By SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer Friday, March 16, 2007

enlarge Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Governor's office staffer Karla Black looks at T-shirts hanging on a clothesline that were decorated by survivors of domestic violence on Thursday morning in the Statehouse Hall of Flags in Augusta.

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"How many more deaths will it take before we realize whatever it is we're doing is not enough," said Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport.

Edmonds, who spoke forcefully as Democrats and Republicans filled the steps behind her, is sponsoring a bill that would create a crime called "domestic assault." As it is now, those who commit domestic violence are charged with assault, with a notation that it is a domestic crime.

"We need to make sure every Mainer, young and old, north and south, rich and poor, east and west, knows that it is not acceptable to beat your partner," she said.

Edmonds' bill would also elevate a second offense to a felony, rather than current law, which is to wait for a third, said Evert Fowle, Kennebec and Somerset County District Attorney.

"Domestic assault is not the same thing as a barroom assault," he said.

Domestic assault would be a Class D crime, which means a penalty of up to one year in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence illustrated the problem by hanging T-shirts with sayings such as "I am not a punching bag anymore. I survived" and "Sometimes my mother's words still haunt me."

They set a table with plates and glasses and put place cards at each seat with the name of a different person who died as a result of domestic violence. They left one place for unnamed victims.

Half of all homicides in Maine are related to domestic violence, and it's a problem that affects children as well as adults, said Maine Attorney General G. Steven Rowe.

"Domestic violence is a boil on the face of humanity," he said.

Children who grow up in homes where there is abuse are 15 times more likely to become abusers themselves, he said.

In addition to Edmonds' bill, there are two other bills that will come forward this year to address domestic violence. One calls for $4.6 million a year for the next two years for school and community prevention education.

Although the state budget is tight, Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, said this is one area that deserves to be funded.

"If we can afford to pick up old tires to build a road, we can afford to fund this program," he said.

Augusta Police Chief Wayne McCamish said domestic violence is a major area of concern for his officers, which is why he came to the Statehouse on Thursday to support the bills.

"It's a concern not only for the victims of domestic violence, but it's one of the deadliest calls a police officer can respond to," he said.

The third bill would require police departments to adopt a written policy to help police determine who is the "predominant physical aggressor in a domestic violence situation."

House Minority Leader Josh Tardy, R-Newport, said everyone -- police, prosecutors, teachers, religious leaders, legislators and others -- must work together to combat domestic violence.

"I think we would all agree that the culture and levels of domestic violence here in this state are completely unacceptable," he said. "This is not a gender issue. This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue that affects everybody in the state of Maine."

Susan Cover -- 623-1056

scover@centralmaine.com