Potholes & Politics: Local Maine Issues from A to Z

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Potholes and Politics,' co-hosts dive into the messy world of local legislative sessions. They tackle intense debates about the state budget, revealing that the budget is safe and no government shutdown looms. Topics also include the dramatic Growth Management Act dialogues, General Assistance reforms, and jaw-dropping housing bills. Major highlights...

Send us Fan Mail Dive into the complexities of Maine's legislative session with our latest podcast episode!  This episode we break down key bills, budget battles, and the implications of citizens' vetoes. Join Rebecca, Kate, Rebecca & Amanda  for an insightful discussion on what has been happening this session of municipal interest, what you should pay attention to and maybe what you...

Send us Fan Mail Potholes and Politics: Bills, Brawls, and Birthday Cupcakes! Welcome to Potholes and Politics, where Rebecca Squared navigates the whirlwind of local legislation, tackling topics from voter registration to fire safety standards. Join Lambo and Grambo as they dive into the minutiae of obscure bills, from regulating corner caucuses to updating voter registration systems and debating...

Send us Fan Mail In the return episode of 'Potholes and Politics,' hosts Rebecca Graham, Rebecca Lambert, and Amanda Campbell dive into the latest happenings as the Maine legislature kicks back into gear. At the time of this recording they've printed a whopping 139 bills already, with 29 needing immediate attention for their significant impact on municipalities. Now in week 2 we are...

Send us Fan Mail The Regional Meetings Podcast Episode: At the taping of this podcast MMA's Advocacy Team had conducted 10 regional meetings with municipal and county officials around the state to discuss pressures on local government, possible solutions and meet with candidates for State office to understand better the needs of local government.  From Presque Isle to Alfred, some issues are...

Send us Fan Mail The Urgency of Building Resilient Communities Hannah Pingree, Director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and co-chair of the Maine Climate Council, talks about the urgent importance of community action, planning and investments to build resilience to impacts of climate change following the devastating winter storms of December 2023 and January 2024. In r...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rebecca Squared & Amanda the new kid continue the coversation with Stormwater Super Heros - Giants of municipal water protection activities; South Portland's Stormwater Coordinator Fred Dillon and Portland's Stormwater Coordinator Doug Roncarati and their state level partner Maine Department of Environmental Protection Stormwater Engineer Cody Obropt...

Send us Fan Mail The statutory adjournment day of the 131st was April 18th, but the Legislature only recessed carrying many pieces of legislature over that was indefinitely postposed in a chaotic and partisan late night.  As the Legislature did not adjourn "Sine Die" the start of the enactment clock on all but emergency legislation has not yet begn, including the much discussed Supplemen...

Send us Fan Mail In a surprise move, the legislature came into session today and upended the Governor’s supplemental budget request. After spending the weekend consulting with municipal officials in their home communities, the tone changed drastically.  Rebecca Squared (Lambo & Grahambo) breakdown what is municipally relevant in Augusta as the Legislature returns and is full of Easter Chocolat...

Send us Fan Mail Much delayed first legislative breakdown of the second session has dropped. This week we only go over what has happened for the First week of February though staff has been underwater with carryover initiatives during the entire month of January. We very much hope the Legislature will adjourn mid-April as planned but until then, the proposed legislation is painful thus far. To tha...

Send us Fan Mail Why should you care about stormwater? What is a MS4 regulated community? Why do people pick up their dog poo and put it in a bag only to dump it on the trail or in the storm drain? What is a harbor trout?  In this episode, Rebecca Squared & Amanda the new kid talk with Stormwater Super Heros - Giants of municipal water protection activities; South Portland's Stormwater Co...

Send us Fan Mail The sensationalized headlines around heated municipal meetings targeting municipal tax assessment changes, and property reevaluation haven't offered much in the way of educating the public around the root causes of Mill Rate  and property tax bill increases. So Potholes & Politics is taking a deeper dive. Trust us...this is 58 minutes you won't want to miss. ( Hint:...

Send us Fan Mail This week we are highlighting one of the conversations from MMA's 87th Annual Convention held at the Augusta Civic Center, October 4 & 5, 2023. This year's convention theme was "Lead, Motivate, Communicate" and featured dynamic speakers like Leila Brammer, Director of Outreach and Instructional Development of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse, Univ...

