Letters

Land bonds are the people’s business

For almost three decades, the Land for Maine’s Future program (LMF) has issued long-term low-interest bonds to protect our state’s natural landscape and recreational resources – its working farms, mature forests, panoramic mountains, blue lakes, still ponds and teeming rivers. The program provides ocean access and trails for snowmobiles and hikers and bikers.?? Six different times between 1987 and 2012, Maine’s voters have shown through popular referenda that they want LMF. So does the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine. So does the Nature Conservancy. So does the Appalachian Mountain Club. And so does the Maine Coastal Heritage Trust.??

The program directly benefits the Lakes Region. The Loon Echo Land Trust has leveraged support from LMF with contributions from private donors, foundation grants, and generous appropriations from town meetings to conserve many of the scenic wonders that make this area so special – Pleasant Mountain, Bald Pate Mountain, Pondicherry Park, and Hacker’s Hill. The Loon Echo Land Trust has campaigns under way to preserve the Raymond Community Forest and the Crooked River Forests in Otisfield and Harrison.?? Unfortunately, Gov. Paul LePage has repeatedly tried to undermine LMF by refusing to sell voter-approved bonds. His arbitrary actions have endangered many outstanding initiatives, including the ones pending in Raymond and Crooked River. ??On Thursday, July 16, the Legislature nearly agreed to advance LMF bond sales despite the governor’s opposition. The Senate did get the required two-thirds majority, 25-9, but the margin in the House was 91-52, a substantial majority but not quite the needed two-thirds.

Had five House members voted differently, LMF could have issued its bonds and our children and grandchildren would have reaped the benefits from this splendid future-oriented land conservation program.?? The program enjoys broad bipartisan support in the legislature, including members of both parties from the Lakes Region: Reps. Christine Powers of Naples/Sebago, Patrick Corey of Windham, Mark Bryant of Windham, Michael Shaw of Standish, and Sen. Bill Diamond of Raymond/Casco/Windham/Standish. They should be commended for their votes.?? Unfortunately, other local legislators voted against LMF. They include Reps. Mike McClellan of Casco/Raymond, Phyllis Ginzler of Bridgton/Denmark/Harrison, Susan Austin of Gray/Casco/Raymond, Nathan Wadsworth of Fryeburg/Lovell/Brownfield/Porter/and Hiram, Tom Winsor of Sweden/Waterford/Norway/West Paris, and Sen. James M. Hamper of Bridgton/Naples/Harrison/Oxford/Otis-field/Fryeburg.??

Had McClellan, Ginzler, Austin, Wadsworth, and Winsor voted the other way, LMF would have been able to continue its fine work. But they chose instead to leave it in limbo, subject to the whims of the governor rather than the will of the people. I find it difficult to understand the actions of these five House members from the Lakes Region. They owe their constituents an explanation. And so does Sen. Hamper.??