Now that the "people before politics" campaign is over, the republican majority is set to move. First on the agenda seems to be the removal of the Standing Committee on Labor. Or as the republicans put it 'Labor will be combined with the Business, Research and Economic Development Committee.' It depends on who you listen to. According to Republican Senate Majority Leader, Jonathan Courtney, "it's too soon to say what it will look like, but we are going to be inclusive of both sides of the aisle."
The Labor committee has always been the voice of the working people of Maine. Labor deals with issues like unemployment and workers compensation, along with many other issues. Paula is pretty sure they deal with Unions as well. Phil Harriman on WGAN Eye on Politics, with Ken & Mike said," Labor was always a consternation." Labor has always fought business, it always will, they are separate interests. One wants to make money for its work, and more money if you please. The other wants to make money off the work, off the product or service, off the taxes, at all cost, for no cost if you please. You can decide which is which. Labor is a cost of business. Hence, unit of labor. Product is a cost of business. Profit is economic development and research paying business back. The cost of business will always take a back seat to the profit of business.
On a related note, there are savings by reducing committees while not great, they exist, it will only cost a clerk job here a secretary job there. Which according to calculations on another page here somewhere comes out to about $80,000 for each position. So, while we can not get rid of the legislature, yet, we can save money in the state by cutting jobs. We've already seen this is good for business, that is if the State of Maine needs to show a profit. Well perhaps it is too early to see how this will pan out. But for me all this waiting for a shave and a haircut by King Paul is making me itch.
We will talk again soon, all the best, Paula Page
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