Maine Advocate Scorecard 2018

MaineAdvocate

A special publication of the Maine Education Association

Who Checks ALL the Boxes? P Which lawmakers voted to support our public schools?

Also inside: Gubernatorial primary voter guide

Under the

DOME

Legislative Recap: Session Ends with Unfinished Business

Just when you think you have seen it all, once again the Legislative session in Maine provided more examples of the unorthodox and disappointment. While the Legislature has a predetermined adjournment day, many times in the past, the session is extended to finish the remaining work and bills before the Legislature; but not this time. House Republicans voted against continuing the work and therefore left hundreds of bills in limbo, including many bills that impact students and public schools. Here are some of the bills that remain in limbo as of this writing: • Fix PBD: The Education Committee voted 103, in bipartisan fashion, on a bill that would have eliminated the proficiency based diploma requirement. The bill, if passed, would have allowed districts to determine if they want to continue with the proficiency based diploma mandate, or maintain their current graduation standards based on the successful completion of specific courses. The MEA was supportive of this commonsense measure that would return the graduation standards to local control, but the bill remains in limbo.

• School Funding: Every year the Legislature must pass a school funding bill in order to establish the statewide cost of education and to establish the minimum mill rate. Because the House Republicans Copyright 2018

MaineAdvocate

A special publication of the Maine Education Association

Who Checks ALL the Boxes? P Which lawmakers voted to support our public schools?

2

Maine Advocate • June 2018

refused to extend the session, the school funding bill was not resolved. As MEA predicted, the Department of Education has said they will honor the state funding share distributed to schools in February, but the passage of a supplemental school funding budget would eliminate any and all confusion or uncertainty.

• Protect Pension COLAs: Another bill that would have codified the COLA as a contract with retired teachers remains in limbo. After the Legislature severely reduced pension benefits for retired teachers, the Maine Association of Retirees took the matter to court but their effort failed. This bill would codify that the COLA is a contract with retirees and could help prevent future cuts to our pension. This bill remains in limbo as well.

While there are hundreds of bills that remain in limbo, there were other critical votes that took place that are on this year’s MEA Legislative Scorecard. Below is a description of the key votes and check out the scorecard to see how your legislators voted.

John Kosinski

Director of Government Relations and Political Action

jkosinski@maineea.org

MEA Leadership Editorial Staff President Lois Kilby-Chesley Vice President Grace Leavitt Treasurer Denise Simoneau NEA Director Amanda Cooper

Managing Editor Rob Walker, Executive Director Editor Giovanna Bechard, Communications Director Layout/Ad Manager Shawn Berry, Communications Assistant

Board of Directors Bo Zabierek Suzen Polk-Hoffses Jesse Hargrove Beth French Ken Williams Jill Watson Jim Thornton Samantha Garnett Sias Terry Martin

Bob McCully Janet Howe Kuech Deborah Butler John Messier Neil Greenberg Thomas Moore III Gerry French

stand on critical stand education on critical stand issues. education on critical stand issues. education on critical issues. education issues.

Who Checks ALL

DON'TDON'T FORGET DON'T FORGET TO DON'T FORGET VOTE TOFORGET VOTE ON TO VOTE ON TO VOTE ON ON JUNE 12!

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Which lawmakers voted to support our public schools?

So much of what happens that impacts your work, student’s learning environment, and day-to-day school life is a result of what happens in the halls of the state house. Education policies set by lawmakers in Augusta impact your career and your rights as a union member.

matter in public education and beyond.

On the following pages please review how your lawmaker scored on the key issues that MEA followed through the legislative session. Each lawmakers received a grade based on their votes on the bills outlined below.

MEA works hard to advocate on your behalf, and holds lawmakers accountable for their votes on key issues that LD 40: An Act To Strengthen Requirements for Water Testing for Schools Sponsored by Senator Rebecca Millett This bill would require all schools to regularly test the drinking water for lead and other toxic substances and would give schools that test positive for such contaminants priority status for funds from the school renovation fund so the issues can be addressed. The bill was introduced after a few schools found dangerous levels of lead in their drinking water. Lead exposure can be dangerous, especially for young children and could lead to health issues, even impairing brain development.

House: Roll Call 590 Senate: Roll Call 615 The MEA supported a YES vote on LD 40.

Final Action: The bill was not acted upon and remains in limbo if/when the Legislature returns to finish their business.

LD 650: An Act To Clarify and Protect Certain Public Service Retirement Benefits Sponsored by Senator David Woodsome This bill would codify the cost of living adjustment (COLA) as a contract with retired teachers and other public employees and would make it harder for the Legislature to cut COLA benefits in the future.

House: Roll Call 650 Senate: No Roll Call The MEA supported a YES vote on LD 650.

Final Action: The bill was not acted upon and remains in limbo if/when the Legislature returns to finish their business.

LD 1507: An Act To Establish a Student Loan Bill of Rights To License and Regulate Student Loan Servicers Sponsored by Senator Eloise Vitelli Just as the title implies, this bill would have created a bill of rights for student loan borrowers and the companies that service such loans. It would have prohibited any deceptive practices by the servicers and it would have required servicers to register with the state.

House: No Roll Call Senate: Roll Call 618 and 662 The MEA supported a YES vote on LD 1507.

Final Action: The bill was passed by the House and Senate but was vetoed by the Governor, and the Senate was unable to override the Governor’s veto.

LD 1684: An Act Forbidding Food Shaming, Food Denial and the Use of Food as Discipline Involving Any Child in Maine's Public Schools Sponsored by Senator Joyce Maker This bill was submitted at the request of MEA members and would prohibit the use of food shaming and prohibit denying food to a student that has unpaid bills with the school. The bill had bipartisan support.

House: Roll Call 540 Senate: No Roll Call The MEA supported a YES vote on LD 540.

Final Action: The bill was not acted upon and remains in limbo if/when the Legislature returns to finish their business.

June 2018

• www.maineea.org

3

LD 1689: An Act To Repeal Certain Provisions Regarding the System Administration Allocation Affecting Maine School Districts in the 2018-2019 Biennial Budget Sponsored by Senator Troy Jackson This will bill would restore the costs of administration to the school funding formula. After the budget debacle of 2017, when the state government was forced to shut down due to disagreement over the state budget, the Legislature finally adopted a state budget that made many changes to the school funding formula. Inexplicably, legislators agreed to remove the cost of administration from the school funding formula during the final budget deliberations. This bill would have fixed this problem.

