From Augusta

It has begun

Mon, 03/30/2015 - 9:45pm

The first regular session of the 127th Maine Legislature is off and running. As a new member of the Marine Resources Committee, which convenes weekly, I am very enthusiastic to bring my lifelong experiences to the table.

Living in Boothbay Harbor as the wife and mother to lobstermen has shown me first hand the challenges that commercial fisheries in Maine face. My familiarity with the coastal Maine finishing industry, along with presented scientific research will aid in striking the right balance in future policy.

Maine’s working waterfront helps define the hardworking communities we live and work in. I, like you, understand the importance of the industry along with its conservation and development and its overall impact and implications upon other important Maine industries, which affects us all as Mainers. I will be working hard in Augusta for all of our hardworking communities.

The Marine Resources Committee has a few public hearings over the next couple of weeks for anyone interested in attending. On Wednesday, April 1, there will be a public hearing on legislation to promote sustainability in the scallop industry (LD 908) that proposes limitations on harvesters and scallop drags. All meeting are held in Room 206 of the Cross Office Building.

I presented “An Act To Exempt from Sales Tax Sales to Certain Nonprofit Corporations That Provide Home Rehabilitation and Modification Services to Low-income Individuals" on Feb. 10. This bill would provide a sales tax exemption for sales to certain incorporated nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to use volunteers to rehabilitate or modify housing for low-income individuals.

Specifically, this would apply to all nonprofit home rehabilitation organizations with annual payroll expenses of less than $50,000 such as Rebuilding Together. Rebuilding Together truly inspired this bill after seeing firsthand all the great work and help this organization provides to our community. It’s a national organization with a local affiliation in Lincoln County formed by citizens in the Boothbay region in 2002.

Rebuilding Together-Lincoln County provides much needed repairs to help keep low-income, especially elderly and disabled, homeowners warm and safe and overall improve their lives. There are other similar organizations that provide the same help who will greatly benefit from this bill as well. Eliminating the sales tax will allow for many more urgent projects to be completed. Let's hope this bill gets to the floor.

Once again, I can’t thank you enough for entrusting me with representing our great region! I will be sending out a weekly e-newsletter for anyone interested and I am also continually working on my new blog, which will contain the latest updates from around our district, keeping you informed of what I’m up to along with many informational links and references. It is easily accessible at stephaniehawkemestaterep.blogspot.com. I am always available and look forward to hearing from you!

Stephanie Hawke is the state representative for House District 89, representing Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Southport, Westport Island and South Bristol. She can be contacted by email at stephanie.hawke@legislature.maine.gov.