Media
Greens oppose CMP corridor, endorse buyout bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2019
Augusta, ME--The Green Independent Party has taken a position opposing a Central Maine Power proposal to create a 145-mile transmission line corridor that would deliver electricity from Canada to Massachusetts.
Central Maine Power, which would distribute power provided by Hydro-Québec, has failed to provide evidence that the proposal would reduce climate-changing emissions and has admitted that it does not know what the sources of energy will be.
The Green Independent Party is an ecologically-focused political party that has been on Maine's ballot for more than 20 years and initially formed in 1984.
In addition to redistributing electricity from greenhouse gas-producing sources and adversely impacting the development of clean renewable energy, the corridor would damage hundreds of miles of Maine's natural environment and lead to the seizure of personal properties.
The states of New Hampshire and Vermont have both rejected proposals for a transmission line corridor.
"CMP is not listening to the will of Maine's people, towns and businesses," said Niomi Larrivee, co-chair of the party. "CMP is trying to buy us out. We are on the losing end. Property rights would be lost via eminent domain. This will impact our tourist trade: destroying valuable trusts, sanctuaries, ancient Native American treasures, parks and our personally owned land."
John Rensenbrink, a co-founder and advisor of the party, said the proposal is an example of a corporation failing to work for the public good.
"The top leadership of Central Maine Power has consistently put their own money and control ahead of what is good for the company as a whole and well ahead of what is good for the people of Maine," Rensenbrink said.
Kimberly Pfusch, chair of the Lewiston Green Independent committee, said, "Residents are asking why a foreign owned company can do this. We want our power to be owned by local citizens."
The proposed corridor would cut through Lewiston and more than 30 other Maine towns and cities.
As well as opposing the corridor, the party endorses "An Act to Create the Maine Power Delivery Authority".
Jon Olsen, senior co-chair of the party, said the bill would benefit Maine because revenue would remain in Maine instead of being "siphoned off to Spain for the benefit of CMP's parent company."
Olsen said the newly-created power delivery authority would be "accountable strictly and only to the people of Maine," and would be created without an additional tax burden on ratepayers if CMP were purchased over time with a bond.
"The new entity, which can be run nearly non-profit if desired, would be far more willing to invest in alternative, sustainable energy not dependent on foreign-sourced fossil fuel products, provided that this entity has the authority to deliver and produce electricity for the use of Mainers," Olsen added. "This means more good jobs."
AUGUSTA-- The Green Independent and Libertarian parties of Maine have agreed to work together to promote pro-democratic policies and protect individual liberties. Officers of each party held a joint press conference, at the Samantha Smith statue near the capitol building in Augusta, in front of the Maine State Museum, on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 at 3 p.m.
PREAMBLE
Despite having diverse fundamental ideological perspectives with regard to an economic foundation for our society, the Maine Green Independent Party (MGIP) and the Libertarian Party of Maine (LPME) are united in our desire for honesty and integrity in our political system. We find these qualities frequently lacking within the two major political parties, especially at the national level. Examples abound.
Maine has a good track record of allowing all qualified candidates into debates, but many other states have not. At the presidential level, such compliance has been non-existent, despite being qualified on the ballot of enough states with sufficient electoral votes potentially to win. We seek an even playing field in the contest for political support.
The ten points of agreement herein were arrived at through the respective executive committees of MGIP and LPME and a 2 1/2 hour in-person discussion among some of these members. It is important to understand that these points of agreement in no way bind our respective national parties nor our parties in other states. Further, this agreement should not be interpreted as any kind of merger. We agree on some issues, but in others agree to disagree, but in a cordial manner have agreed to unite on these issues in order to strengthen our advocacy for or against these important matters.
In putting this initiative forward, we implicitly encourage other state parties, and our national parties to follow suit by engaging in mutually respectful dialogue.
AREAS OF AGREEMENT
1. End regime change wars.
2. Close down most U.S. bases in foreign countries
3. Terminate corporate welfare
4. Void, via repeal, the PATRIOT Act and the 2012 NDAA provision
allowing “indefinite detention” without jury trial, judge, or
witnesses for the defense as flagrant violations of the U.S.
Constitution
5. Teach and enforce our Bill of Rights and give extensive training in
such to law enforcement personnel.
6. Support municipal food sovereignty ordinances for farmer to
consumer transactions
7. Expand time to gather petitions for office to April 30, to minimize
difficulty during the most difficult weather of the year and to allow
more time.
8. Do not require caucuses to maintain ballot access in Maine
9. Allow nomination of candidates by convention as an option
10. In some cases vaccines have prevented deaths or serious diseases.
In other cases documentation exists of fatal or lifetime debilitating
injuries to people, especially infants. Accordingly, we oppose any law
mandating vaccines, which fail to take into account either sovereignty
over our own bodies or important medical variations including allergic
reactions.
