services like public health and safety, education, a safety net for our most vulnerable citizens, and our transportation infrastructure. Despite the challenges we face, this is an opportunity to make state government more efficient, reduce the size of the bureaucracy, carefully review the effectiveness of current programs, and set Maine on a new course.

One of our first orders of business when the 125th Legislature convened in December was the passage of LD 1, An Act To Ensure Regulatory Fairness and Reform. The bill recognizes that one of the biggest impediments to job creation and keeping our young people in Maine is the regulatory burden the state currently imposes on business. Given this, LD 1 proposes to reach out to businesses and workers to identify duplicative and unnecessary regulations and eliminate or propose changes to these regulations in order to improve the business climate and encourage job creation and retention and expand opportunities for Maine people.

I am hopeful that by reining in state spending, prioritizing our wants and needs and developing strategies for improving our business climate, we can put Maine back on track toward prosperity and create the opportunities that will keep our young people here in Maine.

Again, thank you for entrusting me to represent you in Augusta. Please feel free to contact me if you ever need my help in navigating the state bureaucracy. I would be happy to help in any way that I can. I can be reached in Augusta at 287-1505 or by e-mail at firewood@tds.net .

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