Review of Congressman Poliquin’s Week in Congress

 

WASHINGTON – This week, Maine’s Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, spoke out against President Obama’s $4.1 trillion budget proposal for the 2017 Fiscal Year that never balances, reacted to the National Park Service’s response to his and Senators Collins’ and King’s letter to President Obama concerning the designation of a national monument in the Katahdin region, congratulated an Old Town High School student’s praise-worthy efforts to raise awareness of the challenges of autism, and introduced companion legislation in the House to Senator Collins’ bill to help protect seniors from investment fraud.  Here’s a recap:

 

 

His Costliest Budget To Date

 

On Tuesday, President Obama unveiled the final and costliest budget of his presidency. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement after receiving the President’s $4.1 trillion proposal:

 

“Not a single one of President Obama’s proposed budgets have balanced—ever,” said Congressman Poliquin.  “This final spending plan from the President is a wish list of progressive policies that makes up his largest budget proposal to date, with $2.5 trillion in new spending and $3.4 trillion in new taxes in the next 10 years.

 

“As the former State Treasurer of Maine and a small business owner, I know the kind of fiscal discipline that is needed to grow jobs and reduce debt.  Our State and our country do not need more debt, more spending, and more irresponsible policies from an out of control Washington.  We need a realistic budget that balances and that reflects the needs of hardworking Mainers.  We need policies that will create jobs and provide more opportunity for our local businesses to grow and hire more workers.  This budget accomplishes none of these priorities.”

 

• Link to release: http://1.usa.gov/1LeFSzu

 

 

Poliquin Statement on Response to Joint Letter to President Obama on National Monument Designation

 

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Congressman Bruce Poliquin have received aresponse from Jonathan B. Jarvis, the Director of the National Park Service, to the letter they sent to President Barack Obama regarding the possible designation of land in the Katahdin region as a national monument last November.  The response from National Park Service director largely ignored the focus and purpose of the Maine delegation’s original letter to the President, which expressed the delegation’s serious reservations and significant concerns after learning that President Obama may designate a national monument in Maine’s Katahdin region.

 

Congressman Poliquin released the following statement in response to Director Jarvis’ letter:
“This letter is concerning on many levels,” said Congressman Poliquin. “First, I was extremely disappointed that this letter came from Director Jarvis, rather than the President himself. It shows a complete lack of interest and concern from the White House for the residents of the Katahdin region.  Second, Director Jarvis’ letter failed to address any of the national monument concerns our letter laid out. Third, this letter was sent to me the very same day that the National Park Service also announced that it has a maintenance backlog of more than $11 billion, including nearly $70 million owed to Maine’s Acadia National Park.  It is irresponsible governing to add a national monument to our 408 existing national park service units when we cannot even afford to take care of the one’s we’ve already got.

 

“I must emphasize that the designation of a national monument by the President, which bypasses the democratic process and input from local constituents, is entirely separate from the actual creation of a national park, which allows for local officials and residents to weigh in before it is created through the normal legislative process.  That is why I introduced legislation to require any national monument designation by the President to first be approved by the governor and state legislature where the land is located. Any process to incorporate federal land in Maine must have strong support from the local community.”

 

• Link to release: http://1.usa.gov/1KKFkGK

 

 

Maine High Schooler Recognized for Service

 

This week, Connor Archer, 17, of Stillwater was recognized for his youth volunteer service in Maine and dedication to his community by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.  Congressman Bruce Poliquin of Maine’s Second District released the following statement:
“I am so proud of Connor for his hard work to spread awareness and to educate our communities in Maine about autism and the challenges that so many people face as a result of this condition,” said Congressman Poliquin.  “Because of his efforts and dedication, Connor has raised more than $12,000 for organizations that aid individuals with such needs.

“Connor, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old, is a shining example of what it means to be a dedicated person of service in Maine’s communities.  I am thrilled that Connor has been formally recognized for his work and hope that he will continue to be a leader and an important part of the efforts to help those who face these challenges.”

 

• Link to release: http://1.usa.gov/20sC7gQ
• Link to Prudential Spirit of Community Awards release: http://bit.ly/1V9aU1l

 

 

Poliquin Helps Lead Efforts on Companion Legislation in House to Senator Collins’ Bill to Protect Seniors

 

This week, Congressman Bruce Poliquin joined Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09) in introducing a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to Senator Susan Collins’ Senior $afe Act of 2015. This legislation will provide important protections for seniors to combat investment fraud, an enormous abuse of the investment market that exploits about one-fifth of investors aged 65 or older.  Congressman Poliquin released the following statement:

 

“It is vital that our seniors are provided the necessary resources and protections against investment fraud perpetrators, who are estimated to cost our seniors more than $2.9 billion annually through illegal financial abuses,” said Congressman Poliquin. “The seniors in our Second District have worked their whole lives to build their savings.  It is absolutely unacceptable and deplorable for their hard-earned investments to be so egregiously abused by common criminals.

 

“As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, working to protect seniors from financial exploitation and fraud is one of my top priorities,” said Senator Collins.  “Maine’s innovative Senior$afe program, pioneered by Maine Securities Administrator Judith Shaw, serves as the model for the bipartisan Senior$afe Act that I was proud to introduce with Senator McCaskill last fall. Our bipartisan legislation would put in place a commonsense plan to help protect American seniors from financial fraud.  I am pleased that Congressman Poliquin and Congresswoman Sinema have introduced the House companion to my bill, and I look forward to working together to get this important bill passed into law.”

 

The Senior$afe Act is a bipartisan bill that will enable financial institutions to report suspected instances of financial exploitation by an investment finance predator to the proper agencies to combat the abuse.  It also promotes training financial institution employees to identify suspected financial fraud.  This bill would encourage banks, credit unions, investment advisors, and broker-dealers to report suspected financial fraud targeting senior citizens to the proper authorities.

 

•  Link to release: http://1.usa.gov/20QdMXR