MaineCoastNow.com - Chellie Pingree Seeks U.S. House Seat

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MaineCoastNow.com - Chellie Pingree Seeks U.S. House Seat

Democrat Chellie Pingree said her accomplishments in the Maine Legislature and her experience in Washington set her apart from her primary opponents for the First District Congressional seat.

Pingree is one of six candidates, and the only woman, seeking the Democratic nomination on June 10 for the seat being vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen.

Pingree served as a state senator for Knox County for eight years, being elected for the first time in 1992, when she defeated veteran local Republican politician Jack McCormick in a district that had been held for 54 of the prior 56 years by a Republican. The North Haven woman rose to the position of Senate Majority Leader by 1996.

She ran unsuccessfully in 2002 for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Susan Collins. In February 2003, she was hired to the executive director of the national consumer interest group Common Cause. She resigned from that position last year to run for Congress.

Pingree acknowledged that the Democratic candidates for the First District seat have similar views on many issues. She said she stands apart with her experience. That experience includes running small businesses.

She started North Island Designs on North Haven in the 1980s. That company produced knitting kits and pattern designs. She currently owns Nebo Lodge on the island.

"I have progressive views, but I have also run a business, made payroll and paid costs such as workers compensation," Pingree said. She said that experience helped her in winning votes in Republican areas.

Pingree also cited her accomplishments in the Legislature in winning passage for a prescription drug bill that allowed the state to negotiate for lower prices. The pharmaceutical companies challenged the law after it was approved in 2000, but the courts upheld the legislation. Other states later adopted laws patterned after the Maine law.

She also noted that for four years, she has had experience in Washington and knows the parties in the capital.

In terms of issues, Pingree said she is for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. By immediate, she means to begin the withdrawals now, but with the realization that it could take 12 to 18 months to safely bring home all the troops.

She said the $400 million a day being spent on the war could be spent on other needs at home, including veterans' benefits.

The United States also must consider ways to deal with Iran, rather than threatening to attack that country as well, she said.

The United States cannot continue to stretch its military the way it is now, Pingree continued. The use of the military has also stretched the National Guard, including Maine's.

Congress and the new president must begin work to create a single-payer health care system, Pingree said. The change will not occur overnight, but by starting now, it can be in place within 15 years, she said.

The federal government must invest in research and development for alternative energy. The cost of oil and gas will not go down, she said, and it is crucial to find alternatives, as well as a much greater emphasis on conservation. She said greater tax credits should be available for homeowners and businesses for such projects as insulation, lighting replacement or other conservation steps.

Money from a windfall profit tax on oil companies and money paid by industries through the cap and trade emissions program could help pay for the effort to create more use of alternative energy.

In regard to the housing mortgage issue, Pingree said the skyrocketing number of foreclosures and delinquencies is due to the industry being largely unregulated. The government should offer relief to help people keep their homes.

The lack of oversight and regulation of the credit card industry is another problem, she said. The amount of personal debt is at its highest level on record, much of that from the use of credit cards, she said. Pingree said she would like Congress to revisit the law that changed the bankruptcy laws to protect the credit card companies, but not people who may have become unable to pay because of illnesses.

Before successfully running for the Legislature in 1992, Pingree served on numerous town boards on North Haven, including on the school board.

Also on the Democratic ballot June 10 for the Congressional seat are Michael Brennan of Portland, Adam Cote of Portland, Mark Lawrence of South Berwick, Stephen Meister of Winthrop and Ethan Strimling of Portland.

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