[Local-Maine-Schools] Info [on my activities] (Dick Gould)

[Dick Atlee]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Info
Date: 	Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:32:26 -0500
From: 	RICHARD GOULD <perf3170rag at verizon.net>
To:	[long list of recipients snipped]

Hi
Just a brief explanation of my activities.

[Word document converted to text]

I have been asked several questions about various positions and options.

What I have been trying to do is to give you as many options as I can 
and provide options that will help to advance the position you as 
individuals and individual school units.  It is difficult to represent 
various positions as I have only heard from a few of the 31 school units 
in our organization.  I am also trying to give you as much information 
as I can so you know what is going on and will be able to make an 
informed decision on what you want to do.

I will give you an example of what I am trying to do.  Take LD 1932.  I 
have said that it is a good idea to have the LD either tabled or 
defeated depending on your point of view.  I see the best option at this 
time as voting to table the LD for two basic reasons.  You may have 
others reasons so you should share those with me so I can put it out to 
others.

	1.  There many bill requests that the Committee is working on to 
determine if the requests should be included as legislation to be 
decided on by the House and the Senate (see the info I sent to you this 
morning}.  If LD1932 is enacted it removes a bargaining chip that can be 
used to include other issues in legislation this session.  If you know 
the process in the Legislature than you understand that bargaining chips 
are vital in helping to get what you want.  By tabling the bill it gives 
more time to see what will happen and it also give more time for us to 
influence the legislators.

	2.  For people who believe the only solution is repeal,  passing LD 
1932 make what I believe to be a substantial change to the present law 
and would cause people to start over again to collect signatures.  I 
don't know if the LD can be defeated or not, but I feel very confident 
that it is possible to prevent a 2/3 vote that is needed to pass as an 
emergency if we all agree and work to accomplish that.

It is very important to remember that what I am saying here about the 
process is just my opinion based upon my years in the Legislature.  It 
is very important for all of you to share your thoughts and positions 
with all of us.

Dick [Gould]