House: Roll Call 542 Senate: Roll Call 554 The MEA supported a YES vote on LD 1689.

Final Action: The bill was not acted upon and remains in limbo if/when the Legislature returns to finish their business.

LD 1710: An Act To Restore Maine's School-Based Health Centers Sponsored by Representative Jim Handy The LePage administration cut funding for schoolbased health centers last summer, leaving many schools around the state with a bad choice – raise the money from property taxes or cut/close their school based health centers. These centers provide valuable health care to students so they can learn and grow. This bill would have restored funding to the schools that operate school based health centers.

House: Roll Call 515 Senate: No Senate Roll Call The MEA supported a YES vote on LD 1710.

Final Action: The bill was not acted upon and remains in limbo if/when the Legislature returns to finish their business.

LD 1757: An Act To Protect Maine's Economy by Slowing the Rate at Which the State's Minimum Wage Will Increase and Establishing a Training and Youth Wage Sponsored by Representative Joel Stetkis 4

Maine Advocate • June 2018

Plain and simple, this bill was nothing more than a rollback of the minimum wage increase passed by voters in 2016. At a time of increased income inequality and too many families living in poverty, it is unbelievable that some would argue we need to roll back the minimum wage. This was just another attempt by legislators to undo a law passed by voters.

House: Roll Call 529 Senate: Roll Call 581 The MEA supported a NO vote on LD 1757 .

Final Action: The House voted against LD 1757 but the Senate supported it, but the bill ultimately died between the chambers.

LD 1769: An Act To Conform the Laws Regarding a Salaried Employee Who Is Exempt from Overtime and Minimum Wage Requirements to Federal Law Sponsored by Senator Amy Volk This bill would have made it harder for salaried employees to earn overtime pay and would have negatively impacted professionals at the University of Maine campuses.

House: Roll Call 541 Senate: Roll Call 553 The MEA supported a NO vote on LD 1769.

Final Action: The House voted against LD 1769 but the Senate supported it, but the bill ultimately died between the chambers.

LD 1858: An Act To Include Security Installations and Upgrades in Maine's School Revolving Renovation Fund Sponsored by Senator Rebecca Millett LD 1858 allows schools to apply for state funding for school security upgrades. With the recent violence at schools around the country, the MEA supported this effort to keep students safe.

House: Roll Call 552 Senate: Roll Call 580 The MEA supported a YES vote on LD 1858.

Final Action: The bill was passed by the House and Senate and became law without the Governor’s signature.

LD 1869: An Act To Establish the Total Cost of Education and the State and Local Contributions to Education for Fiscal Year 2018-19 and To Provide That Employees of School Management and Leadership Centers Are Eligible To Participate in the Maine Public Employees Retirement System Sponsored by Senator Brian Langley This bill was the supplemental budget for schools and would have also fixed problems related to the regional school centers that were included in the final state budget last session. This bill would have brought certainty to schools and would have provided the necessary safeguards for communities experimenting with regionalized services.

House: Roll Call 630 Senate: No Senate Roll Call The MEA supported a YES vote to extend the session to complete the work before the Legislature.

Final Action: The joint order was passed by the Senate but failed to garner the necessary 2/3rds vote in the House so the joint order died.

Turn the page to see how lawmakers’ voted on these key issues!

House: No House Roll Call Senate: Roll Call 632 The MEA supported a YES vote on LD 1869.

Final Action: The bill was not acted upon and remains in limbo if/when the Legislature returns to finish their business.

LD 1880: An Act To Prohibit Mandatory Membership in a Union or Payment of Agency Fees as a Condition of Employment Sponsored by Representative Dustin White This bill was just another attempt to make it harder for labor organizations, like the MEA, to represent members and to win at the bargaining table.

House: Roll Call 637 Senate: No Senate Roll Call The MEA supported a NO vote on LD 1880.

Final Action: The bill was soundly defeated in the House with the passage of “indefinite postponement” but remains in the Senate pending a return by the Legislature to complete their work.

Senate Paper 742: Joint Order To Extend the Legislative Session Sponsored by Senator Garrett Mason This joint order would have extended the legislative session up to 5 days so the Legislature could complete work on the hundreds of bills before it. The measure failed in the House when it failed to garner 2/3rds support in the House due to the majority of House Republicans failing to support the measure.

Legislative Questions?

Contact MEA’s Director of Government Relations and Political Action John Kosinski email: jkosinski@ maineea.org June 2018

• www.maineea.org

5

SENATE

Key: p=Pro-Education Vote | X=Voted Against Public Education A=Unexcused Absence | E=Excused Absence RC=Roll Call Vote Number | V=Veto Override Vote

Dist.

Senator

14

LD 40

LD 1507

LD 1689

Water Testing in Schools

Student Loan Bill of Rights

Restore Administrative Costs to School Funding Formula

RC # 615

RC # 618

RC # 662

RC # 554

SHENNA BELLOWS (D - Kennebec)

P

P

P

P

20

ERIC BRAKEY (R - Androscoggin)

O

O

E

O

25

CATHERINE BREEN (D - Cumberland)

P

P

P

P

2

MICHAEL CARPENTER (D - Aroostook)

P

P

P

P

24

EVERETT BROWNIE CARSON (D - Cumberland)

P

P

P

P

31

JUSTIN CHENETTE (D - York)

P

P

P

P

27

BENJAMIN CHIPMAN (D - Cumberland)

P

P

P

P

34

RONALD COLLINS (R - York)

O

O

O

O

10

ANDRE CUSHING (R - Penobscot)

O

O

O

O

16

SCOTT CYRWAY (R - Kennebec)

P

O

O

P

4

PAUL DAVIS (R - Piscataquis)

P

O

O

P

32

SUSAN DESCHAMBAULT (D - York)

P

P

P

P

26

BILL DIAMOND (D - Cumberland)

P

P

P

P

5

JAMES DILL (D - Penobscot)

P

P

P

P

28

MARK DION (D - Cumberland)

P

P

P

P

13

DANA DOW (R - Lincoln)

P

P

O

O

9

GEOFFREY GRATWICK (D - Penobscot)

