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Maine State Senate

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Maine State Senate

Seal of Maine.svg.png
General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   4 terms (8 years)
2013 session start:   December 5, 2012
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Justin Alfond, (D)
Majority Leader:   Seth Goodall, (D)
Minority leader:   Michael Thibodeau, (R)
Structure
Members:  35
   Democratic Party (19)
Republican Party (15)
Independent (1)
Length of term:   2 years
Authority:   Article IV--Part Third, Maine Constitution
Salary:   $13,526/year Sess. 1, $9,661/year Sess. 2 + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 6, 2014 (35 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2012 (35 seats)
Redistricting:  Maine Legislature has control

Contents

The Maine State Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature. The Senate consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state. Unlike the Maine House of Representatives, the Senate does not set aside non-voting seats for Native tribes. Each member represents an average of 37,953 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 36,426 residents.[2]

The Senate meets at the Maine State House in Augusta. Maine's senators are elected to two-year terms.

Sessions

In 2010, the Senate was in session from January 6th to April 12th.

Article IV, Part Third of the Maine Constitution establishes when the Maine State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 1 of the Part states that, following a legislative election, the Legislature is to convene its first regular session on the first Wednesday of December. The second regular session of the legislature is to convene in the next even-numbered year. This second session is to convene on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in January. Section 1 also instructs the Legislature to enact statutory limits on the length of its regular sessions.

Section 1 also establishes the procedures for convening special sessions of the Legislature. A special session can be convened by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, with the consent of a majority of legislators from each political party.

2013

See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions

In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from December 5, 2012 through June.

Major issues

Gov. Paul LePage (R) is pushing for legislators to address education, energy and domestic violence this year. Democrats, meanwhile, say they want to focus on jobs and strengthening the state's economy. One issue no one can avoid - a new two-year budget that 's facing a $128 million deficit.[3]

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate was in session from January 4 through April 14, in recess from April 14 through May 13, and adjourned May 31.

Major issues

Lawmakers faced a $221 million budget deficit. They also looked to restructure the state Medicaid system, reduce energy costs and improve charter schools.[4]

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the Senate was in session from December 1, 2010-June 28, 2011. Maine statutes required the legislature to adjourn by June 15, however, pursuant to Joint Order S.P. 520, the regular session was extended for five legislative days, slated to end on June 22, 2011.[5] However, on June 16, Governor Paul LePage ordered lawmakers home for 12 days, only to return to the statehouse for a special veto session to begin June 28. [6]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the Legislature was in session from January 6th to April 12th. [7]

Elections

2012

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Maine State Senate were held in Maine on November 6, 2012. A total of 35 seats were up for election. The signature filing deadline was March 15, 2012.

Maine state senators are subject to term limits and may serve no more than four two-year terms. In 2012, 10 state senators were termed-out.

The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.

2010

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Maine State Senate were held in Maine on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 15 at 5 PM-ET for Party Candidates and June 1 by 5 PM-ET for others. The primary election day was June 8, 2010.

Maine's state senators are elected to four-year terms. They are subject to term limits of no more than two consecutive four-year terms.


In 2010, the candidates running for state senate raised a total of $1,988,888 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [8]

Qualifications

Section 6 of Part 2 of Article 4 of the Maine Constitution states, "The Senators shall be 25 years of age at the commencement of the term, for which they are elected, and in all other respects their qualifications shall be the same as those of the Representatives."

Section 4 of Part 1 of Article 4 of the Maine Constitution states, "Qualifications; residency requirement. No person shall be a member of the House of Representatives, unless the person shall, at the commencement of the period for which the person is elected, have been 5 years a citizen of the United States, have arrived at the age of 21 years, have been a resident in this State one year; and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which elected, shall continue to be a resident in the district which that person represents."

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
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If there is a vacancy in the Senate, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat[9] [10]. The Governor must call for an election and allow all political committees representing the vacant seat to set all deadlines[11] [9] [10]. The person elected to the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term[12].

