Rep. Devin seeks solutions to marine debris problem

AUGUSTA — Rep. Mick Devin, D-Newcastle, has submitted legislation to develop a plan to reduce the impact of marine debris on Maine's coastal ecosystems.

"This bill will give the Legislature a chance to learn from different people about the economic and environmental damage marine debris can cause," said Devin in a news release. "The goal is to find low-cost, effective ways for Mainers to improve the health of our coastline so that future generations can enjoy and benefit from it."

Marine debris comes in several forms and sizes, from tiny 5 to 10 micron flakes of plastic from bigger pieces that have broken down to large chunks of metal or Styrofoam. In the case of the microscopic debris, filter-feeding sea creatures consume the material but are unable to process it. Eventually the debris can fill up inside a filter-feeder, causing it to starve.

Maine's marine economy is worth well over $1 billion and supports tens of thousands of jobs according to the news release.

Devin's measure will receive a public hearing before the Legislature's Marine Resources Committee in the coming weeks.

For more information, go to: legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280054753.

Devin, a marine biologist and a member the Marine Resources Committee, is serving his second term in the Maine House and represents Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle, part of Nobleboro, part of South Bristol and Monhegan Plantation.

King announces start of Special ACA enrollment period

PORTLAND — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced the start of a special Affordable Care Act enrollment period for individuals and families who did not have health coverage in 2014 and are subject to the fee or "shared responsibility payment" when they file their 2014 taxes in states which use the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM).

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the creation of this special enrollment period on February 20 after King and a group of his colleagues sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Director Sylvia Burwell urging that such an enrollment period be instituted.

"Millions of people around the country and thousands in Maine face fines for missing ACA deadlines, but thanks to this special enrollment period, they have an opportunity to avoid some of those fines and move one step closer to quality, affordable coverage," said Senator King in a news release. "This is the kind of commonsense solution to a widespread problem that can make a big difference in the lives of families across the country."

In their February 13 letter, King and his colleagues asked the Department of Health and Human Services to grant individuals who were uninsured in 2014 and subject to the individual responsibility payment another opportunity to enroll in 2015 coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The special enrollment period beginning today aligns with the request from King and his colleagues by allowing those individuals and families who were unaware or didn't understand the implications of this new requirement to enroll in 2015 health insurance coverage through the FFM.

The special enrollment period runs through Thursday, April 30, 2015. To enroll, eligible consumers can visit HealthCare.gov or contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.

To be eligible, people must live in a state using the FFM (Maine is one), cannot already be enrolled in coverage through the FFM for 2015, and must attest that 1) when they filed their 2014 tax return, they paid the fee for not having health coverage in 2014 and 2) they first became aware of, or understood the implications of, the Shared Responsibility Payment after the end of open enrollment (February 15, 2015) in connection with preparing their 2014 taxes.