Tag: Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission

Maine Currents 1/6/16

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Today we do a 2015 year in review with clips from stories about Divest UMaine, an investigation by the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, Kim Ervin Tucker, scientists and lobstermen opposing the Searsport dredging project, the fight over mining regulations in Maine, the NRDC and Maine People’s Alliance’s federal lawsuit over the mercury pollution in the Penobscot River, Mainers opposing the TPP, and a story by Naomi Graychase , recording at “Bucksport, Then and Now”, and more — and we look ahead to 2016!

Maine Currents 12/30/15

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Today we’re bringing you to the season finale of the Queen City Cellar Tellers storytelling series, held at the Fork and Spoon in Bangor on December 18th. This month the theme was “family”. Chris Roberts emceed.

Maine Currents 12/23/15

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: Today we bring you Part 2 of Mainers speaking out at the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission’s Public Hearing on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP), in Bangor on December 10th (more info re the TPP is below).

Segment 2: We shift gears for some local storytelling from the “True Stories” event held by the Midcoast Actors’ Studio in Belfast earlier this month.

If passed, the TPP would cover 12 countries with an estimated combined GDP totaling 40% of the world’s economy,
For several years, the TPP was negotiated in extreme secrecy. When the text was released last month, the advocacy group Public Citizen responded that “In chapter after chapter, the final text is worse than expected, with the demands of the 500 official U.S. trade advisers representing corporate interests satisfied to the detriment of the public interest. The text reveals that the pact replicates many of the most controversial terms of past pacts that promote job offshoring and push down U.S. wages.” Congress is expected to vote on the agreement in 2016.

The Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission was created by Maine law in 2003 to “assess and monitor the legal and economic impacts of trade agreements on state and local laws, working conditions and the business environment; to provide a mechanism for citizens and Legislators to voice their concerns and recommendations; and to make policy recommendations designed to protect Maine’s jobs, business environment and laws from any negative impact of trade agreements.” The CTPC is composed of 6 legislators, 7 members from the private sector and 5 representatives of different state agencies.

TPP text: https://ustr.gov/tpp/#text

Maine Currents 12/16/15

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Mainers speak out at the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission’s Public Hearing on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP), in Bangor on December 10th.

If passed, the TPP would cover 12 countries with an estimated combined GDP totaling 40% of the world’s economy,
For several years, the TPP was negotiated in extreme secrecy. When the text was released last month, the advocacy group Public Citizen responded that “In chapter after chapter, the final text is worse than expected, with the demands of the 500 official U.S. trade advisers representing corporate interests satisfied to the detriment of the public interest. The text reveals that the pact replicates many of the most controversial terms of past pacts that promote job offshoring and push down U.S. wages.” Congress is expected to vote on the agreement in 2016.

The Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission was created by Maine law in 2003 to “assess and monitor the legal and economic impacts of trade agreements on state and local laws, working conditions and the business environment; to provide a mechanism for citizens and Legislators to voice their concerns and recommendations; and to make policy recommendations designed to protect Maine’s jobs, business environment and laws from any negative impact of trade agreements.” The CTPC is composed of 6 legislators, 7 members from the private sector and 5 representatives of different state agencies.

TPP text: https://ustr.gov/tpp/#text

RadioActive 5/29/14

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission presents testimony on impacts of proposed Trans-Atlantic Trade Agreement with European Union

Key Discussion Points:
a) Last week, Maine Rep. Sharon Treat traveled to the Arlington, VA to give testimony on the potential impacts of the currently proposed Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment partnership Agreement (TTIP) between the United States and the European Union.
b) Rep Treat’s presentation was entitled : “Is a Food Fight Inevitable? Preventing Conflicts with Sub Central Food Procurement, Labeling and Consumer Protections”
c) The Commission has made it clear to the US Trade Representative that proposals in the agreement could effect Maine policy, including consumer product safety, environmental protections, work to strengthen the local food movement and Maine’s new GMO labeling law.

Guest:
Maine State Representative Sharon Treat, ( D-House District 79), co-chair of Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission
ctpc@legislative.maine.gov

WERU News Report 12/24/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Part 3 of 4

Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison has called theTrans-Pacific Partnership (or TPP) trade agreement “the largest corporate power grab you never heard of.” And if you HAVE heard of it, and want more information about it, you would have to rely on sections of the agreement that have been leaked by Wikileaks. The agreement is being negotiated in such extreme secrecy that even legislators are relying on the leaked materials for information. If enacted, the TPP would cover at least 12 countries, with a combined gross domestic product totally 40% of the world’s economy, earning it the label “NAFTA on steroids”. The Maine Citizens Trade Policy Commission, held a public hearing in Belfast on December 12th. The committee’s co-chairs, Senator Troy Jackson and Representative Sharon Treat held the the meeting to learn about the potential impacts of the TPP on food safety, farming and the seafood industry. We’re going to cover that hearing in several parts here on the WERU News Report this week and next. You’ll hear the concerns expressed by farmers, lobster fishermen and other community members. You’ll also hear some very candid open frustration from state legislators serving on the committee, who have had to rely on wikileaks to learn specifics about what is proposed in the TPP, and the potential impacts on Maine.

