The initiative to make higher education more affordable in Maine has been overwhelmingly approved by legislators; Gov. John Baldacci expected to sign into law
AUGUSTA — Opportunity Maine PAC and The League of Young Voters announced today that the Maine State Legislature has overwhelmingly approved the Opportunity Maine initiative. The Maine House cast a unanimous vote (142-0) in favor of the measure to provide student debt relief, while the Maine Senate voted 27-8 for the measure — it now awaits approval by Gov. John Baldacci.
With the passage of this initiative, any person who graduates from a Maine college or university - and then lives and works in Maine afterward - would be eligible for a tax credit to help pay their student loans.
“This is an exciting day for all of us who have worked for over a year to make college more affordable, to create job opportunities throughout the state, and to grow the economy,” said Andrew Bossie, the president of Opportunity Maine.
“Passage of Opportunity Maine today is a testament to the thousands of volunteer hours spent collecting signatures and lobbying lawmakers. We now face a new, but exciting challenge — to educate Mainers about this wonderful new opportunity to make their education more affordable, and their future that much brighter.”
Opportunity Maine will also help those who need re-education or who have lost jobs. And, Opportunity Maine also gives businesses the option of paying the student loans of their eligible employees and taking the tax credit for themselves.
Opportunity Maine launched a signature gathering effort in last September with an ambitious goal. Nonetheless, a vast network of student and community volunteers collected more than 70,000 signatures — more than enough to put a question before voters. Lawmakers had the ability to pass the measure outright, however, and they did so this week.
“Young people, community leaders, and our elected officials have spoken decisively. Together we have put Maine on a long-term path toward economic and workforce development,” says Justin Alfond, the League of Young Voters Maine State Director and Opportunity Maine Steering Committee Member. “The League and Opportunity Maine are excited to get the Opportunity Maine program in front of every high school student and guidance counselor, current college student, worker’s center and teacher’s association statewide.”
Currently, Maine has 30% fewer degree-holders than the rest of New England, and Maine’s average incomes are 30% less than the rest of New England. At the same time, the burden of student debt has skyrocketed in recent years, leading to crippling, life-long debt or a real or perceived inability to pursue higher education.
Opportunity Maine was formed to reverse those trends. The initiative was endorsed by labor and business councils, organizations and leaders across the state as well as the University of Maine System.
“The success of Opportunity Maine, which began as a referendum issue, is unprecedented in Maine and now leads the nation as a groundbreaking solution to a vexing problem. What we learned is that having conversations with 70,000 voters, developing a vast network of volunteers from every walk of life, and talking with our lawmakers about something that affects us all, really can make a difference,” said Tony Giampetruzzi, Opportunity Maine Communications Director and Steering Committee member. “We’re very pleased that the legislature heard us loud and clear, and took the right step toward an even better Maine.”
Opportunity Maine will announce a formal press conference and signing ceremony in the coming days.
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