Ellsworth Democratic Committee Legislative Watch

Legislative Watch Project of the Ellsworth Democratic Committee -- 2005

Caution!!!! This page is under construction

Purpose: To inform ourselves and the general public of the legislative actions taken by our elected representatives: Rep. Robert Crossthwaite, Rep. Ted Koffman and Senator Dennis Damon.

Highlight of the Month: LD1196, an Act to Extend Civil Rights Protections to All People Regardless of Sexual Orientation, was signed into law March 30, 2005. Senator DAMON voted YES on Enactment, Representative CROSTHWAITE voted NO, Representative KOFFMAN voted YES.
LD1196 in under attack: A petition is circulating to put the veto of this important legistation on the ballot. Get involved now.

Need some help making sense of all the information available on legislation? See our "How Did My Legislator Vote?" .

The following table summarizes roll call votes on legislation that has either passed or failed in at least one house. Pending legislation is not included unless it has cleared at least one house. More information about each bill can be found by entering the LD # at http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawmakerWeb/search.asp A helpful Glossary of Legislative Terms is at http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawmakerWeb/glossary_of_terms.asp. A directory of current legislation is available at http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billtexts/

How Our Lawmakers Voted -- Selected Roll Calls in April 2005
Bill Status Cross-
thwaite Koffman Damon
LD 379 An Act To Raise the Marriage Fees
This bill increases the fee for recording marriage intentions and issuing a marriage license from $20 to $30. Passed House 4/12/05 Yes Yes pending in Senate
LD 515 An Act To Increase the Limit on the Right To Rejoin the Maine State Retirement System Passed both houses 4/26/05 Nay on to Engross, no RC on final passage Yes no Roll Call
LD 522 An Act To Provide the Same Exemption from Jury Duty to Veterinarians as Granted to Medical Doctors Signed by Gov 4/21/05 Nay Yes no Roll Call
LD 19 An Act To Clarify the Law Regarding Transfer Tax Liability for Deeds between Domestic Partners This bill proposes to include domestic partners, as defined in the Probate Code, as family members for purposes of the real estate transfer tax exemption for deeds between certain family members. Passed both houses 5/3/05 Nay Yes Yes on OTP
LD 543 An Act To Prohibit an Insurer from Cancelling an Insurance Policy due to Ownership of Certain Breeds of Dog Dead 4/28/05 Nay on Ought Not to Pass Yes onOught Not to Pass No Roll Call
LD 50 An Act To Ban Remote-control Hunting Passed both houses 4/28/05 Yes Yes no RC
LD 1116 An Act To Exempt from the Sales Tax Electricity Used by a Senior Citizen To Heat a Home Ought Not to Pass Accepted in House Nay Yes unfinished
LD 696 An Act To Amend the Requirements for Publishing Municipal Legal Notices Dead 4/28/05 Yes on Ought Not to Pass Yes No on Ought Not to Pass
LD 629 An Act To Enhance Community Support for Anadromous Fish Restoration Dead 4/6/05 no RC no RC Yes on ONTP
LD 593 An Act To Alter Trade-in Allowances Regarding Motor Homes (This bill proposes to allow a sales tax trade-in credit for motor homes) Passed House, Pending Senate Yes on OTP Yes on OTP No on OTP
LD 423 "An Act To Allow Food Service Workers for Public Schools To Collect Unemployment Benefits" Dead 4/12/05 no RC no RC No on OTP
LD 34 "An Act To Institute Loser-pay Litigation in the State of Maine" Dead 4/26/05 no RC no RC No on ONTP
LD 695 "An Act Regarding Constitutional Officers" This bill prohibits constitutional officers from using their titles or allowing their titles to be used for political purposes not necessary for the administration of their offices. Dead 4/28/05 no RC No Rc Yes on ONTP

References

1. http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawmakerWeb/advancedsearch.asp

2. 2005 Senate and House Registers -- 122nd Legislature

3. Legislators' Handbook November 2004 See http://www.state.me.us/legis/opla ( office of policy and legal analysis)

4. For information on federal legislation, see

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How Our Lawmakers Voted -- Selected Roll Calls in April 2005
Bill	Status	Cross- thwaite	Koffman	Damon
LD 379 An Act To Raise the Marriage Fees This bill increases the fee for recording marriage intentions and issuing a marriage license from $20 to $30.	Passed House 4/12/05	Yes	Yes	pending in Senate
LD 515 An Act To Increase the Limit on the Right To Rejoin the Maine State Retirement System	Passed both houses 4/26/05	Nay on to Engross, no RC on final passage	Yes	no Roll Call
LD 522 An Act To Provide the Same Exemption from Jury Duty to Veterinarians as Granted to Medical Doctors	Signed by Gov 4/21/05	Nay	Yes	no Roll Call
LD 19 An Act To Clarify the Law Regarding Transfer Tax Liability for Deeds between Domestic Partners This bill proposes to include domestic partners, as defined in the Probate Code, as family members for purposes of the real estate transfer tax exemption for deeds between certain family members.	Passed both houses 5/3/05	Nay	Yes	Yes on OTP
LD 543 An Act To Prohibit an Insurer from Cancelling an Insurance Policy due to Ownership of Certain Breeds of Dog	Dead 4/28/05	Nay on Ought Not to Pass	Yes onOught Not to Pass	No Roll Call
LD 50 An Act To Ban Remote-control Hunting	Passed both houses 4/28/05	Yes	Yes	no RC
LD 1116 An Act To Exempt from the Sales Tax Electricity Used by a Senior Citizen To Heat a Home	Ought Not to Pass Accepted in House	Nay	Yes	unfinished
LD 696 An Act To Amend the Requirements for Publishing Municipal Legal Notices	Dead 4/28/05	Yes on Ought Not to Pass	Yes	No on Ought Not to Pass
LD 629 An Act To Enhance Community Support for Anadromous Fish Restoration	Dead 4/6/05	no RC	no RC	Yes on ONTP
LD 593 An Act To Alter Trade-in Allowances Regarding Motor Homes (This bill proposes to allow a sales tax trade-in credit for motor homes)	Passed House, Pending Senate	Yes on OTP	Yes on OTP	No on OTP
LD 423 "An Act To Allow Food Service Workers for Public Schools To Collect Unemployment Benefits"	Dead 4/12/05	no RC	no RC	No on OTP
LD 34 "An Act To Institute Loser-pay Litigation in the State of Maine"	Dead 4/26/05	no RC	no RC	No on ONTP
LD 695 "An Act Regarding Constitutional Officers" This bill prohibits constitutional officers from using their titles or allowing their titles to be used for political purposes not necessary for the administration of their offices.	Dead 4/28/05	no RC	No Rc	Yes on ONTP