The CTPC was est’d by the legislature in 2004 to track trade agreements and their impacts on Maine, and make recommendations to the legislature. The members include legislators, reps from state agencies, and other interested parties.
Commission members who were present at the meeting in Belfast were: Linda Pistner, Chief Deputy Attorney General; Stephen Cole Representing Economic Development Organizations; Mike Karagiannes Maine Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP); Jay Wadleigh International Assoc. Machinists, Representing Organized Labor; Sen. John L. Patrick of Rumford; Sen. Troy D. Jackson of Allagash, Co- Chair; Rep. Sharon Anglin Treat of Hallowell – Co-Chair; Rep. Jeff M. McCabe of Skowhegan; Michael Herz, appointed to represent Nonprofit Environmental Organizations, and John Palmer, Representing Small Business

FMI http://www.maine.gov/legis/opla/citpol.htm

WERU News Report 12/18/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Part 2 of 4

Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison has called theTrans-Pacific Partnership (or TPP) trade agreement “the largest corporate power grab you never heard of.” And if you HAVE heard of it, and want more information about it, you would have to rely on sections of the agreement that have been leaked by Wikileaks. The agreement is being negotiated in such extreme secrecy that even legislators are relying on the leaked materials for information. If enacted, the TPP would cover at least 12 countries, with a combined gross domestic product totally 40% of the world’s economy, earning it the label “NAFTA on steroids”. The Maine Citizens Trade Policy Commission, held a public hearing in Belfast on December 12th. The committee’s co-chairs, Senator Troy Jackson and Representative Sharon Treat held the the meeting to learn about the potential impacts of the TPP on food safety, farming and the seafood industry. We’re going to cover that hearing in several parts here on the WERU News Report this week and next. You’ll hear the concerns expressed by farmers, lobster fishermen and other community members. You’ll also hear some very candid open frustration from state legislators serving on the committee, who have had to rely on wikileaks to learn specifics about what is proposed in the TPP, and the potential impacts on Maine.

The CTPC was est’d by the legislature in 2004 to track trade agreements and their impacts on Maine, and make recommendations to the legislature. The members include legislators, reps from state agencies, and other interested parties.
Commission members who were present at the meeting in Belfast were: Linda Pistner, Chief Deputy Attorney General; Stephen Cole Representing Economic Development Organizations; Mike Karagiannes Maine Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP); Jay Wadleigh International Assoc. Machinists, Representing Organized Labor; Sen. John L. Patrick of Rumford; Sen. Troy D. Jackson of Allagash, Co- Chair; Rep. Sharon Anglin Treat of Hallowell – Co-Chair; Rep. Jeff M. McCabe of Skowhegan; Michael Herz, appointed to represent Nonprofit Environmental Organizations, and John Palmer, Representing Small Business

FMI http://www.maine.gov/legis/opla/citpol.htm

WERU News Report 12/17/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Part 1 of 4

Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison has called theTrans-Pacific Partnership (or TPP) trade agreement “the largest corporate power grab you never heard of.” And if you HAVE heard of it, and want more information about it, you would have to rely on sections of the agreement that have been leaked by Wikileaks. The agreement is being negotiated in such extreme secrecy that even legislators are relying on the leaked materials for information. If enacted, the TPP would cover at least 12 countries, with a combined gross domestic product totally 40% of the world’s economy, earning it the label “NAFTA on steroids”. The Maine Citizens Trade Policy Commission, held a public hearing in Belfast on December 12th. The committee’s co-chairs, Senator Troy Jackson and Representative Sharon Treat held the the meeting to learn about the potential impacts of the TPP on food safety, farming and the seafood industry. We’re going to cover that hearing in several parts here on the WERU News Report this week and next. You’ll hear the concerns expressed by farmers, lobster fishermen and other community members. You’ll also hear some very candid open frustration from state legislators serving on the committee, who have had to rely on wikileaks to learn specifics about what is proposed in the TPP, and the potential impacts on Maine.

The CTPC was est’d by the legislature in 2004 to track trade agreements and their impacts on Maine, and make recommendations to the legislature. The members include legislators, reps from state agencies, and other interested parties.
Commission members who were present at the meeting in Belfast were: Linda Pistner, Chief Deputy Attorney General; Stephen Cole Representing Economic Development Organizations; Mike Karagiannes Maine Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP); Jay Wadleigh International Assoc. Machinists, Representing Organized Labor; Sen. John L. Patrick of Rumford; Sen. Troy D. Jackson of Allagash, Co- Chair; Rep. Sharon Anglin Treat of Hallowell – Co-Chair; Rep. Jeff M. McCabe of Skowhegan; Michael Herz, appointed to represent Nonprofit Environmental Organizations, and John Palmer, Representing Small Business

First to speak was Senate candidate and former Maine ACLU Director, Shenna Bellows:

FMI http://www.maine.gov/legis/opla/citpol.htm