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Maine legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Maine Term Limits Act in 1993. That initiative said that Maine senators are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1993 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 1996.[13]

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2013, members of the Maine legislature are paid $13,852/year (first regular session) and $9,661/year (second regular session). Legislators receive $38/day per diem for one of two options: housing or mileage and tolls. Additionally, legislators receive $32/day for meals.[14]

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of May 2013
     Democratic Party 19
     Republican Party 15
     Independent 1
Total 35


Leadership

The President of the Senate is elected by the full body. The President is the presiding officer, whose duties include appointing all committees and a President Pro Tempore, enforce order, and vote in all cases. The President Pro Tempore serves as presiding officer when the President is absent.[15][16][17]

Current leadership

Current Leadership, Maine State Senate
Office Representative Party
President of the Senate Justin Alfond Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Troy Jackson Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Minority Leader Michael Thibodeau Ends.png Republican
State Senate Assistant Minority Leader Roger Katz Ends.png Republican

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Maine legislators assume office after the first Wednesday in December after their election.

Current members

Current members, Maine State Senate
District Senator Party Assumed office
1 Dawn Hill Electiondot.png Democratic 2010
2 Ronald Collins Ends.png Republican 2010
3 John Tuttle Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
4 David Dutremble Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
5 Linda Valentino Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
6 James Boyle Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
7 Rebecca Millett Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
8 Justin Alfond Electiondot.png Democratic 2008
9 Anne Haskell Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
10 Stanley Gerzofsky Electiondot.png Democratic 2008
11 Richard Woodbury Grey.png Non-partisan 2010
12 Gary Plummer Ends.png Republican 2012
13 James Hamper Ends.png Republican 2012
14 John Patrick Electiondot.png Democratic 2010
15 John Cleveland Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
16 Margaret Craven Electiondot.png Democratic 2008
17 Garrett Mason Ends.png Republican 2010
18 Thomas Saviello Ends.png Republican 2010
19 Seth Goodall Electiondot.png Democratic 2008
20 Chris Johnson Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
21 Patrick Flood Ends.png Republican 2012
22 Edward Mazurek Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
23 Michael Thibodeau Ends.png Republican 2010
24 Roger Katz Ends.png Republican 2010
25 Colleen Lachowicz Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
26 Rodney Whittemore Ends.png Republican 2010
27 Douglas Thomas Ends.png Republican 2010
28 Brian Langley Ends.png Republican 2010
29 David Burns Ends.png Republican 2012
30 Emily Cain Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
31 Edward Youngblood Ends.png Republican 2012
32 Geoffrey Gratwick Electiondot.png Democratic 2012
33 Andre Cushing Ends.png Republican 2012
34 Roger Sherman Ends.png Republican 2006
35 Troy Dale Jackson Electiondot.png Democratic 2008

Senate Standing Committees

There are five (5) Senate Standing Committees:

Joint Standing Committees of the 125th Legislature

There are sixteen (16) Joint Standing Committees in the Legislature:

External links

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Wikipedia® has an article on:

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ WCSH 6, "Maine legislature to reconvene Tuesday," January 5, 2013
  4. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Maine lawmakers return Wednesday for 2012 session," January 3, 2012
  5. ↑ Maine.gov, 125th Legislature Session Schedule, June 16, 2011
  6. ↑ Bangor Daily News, State lawmakers headed home but only for 12 days, June 16, 2011
  7. ↑ 2010 session dates for Maine Legislature
  8. ↑ Follow the Money: "Maine Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Maine Legislature "Maine Election Law"(Referenced Statute 21A-381)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Maine Legislature "Maine Election Law"(Referenced Statute 21A-382)
  11. ↑ Maine Legislature "Constitution of Maine"(Referenced Section Article IV, Section 5)
  12. ↑ Maine Legislature "Maine Election Law"(Referenced Statute 21A-361)
  13. ↑ State legislative term limits
  14. ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
  15. ↑ Rules of the 122nd Maine State Senate
  16. ↑ Maine State Senate Democratic Leadership
  17. ↑ Maine State Senate Republican Leadership
v • d • e
Democrat majority Current members of the Maine State Senate
Senate President: Justin Alfond (D) • Majority Leader: Seth Goodall (D) • Minority Leader: Michael Thibodeau (R)
Democratic (19) • Republican (15) • Independent (1) •Maine State Senate • Maine House of Representatives
v • d • e
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