THE MAINE SENATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 13, 2022
Contact: Senator Nicole Grohoski, 207-358-8333
Senator Rick Bennett, 207-592-3200

OXFORD AND ELLSWORTH, MAINE – Senators Nicole Grohoski (D-Ellsworth) and Rick
Bennett (R-Oxford) today proposed an amendment to LD 1, the emergency energy assistance
bill that failed of enactment in the Maine Senate last week, and called for a public hearing.

“I have heard from many of the people I represent who believe that the emergency relief ought
to be targeted to those in need,” said Senator Bennett. “Spending our surplus accounts dry
leaves no money to deal with other pressing issues such as our opioid epidemic, our failing
nursing homes, and the dire shortage of direct care workers for people who have been
promised services.”

“Many of our neighbors are in urgent need of heating and housing relief and I believe it is our
duty to both help and act responsibly with state funds,” said Senator Grohoski. “The majority of
the feedback I’ve received from constituents on this proposal is that the checks are too small for
those in need and too large for others. We propose a different way of distributing funds, based
on data available from the Office of the Public Advocate about energy use and costs.”

The bipartisan amendment reduces by almost half the total spending on direct checks, targets
immediate relief on a sliding scale to those with a high energy burden, increases emergency
funds for others in need to be delivered through local community action agencies, and leaves
untouched the roughly $160 million in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funds so
they may assist the needs they are intended for – such as mental health, nursing homes,
developmental services, and services for brain injured.

“We offer our amendment constructively to move the bill forward, and we call for a public
hearing before a legislative committee as soon as possible to work on the important details. We
recognize that our proposal would benefit from public input,” said Senator Grohoski.

“LD 1 has impacts beyond the energy emergency many Mainers are facing. In the interests of
transparency and accountability, lawmakers should carefully consider those impacts in a public
hearing and work session,” said Senator Bennett.

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