P

P

P

P

19

JAMES HAMPER (R - Oxford)

P

O

O

O

35

DAWN HILL (D - York)

P

P

P

P

1

TROY JACKSON (D - Aroostook)

P

P

P

P

15

ROGER KATZ (R - Kennebec)

P

P

P

O

18

LISA KEIM (R - Oxford)

P

O

O

O

7

BRIAN LANGLEY (R - Hancock)

P

O

O

O

21

NATHAN LIBBY (D - Androscoggin)

P

P

P

P

6

JOYCE MAKER (R - Washington)

P

O

O

P

22

GARRETT MASON (R - Androscoggin)

P

O

O

O

29

REBECCA MILLETT (D - Cumberland)

P

P

P

P

12

DAVID MIRAMANT (D - Knox)

P

P

P

P

8

KIMBERLEY ROSEN (R - Penobscot)

P

O

O

O

17

THOMAS SAVIELLO (R - Franklin)

P

O

O

P

11

MICHAEL THIBODEAU (R - Waldo)

P

O

O

P

23

ELOISE VITELLI (D - Sagadahoc)

P

P

P

P

30

AMY VOLK (R - Cumberland)

P

O

O

P

3

RODNEY WHITTEMORE (R - Somerset)

P

P

O

O

33

DAVID WOODSOME (R- York)

P

O

O

O

6

Maine Advocate • June 2018

LD 1757

LD 1769

LD 1858

LD 1869

Minimum Wage Rollback

Cut Overtime Pay for Salary Employees

RC # 581

RC # 553

RC # 580

RC# 632

P

P

P

P

100%

O

O

P

O

25%

P

P

P

P

100%

P

P

P

P

100%

P

P

P

P

100%

P

P

P

P

100%

P

P

P

P

100%

O

O

P

O

13%

O

O

P

O

13%

O

O

P

O

38%

O

O

P

O

38%

P

P

P

P

100%

P

O

P

P

88%

P

P

P

P

100%

P

P

P

P

100%

O

O

P

O

38%

P

P

P

P

100%

O

O

P

O

25%

O

O

P

P

75%

P

P

P

P

100%

O

O

P

O

50%

O

O

P

O

25%

O

O

P

O

25%

P

P

P

P

100%

O

O

P

O

38%

O

O

P

O

25%

P

P

P

P

100%

P

P

P

P

100%

O

O

P

O

25%

O

O

P

O

38%

O

O

P

O

38%

P

P

P

P

100%

O

O

P

O

38%

O

O

P

O

38%

O

O

P

O

25%

School Security in State Supplemental Education Renovation Fund Budget

June 2018

128th Second Session Score as of 5/1/18

• www.maineea.org

7

HOUSE

Key: p=Pro-Education Vote | X=Voted Against Public Education A=Unexcused Absence | E=Excused Absence RC=Roll Call Vote Number | V=Veto Override Vote

Dist.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 8

Representative DEANE RYKERSON (D - Kittery) MARK LAWRENCE (D - South Berwick) LYDIA BLUME (D - York) PATRICIA HYMANSON (D - York) BETH O’CONNOR (R - Berwick) JENNIFER PARKER (D - South Berwick) ROBERT FOLEY (R - Wells) CHRISTOPHER BABBIDGE (D - Kennebunk) H. STEDMAN SEAVEY (R - Kennebunkport) WAYNE PARRY (R - Arundel) RYAN FECTEAU (D - Biddeford) MARTIN GROHMAN (I - Biddeford) GEORGE HOGAN (D - Old Orchard Beach) DONNA BAILEY (D - Saco) MARGARET O’NEIL (D - Saco) DONALD MAREAN (R - Hollis) DWAYNE PRESCOTT (R - Waterboro) ANNE-MARIE MASTRACCIO (D - Sanford) MATTHEW HARRINGTON (R - Sanford) KAREN GERRISH (R - Lebanon) HEIDI SAMPSON (R - Alfred) JONATHAN KINNEY (R - Limington) LESTER ORDWAY (R - Standish) MARK BRYANT (D - Windham) PATRICK COREY (R - Windham) MAUREEN TERRY (D - Gorham) ANDREW MCLEAN (D - Gorham) HEATHER SIROCKI (R - Scarborough) KAREN VACHON (R - Scarborough) KIMBERLY MONAGHAN (D - Cape Elizabeth) LOIS GALGAY RECKITT (D - South Portland) SCOTT HAMANN (D - South Portland) KEVIN BATTLE (U - South Portland) ANDREW GATTINE (D - Westbrook) DILLON BATES (D - Westbrook) DENISE HARLOW (I - Portland) RICHARD FARNSWORTH (D - Portland) MATTHEW MOONEN (D - Portland) MICHAEL SYLVESTER (D - Portland) RACHEL TALBOT ROSS (D - Portland) ERIK JORGENSEN (D - Portland) BENJAMIN COLLINGS (D - Portland) HEATHER SANBORN (D - PORTLAND) TERESA PIERCE (D - Falmouth) DALE DENNO (D - Cumberland) PAUL CHACE (R - Durham) JANICE COOPER (D - Yarmouth) SARA GIDEON (D - Freeport) MATTHEA DAUGHTRY (D - Brunswick) RALPH TUCKER (D - Brunswick) JOYCE MCCREIGHT (D - Harpswell)

Maine Advocate • June 2018

LD 40

LD 650

LD 1684

LD 1689

Water testing in schools

Protect COLAs for Retirees

School Lunch Shaming

Restore Administrative Costs to School Funding Formula

RC # 590 P P P P O P O P O O P P P P P P O P O O P O O P P P A O P P P P A P P P P P P P P P P P P O P P P P P

RC # 505 P P P P O P O P O O P P P P P O O P P O O O O P O P A O O P P P P P P P P P P P P A P P P O P P P P P

RC # 540 P P P P O P O P O O P P P P P O O P O O O O O P O P P O O P P A P P P P P P P P P P P P P O P P P P P

RC # 542 P P P P O P O P P O P O P P P O O P O O O O O P O P A O P P P A P P P P P P P P P P P P P O P P P P P

LD 1710

LD 1757

LD 1769

LD 1858

LD 1880

SP 742

Restore Funding for School Health Centers

Minimum Wage Rollback

Cut Overtime Pay for Salary Employees

School Security in State Renovation Fund

Another Anti-Union Bill

Extend the Session to Complete Work

RC # 515 A P P P O P O P O A P P P P P A O P O O O O A P P P P O P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P A P O P P P P P

