Senator Doug Smith Testifies to Reduce Maine’s High Regulatory Burden
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 6, 2007

AUGUSTA – Maine’s business climate could see dramatic improvements in the future if Senator Doug Smith (R-Dover-Foxcroft) is successful in pushing through legislation to create a private sector led council to study the effects of Maine’s business regulations.

LD 944: “An Act To Reduce Regulatory Costs for Maine Businesses,” which received its public hearing today before the Legislature’s Business, Research and Economic Development Committee, proposes to reduce regulatory costs businesses face in the State by establishing a council on private sector regulatory costs. The council would be composed of private sector businesses leaders. 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.

Testifying before the committee in support of his bill, Sen. Smith explained how Maine’s unreasonable regulatory burdens are hindering our economy’s development. “Many businesses, particularly small businesses where there is the greatest potential for economic growth, are nearly overwhelmed with the day to day, week to week, month to month, and quarter to quarter compliance paper work that rolls in, requiring the expenditure of valuable owner and staff time to fill out and return to Augusta,” he said. “The costs involved are very appreciable.”

Sen. Smith’s bill has earned bipartisan support in the Legislature. Senators Paula Benoit (R-Phippsburg), Walter Gooley (R-Farmington) and Roger Sherman (R-Hodgdon) 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).

Sen. Smith described his bill as “a very tentative first step in what undoubtedly will be a very difficult process of examining regulatory costs in Maine, and determining what can be done to improve the situation.” The committee will issue a vote on LD 944 shortly, followed by a vote of the full Legislature.

Representing District 27, Sen. Smith’s Senate district includes all of Piscataquis County and parts of Penobscot and Somerset Counties. He can be reached in Augusta at 287-1505, in Dover-Foxcroft at 717-3360, or by e-mail at dsmith@kynd.net.

###