Send us Fan Mail While it seems like we may have been on vacation, the intersession work has been in full swing and Legislative Committees including Judiciary and Housing are back at it next week! This episode we dive into the Maine Law Enforcement Accreditation Program managed by Dirigo Safety and speak with one chief in the tail end of the accreditation process; Jason Warlick of Damariscotta Pol...

Send us Fan Mail Last year, LD 290 , An Act To Stabilize Property Taxes for Individuals 65 Years of Age or Older Who Own a Homestead for at Least 10 Years,  was enacted with little discussion and a host of very expensive unintended consequences. This year, the law was amended to address those consequences and bring property tax relief where it was most needed. However, it will now be up to municip...

Send us Fan Mail Rebecca Squared took a break from Augusta last week and spent some time talking with local government leaders in Aroostook County. The week before they hit the National League of Cities Staff Convention in Boston. What are the  unique challenges of the northern communities, what makes them special, and what do Augusta policy makers need to understand about the 5 hours of Maine nor...

Send us Fan Mail Well, the 1st Session was meant to end June 15, but we are in the 1st Special Session that won't end....at least amicably so it seems. Here is where we are this week...and soon we will be in your communities too!  LD 1857 - Resolve, to Establish a Public Safety Health and Wellness Grant Pilot Program, sponsored by Rep. Lynn Copeland of Saco . Reconsidered, House amendment “A”...

Send us Fan Mail Our necessary hiatus from our weekly podcast has been afforded a brief reprieve. Advocacy staff have been drinking from a firehouse of legislation and hearings on platform bills that have been waiting since cloture for printing and assignment to committee hearings.  For the first time, MMA has needed to hold a May LPC meeting as bills are still cranking out with significant munici...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 14 - Planning for ADU's, School Board Election Timing, Funding Jail Health Care Much delayed episode in a midst of a crazy session! This week we break down the public hearings on MMA Platform bills on:   LD 665 - An Act to Extend the Date by Which Compliance is Required for Affordable Housing Development, Increased Numbers of Dwelling Units and Accessory Dwelling Unit...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 13 - Public Safety Cardiac Health, Chicken Fingers & Weed This week, Lambo & Grahambo breakdown legislation from March 23rd Legislative Bulletin ; Rebecca Graham has a sit down with Dr. Benjamin Stone of Sigma Tactical Wellness at the  MFCA Professional Development Conference last week who discusses how to identify the real risks to public safety employees at great...

Send us Fan Mail As we prepare for Holocaust Remembrance Day, Maine Municipal Association , M aine Chiefs of Police Association , and several other stakeholders had the opportunity to receive an important history lesson in context from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.. In this episode, Rebecca Graham sits down with Noel March who facilitated  bringing a special law enforcement...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 12 - The Greed & Weed Episode With surprise guest star, Dexter Kimball future MMA podcast host. This week our Legislative Bulletin we cover MMA's platform bill for Cannabis Revenue Sharing LD 88 -An Act to Provide Qualifying Municipalities a Percentage of Adult Use Cannabis Sales and Excise Tax Revenues, sponsored by Rep. Sean Paulhus of Bath; Provide and update o...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 11- The Newspaper Empire Strikes Back! This week we break down hearings on: LD 422- An Act to Eliminate the Requirement That Municipalities Provide Public Notice in Newspapers , sponsored by Rep. Daniel Newman of Belgrade  and preview: LD 405 - An Act to Prevent False Reporting Leading to Evacuation , Shutdown or Lockdown sponsored by Sen. Ann Carney of Cumberland County a...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 10 - ELDT, What to do with Dead Bodies & Engineering Projects Over 100K A Qui*t (We don't say that word out loud, just like actors refer to the "Scottish Play") week in Augusta on the municipal front except for our monthly LPC meeting, trainings targeting municipal public works and CDL training, and bills of interest.  This week we break down Entry Level...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 9 - Tax Acquired Property, Elections & Cops Oh My!  This week, an exhausted Potholes Crew, Rebecca Squared, break down legislative proposals around:  LD 101 - An Act to Return to the Former Owner Any Excess Funds Remaining After the Sale of Foreclosed Property  LD 34 - An Act to Require a Person to Show Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting  LD 237- An...