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LEGISLATURE
It's an emergency: Ban energy drinks
By SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 11/16/2007

AUGUSTA -- Cribbage is in. So's a study of state cultural agencies and a bill to ban the sale of energy drinks to minors.

Those are three of 46 bills that got a second chance at life Thursday.

Dozens of legislators and lobbyists came to the Statehouse for "bill appeal day," when lawmakers get one last shot at getting their bills in for consideration next year.

The Legislature reconvenes in January for the second year of a two-year session. The session is supposed to be reserved for emergency legislation and is about two months shorter than the first session.

Sen. Peter Mills, R-Cornville, lobbied for his bill to allow charitable and fraternal organizations to get a low-cost license to host cribbage games. Some local groups have stopped hosting the games in the wake of a state crackdown on gaming.

"This is not an emergency, but it's a crisis," Mills said.

Before he could say more, leaders voted 10-0 to allow the bill to be considered when the Legislature reconvenes.

"The cribbage players of the world appreciate you," Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport said.

In all, 410 bills will be heard this session. That includes new bills, those carried over from the first session and bills from the governor and executive departments, according to the Speaker's Office.

The number is considerably fewer than the 1,900 that came through the pipeline in the first session.

Rep. Peggy Pendleton, D-Scarborough, tried to get a bill "to protect nurses from mandatory overtime" approved -- a measure she's submitted before.

"I think this is a very very dangerous situation," Pendleton said. "A tired nurse is not an effective nurse."

They rejected the bill 6-4.

But they did vote in Pendleton's bill to address the shortage of lab technicians.

Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, had good luck.

His bill, which was changed to a study of cultural agency accounting and accountability, earned a 7-3 vote in support. In recent weeks, the agencies have been questioned about whether they appropriately spent $4,000.

Rep. Gary Moore, R-Standish, didn't fare as well. His bill to exempt logging equipment from state sales tax was rejected 7-3.

In the offbeat category, Rep. Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, got all his Democratic colleagues to support his bill to "prohibit the sale of energy drinks to minors."

It got in on a 6-4 vote.

"The reason this in an emergency is I have two kids, and when I'm not with them, I can't stop them from drinking this crap," he said.

Susan Cover -- 623-1056

scover@centralmaine.com

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Reader comments

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therehere of portland, ME
Nov 16, 2007 2:56 PM
Steve, Do you own a convenience store near a large High School that make a lot of money from these beverages. What do you think about changing the laws to allow Booze, Cigarettes, Condoms, Birth Control Pills All Street Drugs to be sold to any one of any age right next to the energy drinks. And don't forget they will payed for with food stamps /welfare checks. And before you say anything, I don't get welfare. I love my kids very much. But I know that I am not going to be there for them every second of every day and I hope that they make good choices in life but I am also aware that kids will be kids and peers often have a bigger impact on their lives.report abuse
Steve Jakes of Belgrade, ME
Nov 16, 2007 1:56 PM
Therre is never a common sense solution used for anything. One of the biggest drains on the economy is that Maine has an incredible welfare system (if you dont want to work and want free money) along with that wonderful welfare system comes people moving from other states and other countries to take advantage of it. Next to that and keep in mind I am a state worker is the huge amount of staff it takes to power the program. State government is fat the people that actually do the work are underpaid while managment grows by leaps and bounds, even worse if someone is out they cant even do the job they are supervising. A more common sense approach to getting new business in Maine also. Some of the tree huggers need to release there tight grip on every little thing and compromise on a solution to bring more business and more better paying jobs to Maine. While I dont have all the answers its not hard to see that a little compromise wold go along way to improving the economy and a little tough love to those on the system may give them the push they need to get off and be productive. By the way I am also a father whos child lives with them. report abuse
Jonathan Albrecht of Dixfield, ME
Nov 16, 2007 12:27 PM
Steve,
of course there is a serious economic problem in Maine has been since 1932 or longer. But we can't move the state next to California.report abuse
Steve Jakes of Belgrade, ME
Nov 16, 2007 12:22 PM
Prime in the end it is the voters fault. Not the Dems or Reps. If the voters dont think a change is needed they are blind or filthy rich. I am not saying the Res are the answer but you have to admit there is a serious economic problem in Maine report abuse

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