Jon Reisman

In an act of optimism, I started leeks last week. I’m not sure if my other activities reinforced or reduced that optimism. I spent a lot of time chipping ice when not writing testimony to find a way to deal with climate alarmism and DEI disregard for the 1st and 14th Amendments. I only found myself muttering to the cats, TV, or mirror once or twice a day.

Legislation Prep: LDs 183 and 495

With the assistance of Dr. Tora Johnson of the Sunrise County Economic Council, I was able to get updated information for LD 183 (public land cap bill) on the overall percentage (22%), makeup (federal, state, local, private/land trust) and county distribution of conserved lands. The top seven counties are all in the 2nd Congressional District: Piscataquis (42%), Somerset (32%), Washington (30%), Oxford (23%), Hancock (20%), Franklin (18%), and Aroostook (15%). Sagadahoc (15%) is the only 1st CD County to make the top half. The State climate action plan update calls for increasing conserved lands to 30% by 2030, more than a 33% increase. Given current conservation/acquisition policies, the 30% goal cannot be achieved without an increasingly adverse disparate impact on the 2nd CD and particularly the rural rim counties with the lowest income.

Here is a portion of my Feb. LD 495 testimony: “(This bill)... is an effort to make Maine climate and energy policy more transparent, assessable, efficient, equitable and effective.

“LD 495 requires the DEP, when promulgating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reductions (as our Climate Action Plan requires), to issue an estimate based on sound science of the amount of adverse climate change averted and at what cost to consumers in terms of energy prices. The infusion of transparency and a clearly defined and assessable policy goal (averting adverse climate change) will dramatically improve climate change policy consensus and effectiveness.

In 2005, the late Rep. Henry Joy introduced very similar legislation (LD 72) for me. Had it passed, Maine could have had a bi-partisan and effective climate change policy, but it was not to be. I urge you to vote ought to pass and move Maine towards an honest, transparent, assessable, efficient, equitable, and effective climate change policy, which is much overdue and sorely needed.”

Bye-Bye DEI

February Shivers, Trumpian Executive Orders, Cabin Fever, and Schadenfreude triggered this partial parody ... with apologies to Don McLean.

A long, long time ago

I can still remember equity

Used to make me smile

And I knew if I had my chance

That I could make those people dance

And maybe they'd be quiet for a while

But February made me shiver

With every column I'd deliver

Great news on the doorstep

I couldn't take one more step

I can't remember if I cried

When I read about Elon’s wild ride

Something touched me deep inside

The day the deep state died

So, bye-bye, D E I

Drove my EV to the seawall. But the charger was nigh

Couldn’t tell whether they were girl or guy 

Chanting, "This is bye-bye DEI

This is bye-bye DEI"

Did you write the book of woke

Discrimination with a cloak

If the Diva tells you so?

Now, do you believe in rule of law

Got something stuck in your craw

And can you virtue signal real slow?

So, bye-bye, D E I

Drove my EV to the seawall. But the charger was nigh

Couldn’t tell whether they were girl or guy 

Chanting, "This is bye-bye DEI

This is bye-bye DEI"

It’s a long winter.

Jon Reisman is an economist and policy analyst who retired from the University of Maine at Machias after 38 years. He resides on Cathance Lake in Cooper, where he is a Selectman and a Statler and Waldorf intern. Mr. Reisman’s views are his own, and he welcomes comments as letters to the editor here or to him directly via email at [email protected].