As a State Senator, I am here for all of my constituents. As I speak with people around town, and down dirt roads, I notice there are a couple communities that often feel unseen more than others. Our older Mainers and veterans are an important part of our great state. I am proud to be a part of a legislature that actively works to benefit older Mainers and strives to support them in living their fullest life. Despite claims to the contrary you may hear, there is a lot of good, bipartisan work that happens on the behalf of older Mainers, as well as veterans. During the 131st Legislature, we increased the pension tax deduction for retirees, preserved programs for older Mainers’ health care costs, and protected Mainers from utility shut offs during extreme weather.

Last year, we increased the annual income tax pension deduction from $30,000 to $35,000 for all retired Maine residents. This change included verbiage to increase the deduction to the equivalent of the maximum Social Security benefit from the following years. This legislation was rooted in helping vulnerable retirees across the state make ends meet.

Health care costs are rising for all patients across the country, Maine is no different. I am proud we worked to preserve programs aimed to help older Mainers with their health care costs. Lawmakers expanded eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs, which help folks on fixed incomes pay out-of-pocket health care costs. Preserving this lifeline created security for 45,000 older Mainers. Additionally, we actively rejected proposed cuts to programs that help older Mainers afford the care they need and deserve.

The increase in extreme weather events pose a significant risk to us as well. Recognizing this, my colleagues and I took action to protect vulnerable Mainers during extreme, and potentially deadly, heat waves that are anticipated to become more common. The new law, LD 1962, requires the Maine Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules governing utility terminations and disconnections to residential customers for unpaid bills in cases of extreme weather, like extreme heat and humidity as opposed to just in the colder months.

Last, but certainly not least, is the nursing home crisis we are facing. From Caribou to Kittery, Maine has experienced a 19 percent decline in the number of nursing homes over the past 15 years. It is a complex problem that is going to require dedication to solve. In an effort to preserve the spots we have where Mainers receive quality and compassionate care, we devoted $26 million for long term care in this years’ supplemental budget. This investment is a step in the right direction, but it is not a solution.

In addition to nursing homes, there is support needed for the six Maine Veterans’ Homes across the state. Maine Veterans’ Homes was established by the legislature, and we committed to providing those who have served our nation with the care they need in their later years of life. The legislature recently invested $5.1 million in one-time funding an effort to keep these facilities open and continue care for veterans and their spouses. Again, this is not a long-term solution, but it provides the grace period we need as a legislature to meet and determine how we can create long-lasting and reliable care for Maine’s veterans.

Please reach out to me with any questions, comments or concerns they have regarding the legislature. Whether about legislation supporting older Mainers and Veterans, or any area you may be concerned about, please reach out to me at my Senate Email, Cameron.Reny@legislature.maine.gov or by calling my Senate Office at 207-287-1515.