RC # 529 P P P P O P O P O O P O P P P O O P O O O O O P O P P O P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P O P P P P P

RC # 541 P P P P O P O P O O P O P P P O O P O O O O O P O P A O O P P A P P P P P P P P P P P P P O P P P P P

RC # 552 P P P P P P A P P P P P P P P A P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P

RC # 637 P P P P O P O P O O P P P P P O O P O O O O O P O P P O O P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P O P P P P P

RC # 630 P P P P O P O P O O P P P P P O O P O O O O O P O P P O O P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P O P P P P P June 2018

128th Second Session Score as of 5/3/18

90% 100% 100% 100% 10% 100% 0% 100% 20% 10% 100% 70% 100% 100% 100% 10% 10% 100% 20% 10% 20% 10% 10% 100% 30% 100% 60% 10% 50% 100% 100% 70% 90% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 90% 100% 90% 100% 10% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% • www.maineea.org

9

HOUSE

Key: p=Pro-Education Vote | X=Voted Against Public Education A=Unexcused Absence | E=Excused Absence RC=Roll Call Vote Number | V=Veto Override Vote

Dist.

Representative

52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102

JENNIFER DeCHANT (D - Bath) JEFFREY PIERCE (R - Dresden) DENISE TEPLER (D - Topsham) SETH BERRY (D - Bowdoinham) RICHARD MASON (R - Lisbon) STEPHEN WOOD (R - Greene) JAMES HANDY (D - Lewiston) ROGER FULLER (D - Lewiston) JARED GOLDEN (D - Lewiston) HEIDI BROOKS (D - Lewiston) GINA MELARAGNO (D - Auburn) BRUCE BICKFORD (R - Auburn) BETTYANN SHEATS (D - Auburn) ELEANOR ESPLING (R - New Gloucester) JESSICA FAY (D - RAYMOND) SUSAN AUSTIN (R - Gray) RICHARD CEBRA (R - Naples) PHYLLIS GINZLER (R - Bridgton) NATHAN WADSWORTH (R - Hiram) TOM WINSOR (R - Norway) KATHLEEN DILLINGHAM (R - Oxford) LLOYD HERRICK (R - Paris) CHRISTINA RILEY (D - Jay) JEFFREY TIMBERLAKE (R - Turner) GARY HILLIARD (R - Belgrade) MICHAEL PERKINS (R - Oakland) CATHERINE NADEAU (D - Winslow) TIMOTHY THERIAULT (R - China) RICHARD BRADSTREET (R - Vassalboro) CRAIG HICKMAN (D - Winthrop) KENT ACKLEY (U - Monmouth) GAY GRANT (D - Gardiner) CHARLOTTE WARREN (D - Hallowell) DONNA DOORE (D - Augusta) MATTHEW POULIOT (R - Augusta) JEFFERY HANLEY (R - Pittston) DEBORAH SANDERSON (R - Chelsea) STEPHANIE HAWKE (R - Boothbay Harbor) MICK DEVIN (D - Newcastle) ABDEN SIMMONS (R - Waldoboro) JOHN ALDEN SPEAR (D - So. Thomaston) PINNEY BEEBE-CENTER (D - Rockland) OWEN CASAS (U - Rockport) PAULA SUTTON (R - Warren) STANLEY ZEIGLER (D - Montville) ERIN HERBIG (D - Belfast) JAMES GILLWAY (R - Searsport) MARYANNE KINNEY (R - Knox) KENNETH WADE FREDETTE (R - Newport) DAVID HAGGAN (R - Hampden) STACEY GUERIN (R - Glenburn)

10

Maine Advocate • June 2018

LD 40

LD 650

LD 1684

LD 1689

Water testing in schools

Protect COLAs for Retirees

School Lunch Shaming

Restore Administrative Costs to School Funding Formula

RC # 590

RC # 505

RC # 540

RC # 542

P O P P O O P P P P P O P P P O A P O O O P P O O O A O O P P P P P P O O O P O P P P O P P O A P P A

P O P P O O P P P P P A P O P O O O A O A P P O O O P O A P P P P P P O O O P O P P P O P P O O O O O

P O P P O O P P P P P O P O P O O O O O O O P O O O P O O P P P P P P O O O P O O P P O P P O O O O O

P O P P O O P P P P P P P O P O O O O O O O P O O O P O P P P P P P P O O O P O P P P O P P O O O P O

LD 1710

LD 1757

LD 1769

LD 1858

LD 1880

SP 742

Restore Funding for School Health Centers

Minimum Wage Rollback

Cut Overtime Pay for Salary Employees

School Security in State Renovation Fund

Another Anti-Union Bill

Extend the Session to Complete Work

RC # 515

RC # 529

RC # 541

RC # 552

RC # 637

RC # 630

P O P P O A P P P P P P P O P O O A O O O P P O O O P A A P P P P P O A O O P O P P A O P A O O A O O

P O P P O O P P P P P O P O P O O O O O O O P O O O P O O P P P P P O O O O P O P P P O P P O O O O O

P O P P O O P P P P P O P O P O O O O O O O P O O O P O O P P P P P O O O O P O P P O O P P O O O O O

P P P P P P P A P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P O P P P P P P P P P P

P O P P O O P P P P P O P O P O O O O O O A P O O O P P O P P P P P P O O O P O P P O O P P O O O O O

P O P P O O P P P P P O P O P O O O O O O O P O O O P O O P P P P P O O O O P O P P P O P P O O O O O

June 2018

128th Second Session Score as of 5/3/18

100% 10% 100% 100% 10% 10% 100% 90% 100% 100% 100% 30% 100% 20% 100% 10% 10% 20% 10% 10% 10% 40% 100% 10% 10% 10% 90% 20% 20% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 60% 10% 10% 10% 100% 10% 80% 100% 70% 10% 100% 90% 10% 10% 20% 30% 10%

• www.maineea.org

11

HOUSE

Key: p=Pro-Education Vote | X=Voted Against Public Education A=Unexcused Absence | E=Excused Absence RC=Roll Call Vote Number | V=Veto Override Vote

Dist.

