10/22/07: Free Press: Opportunity Maine celebrates its win, three governors speak at event, commemorate success
Posted by eric (eric) on Feb 12 2008 at 11:31 PM
Press >> Free Press

Opportunity Maine celebrates its win, plans its future.

Three Maine governors speak at event, commemorate success.

By Joel Theriault

Opportunity Maine campaigners returned to USM on Oct. 1 to unveil the Opportunity Maine tax credit card, a form of identification for recent college graduates enrolled in the newly established program and a physical reminder to sign up for the tax credit in January, when it becomes effective by law. The organization brought three Maine governors to the Abromson Community Education Center in Portland to help get the word out.

Opportunity Maine began in 2006 as citizen's initiative campaign spearheaded by then-student body president Andrew Bossie, the programs director. Their proposed bill, unanimously approved by the State House June 29, offers a tax credit each year for up to 10 years to help battle loan debt for Maine college graduates. The only stipulations are that the student must have graduated from a Maine school and remain a resident while claiming the tax credit.

The group was made up of college students and supporters from organizations like the League of Young Voters and MainePIRG who wanted to make their mission law.

The tax credit card, in addition to showing a graduates status in the program, will also provide discounts at select Maine businesses.

Governor John Baldacci and two former Maine governors, Angus King and John McKernan, each spoke at the press conference, relating what important aspect of higher education they felt most strongly about and what Opportunity Maine could do for the state.

"I'm very proud to have this signature effort and to be here with these two governors," said Baldacci, "because I couldn't think of a better group to say, 'We support this effort.'" Baldacci also made reference to an education bond bill designed to foster research and development in Maine colleges, and the possibility of doubling the initial deposits of NexGEN accounts, a State-supported savings account for a child's college education that begins at birth.

"The best thing I could say about this idea is, 'I wish I'd thought of it,' said King. "I think it is an absolutely sensational idea, it makes sense. It will pay back the treasury because people will be staying here, creating economic opportunity, eventually paying taxes once the credits are used up and that's going to benefit Maine."

"As the Maine economy grows," he continued, "then we can all participate."

McKernan said he was disappointed when he realized programs he incorporated while he was governor were not enough to ensure Maine students could access the necessary finances to go to college.

"The State pledged every student that whatever school they could get into, whatever they would like to be, the state of Maine would take on the task of ensuring they could find the financial resources necessary to achieve their dreams.

"Over the last 10 years, 80 percent of the jobs that have been created in this country have required an associate's degree or higher," he continued. "There is a burgeoning skills gap in this country that's going to affect our standard of living if we don't get more people more education."

After the conference, Baldacci said, "This is going to be Maine's signature program."

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