Elected officials tout strong voting record in Augusta
Clark posts near-perfect voting record
AUGUSTA — State Rep. Tyler Clark, a second-term legislator from Easton, posted an outstanding voting record during the 125th Legislature, voting on 99.7 percent of the 369 roll call votes held in the House.
Clark, who serves on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, said that lawmakers faced many tough votes in the 125th, but in the end, the state will be financially stronger and better able to support schools and the safety net for the most vulnerable Maine residents.
“We began this session facing a huge deficit and runaway costs in several major programs,” he said. “We understood that we would have to make tough decisions to pull the state back from the brink of a fiscal cliff. Voting to trim programs isn’t always easy or popular, but in many cases it was necessary to make sure that state government is economically sustainable.”
Clark said he is proud of the work that was accomplished, which includes reform of the public pension system, regulatory relief and welfare reform. He noted that pension reform will ensure the system remains solvent while also saving Maine taxpayers more than $3 billion in the next 15 years. Welfare reform will protect Maine’s most vulnerable residents while discouraging able-bodied people from making welfare a way of life.
Tax cuts, he noted, will save Mainers hundreds of millions of dollars. Starting next year, for example, 460,000 working families will see an average income tax decrease of $337. Moreover, state income tax liability will be eliminated for some 70,000 low- and moderate-income residents.
Clark added that regulatory reform — a major initiative that drew strong bipartisan support — removed obsolete or needlessly overbearing regulations that impeded economic growth.
“Overall,” he said, “we made the state much more business-friendly to help generate jobs and promote a stronger economy, which will benefit everyone. Much of what we did was aimed at restoring business confidence and a stronger employment base. I’m encouraged that Maine has already moved from 40th to 35th in the CNBC ranking of business-friendly states. We’re on the road to recovery.”
Willette posts record
AUGUSTA — State Rep. Mike Willette, a second-term legislator from Presque Isle, compiled an excellent voting record during the 125th Legislature. He was present for 93.5 percent of the 369 roll call votes taken in the Maine House.
“Voting on issues that affect the people of Maine is one of the most important jobs of a legislator,” said Rep. Willette, who serves on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. “The citizens of Presque Isle expect me to be their voice in the Legislature, and I take that responsibility very seriously.”
During the two years of the legislative term, lawmakers dealt with 2,049 bills. Of these, 700 became law, ranging from large bills, such as the state budget, to minor technical changes. Most bills are voted unanimously to either pass or fail out of committee, and the House usually honors the wishes of the committee with a unanimous vote on the floor that is not recorded. This process is called passing a bill “under the hammer.”
Willette said he is proud of the work that has been accomplished, which includes reform of the public pension system, regulatory relief, welfare reform and the largest tax cut in Maine history.
“It was an epic session,” Willette said. “We tackled a number of critical issues that should have been addressed years ago. Much of what we accomplished was aimed at creating jobs and a better economic future for the residents of our state. Initial results are already very encouraging. In the latest CNBC rating of most business-friendly states, Maine has moved up from 40th to 35th over the last year.”