Following the deadline for submitting qualifying signatures, the Maine Green Independent Party has six candidates who will appear on Maine House ballots this November. This follows the early-season good news of Green Gil Harris's election to the Limerick Board of Selectmen, along with a number of other municipal candidates.
"This is an exciting group of candidates," said Maine Green Independent Party Co-Chair Niomi Larrivee, "representing the broad spectrum of voices that has been attracted to the Maine Green Independents."
The candidates for State Representative are spread throughout the length and breadth of Maine:
Andy Howard, in Kittery, District 1
Justin Reinhardt, in Limerick/Alfred/Newfield/Parsonfield/Shapleigh, District 21
Kate Schrock, in Falmouth, District 44
Kim Pfusch, in Lewiston, District 61
Robin Downs, in Hampden/Newburgh, District 101
Jaco Deertrack, in Greenville/Monson/Guilford/Parkman/Sangerville/Sebec/Shirly/Abbot/Beaver Cove/Bowerbank/Willimantic, District 119
While there may be more, and these races aren't partisan, so far the municipal candidates include Maine Green Independents:
Sam Pfeifle, School Board, MSAD15
Ben Meiklejohn, School Board, MSAD4
"Unlike some of our earlier efforts that featured strong candidates in Portland, but with few elsewhere, I am impressed with the geographic range of these six candidates," said MGIP Co-Chair Jon Olsen. "It shows that our message of fiscal responsibility, peace, justice, and ecological sanity is resonating statewide. We look forward to an exciting election year.
With its two House members, the Maine Green Independents are already the most accomplished Green Party in the U.S., and is the only globally-affiliated party electing candidates in the United States.
AUGUSTA--On opening day of the second session of the 128th Legislature, State Rep. Ralph Chapman (G--Brooksville) was elected Green Independent minority leader for the party's caucus in the House of Representatives. The Green Independent caucus is a new development since the closure of the first session in 2017. Chapman enrolled in the party in September, with State Rep. Henry Bear (G--Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians) later joining in November. The 128th Legislature is the first to have a Green Independent caucus since State Rep. John Eder (G--Portland) left the House of Representatives in 2006. It is also the first time the caucus has had more than one member.
Chapman said the Green Independents will primarily caucus with Independent representatives. Combined, the Independent and Green Independent caucuses share the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans. However, Chapman said the Green Independent caucus may choose to voice its positions if and when he and Bear agree it is appropriate.
The Executive Council has provided the caucus with its own staff, legislative aide Benjamin Meiklejohn, who began work on opening day, Jan. 3. Meiklejohn also serves as secretary for the Green Independent Party state committee, and has served two elected terms on the Portland School Committee. Meiklejohn will share office space with the Independent caucus's staff.
For more information, contact the Green Independent Minority Office via Chapmanor at 1-800-423-2900 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Friday, Dec. 14, 2017
The Legislative Council agreed last month to allow LR 2789, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer DeChant, D-Bath, to be considered in the next legislative session. It would extend Maine's Shipbuilding Facility Credit, which has delivered BIW a $3.5 million tax break annually since the 1990s.
General Dynamics is one of the largest defense companies in the world, with annual revenue of $31.5 billion. In the past 10 years, the company has bought back more than $13 billion of its own stock. Its top executive, CEO Phebe Novakovic, made $21 million last year.
Last month, the Bath City Council voted to give the shipyard $3.7 million in tax increment financing revenue over a 25-year period.
Party Co-Chair Jon Olsen said, "Any further tax breaks should be conditioned on a written agreement that Bath Iron Works will in good faith transition away from war-making equipment and instead actively pursue such projects as hospital ships, rail systems, including modern narrow gauge engines, and cars that can use existing rights-of-way for both commuter and tourist use.
"We want to see the talented, capable workforce of 5,700 men and women at Bath Iron Works expand into alternative energy systems, including wind turbines, solar, and turbines that can be used to harness the immense daily power of Maine's 10-12 foot tidal shifts," Olsen added.
"We know from economic studies that such projects will generate steady, long-term work for the existing labor force, and allow even more workers to be employed," said Riva O'Rourke, co-chair of the party. "The time to abandon dependence on corporate welfare and a bloated military budget is now."
"The last thing this world needs is more destroyers," said Olsen. "What we need are 'creators' — machines that help our state, country and world become more humane, peaceful and sustaining of life.”
Last week, the U.S. Senate voted to cut the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent, which would save General Dynamics as much as $6 billion a year in taxes.
Olsen and O'Rourke said Green Independent candidates next year will run on platforms opposing corporate welfare, a public policy trend which Democrats are largely complicit in passing.
"We ask other parties to follow this lead and implement a rational use of both materials and human resources," said O'Rourke.
