Maine House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) has introduced a bill that would establish a state “social equity program” and advisory board to push affirmative action business development initiatives for disproportionately incarcerated populations.
The bill, LD 1517, was first introduced by the House Speaker during the first legislative session in July 2023, and was originally entitled “An Act to Create Equity in the State’s Cannabis Industry.”
The first iteration of the bill would have established a “cannabis business equity program” to provide business support services to individuals previously convicted of and incarcerated for a cannabis-related crime.
On Tuesday, Talbot Ross unveiled a complete overhaul of LD 1517, striking the original title of the bill and its text entirely, replacing it with a sponsor amendment entitled “An Act to Establish the Social Equity Program.”
[RELATED: Maine DEI Board Says No Conflict of Interest with $12,000 Grant to Co-Chair’s Sister…]
Under the revised LD 1517, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development would establish and administer a “social equity program” in order to “increase workforce development programs and provide support to businesses owned by or individuals who are members of impacted communities.”
“Impacted communities” is defined in the bill as a “racial, ethnic, tribal population that for the duration of the past 50 years has experienced incarceration at rates disproportionate to the population’s rate of criminality.”
The bill states that “impacted communities” have, as a result of disproportionate incarceration rates, “experienced direct or indirect discrimination in access to housing, employment and education.”
The social equity program would focus on providing business development support to members of “impacted communities” through outreach, technical assistance, funding, and education regarding available tax credits.
Additional, under LD 1517, the Maine Department of Labor would be directed to establish a 2-year position for an “apprenticeship navigator,” whose role would be to “increase access to workforce development opportunities for impacted communities,” including to apprenticeship programs.
Talbot Ross’ proposed bill would also establish the “Social Equity Program Advisory Committee,” which would be made up of five members of “impacted communities” appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.
While the original version of LD 1517 focused primarily on aiding members of “historically disinvested” communities enter the cannabis industry, the revised bill directs the commissioner of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) to hire a “cannabis business advocate” as an employee of the department for up to two years.
[RELATED: Maine’s Marijuana Biz Set for Major Overhaul…]
The responsibilities of the cannabis business advocate would include fielding and managing complaints and mediating conflicts between members of Maine’s cannabis industry and the Office of Cannabis Policy, as well as to assist cannabis industry members with licensing and navigating the regulatory process.
Talbot Ross’ amendment to LD 1517 is scheduled for a work session before the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on Wednesday, March 20, at 1 p.m.
So first the Cumberland County DA wants to stop prosecuting the illegals from Africa for the numerous traffic violations and now the professional race grievance hustler from Portland wants to stop the incarceration of them and give them tax payer funded goodies for business?
Racist much?
The anti-white brigade of woke women
“disproportionately incarcerated populations” = populations that are disproportionately criminal.
When will the “Social Justice” warriors call for “equity” in sports teams (apart from letting men steamroll women in amateur and college athletics)? For real “equity”, the NBA and NFL should be about 60 % White, 13 % Black, 19 % Hispanic, and 6% Asian. Only then can we achieve true “equity” and harmony.
Let’s assume that everyone in prison deserves to be in prison. Please tell me how “disproportionate incarceration rates” is even a thing? If you’re guilty, go to jail. What she’s saying is certain people must never be charged and only then will “disproportionate incarceration rates” be equal. Surprisingly Maine is still one of the safest states in the country, why would you let this raciest change that?
Anything promoted by her especially something that includes the word equity is bad for Maine and underscores her Marxist ideology.
Follow the Logic Proof here: This woman sees everything through a lens of race. Racism = Seeing everything through a lens of race. Racist: Sees everything through a lens of race. This woman is a racist.
“Disproportionately incarcerated populations?” It’s well established that criminals commit their crimes within their own communities. To make it simple enough that even a politician can understand, overwhelmingly, white criminals commit their crimes against white people, Asian against Asians, Latino against Latinos, Black against Blacks etc.etc. Perhaps the Speaker could consider that no one likes being victimized regardless of what community they live in, so they report their vitimizer to the police and demand that they be punished. Could it be, that if there’s a ” disproportionate” amount of incarceration it’s because there’s a disproportionate amount of crime?
This race baiting idiot needs to just fade away quickly, she is a useless pawn of the democrats that does nothing positive that doesn’t put money in her own pockets.
If Maine is so bad why doesn’t ‘she’ and the rest of the unhappy carpetbaggers go bad to where they came from, or find some place more fitting. It’s coming to a head that many are growing more and more irritated with this leftist ignorant BS.All we’ve seen out of the hyper leftists in the legislature is more ignorant leftist oppression on small businesses and Mainers that just want to be left alone.