Steve Savage Candidate for Maine House of Representatives, House District #38 "Let Maine show America what can be achieved in an environment free of divisiveness and intolerance, and reaffirm that age-old refrain, "As Maine goes, so goes the nation!" In 1981, as an ensign in the US Navy, I took an oath to "defend and protect the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." I take this oath seriously. Never, in our 200 year history, have the very values that make America a great nation been under such attack. These values, embodied in the Constitution, include the right to free speech, freedom of the press, the right to assembly, and the separation of church and state. They also include the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable search and seizure; and the right to speedy and public trial in all criminal prosecutions. The Constitution is the primary document by which we govern America. Each elected official should be dedicated to these founding principles; dedicated at all times, good, bad, war or peace. National issues, because they affect us all, are also local issues. War, security, health care, education, taxation and employment each have a profound affect on our daily lives and the lives of generations to come. I am truly alarmed at the direction the White House and Congress are taking this country. The checks and balances which were put in place by the Constitution to protect our democracy have been circumvented and dismantled. The very core principles a once proud Republican Party embraced have been abandoned. Fiscal responsibility, the rule of law, a restrained and limited federal government with a strong sense of national security and sovereignty have been abandoned by a party corrupted by its unchecked power. A small, powerful group of Washington politicos, lobbyists and insiders pursue policies that put our values, safety, and the respect or our nation at risk. And it is time we, the people of the state of Maine, exercise to the extent possible our State's rights and reaffirm the very values which make a great state and a great nation. What does this have to do with being the District 38 Representative to the Maine Legislature? I will to work for the people of Ellsworth, Trenton, Otis and Maine in general, to reaffirm core civic values through focused, limited legislation that supports and enhances the economic security and quality of life for all. I will concentrate my effort on policies which: • Provide workable health care protection for the uninsured, and fair, affordable care for those who are insured • Insure that Maine workers are employed with adequate wages and benefits such that they do not pose an undue burden on the local community • Protect a worker's right to organize under existing law • Guarantee Maine's future generations quality, affordable education • Respect a woman's right to reproductive choices • Mitigate, to the extent possible and reasonable, the environmental impact of development activities • Prepare for a future in which we are increasingly less reliant on petrochemicals • Acknowledge the strength in a diverse, creative and questioning community • Find creative opportunities for Maine-based, fiscally viable commercial endeavors. In short, let Maine show America what can be achieved in an environment free of divisiveness and intolerance, and reaffirm that age-old refrain, "As Maine goes, so goes the nation!" Me? I'm a • Trenton resident since 1987 • Married, father of two • Graduate of the first class at the College of the Atlantic • Former business owner and commercial fisherman • Union member • Former Lieutenant Commander and 12 year Navy pilot • Airline captain • Host and Producer of Behind the Soundbite on WERU Community Radio • Former fisherman, marine biologist and seafood exporter And appreciative of your support for House Representative for District #38 and the opportunity to be the people's lobbyist in Augusta! email Steve Savage on: Taxes: Who isn’t for paying less taxes?  I don’t believe a tax cut should be a shift of  financial burden onto our children. Tax cuts without spending cuts are just a deferral of responsibility and I hope our legacy won’t be a financial nightmare for the future generations of Maine. Any spending increase or tax cut must be offset by a comparable saving to avoid increasing the deficit. Schools: Speaking of the future, the one commodity which does not lend itself to import and export is an educated and relevant work force. Let’s prepare the Maine student for the next industrial revolution, one of sustainable development, energy innovation, smart growth, resource management and agricultural reform. Strong public schools with innovative teachers are always a wise investment. Regional development: Let’s protect something that I rarely see in my travel across America, the quality of place. This is a diminishing commodity and will be key to the future prosperity of our state. Let’s insure that Maine retains it’s character by rejuvenating our village centers, controlling sprawl, exploring alternative means of transportation and retaining our coastal integrity. High gasoline prices are an opportunity to rediscover a village oriented society where we can condense the spaces between home and work. Economy: Innovation is the key: innovation from grade school to the board of directors. The long term problems that face our nation have never been clearer with energy at the top of the list. We need to work with our neighboring New England states to form an economic alliance to compete globally with a focus on trade, investment and educational exchange. Debt needs to be controlled at all levels of government. Debt decreases the value of the dollar, increases the price of oil, attracts foreign ownership of US companies and transfers profits overseas.  We need to promote indigenous, forward looking, globally oriented business projects and stop the fire sale on US businesses to foreign ownership. Worker Rights: Over 100,000 Americans are fighting overseas, fighting, our President says, for a vision of a just and decent society. Meanwhile back home, employees, stockholders and society in general, are being looted by corporate greed. We must return a traditional common decency to workers, savers and investors and end the hideous breach of trust emanating from the boardroom and the halls of government.