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Maine AFL-CIO 2009 Gubernatorial Forum

Answers to questions posed to gubernatorial candidates at the Maine AFL-CIO biennial convention, held in Bangor Oct. 22, 2009

Question: Would you support a change in the state’s unemployment compensation rules that would eliminate the requirement that laid-off workers cash in their vacation time before they are eligible for unemployment compensation?

Lynne: yes?

Question: Would you support legislation to eliminate unsafe staffing situations in hospitals by setting a mandatory limit on the number of consecutive hours nurses are required to work.?

Lynne: Yes, I support the concept of safe staffing. When my son was born, he spent six months in the neo-natal unit. While the doctors got the credit, it was the nurses who saved his life. We have safety-based mandatory limits on the hours that can be worked in other professions. There is no reason we can’t do the same for nurses.

Question: Central Maine Power Company employees are in a difficult negotiation. CMP’s parent company got federal stimulus money, but the workers have been without a contract since May 15, 2009, and CMP is demanding concessions in retiree health care and pensions. As governor, what would you say to the CEO of CMP to get the company to treat its employees fairly?

Lynne: The same thing I’ve said to other companies, Whose state is this? I am tired of multinationals colonizing the state. It’s time for that to stop. We need to put the brakes on TIFs and tax breaks for these companies unless they guarantee the benefits they promise. It’s time to hold these companies accountable for their actions.

Question: Would you support legislation that includes school districts in the law that requires contractors and subcontractors to pay prevailing wage rates for school construction?

Lynne: Yes, in general I have always been supportive of prevailing wage laws, and I have a problem with exempting schools from these laws. It comes down to a matter of fairness for all workers. I would support that bill.

Question: The concerns of many union members went unheard in the Verizon-Fairpoint sale. The Maine PUC approved the sale and it now appears Fairpoint may be facing bankruptcy. What would you do to strengthen the regulatory system?

Lynne: The problem with the regulatory system is how the regulators got there. These folks move back and forth between the regulatory agencies and corporate America. Until we put a stop to this we will not have strong regulators.

Question: Would you support binding arbitration for state workers, who by law are prohibited from going out on strike?

Lynne: I have worked as a mediator for many years. Mediation is a way for people to have their voices heard. The right to strike is an important tool for assuring meaningful negotiations with management. Without that tool, state workers need another protection, such as binding arbitration. I support binding arbitration for state workers.

Question: Would you commit yourself to ensuring that every citizen has healthcare. Would you go on the record as supporting single-payer health care?

Lynne: Many candidates will hide behind calls for unspecified “public options,” but there should be no wiggle room on this issue. I am 100 percent behind single-payer, not-for-profit, universal healthcare as outlined in H.R. 676, the bill Democratic nor Republican leadership will support, “even though study after study shows single-payer is the only true solution.” The only national party that consistently supports single-payer health care is the Green Party. We’re about Medicare for all. Medicare’s overhead is four percent, Anthem’s is 33 percent. The Anthem CEO makes $11 million a year. That system must go, and we must move to single payer.

Question: Would you support legislation to protect the jobs of strikers once the strike is over?

Lynne: I would support the prohibition on the use by companies of outside agitators and professional strike breakers. And I would support legislation to protect the jobs of regular company employees who must strike in order to earn a fair contract. People’s jobs are protected when they leave for jury duty, or to serve in the National Guard, likewise they should be protected when they are forced to strike.

Question: What is your definition of freedom?

Lynne: Freedom is living in a society where people are more important than property, where corporations are not treated as persons, and not afforded civil rights which should be afforded only to people.