MAKING the Informed Growth Act & Trade

Central Issues in Local Races: Bird-Dogging at the Local Level

This is our opportunity to EDUCATE and put pressure on lawmakers and candidates. 
They are actively listening – they need your vote

Next year the Legislature will be faced with attempts to weaken the IGA and potential policy recommendations from the Citizen Trade Policy Commission.  We need their commitments to be leaders on trade and big box issues today.

It’s simple-- Just Bring it Up.

Steps to Bird-dogging a local candidate:

1.) Find out who is running:

There are likely four candidates running in your district (two for the Senate seat and two for the House).  Some races may have more.

Call your local Clerk’s office and ask who is running for State Senate and House seats. Find your clerk’s phone number:

http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookup_polling_place.php

2. Face time:

Seek out the candidates.  They’re around, this is the greatest  advantage of local races.  Find them at public events and meetings.  Look for them at:

Ø      Local fairs and festivals

Ø      Important public meetings of the school board, council, select board

Ø      Sporting events: high school sports games

Ø      Civic groups: Rotary Club, the League of Women Voters etc. may be holding candidate forums or coffees.

Ø      Keep your eyes peeled in local newspapers for upcoming events. The Republicans, Democrats, and Green Independents will all be holding events that candidates will likely attend.

At your door.  Candidates are going door-to-door trying to win votes.  This is a great opportunity to tell them about the importance of the IGA, a new direction for trade, and economic justice issues across the board. Don’t forget to seize this opportunity when it arises.

3. CALL them.  Don’t be nervous.  Call them up, tell them where you live and that you want to update them on some important issues facing the lLegislature in 2009. 

4. WRITE them.  Send them an email or note in the mail.  You should be able to find their address in the phone book and additional contact info online.  Google their names or go to their party’s website.

5. Invite them.  Ask them to come to a meeting or party.   If you’re part of an organization, club or group that meets regularly, invite the candidates to one of your meetings.  Hold a house party with friends and neighbors and invite candidates to come and discuss issues that are important to you and your neighbors.

Talking with candidates about our Issues

THE INFORMED GROWTH ACT

For Incumbents:

As you know the Legislature passed the Informed Growth Act back in 2007.  They rejected attempts to water it down this past year. 

If the candidate voted in support of the IGA, thank them for their position and proceed to talking points below.

If the candidate voted against it, express your concern and proceed to talking points below.

For new candidates:

In 2007 the Legislature passed an important piece of legislation around the permitting for big box stores.  The Informed Growth Act provides towns with the information and process to consider the comprehensive impacts of large-scale retail development proposals.  Some of the opponents of this law are going to bring it back for review in 2009.  It’s important it stay strong.

Ø      Big box stores often come with substantial hidden costs, it’s important there is a transparent, open and informed process for assessing the costs to the local economy, jobs, municipal services and revenue before permitting for these stores.  The IGA provides such a process and the legal jurisdiction for planning boards to look into the economic impacts. 

Ø      Before the IGA, not a single town in Maine had the legal authority to assess such a project on the economic and fiscal impacts.

Ø      Exemption:  There is currently an exemption that allows towns that adopt a comparable local ordinance to opt-out of the IGA and manage it at a local level.  The language is vague and needs to be clarified.  The exemption provision exists to allow municipalities to manage the IGA at a local level, but MUST NOT BECOME a LOOP HOLE.  The IGA can be a floor on which local municipalities develop local ordinances. 

TRADE ISSUES

Many state legislators and candidates for the Legislature are unaware of how U.S. Trade policy affects state policies and our democracy.  Many of them are unaware that they have a role to play in reforming the current trade model.

Ø      The current trade model has had a devastating affect on Maine.  Maine has lost  24,000 manufacturing jobs since the passage of NAFTA.  Congress continues to pass similar Free Trade Agreements.

Ø      What a lot of people don’t realize is that these trade agreements threaten our democracy.  Under the failed NAFTA model, foreign corporations can challenge STATE policies using extraordinary foreign investor rights.  For example, a law banning lead in children’s toys could be put to challenge under these trade rules.

Ø      Maine has been a leader on fair trade issues.  The Citizen Trade Policy Commission is a commission of the legislature that looks into the impact of these agreements on Maine people and policies and has been a leader in addressing the assault on states’ rights when it comes to trade policy.

Ø      As a state lawmaker you have a powerful voice in re-directing the current trade model.  I encourage you to follow the work of the Citizen Trade Policy Commission and pay attention to opportunities for the Legislature to weigh in.  I think they’re likely to send some resolutions forward this year.  

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

ENGAGE IN LOCAL RACES!