Hey Folks, Just so you know, Mike Michaud was scheduled to testify tomorrow, but will be hung up with votes in Washington. He will be submitting testimony, however, through Andrea Quaid in our Lewiston Office.
Good luck tomorrow! Rachel -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 10:48 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ftaadelegation] taking a stand in Maine - free trade legislation > Hey all - Just one more thing. I did'nt know if I mentioned specifically that you could email me with any writtten comments for the labor committeee hearing and I can bring them in, or you can fax them to the committee (Oops, i guess i have to forward you one more email) Your comments don't have to be long, or have some deep analysis - the purpose of the commission is to facilitate analysis as a effected state. Sarah and Katie have both said they can make it to Augusta - I'll call you guys later! cheers, and keep up the good work, MEREDITH [PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY] Public Hearing on the Maine Jobs, Trade and Democracy Act (LD 1815) Thursday, February 12 at 1:30 p.m. Room 220, Cross State Office Building Augusta Come to the public hearing to support the bill that PICA has been spending nearlythe past year working on. This is a crucial time in our fair trade work. Please spread the word. The public hearing will be followed within a week or two by a Labor Committee worksession, and then the legislature will vote on the bill shortly after that. Please let us know if you are planning to attend the public hearing. To find out what else you can to to support this legislation go here: http://www.pica.ws/mftc/L.D.1815takeaction2-03-04.htm For more information: Maine Fair Trade Campaign, 947-4203 (Bangor), 777-6387 (Lewiston) [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.pica.ws/mftc THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Overview of the Maine Jobs, Trade, and Democracy Act (LD 1815) See at http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/CommitteeInfo.asp?LD=1815 Summary of Bill: This act aims to strengthen Maine's voice in the debate over current and futuretrade agreements and their effect on local democracy and the economy of Maine. Itdoes so by creating a Citizen Jobs, Trade, and Democracy Commission, which willassess the legal and economic impact of trade agreements, hold public hearingsthroughout the state, interact with elected leaders in Maine and other states, andmake recommendations to the legislature, the congressional delegation and the U.S.trade negotiators. Why This Legislation is Important: Free trade agreements, such as NAFTA, GATS, the proposed FTAA, and agreements withinthe WTO are having profound impacts on Maine's economy and laws. Here are a fewexamples: · Maine lost 17,300 manufacturing jobs between July 2000 and June 2002(Maine Dept. of Labor), the highest per capita loss in the country. US trade policyis one major factor contributing to the loss of manufacturing businesses and jobs. · Free trade agreements threaten the entire balance of power in our federalist system of government by taking constitutionally granted powers away fromlocal, state, and federal governments. According to the National Association ofAttorney Generals, and Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe, these trade agreementshave "profound implications for the states' constitutionally reserved authority andresponsibility to protect public health, safety and welfare." · Free trade agreements set up their own court systems, outside of our local,state and federal system, under which corporations can sue national governments tooverturn national, state and local laws. Numerous Maine laws, such as the MaineEthical Purchasing Act, the Dirigo Health Plan and many others, could be challengedunder international trade law. What this Legislation Will Do: Given the profound impacts of trade agreements on Maine's laws, economy, and environment we need a mechanism for greater public input and better oversight of theimpacts on Maine. We need to be well positioned and prepared to proactively respondto rapid changes in the global economy. This legislation will help us do so bycreating an inclusive citizen-legislator commission with representatives from thebusiness, labor, public health, agricultural and human rights community. Thiscommission will gather information, solicit public input, assess impacts, publishresults, educate the public, advise policy makers, and recommend legislation thatwould strengthen Maine's economy and uphold Maine's laws Bi-Partisan Support with the following co-sponsors (Pat Colwell is the sponsor) · Sponsor: Representative Pat Colwell, Speaker of the House (D Gardiner) · Senator Beverly Dagget (D- Androscoggin), Senate President · Senator Paul Davis (R- Piscataquis), Minority Leader · Senator Beth Edmonds (D- Cumberland), Chair Labor Committee · Senator Ed Youngblood (R- Penobscot) · Senator Peggy Rotundo (D- Lewistion), Chair State and Local Government Committee · Representative William Smith (D- Caribou), Chair of Labor Committee · Representative Roger Sherman (R- Houlton) · Representative Russell Treadwell (R- Carmel) · Representative John Patrick (D- Rumford **************************************** Bjorn Skorpen Claeson, Organizer Peace through Interamerican Community Action (PICA) 170 Park Street Bangor, ME 04401 USA Ph: 207-947-4203 Fax: 603-457-6036 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: www.pica.ws, www.cleanclothesconnection.org
