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GOVERNOR'S RACE: Five hopefuls in farm forum

Candidates offer their ideas for agriculture reform

By Susan M. Cover scover@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer

AUGUSTA -- The five candidates running for governor shared their thoughts on the state of Maine agriculture Tuesday, offering proposals that included reduced regulation and lower taxes.

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FARMERS FORUM: Independent candidate for Governor Shawn Moody speaks with Democrat nominee Libby Mitchell Tuesday during a gubernatorial forum in Augusta for the agricultural community.

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The farmers also asked several questions about health care -- why it's so expensive and why state regulations don't allow them to buy insurance from other states.

The forum sponsored by the Agricultural Council of Maine gave each candidate 45 minutes to address the crowd and answer questions. Each candidate was assigned a slot, so there was no overlap or debate.

Members of the council represent a variety of agricultural interests, including dairy farmers, horticulturists, organic farmers, the Maine Farm Bureau and Maine Farmland Trust. The forum was held at the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine.

Waterville Mayor Paul LePage, a Republican, said the Department of Environmental Protection should not regulate air, land and water in the state. That responsibility should rest with the Department of Agriculture, he said.

"The majority of loggers, farms and fishermen want to protect the resource," he said.

If elected, LePage said the industries of forestry, fishing and farming would be "locked to his hip." He said the state collects too many fees from businesses and advocated for reducing the income tax to 5 percent until a worker makes $30,000.

He also said he would eliminate the estate tax and the tax on pensions.

When pressed by an audience member about how he could reduce taxes with a looming budget deficit, LePage said his income tax reduction would have to wait until his second term.

Democrat Libby Mitchell said the state needs to market its products, and that she would appoint commissioners who understand the value of working together.

She said she worked with dairy farmers as Senate president to build a price support system, and worked to ensure there was money in a bond package so the state could purchase an Aroostook County railroad to keep commerce moving.

She said regulations need to be timely and predictable, and that the state should eliminate redundancy. And she said she would create an office of business advocates who would work with those who want to open a new business.

"I want to brand our potatoes," she said. "I don't care about Idaho potatoes. We need to brand Maine better."

A couple of the farmers asked Mitchell why the state doesn't allow them to buy health insurance out of state. She said Maine law protects consumers from buying insurance that could be dropped if they get sick or have a pre-existing condition.

But she said that, with federal health reform -- which prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions -- the across-the-border restriction is no longer necessary. Mitchell said it will likely be dropped when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

Independent Eliot Cutler said the high cost of electricity, energy and health care create a "wall of costs."

"Then there is a wall of no," he said. "It's a wall that keeps investment out of the state of Maine."

He said on his first day as governor he would create an office that would review and repeal unnecessary state laws. He joked that the director of that office would be called "the grim repealer."

He also repeated the call to abolish the Board of Environmental Protection -- a citizen board that reviews and implements state environmental laws. He said most states got rid of similar boards years ago and that the state Department of Environmental Protection can handle the work.

Cutler said he would create a Department of Commerce to consolidate economic development agencies in the state, and that the state must do a better job of selling Maine products.

He also criticized the frontrunners in the race: LePage and Mitchell.

He said LePage "makes stuff up" and that Mitchell "thinks money will always show up from somewhere."

Independent Kevin Scott said he wants to get more Maine food into local schools, and he continued to advocate for a 32-hour work week for state employees.

"We know for a fact that 40 hours a week is costing us a lot of money every year," he said.

Independent Shawn Moody said that, when he was growing up in Gorham, there were 20 dairy farms, while today there are three.

He said he sees no difference between farmers and other small businesses in Maine that need help. The state needs to reduce the cost of energy, he said, which could be accomplished by putting existing dams back into service.

"What are we doing taking dams out?" he said. "That's alarming to me."

On a lighter note, he proposed a change that would upset the soft drink lobby.

"I know I'm going to lose 20,000 votes for saying this, but we need to change the Maine state drink from Moxie to milk," he said.

Susan Cover -- 620-7015

scover@mainetoday.com