103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 12

Representative ROGER REED (R - Carmel) RAYMOND WALLACE (R - Dexter) JOEL STETKIS (R - Canaan) SCOTT STROM (R - Pittsfield) BETTY AUSTIN (D - Skowhegan) JOHN JOSEPH PICCHIOTTI (R - Fairfield) THOMAS LONGSTAFF (D - Waterville) COLLEEN MADIGAN (D - Waterville) BRADLEE THOMAS FARRIN (R - Norridgewock) THOMAS SKOLFIELD (R - Weld) LANCE HARVELL (R - Farmington) RUSSELL BLACK (R - Wilton) JOHN MADIGAN (D - Rumford) RICHARD PICKETT (R - Dixfield) FRANCES HEAD (R - Bethel) CHAD GRIGNON (R - Athens) PAUL STEARNS (R - Guilford) NORMAN HIGGINS (I - Dover-Foxcroft) ROBERT DUCHESNE (D - Hudson) MICHELLE DUNPHY (D - Old Town) RYAN TIPPING (D - Orono) AARON FREY (D - Bangor) VICTORIA KORNFIELD (D - Bangor) JOHN SCHNECK (D - Bangor) BARBARA CARDONE (D - Bangor) GARREL CRAIG (R - Brewer) PETER LYFORD (R - Eddington) RICHARD CAMPBELL (R - Orrington) KARLETON WARD (R - Dedham) LOUIS LUCHINI (D - Ellsworth) RALPH CHAPMAN (G - Brooksville) WALTER KUMIEGA III (D - Deer Isle) BRIAN HUBBELL (D - Bar Harbor) RICHARD MALABY (R - Hancock) LAWRENCE LOCKMAN (R - Amherst) ROBERT ALLEY (D - Beals) WILLIAM TUELL (R - East Machias) ANNE PERRY (D - Calais) BETH TURNER (R - Burlington) SHELDON HANINGTON (R - Lincoln) STEPHEN STANLEY (D - Medway) ROGER SHERMAN (R - Hodgdon) CHRIS JOHANSEN (R - Monticello) DUSTIN MICHAEL WHITE (R - Washburn) HAROLD STEWART III (R - Presque Isle) DAVID MCCREA (D - Fort Fairfield) CAROL MCELWEE (R - Caribou) ROLAND DANNY MARTIN (D - Sinclair) JOHN MARTIN (D - Eagle Lake)

Maine Advocate • June 2018

LD 40

LD 650

LD 1684

LD 1689

Water testing in schools

Protect COLAs for Retirees

School Lunch Shaming

Restore Administrative Costs to School Funding Formula

RC # 590

RC # 505

RC # 540

RC # 542

O P O O P O P P

O O O O P O P P

O O O P P O P P

O O O O P O P P

O

O

O

O

O O O P P A A P P P P P P P P P O O O A P A P P P O P O P O O P A O O O P O P P

P O O P P O O P P P P P P P P P P O P A P P P P O O P P P O O P P O O O P O P P

O O A P O A O O P P P P P P P P O O O P P P P P O O P P P O O P A O O O P O P P

P O A P O A O P P P P P P P P P O P P O P P P A O O P P P O O P A O O O P O P P

LD 1710

LD 1757

LD 1769

LD 1858

LD 1880

SP 742

Restore Funding for School Health Centers

Minimum Wage Rollback

Cut Overtime Pay for Salary Employees

School Security in State Renovation Fund

Another Anti-Union Bill

Extend the Session to Complete Work

RC # 515

RC # 529

RC # 541

RC # 552

RC # 637

RC # 630

O A O O P O P P

O O O O P O P P

O O O O P O P P

P P P P P P P P

O O O O P O P P

O O O P P O P P

10% 20% 10% 30% 100% 10% 100% 100%

A

O

O

P

O

O

10%

O O O P O O O O P P P P P P P P O O O P P P P P P O P P P O O P A O O O P O P P

O O O P O O O O P P P P P P P P O O O O P P P P O O P O P O O P A O O O P O P P

O O A P O A O O O P P P P P P P O O O O P P P P O O P O P O O P A O O O P O P P

P P A P P P P P P P P P P P P A P P P A P O P P P P P P P P P P A P P P P P P P

O O O P O O O O P P P P P P P P O O O A P P P P O O P O P O O P A O O O P O P P

O O O P O O O O P P P P P P P P O O O A P A P P O O P P P O O P A O O O P O P P

30% 10% 0% 100% 30% 10% 10% 40% 90% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 90% 20% 20% 30% 20% 100% 70% 100% 90% 30% 10% 100% 60% 100% 10% 10% 100% 10% 10% 10% 10% 100% 10% 100% 100%

June 2018

128th Second Session Score as of 5/3/18

• www.maineea.org

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14

Maine Advocate • June 2018

2018

GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY VOTER GUIDE WHO WILL BE MAINE'S NEXT On Tuesday, June 12th voters will go to the polls and select a Republican and GOVERNOR? Democratic candidate for Governor.

On MEA Tuesday, June 12th, voters will go to the pollselection, and select a The is not endorsing any candidate in the primary but wanted to Republican and Democratic candidate for Governor. provide members with information about the candidates and where they stand on matter important our professions, our students, andprimary our public schools.but The MEA is not to endorsing any candidate in the election, wanted to provide members with information about the candidates and

where on matter important our professions, our students, The MEAthey sent stand questionnaires to all qualifiedtoRepublican and Democratic and our public schools. candidates who will appear on the ballot. Seven of the candidates responded.

Please take a minute to read about where the candidates stand on critical The MEA sent questionnaires to all qualified Republican and Democratic education issues theappear following candidates whoonwill onpages. the ballot. Seven of the candidates responded. Please take a minute to read about where the candidates

Gubernatorial candidates appear in alphabetical order. stand on critical education issues.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE ON JUNE 12!

Turn the page to see the Gubernatorial voter guide responses!

June 2018

• www.maineea.org

15

Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Adam Cote Democrat Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Do you support the State meeting its obligation to pay 55% of the cost of public education?

Yes. I voted for Question 2 and I believe the will of the voters should be honored by our elected leaders on Augusta. I am one of the citizens who has been very frustrated politicians in Augusta have refused to honor our commitment to fund K-12 education.

