Here you'll find copies of all the Portland Regional Chamber's testimony, statements and related materials. As always, if you have comments or questions after reading anything we've said, just drop me an email or give me a call 207-772-2811 x231.

Testimony and statements delivered during the 2009 Legislative Session and the rest of the year.

January 14, 2010

Sen. Troy Jackson, Chair

Rep. John Tuttle, Jr., Chair

Joint Standing Committee on Labor

State House Station 100

Augusta Maine 04333

Re: LD 1665, An Act To Prevent the Spread of H1N1

Dear Chairs and Committee members;

The Portland Regional Chamber represents over 1400 employers in the City of Portland and the six surrounding communities of Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Scarborough, South Portland and Westbrook.  Our members are involved in every aspect of the region's economy.  On their behalf I am writing to express our strong opposition to LD 1665, An Act To Prevent the Spread of H1N1.

The bill before you starts from the sensible premise that paid sick days for all workers ought to reduce the spread of sickness and be a good thing generally for all full and part time employees.  But then the bill departs from sensibility and says:  Since paid sick days are a good thing, the state must mandate that all employers provide them.

Recently we polled our members on this issue, and an overwhelming majority said no way to this bill - and here's why.  Mandated paid sick days for everyone, including part time workers, are simply more expensive than many employers can afford.  So who really pays?  If employers don't have the money to add a new benefit, then either they will raise prices (if they can), or they will cut some other expense - and more than likely that will be another employee benefit, or even wages, or jobs. 

Of course the state could pay for the new costs of expanded mandatory sick leave - but the state is broke and can't afford it.  And unfortunately, so are too many good employers who just can't pay for a first-in-the-nation state mandate in the middle of the deepest recession we have seen in almost 70 years.  And as you know, LD 1665 isn't just about sick days - it lets employees take paid time off for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with the bill's title:  "An Act to Prevent the Spread of H1N1."

LD 1665 may be well intended, but it imposes significant new costs on Maine employers at the worst possible time.  It diminishes the prospects for new job creation.  It sets Maine apart from every other state in the nation, making efforts to attract jobs and investment that much harder.  And it reinforces the widespread belief that good Maine employers are unappreciated, and misunderstood, in too many corners of Maine. 

For all these reasons we urge this Committee to vote unanimously ‘ought not to pass' on LD 1665 so that we can move on to work together to improve the opportunities to create jobs in Maine.

Thank you for the opportunity to share our views on this bill.  If I can provide you with any additional information or assistance during your work please let me know.

Chris Hall

Senior Vice President

Portland Regional Chamber

60 Pearl Street

Portland, Maine 04101

207-772-2811 x231

chall@portlandregion.com