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Stop the East-West Corridor (STEWC) had two goals for the 127th legislative session: Prevent eminent domain from being used by a private entity and eliminate unsolicited proposals from the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) law. It was successful in that LD 1168 was passed; unfortunately LD 506 was defeated in committee.
Here is information on those bills:
We believe that these bills will attract a very broad coalition of bipartisan support statewide. The East-West Corridor issue raised awareness of shortcomings in our law that must be addressed to protect life, liberty, and property for all Mainers into the future. These bills are for all of us.
See also Maine Voices: The real road to nowhere would be the east-west corridor (special op-ed by Chris Buchanan for the Portland Press Herald).
If you want to actively help with legislation and be receiving detailed legislative updates, this summary sheet will be useful.
See also Maine Legislature Calendar and Action page.
Download: contact information for members of Transportation Committee.
Download: contact information for members of the Judiciary Committee.
Of the many bills relevant to the East-West Corridor, two were adopted, both improving the climate under which the Corridor project proceeds. One was a rescinding of $300,000 in public funds authorized last year to conduct a financial feasibility study of the project. The other, LD 721, allows the public to have more information about how the project may proceed. So far, everything about the Corridor---its route, its financing, its investors, its environmental effects, even its purpose---has been obfuscated by Cianbro, and such secrecy cannot be allowed to continue.
Bangor Daily News, June 18, 2013.
Senators disagree over resolution creating government oversight of east-west highway (About Resolution HP1134
Joint resolution concerning a proposed East-West Highway). This bill increases transparency for the project building the corridor if it is pursued as a “public-private partnership.” Information on the project would otherwise have been kept secret from the public.
Maine highway study law repeal voted [Boston.com, May 22, 2013] The Maine Senate has given final approval to a bill that repeals a requirement for a feasibility study on the proposed east-west highway.
See also National Resources Council of Maine page summarizing legislative action affecting Maine's environment. Articles and TV and radio spots about the legislature's activities can be seen in the pages for News Articles and TV/Radio.