We absolutely need a governor who will make fully funding education a priority. I will. I come from a family of teachers. My wife, dad, and aunt have been public school teachers. I know very well how they had to hold bake sales to meet their basic classroom needs. I believe overall, we can’t lose track of the fact that Maine has an aging, shrinking population and has had weak job, income, and economic growth versus New England and the country for the past seven-plus years. What we really need is to help existing businesses grow and attract new businesses with good jobs. That is how we can expand our current progressive tax base and make smart investments in education, infrastructure, renewable energy, broadband, and workforce training. We need growth. We need to build an economy that works for all of us, in every part of Maine. That will be my top priority.

Yes. My top priority is to get Maine’s economy growing again so we can invest more in education.

I do support having the state meet its 55% funding goal. As I said, I come from a whole family of public school teachers and I served on my local school board before having to resign and deploy to Afghanistan with the Maine Army National Guard. It was awful to serve on the school board at a time when revenue sharing was also being cut by the governor. We were forced to deal with a budget shortfall of over a million dollars. We had to cut sports and arts programs and not hire replacements for retiring teaches, which affected our student-teacher ratios. I will work towards meeting the 55% funding level Mainers voted for and I support a return to regular revenue sharing.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

No. I understand there are real budgetary pressures on leaders in Augusta. One of the reasons for that is the lack of economic growth under this governor’s leadership. Having said that, I believe we need to honor the will of Maine voters.

16

Maine Advocate • June 2018

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Yes. I support studying how the current charter schools are functioning and understanding their impact on public schools before considering whether or not to expand the number. Our first priority needs to be making sure our public school system is funded and working, so all Maine kids get an excellent education.

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Yes. The state has done a terrible job of providing adequate resources to implement these initiatives

successfully in the past. There are two points here, in my view: First, any standards, mandates, new proposals should be developed with the input of teachers who are the ones in the classroom with our kids every day. Second, no business would try to implement a new management or operating structure without investing in a well thought out training and implementation program for all stakeholders. The state should do the same and include principals, superintendents, and classroom teachers. Public school teachers I have met all over Maine are tired of getting unfunded mandates from Augusta and no training or guidance on how to make them work.

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

No. I support the use of data and best practices in working to have the best schools in the country here in Maine, but standardized test scores should never be used as the only way teaches, educators, or schools are evaluated. I know from my wife, dad, and aunt and others close to me that the best teacher can have a kid who get’s no support at home and performs poorly on standardized tests. In the business world, effective organizations will use “360-deree reviews” that take a variety of perspectives into account when it comes to performance evaluations. In my view, all stakeholders – superintendents, principals, and teachers – should have that kind of review. Teachers should be involved in helping design the evaluation system. We should also make sure we provide teachers with ongoing professional development opportunities. One additional frustration from many of the teachers in my family and that I know is the fact that we have had, I think, eight different education commissioners in the past seven and a half years. That is ridiculous and shows an real lack of leadership from the Blaine House on an issue that is crucial to our future.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to the profession?

Yes. I would absolutely like to see Maine’s starting teacher salaries go even higher than $40,000, so we are near the top nationally, attract top quality teachers, and our teachers are paid at a level where they know their work is respected. I would also look at whether we can attract good teachers by helping them pay off their college loans. Beyond starting salaries, we need to think about teacher compensation, over a career, in a way that retains

good people in the profession and rewards them for the critical work they do for our communities.

As governor, I will work to meet the 55% education funding goal and restore revenue sharing. I know higher starting salaries will create challenges in some of the more rural communities in Maine. As someone who comes from a former mill town and a rural part of the state myself, I will always be sure rural Maine leaders and voices are heard.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Yes. I come from a family of union teachers and welders. I am a strong supporter of protecting and strengthening collective bargaining rights for Maine workers.

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Yes. I have watched my own dad and aunt try to get by on their teacher pensions after 35-year careers helping educate Maine kids. We should honor the commitments made to teachers. I will not try to balance the state budget on the backs of retired teachers.

Do you support the state increasing the share it pays for health insurance for retired teachers and educators?

Yes. I will make reforming health care until all Mainers have quality, affordable care a top priority.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866June • www.

2018 maineea.org • www.maineea.org

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Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Donna Dion Democrat Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Yes. My yes vote was based on achieving conformity in the level of taxes that are paid by the 98% of Mainers, who do not receive the same level of deductibles in the end carry a larger burden of the revenue necessary to pay for education in Maine.

No. No, if more charter schools want to open up and provide additional choices to student to challenge them, I support. What I do not support is the public schools suffering in order for the charter schools to be established. Every student should have a set dollar amount they can bring with them from their home town to a charter school, Charter schools should be looked at as private schools.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

No. Elected officials are voted in to serve the citizens of Maine, the approved referendum, was the will of the citizens, even though the number of voters were low, but they voted and it was approved. Vetoing the ballot initiative does not seem to be based on any sound reasoning.

Do you support the State meeting its obligation to pay 55% of the cost of public education?

Yes. Yes, is for the full payment of 55% of the overall cost of education, but we must evaluate the process by which the 55% is distributed throughout the State.

All students throughout the State should have an equal opportunity for the same quality of education, which should equal technical support, text books and also acceptable learning environment.

18

Maine Advocate • June 2018

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Yes. Yes is based on the need to evaluate the existing mandates and testing and bring the requirements back to what is needed to provide every opportunity to each student to flourish through their unique learning style and becoming successful. I have seen in the past sometimes the mandates, unpaid mandates derails the true teaching opportunity to time to record and report out the results required by the mandates.

End results lost opportunities for more success stories.

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

No. Teachers need to direct their energy in evaluating the different learning styles of students and connected students to opportunities to be successful. If teachers are more involved in mandates and structured mandated testing they may and could loose the core of education, which has always been the needs of the students to be successful.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to the profession?

Yes. I think we should have a base on an average per week over 52 weeks, $40,000/52 wks =$769 x 75% take home= $577 per week, average of $2,500 take home per month.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Yes. I also believe that all unions must be open shop, allowing the individuals to belong or stand alone, try democracy.

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Yes. No further cuts based on current system, but we should at least re-evaluate the social security system and the impact to Maine if we activated social security for all employees in the State of Maine. The results may trigger a review to matching funds to Maine pension system but I think all options need to be evaluated.

