I saw the same news Thursday as the rest of Maine regarding the Supreme Court ruling that the referendum question is unconstitutional. That’s very interesting because the public land lease negotiated by the state and CMP was also not given by the normal constitutional guide lines per the required legislative vote.
My question is why are the Maine voters required to follow the Supreme Court “opinion” and I do say opinion because those change through the years but a foreign corporation is not held to the same standard.
The only saving grace is that we still have the best Governor and PUC that money can buy.
Jay Battersby
Solon
You all remember Governor Mills supported this corridor after she was against it. We need to support Paul LePage as he runs against her.
Because the land isn’t one of the following, local, state or national park, wilderness area, monument, wildlife protection area or historic battlefield, so no congressional vote is required. Were it one of those then yes, the state constitution says a 2/3rds vote is required for the repurposing of the land. Since it those things, under state law the BPL can grant a lease of 25 years for the use of power transmission corridors, railroad tracks etc.
Mizer – lepage tried to fast track the necec before he left office. He has also been a paid lobbyist for cmp about the necec. so, why would we support him? same game as now. and i wouldn’t support lepage if he was running unopposed.
Hey mods, Could you please add “isn’t” on the third line so it reads “Since it isn’t those”
thanks.
Ozerki, you are correct that LePage was 100% on board with it. I thought Mills ran saying she was against it, perhaps I am wrong.
Mizer,
The Governor side stepped the issue. Not totally against, not totally for, until she was elected. Then good ole CMP stepped in and offered millions more than what LePage was offered for the green light, to ram this project through our state. And she took it.
Funny isn’t it? The Maine Supreme Court just stripped away a referendum that would have allowed the Maine people to vote their say on the project. The Governor and those politicians that back the CMP Corridor have not praised the decision of that court. Their silence speaks volumes.
Those politicians simply know, that those Mainers who were denied a vote, will have a chance to vote for future political representation.
Nothing comes without a political price, not when it concerns the CMP Corridor.
Mizer, not sure of your meaning …… even if Mills was FOR the corridor how does THAT justify electing lepage, if they were BOTH for it? Guess you lost me.
HB – take a look at this and let me know your reaction: https://www.nocmpcorridor.com/commentary_richard_bennett_lawsuit_necessary_to_stop_illegal_land_grab_by_cmp?recruiter_id=30&fbclid=IwAR06MKIJnYRmnTyibTMWeRBC1BdBPwczldC41142YkOXOVxGsOVcSR1TR3s
What a joke. We are going to save millions on our light bills but they will never go down so we are going to have to take their word for it or the PUC and thats another joke. Conservation easements mean we get a chance to take a picture of a ten inch tree just before they turn it into paper for the john. And as usual the small business and property owners along the way that will have to survive the fallout from all this will be hung out to dry. Nothing like getting “pimped” in the good old USA. Aristocracy is a long way from being dead just its face has changed. Those that favor the kings court will be rewarded,that has not changed either. And it could have been so different.
Ozerki, The state constitution, defines the lands that require a 2/3rds vote, the land in question, is none of those. I cut and pasted directly out of state constitution which lands need a vote. Local or state parks, monuments, wilderness areas, wildlife preserves, historic sites or battlefields.
Who cares what CMP and Quebec are paying the natives, Quebec likes the Indians and has always treated them good. And Indian territory isn’t public land either. The anti-corridor people lost, the supreme court had final say. The permit wasn’t unconstitutional.
HB,
Add land purchased by Mainers under the Land For Maine’s Future Program to your list that require 2/3rds vote. The parcel in question is a LFMF purchase. Also the Maine Supreme Court did not say a permit was unconstitutional. They ruled the referendum was unconstitutional. Maybe they could offset their overreach and rule the DEP permit, Certificate of Public Need and Necessity unconstitutional. That might allow me to forgive their error, and negate the need for a referendum in the end.
Nothing is final at this point.