Tag: legislation

WERU News Report 6/12/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: In breaking news, today the state legislature passed a law requiring labeling of food containing GMO’s -genetically modified organisms–though it contains a clause that will delay implementation. We spoke with MOFGA’s Interim Director Heather Spaulding by cell phone, as she was leaving the state house this afternoon

Segment 2: In other news from the state house today, the house also voted 97 to 51 to pass the Mainecare expansion bill, taking advantage of temporary federal funding to extend healthcare coverage to more low income Mainers, following a lengthy debate. Here are some of the arguments for and against the bill, starting with Representative Linda Sanborn of Gorham

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 12/1/11

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Think the Internet will always be the global information source that allows anyone anywhere to access whatever information he or she wants? Think again -especially if Congress passes two bills it is considering at the moment.
Here’s why…

Common Ground Radio 5/6/11

Producers/Hosts: Cheryl Wixson, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association

Topic: Public Policy

How does the public (consumer) participate in the process? What can citizens do to protect themselves from toxics? What is the civics process of bills in the legislature?

Guests:
Andy O’Brien, State Representative, District 44; Jim Gerritson, Wood Prairie Farm, Bridgewater; Heather Spaulding, Associate Director, MOFGA

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WERU News Report 4/27/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

A public hearing was held in Augusta on Monday for LD872, a bill that would decrease protection for the habitat areas around vernal pools and require that property owners be reimbursed if required to protect habitat on land they own. The hearing, held by the Joint Standing Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources, drew a standing-room-only crowd of supporters and opponents. Yesterday on the WERU News Report we heard from of the testimony in support of the bill. Among the proponents we heard from were Chandler Woodcock, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and Daryl Brown, Commissioner of the DEP—both of whom promised to provide the facts to back up their testimony later– in time for the upcoming work session, a session at which the public is not allowed to comment unless asked to by the committee.

Today we hear testimony from some of the opponents of LD872 at Monday’s hearing.

WERU News Report 4/26/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

A public hearing was held in Augusta yesterday for a bill that would decrease protection for the habitat areas around vernal pools and require that property owners be reimbursed if required to protect habitat on land they own. The hearing, held by the Joint Standing Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources, drew a standing room only crowd of supporters and opponents. Today we have the voices of some of the supporters of the bill, and tomorrow at this time we’ll follow up with some of the opponents. Notice how Chandler Woodcock, Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and Daryl Brown, Commissioner of the DEP respond when asked to back up their testimony with facts. We’ll start with State Senator Ron Collins, sponsor of the bill, reading the bill to the committee

WERU News Report 4/20/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Doug Anderson is a Documentary Media Producer from Boston, and a recent graduate of the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. Today we’re happy to bring you 2 of the audio pieces he produced about people here in Maine. FMI: http://www.dougdocs.net http://www.salt.edu/

WERU Volunteer Larry Dansinger’s “Outside the Box”

NRCM opposes roll-backs on vernal pool protection. FMI: www.nrcm.org

RadioActive 4/7/11

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Today we discuss five pesticide bills before the Maine legislature’s Joint Standing Committee Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Two bills being considered would essentially erase recently passed legislation. One would repeal the pesticide registry, which requires landowners to inform residents, within a certain distance, at the beginning of the season, that they can get on a list for aerial and air carrier pesticide spray notification. The second, would severely limit the distance within which landowners would be required to observe notification wishes, cutting it from a quarter mile to 100 feet.

Another bill before the committee seeks to restrict the use of herbicides and pesticides on the grounds of schools and childcare facilities.

This News Just In: The Maine Superior Court has just ruled to vacate the Land Use Regulatory Commission’s decision to grant Plum Creek’s development plan for the Moosehead Lake region. Attorney Phil Worden represented the Forest Ecology Network and RESTORE: The North Woods in this challenge to LURC’s decision. Chief Justice Humphrey called LURC’s action an “unauthorized, ad hoc procedure,” and concluded that the public was denied its legal rights to speak out on the final version of Plum Creek’s plan.

WERU News Report 4/6/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributing Producer: Carolyn Coe

Segment 1: The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs heard testimony in Augusta today, on LD 1237 “An Act to Prohibit Bullying in Schools”. The legislation is sponsored by Representative Terry Morrison, who says that it would provide a clear definition of bullying, and guidelines for prevention that are consistent throughout Maine’s schools. Opponents, including the Maine Christian Civic League and representatives of some of the state’s school boards, spoke against the legislation. They say the legislation is unnecessary, removes local control and impedes free speech. The Maine Civil Liberties Union testified as neither in support nor opposed, citing concerns about the scope of the legislation, which they hope can be addressed in an upcoming legislative work session.
Everyone seemed to agree, however, that bullying IS a problem in Maine’s schools. Here is what the high school students who testified at today’s hearing, had to say.

Segment 2: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, who lives in Beit Sahour in the West Bank. He teaches at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities. He spoke at USM in Portland on March 27 during his book tour for his most recent book, Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment. His talk titled “Connections: The Palestinian Connection, Arab Popular Resistance, and the US” highlighted examples of sixty-two years of largely nonviolent Palestinian popular resistance and described US-Israel relations.