Do you support the state increasing the share it pays for health insurance for retired teachers and educators?

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

Unsure. All employees are carrying the impact of health insurance, this is not just a teacher’s problem but a problem of the health insurance system.

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org June 2018

• www.maineea.org

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Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Mark Dion Democrat Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

Yes.

No. I’m not sure that standardized tests tell the “whole” story about the efforts of committed teachers and the realities of children challenged on many social and intellectual levels. Either we trust teachers or we don’t. It’s that simple and that hard. I’m willing to be educated on how we should assess the idea of “progress”.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

Yes. I joined the Senate Democratic caucus in voting to amend Question #2 as a consequence of negotiating the state budget and shutdown which resulted despite our best efforts.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to Do you support the State meeting its obligation to the profession? pay 55% of the cost of public education?

Yes. The challenge is to secure a majority in the Legislature to accomplish this task. School funding often presents a choice among competing demands on limited state funding. We must be clear as allies as two what sacrifice must be made to accomplish that funding goal.

Yes. Teachers are professionals and we should compensate them in recognition of that fact.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Yes.

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Yes.

Yes.

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Yes.

20

Maine Advocate • June 2018

Do you support the state increasing the share it pays for health insurance for retired teachers and educators?

Unsure. Unsure is not the term I would prefer. The better term would be “open” to assessing the evidence and consequences a universal heath care system may have on the cost and quality of health services for retired teachers.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org June 2018

• www.maineea.org

21

Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Mark Eves Democrat Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Yes.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

No.

Do you support the State meeting its obligation to pay 55% of the cost of public education?

Yes. This is a moral and political obligation. We expanded education funding every year that I was Speaker. We must get to 55% as the people have repeatedly instructed. As governor, I will do so.

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Unsure. We cannot begin to think about charter schools, certainly not more of them, until we fully fund our public schools. Some charter schools, including Good Will-Hinckley, play an important role in providing educational services to students with special needs. Many, many charter schools drain our public education system without providing any public benefit. As governor, I will oppose any efforts to expand charter schools at least until our public schools are fully funded. Then I would consider each school, new and existing, on a case-by-case basis.

22

Maine Advocate • June 2018

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Yes. Yes, I will oppose any new mandates that are not funded. The DOE has lacked severe leadership under the LePage administration having 8 commissioners of education in the last 7 years. As governor, my goal would be to appoint a commissioner with classroom and administrative experience that will partner with local school districts to achieve the highest quality education for our students. The future of our economy depends on a world class education system.

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

Unsure. Standardized tests should be reviewed for their effectiveness. Currently teachers, in many cases, are required to teach to the test, restricting creativity and stifling teachers enthusiasm for the profession.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to the profession?

Yes.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Yes. Every worker, public or private sector, deserves the right to collectively bargain. As Speaker, I beat back eight different attempts at so-called “Right to work” laws.

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Yes.

Do you support the state increasing the share it pays for health insurance for retired teachers and educators?

Yes.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org June 2018

• www.maineea.org

23

Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Kenneth Fredette Republican Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Refused to answer.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

Refused to answer.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Refused to answer.

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Refused to answer.

Do you support the state increasing the share Do you support the State meeting its obligation to it pays for health insurance for retired teachers pay 55% of the cost of public education? and educators?

Refused to answer.

Refused to answer.

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Refused to answer.

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Refused to answer.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

Refused to answer.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to the profession?

Refused to answer.

24

Maine Advocate • June 2018

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org

Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Garrett Mason Republican Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Refused to answer.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

Refused to answer.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Refused to answer.

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Refused to answer.

Do you support the state increasing the share Do you support the State meeting its obligation to it pays for health insurance for retired teachers pay 55% of the cost of public education? and educators?

Refused to answer.

Refused to answer.

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Refused to answer.

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Refused to answer.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

Refused to answer.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to the profession?

Refused to answer.

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org June 2018

• www.maineea.org

25

Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Mary Mayhew Republican Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Refused to answer.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

Refused to answer.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Refused to answer.

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Refused to answer.

Do you support the state increasing the share Do you support the State meeting its obligation to it pays for health insurance for retired teachers pay 55% of the cost of public education? and educators?

Refused to answer.

Refused to answer.

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Refused to answer.

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Refused to answer.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

Refused to answer.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to the profession?

Refused to answer.

26

Maine Advocate • June 2018

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org

Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Janet Mills Democrat Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Yes. I believe that fully funding education is critical to our future as a state. Failing to meet the state’s obligations not only causes devastating cuts to education programs, but results in higher property taxes that disproportionately burden the elderly and low-income Maine people.

Yes. I firmly oppose taking tax dollars from the public education system to fund new private or charter schools, and I do not support lifting the cap on new charters. The proposal to allow for ten charter schools in Maine was largely based on the premise that these schools would serve as an experiment. So far, the promise of dramatically higher-quality education has yet to materialize, and I believe it would be premature to expand that experiment without positive results.

That said, I also believe it would be premature to permanently ban any new charter under any circumstances.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

No. I believe it’s fundamentally undemocratic for the legislature to disregard the clearly expressed will of the people immediately following a ballot referendum. Will you oppose any new mandates on schools

without adequate state funding and without Do you support the State meeting its obligation to clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, pay 55% of the cost of public education? and educators impacted by those mandates?

Yes. It’s both a moral imperative, and critical to our future as a state, to ensure every student — no matter what part of Maine they live in — has access to a high-quality education. When the state fails to meet its obligations, the impact is disproportionately damaging to rural and lower-income communities. As Governor, I will work with the Legislature to fully fund the state’s obligations.

Yes. I believe that while the reforms were wellintended, all three major initiatives (Common Core, new teacher evaluation systems, and the Proficiency Based Diplomas) were implemented with inadequate funding and a lack of clear directions. Moreover, the fact that three major unfunded mandates were passed in the span of only a few years inevitably drew resources, time, and attention away from the core educational mission of teachers and schools. I do believe it’s critical that we ensure our high school graduates are prepared for higher education or their careers, but I don’t believe imposing sweeping successive unfunded mandates is the best path there.

