Public Policy
Welcome to the Portland Regional Chamber's advocacy home page! Here you'll find all the information you need to learn about legislation and regional issues that affect your business - and also how to make your voice heard. By Chris Hall, PRC Senior VP, Government Relations
PRC Speaks Out: 7 weeks to go in the legislative session and we're starting to see some movement. Here are 3 issues that are all worth keeping your eye on.
The state budget. In a meeting on Friday with business leaders the co-chairs of the Appropriations Committee indicated that the Committee has already unanimously approved about 70% of the budget, leaving major issues like pension, welfare and tax reform to decide by their self-imposed May 15th deadline. Both Chairs were optimistic about the chances for a bipartisan budget report.
Regulatory reform. On Thursday the Regulatory Fairness and Reform Committee voted unanimously to approve a heavily amended version of LD 1. While the bill is a far cry from earlier proposals to roll back environmental standards, it offers over a dozen solutions to regulatory problems in Maine. The bill will head to the full House and Senate for action this week.
Health care reform. State insurance laws have been a source of serious concern for over a decade, with many cost-saving proposals failing year after year. On Friday the Insurance and Financial Services Committee voted to approve a comprehensive set of insurance reforms on a party-line vote that suggests a rocky debate in the House and Senate in the weeks ahead - see the LSJ for coverage. Community rating changes, a new high-risk pool and the opportunity for smaller companies to save real money make this the sleeper bill of the year ... at least so far.
Welcome to the Portland Regional Chamber's advocacy home page! Here you'll find all the information you need to learn about legislation and regional issues that affect your business - and also how to make your voice heard. By Chris Hall, PRC Senior VP, Government Relations
PRC Speaks Out: 7 weeks to go in the legislative session and we're starting to see some movement. Here are 3 issues that are all worth keeping your eye on.
The state budget. In a meeting on Friday with business leaders the co-chairs of the Appropriations Committee indicated that the Committee has already unanimously approved about 70% of the budget, leaving major issues like pension, welfare and tax reform to decide by their self-imposed May 15th deadline. Both Chairs were optimistic about the chances for a bipartisan budget report.
Regulatory reform. On Thursday the Regulatory Fairness and Reform Committee voted unanimously to approve a heavily amended version of LD 1. While the bill is a far cry from earlier proposals to roll back environmental standards, it offers over a dozen solutions to regulatory problems in Maine. The bill will head to the full House and Senate for action this week.
Health care reform. State insurance laws have been a source of serious concern for over a decade, with many cost-saving proposals failing year after year. On Friday the Insurance and Financial Services Committee voted to approve a comprehensive set of insurance reforms on a party-line vote that suggests a rocky debate in the House and Senate in the weeks ahead - see the LSJ for coverage. Community rating changes, a new high-risk pool and the opportunity for smaller companies to save real money make this the sleeper bill of the year ... at least so far.
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