Senator Sherman Cosponsors Legislation to Address Maine’s High Regulatory Burden

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 2, 2007

AUGUSTA – Legislators, including State Senator Roger Sherman (R-Hodgdon), have taken a major step to reduce the high regulatory burden facing Maine businesses as the State struggles to attract new investment and protect existing businesses from closure or relocation.

Sen. Sherman and other legislators have cosponsored a bill submitted by Sen. Doug Smith, of Dover-Foxcroft. LD 944: An Act To Reduce Regulatory Costs for Maine Businesses, would establish an independent council, composed of business leaders from the private sector, to assess the cost of Maine’s regulations on businesses. In addition to conducting an extensive review of Maine’s costly regulatory environment, the council would work with state agencies to develop new, more business friendly, regulations and submit a report detailing their findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

LD 944 has earned bipartisan support in the Legislature. In addition to Sen. Sherman, Senators Paula Benoit (R-Phippsburg) and Walter Gooley (R- Farmington) have cosponsored the legislation, as well as Representatives Richard Cebra (R-Naples), Herbert Clark (D-Millinocket), Jacqueline Lundeen (D-Mars Hill), Tom Saviello (U-Wilton), Charles Theriault (D-Madawaska) and Michael Thibodeau (R-Winterport) have signed on as cosponsors of Sen. Smith’s proposal.

Sen. Sherman welcomed the opportunity to cosponsor LD 944. “There are a lot of factors contributing to Maine’s floundering economy, and burdensome, illogical regulations are a major one,” he said. “This council would be doing some very positive work identifying the effects of Maine’s unfriendly business environment, and proposing ways to fix this major problem. And, with private sector business leaders running the show, we can feel confident that the concerns of real Mainers, not bureaucrats, will be paramount.”

Sen. Roger Sherman represents southern and central Aroostook County, including Fort Fairfield, Houlton and Presque Isle. He can be reached in Augusta at 287-1505, in Hodgdon at 532-7073, or by e-mail at rsherm_2000@yahoo.com.

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