June 2018

• www.maineea.org

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Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

No. I believe that high-stakes testing is a poor method of evaluating both teachers. I’d support adopting a framework that examines a wider range of measures to examine performance, including access to arts, foreign languages, and vocational education, as well as college and career preparation. To the limited degree that standardized testing is used, I believe student growth percentile (which compares students’ improvement over time with similarly situated peers) is a more meaningful metric than raw scores.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to the profession?

Yes. As a legislator, I advocated and voted for the last minimum teacher salary bill, setting the minimum at $30,000; it’s irresponsible that this figure hasn’t changed since I took that vote in 2006.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Yes. Absolutely, and I’ve supported that right in the Friedrichs and Janus case before the Supreme Court.

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Yes. I absolutely oppose cuts to the pension system.

Do you support the state increasing the share it pays for health insurance for retired teachers and educators?

Yes. My mother taught school for thirty-seven years.

I’m keenly aware of the real struggles faced by retired teachers facing high insurance costs, modest-at-best pensions, and little or no access to Social Security due to the WEP. This is not only the right thing to do, it’s also important to attract and retain the talented educators who are critical to the future of our education system and our state.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org 28

Maine Advocate • June 2018

Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Shawn Moody Republican Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Refused to answer.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

Refused to answer.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Refused to answer.

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Refused to answer.

Do you support the state increasing the share Do you support the State meeting its obligation to it pays for health insurance for retired teachers pay 55% of the cost of public education? and educators?

Refused to answer.

Refused to answer.

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Refused to answer.

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Refused to answer.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

Refused to answer.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to the profession?

Refused to answer.

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org June 2018

• www.maineea.org

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Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Diane Russell Democrat Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Yes. I am FURIOUS at what the Legislature did, not just on this one but all the referenda. They stole our education money. I am so sorry I lost that Senate race.

While I was busy with other resistance efforts and my job, I sent numerous emails to Maine people asking them to help fight to protect Q2.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

No. What happened was/is bulls___.

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Yes. I’m going to go out on a limb here, but I just have this crazy notion that we should work with teachers, parents and school boards to create sustainable measurement systems that work, and then collaboratively roll those programs out in a manner that is funded, equitable and solves more problems than that new system would create.

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

Do you support the State meeting its obligation to No. I’m more interested in a 365-measurement pay 55% of the cost of public education? approach where teacher performance is measured by a Yes. I have a radical idea. What if we taxed incomes over $200,000 at say, 3% to fund the 55% obligation?

I’m not sure if Mainers would support it. In fact, many of my Democratic colleagues seem to think no one in Maine would support the idea, but I’ve never let that stop me before.

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

No. I’d like to cap it at 1, Goodwill-Hinckley.

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Maine Advocate • June 2018

variety of metrics and relevant people. And then, if that teacher seems to be doing well, let’s maybe consider paying them more.

Do you support lifting the minimum teacher salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to the profession?

No. I’d rather we lift it to $50,000 so it’s closer to the median household income of the State.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Yes. It’s why I went to Wisconsin in the middle of the protests - to support teachers. And why I’m secretly giddy about the massive teacher protests happening in Trump Country right now. Also, the right to organize at work is part of my Economic Security Bill of Rights - a New Deal for Maine. EVERYONE should have that right.

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Yes. I will also work to fix that Social Security issue. It’s a federal issue, as you know, but all state employees and teachers have earned BOTH their pension AND their SS. As Governor, I’ll advocate for the change assuming we have a federal government to advocate to.

Do you support the state increasing the share it pays for health insurance for retired teachers and educators?

Yes. I’ll support this, but what I really believe in is Medicare for ALL. Health care is a human right.

RE #22. I wrote them myself. No need to double check.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org June 2018

• www.maineea.org

31

Gubernatorial Primary Voter Guide 2018

Betsy Sweet Democrat Did you support Question 2 on the November 2016 ballot?

Yes. Funding our schools at 55% is essential, both because it will provide much needed property tax, but also because it will ensure more money gets into our classrooms. And funding it through the surcharge was both sound tax policy and smart longterm planning.

Did you support the Legislature’s decision to repeal the voter-approved ballot initiative to fund our schools by taxing the wealthiest 2% of Maine citizens?

No. The legislature must stop ignoring the will of the voters. From this bill, to the sub-minimum wage, to IRV they are ignoring the people and overturning laws we all put in place. It must stop.

Will you oppose any new mandates on schools without adequate state funding and without clear, attainable implementation plans, and input from relevant state agencies, departments, staff, and educators impacted by those mandates?

Yes. Mandates from the state without state funding to back it up, just passes the burden onto local taxpayers and stretches teachers even further as they try to teach our kids.

Do you think standardized test scores should be used to evaluate teachers, educators, or schools?

No. Evaluating our schools needs to allow for the diversity of learning styles and means of testing.

By all means, we must measure outcomes, but one standardized test will not give us accurate data.

Do you support the State meeting its obligation to Do you support lifting the minimum teacher pay 55% of the cost of public education? salary in the state to $40,000 per year for full time teachers in order to attract new entrants to Yes. Funding 55% will both create much needed the profession? property tax relief and ensure our classrooms have the tools they need to teach our children.

Do you support permanently capping the number of charter schools at ten in Maine?

Yes. We must focus our precious state resources on our public school system, not on schools that drain resources from it.

Yes. Maine has some of the best teachers in the country. And we should be paying them at a level that adequately rewards all they do for our state.

Do you support the right for school employees and other public employees to collectively bargain?

Yes. Collective bargaining has ensured that teachers are protected to do their jobs as well as possible. I fully support this right and will always negotiate in good faith.

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Maine Advocate • June 2018

Will you oppose any additional cuts to the pension system for current and future retirees?

Yes. Those who spent a lifetime teaching our children should not have to struggle to make ends meet when they retire. I will not support additional cuts to our pension system.

Do you support the state increasing the share it pays for health insurance for retired teachers and educators?

Yes. Same as above. Those who spent a lifetime teaching our children should not have to struggle to make ends meet when they retire.

In April of 2018, the MEA mailed questionnaires to all Gubernatorial candidates, Democratic and Republican, who have qualified for the June 12th, 2018 Primary Election. We compiled all of the responses from each candidate so our members would be able to learn where each candidate stands on issues we care about.

35 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 207.622.5866 • www. maineea.org June 2018

• www.maineea.org

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Maine Advocate • June 2018