[Local-Maine-Schools] (Skip Greenlaw) Update from Augusta

[Dick Atlee]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Update from Augusta
Date: 	Tue, 1 Apr 2008 17:25:26 -0400
From: 	skipgreenlaw <skipg at hypernet.com>

Good evening everyone,

LD 1932 was up for emergency enactement today in the House.
It failed emergency enactment by 4 votes.  The vote was 97 to 45.  The
bill was held in the House.  They will try to get 101 votes tomorrow.
If that fails, they will remove the emergency clause and enact it as a
regular bill.  Here is what the difference is:  if it is enacted with
101 or 2/3 vote, the law becomes effective upon the signature of the
governor.
If not , it becomes effective 90 days from when the legislature adjourns.
The legislature is scheduled to adjourn on April 16; so the law would be
become effective on or about July 16.

According to a couple of legislators, our list of YEA/NAY voters is
being closely watched by some legislators.  One senator wanted to make
certain that he was recorded as voting for REPEAL.  So I can tell the
whole world that as of this afternoon, we have 50 commited YEA votes in
the House and 13 committed YEA votes in the Senate. There are at least
11 more votes in the House, about which I feel certain, but I have not
asked these legislators point blank. There are obviously NAY votes and
undecided, but I didn't count them tonight.  I shall send an updated
and complete list after our adventure in Augusta tomorrow, which starts
at 8 AM.

The repeal bill will not be run tomorrow as far as I know, but that is
not in my sphere of control.  The legislature will not be in session on
Thursday.  The repeal bill may be run on Friday.  So we need to do our
best to contact as many legislators as possible tonight, Wednesday, and
Thursday.  Thank you to everyone who has contacted legislators and
please keep sending me the information.

Sincerely,
Skip