The current majority was elected on claims of streamlining state government, cleaning up waste and increasing efficiencies. They complained (when they were the minority party) that overall there were too many bills, and many of them were nonsensical. Republican legislators were going to focus on creating jobs by helping Maine businesses to succeed and they were going to present bills to do so.
So, how are they doing so far?
Well...
http://www.mainelegislature.org/LawMakerWeb/searchresults.asp?StartWith=1)
If you are looking at the list of the 370 bills currently printed, the first 46 are "House Communications" which means they may officially record appointments to committees or working groups OR reports from state departments expected annually or as the result of a previously passed law. The next 13 are "House Orders" or joint orders -- rules which are being promulgated or reinstated for the legislature to follow. HS1 to HS55 are "Sentiments" -- a tradition of legislative bodies everywhere, which may recognize an individual (particularly those who have passed away) or an organization for good works.
Bills 115 to 150 are "Senate Communications" which do much the same as the House Communications, reporting appointments and elections of constitutional officers and more reports from ad hoc committees or state departments that were previously requested. Then come Senate Orders and Joint Orders, followed by the Senate Sentiments, SS1 through SS53.
I want to be clear here, this is not a criticism of the communications, orders and sentiments that make up the first 238 bills of the 125th. This is housekeeping combined with tradition, but I feel you need to know when you hear that there are 377 bills already printed, nearly 2/3rds of them are of this type.
It is at #239 that we actually get down to business, with the LD.'s which are the bill proposals.
Looking them over, I am shocked, though I probably shouldn't be, at how many of them are about the most infinitesimal of concerns, really just minor idiocy that nonetheless seems to require that there be a law. Forthwith, some examples...
- LD. #2 -- An Act to Allow Farm Wineries to Charge for Wine Tastings (The law previously said they had to be "complimentary" tastings.)
- LD. #11 -- An Act to Regulate the keeping of Wolf Hybrids.
- LD #19 -- An Act To Change the Annual Meeting Date and Fiscal Year of Mount Desert Island Regional School District.
- LD #24 -- Resolve, To Name Part of Route 2 in the Town of Lincoln and the Town of Winn the Master Sergeant Gary Gordon Highway.
- LD #36 -- Resolve, To Deauthorize the Naming of the Bridge over Pattagumpus Stream
