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Staff reports 10/02/2008

Richmond, Bowdoinham, Arrowic, Bath, Bowdoin, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Topsham, West Bath, Woolwich, Perkins Township, Dresden

Senate District 19 Benoit v. Goodall
Name: Seth Goodall
Age: 30
Political Party: Democrat
Residence: Richmond
Employment: attorney
Education: University of Maine School of Law; bachelor’s and master’s degrees, University of Connecticut
Political experience: chairman, Richmond Board of Selectmen; legal counsel to state senate president

Name: Paula Benoit
Age: 53
Political Party: Republican
Residence: Phippsburg
Employment: former small business owner, current state senator
Education: Scarborough High School, Pierre’s School of Cosmetology
Political experience: Two-year term as state senator; years of dedication to volunteerism in Midcoast Maine

1. What can you, as a state legislator, do to help people struggling this year with the high cost of gas and oil?

Benoit: I can make sure money is available for the most vulnerable, and support alternative forms of energy. Weatherization and winterization are my top priority to ensure we are using taxpayer’s money efficiently when we subsidize fuel. I am working with community based groups on energy and heating issues.

Goodall: I will sponsor and support legislation to provide additional funding to increase the LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) benefit and expand LIHEAP to families that are slightly above the current qualifying threshold; create and expand tax incentives and grants for homeowners and businesses to increase their energy efficiency.

2. How would you handle the biggest issues facing the towns in your district?

Goodall: The major issues facing the district include energy costs, jobs, the economy, taxes and health insurance. I will be responsive and work closely with all the municipalities and constituents for legislation that makes my district and Maine stronger. It is our role not only to be responsive, but also innovative.

Benoit: I stay informed on local issues and try to attend as many meetings as possible. My responsibility as area senator is not to micromanage municipalities and their leaders, but to be prepared to assist them at a state level if needed.

3. Do you have any plans that would result in more jobs for Maine?

Benoit: I remain committed to legislation that encourages economic development. Lowering the state income tax, reforming health care, and privatizing the Department of Economic Development by hiring a business whose only goal is to bring businesses to Maine are three top priorities.

Goodall: Maine needs to invest in “green” jobs, so that our homes and businesses are efficient and we use our natural resources in a sustainable manner that benefits Maine’s economy. We must invest in education, job training and technologies to generate alternative energy as well as manufacture the equipment and products.


4. What do you think of the beverage-tax repeal on the November ballot?

Goodall: The beverage tax is not the ideal funding source for the expansion of health insurance in Maine. Taxes are too high in Maine. However, we must provide coverage for the uninsured and underinsured. We need to improve Dirigo Health with a reliable funding mechanism that covers more individuals and families.

Benoit: I voted against that tax increase. As long as we are spending money on Dirigo while it is horribly failing, people who cannot afford it are at risk. We need to create a high-risk pool and allow competition so that the neediest are covered and healthy people can afford it.

5. Would you support legislation to change the income tax or sales tax?

Benoit: I supported lower income tax legislation last session and will again next session. We cannot expect CEOs to move their companies to Maine and pay our high taxes when they can go to New Hampshire. The more people are allowed to make and keep, the more they will spend and our economy will grow.

Goodall: We must reduce income taxes on working Mainers so they have more money for necessities, including heating fuel, their mortgage, food, and health care, while allowing them to invest in their children’s education. We must also broaden our sales tax, but not increase the tax burden, so that revenues are predictable.


6. What’s the biggest social issue facing the state in the next two years?

Goodall: As I go across the district, economic stability is the biggest issue facing Maine. Broken energy and financial policies are making it harder for Mainers to heat their homes, feed their families and pay for necessities. We must strengthen Maine’s economy, create more jobs, while taking care of those less fortunate.

Benoit: I believe the biggest social issues are losing young educated people because of high taxes and lack of jobs, and losing retirees as residents because of high income and inheritance taxes. Republican leadership is needed to balance out the Democrat control that has brought our state to the financial stress it is in.

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