Jobs and the Maine Economy

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We learned recently that national unemployment reached a 23-year high at 10.2%. And the economic outlook for Maine is looking even bleaker. Maine ranks 47th, out of 50, in the most recent economic outlook ratings compiled by the American Legislative Exchange Council.

We have squandered $800 million of stimulus and rainy day funds on existing government programs, few if any designed to create private sector Jobs.

Maine’s next governor has to be about creating jobs, jobs and more jobs. To do that we need real world experience in Augusta.
 
I know how to build jobs in Maine.

At Sunday River, I started with just four employees and built a company that became a world-class destination with over twelve hundred employees. 
 
As Governor of Maine my job will be Job Creator in Chief.

And I’m not talking about government jobs. I’m talking about private sector jobs - jobs that generate more jobs.

As governor, here are the five things that I will work on to create the jobs that will make Maine great again:

1. Tax reform.
2. Insurance reform
3. Regulatory reform.
4. Take control of our energy future.
5. Educate our kids for the future.

If we work together to improve these five areas we will create the environment needed to bring jobs to Maine.

Here is how we do this:

1. Tax Reform

We must overhaul our tax system. High taxes don’t attract jobs and high taxes don’t create opportunity. We need to ratchet down our income, capital gains and inheritance taxes - without increasing our property taxes.

As Governor, I pledge to oppose any tax increases on the working people and businesses of this state.

2. Insurance Reform

We must change our insurance laws so that small businesses in Maine no longer pay more than twice what their counterparts in New Hampshire pay.

We can do that, today, with three easy steps:

• Increase carrier and product choices and reduce costs through increased competition.
• Increase price transparency.
• Create incentives for companies to invest in wellness initiatives.
• Government Reform

 

We need to take a hard look at the government spending and bureaucratic regulations that are killing Maine jobs.

In Augusta, they don’t live in the real world. They don’t understand how their spending, taxes and over regulation are killing our jobs and polluting our business climate and making it impossible for many to live here.

We need a complete audit of all Maine’s expenditures. To root out waste and reduce spending and improve service wherever we can.

4. Take Control of our Energy Future

When it comes to energy we must think big and act boldly.
 
Right now, we’re addicted to foreign oil, sending billions of dollars every year to foreign countries - mostly to people who don’t like us.  

I want Maine to become the first energy independent state in America.
 
We don’t need to be at the end of the old oil pipeline anymore. Maine can be at the beginning of a renewable energy future.  

In a Les Otten Administration, we won’t just be talking about energy independence. We will be doing it.

5. Educate Our Kids for the Future

Jobs are directly affected by education. Quality education is directly linked to job creation. Education is the number one factor in our future prosperity - in young people having a decent future. The economic impact of failure in public schools is severe. The steady employment rate among high school dropouts is only 37%.

We cannot accept academic failure. We must reduce the dropout rate and increase the graduation rate. Our schools must produce young people who are competitive in the global marketplace. 

While we prepare our kids for the jobs in Maine today, we must also open our doors to new possibilities. We need to look to where emerging technologies and industries are heading. Not where they were yesterday or even where they are today but where they’re going to be tomorrow.

Our schools must prepare our kids for the jobs of the future.  

Those are the five areas I’ll concentrate on as governor in order to bring jobs and industry back to Maine.  

The next governor must make it clear that Maine is open for business again.  Our business climate has been polluted by 30 years of high taxes and over regulation.  We are in a situation where our kids can’t afford to stay here and our older people can’t afford to die here.

Years ago we set out to clean up Maine’s rivers and we succeeded. We need to purge the pollution that is clogging the business climate and killing opportunity in Maine. 

We need to help small and large business owners wherever we can. Businesses need to be focused on competing and expanding and not worried about dealing with the endless bureaucratic red tape from Augusta. Maine’s government must be accountable to those paying the taxes.

Think about where Maine was a century ago: Leaders in the nation in building steel ships, pulp and paper, shoe manufacturing, linen making, commercial fishing, agricultural production, mining and recreational tourism.

Times change but Maine hasn’t changed with them. It’s time for Maine to lead the nation again in the 21st Century.

We all know what it is like when something great makes a comeback. Remember when the Red Sox came back from three games to none against the New York Yankees and went on to win the World Series after 86 years. In that magical October, our lovable Red Sox went from losers to champions of the world.

Maine finds itself in the same position today. We are lovable but we aren’t winning. If the Red Sox can do it then Maine can too. It’s time for Maine’s comeback. In the words of Curt Schilling in the Red Sox’ darkest hour: Why not us?

I ask you: Why not Maine?

Why can’t we create the jobs that will make Maine great again?

In a Les Otten administration, the first thing that people will think about when they think about Maine will be jobs. That’s because I’ll be out there promoting the virtues of Maine and its people.

Finally, to revitalize Maine, we must market the state much more aggressively. I will be the Number One salesman for the state, generating jobs for Maine!

3/5/10 Otten Newsletter

posted Fri, 05 Mar 2010 7:58 PM

This campaign is about private sector jobs.
The more I travel throughout the state the one constant message I hear is that Maine needs private sector jobs.

This campaign is about jobs. Your job. Your husband’s job. Your...
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