opinion

Miramant statement on ferry improvement bill veto

Thu, 04/21/2016 - 10:45am

AUGUSTA — Sen. Dave Miramant released the following statement after learning that Gov. LePage had vetoed LD 1468, "An Act To Improve the Safety of Ferries in the State."

The bill would require the installation of lockboxes on state ferries to accommodate the transportation of medical samples and allowing medical personnel to access the lockbox. New marine safety protocols prohibit the informal system of shipping samples that had been in use for years. The bill's provision will allow islanders to send diagnostic samples to mainland medical facilities without a time-consuming ride on the ferry while meeting current safety requirements.

"This bill is not about Gov. LePage, and it's not about me," said Sen. Miramant, D-Camden, the bill's sponsor. "It's about hundreds and hundreds of Maine's island residents who say the state ferry service needs improvements to better meet their needs. I believe that when these residents speak, we should listen. I also believe that if we can do something as simple as install a lockbox to increase the efficiency of health care for our islanders, we should do it."

LD 1468 won the unanimous support of the Transportation Committee and the Senate, as well as strong, bipartisan support tin the House of Representatives.

Lawmakers will vote on whether to override Gov. LePage's veto on Friday, April 29.

Sen. Dave Miramant, represents Senate District 12 which includes Appleton, Camden, Criehaven Twp., Cushing, Friendship, Hope, Isle au Haut, Matinicus Isle Plantation, Muscle Ridge Islands Township, North Haven, Owl's Head, Rockland, Rockport, South Thomaston, St. George, Thomaston, Union, Vinalhaven and Warren.