The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • Podcasts
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Two Men Arrested in Sanford Stabbing and Bike Theft Case
  • South Portland High School Locked Down This Morning After Suspicious Individual Spotted Near Entrance
  • Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Longest-Serving Female Senator, Dead At 90
  • Angus King and West Virginia Senator Partner to Designate September as ‘National Recovery Month’ Amid Rise in Overdoses
  • Senate Unanimously Approves Official Business-Appropriate Dress Code
  • ‘Enough is Enough’: Portland Business Owners Speak Out About Crime and Violence in City’s Homeless Encampments [VIDEO]
  • Low Approval Ratings for Congress and Biden Persist as Government Shutdown Looms: Gallup Poll
  • Sanford Man Stabbed Multiple Times After Having His Bike Stolen Near City’s Homeless Hot Spot
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Saturday, September 30
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • Podcasts
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Now is the time to invest in Maine’s future
News

Now is the time to invest in Maine’s future

Paul LePageBy Paul LePageJuly 27, 2017No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

After years of fixing Maine’s balance sheet, now is the time to make investments in our economy.

During this past session, I supported three initiatives that focused on using bonds to invest in Maine families and our future: transportation; commercialization; and education.

Investing into our transportation system to maintain Maine’s infrastructure is critical. Our economy relies on transportation, and we must ensure our roads, bridges and ports are accessible, safe and reliable to transport goods to consumers.

The Department of Transportation has proven they can do it in a frugal, fiscally responsible way. In my budget proposal, I provided options to free up funding for the highway fund, but the legislature rejected these proposals and spent those funds on other things. That’s why I support a $100 million bond and encourage the Legislature to do the same.

Commercialization has not been the focus of our state’s bond sales. Instead, Maine has supported research-and-development bonds under the belief it will create jobs. This is only partly true.

While research and development is needed—and Maine has spent tens of millions on it—the product that is created must go to market. Developing a patent that sits on a shelf is not a good return on investment for the Maine taxpayers.

That’s when commercialization becomes very important. Maine has innovative entrepreneurs who create a vast array of products. If we invest in commercialization like we do in research, we could have even more products and services on the market.

It’s why I support a commercialization bond for $50 million, and I encourage the Legislature to do the same.

Finally, we must do something transformative to attract young people to our workforce. Maine is an aging state. We are the oldest state in the nation with a media age of 44 years old—and we are getting older. The national average is about 35.

For companies looking to locate or grow in Maine, we need to attract skilled workers such as scientists, engineers and technology professionals to live and work here. Otherwise, we will see our businesses leave. And as our population continues to age, we will need to attract more doctors, nurses and medical professionals to serve our healthcare needs.

Enabling our employers to offer meaningful loan repayment as part of a recruiting package will give Maine companies a competitive advantage in attracting the young, skilled talent that we so desperately need. I believe a first-in-the-nation effort to help young professionals repay their student loans on an accelerated basis will put Maine on the map and succeed in attracting young people.

The Education Opportunity tax credit has been too complicated and too small to make a difference. Our situation is serious, and we cannot afford to nibble around the edges.

I support a $100 million bond that would enable young people who work in Maine to pay off their student loans over 5 to 7 years, provided they choose to live and work in Maine.

We have an opportunity to support bonds that will transform the Maine economy and build a platform for success.

If others disagree with my proposals, I ask them this: how do you propose we attract younger people and strengthen Maine’s economy? Politicians in Augusta must stop thinking about the next election, and start focusing on our next generation.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
bonds Commentary commercialization education Featured Governor LePage Paul LePage transportation
Previous ArticleLePage to Maine lawmakers: Stop ‘social engineering’ society
Next Article Maine’s fiscal year ends with $111 million surplus
Paul LePage

Governor Paul LePage (R) has served as the 74th Governor of Maine since 2011. Prior to his time as governor, LePage served as the general manager of Marden's and as the mayor of Waterville.

Related Posts

Two Men Arrested in Sanford Stabbing and Bike Theft Case

September 29, 2023

South Portland High School Locked Down This Morning After Suspicious Individual Spotted Near Entrance

September 29, 2023

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Longest-Serving Female Senator, Dead At 90

September 29, 2023

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Two Men Arrested in Sanford Stabbing and Bike Theft Case

September 29, 2023

South Portland High School Locked Down This Morning After Suspicious Individual Spotted Near Entrance

September 29, 2023

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Longest-Serving Female Senator, Dead At 90

September 29, 2023

Angus King and West Virginia Senator Partner to Designate September as ‘National Recovery Month’ Amid Rise in Overdoses

September 29, 2023

Senate Unanimously Approves Official Business-Appropriate Dress Code

September 29, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.