12/15/07 - The facts on energy reform (PPH)... co-authored by Jon.
10/16/2007 - Hear Jon on WGAN radio regarding licensing of contractors.
5/9/07 - Jon introduces bill to reinforce free speech rights in malls. Link
1/14/07 - Jon releases legislative report and journal. Read it here.
11/9/06 - Jon has won the race for House District #118!
|
5/9/1007 - Free speech in malls
I have introduced a bill that would extend free-speech rights to the common areas of shopping centers - provided that the exercise of free speech does not interfere with business or pedestrian affairs. The Portland Press Herald covered this bill in the May 9th issue. Here's a link to the article. 5/9/2007 - States and cities move to curb toxic substances the EPA hasn't
Found this article in USA Today about on state and local measures to fight environmentally harmful substances 5/6/2007 - MPBN Radio segment on Chemicals in Baby Bottles and Toys
MPBN has a nice segment on the baby bottle issue (see below). Click here to listen 5/2/2007 - My Op-Ed on Harmful Chemicals in Baby Products
Here's a link to an op-ed I wrote for the Portland Press Herald on the risk of certain chemicals used by the plastics industry in producing baby bottles, teething rings, etc. 01/14/07 REPRESENTATIVE HINCK’S LEGISLATIVE REPORT AND JOURNAL
I have taken my seat in the State Legislature. I again thank the voters of my district for giving me this opportunity. I am pleased to be representing District # 118 covering Portland’s West End and parts of the Oakdale and Libbytown neighborhoods. Please keep me apprised of your interests and concerns as I do the job I was elected to do. The swearing in ceremony in on December 6, 2006 with my daughter Darcy at my side was a highlight. Now the session is underway so I will report on some of pending legislative business.
As you may know over 2,400 bills were introduced into the legislature before the December 15, 2006 deadline. Although one neighbor told me that it would be better if the legislature repealed existing laws rather than passing new ones, after careful consideration I introduced a dozen bills of my own . Most of these bills are addressed to issues that came up in my conversations with folks living in the district. The matters covered include affordable housing, energy efficiency, protection of free speech, reducing certain toxic chemical and lead exposures to children, strengthening Maine’s returnable beverage container law and instituting a system of instant run-off voting. I list and summarize my bills below.
Budget and Tax Matters
For good reason, tax reform will be a major part of the agenda for the legislature.
The Governor's budget provides a framework for addressing the issues of taxes and spending. I joined other freshman legislators at a meeting with the Governor on January 9 in which we asked questions and offered our views on state issues. The Governor acknowledged that his proposed budget is just a starting point but he reaffirmed his commitment to a couple of widely-publicized priorities: 1) a property tax valuation freeze; and 2) school administration consolidation.
Lowering Property Taxes. On the tax side, one of Gov. Baldacci's major proposals is directed at helping Maine homeowners cope with rising property valuations that lead to bigger and bigger tax bills. This is a worthy target but I am not completely sold on the specific proposal. In short, the plan would freeze the assessed value of a property at the time of purchase. The next adjustment only occurs at the time of the next sale no matter how many years pass. Certainly, this would provide relief to some of the people who would otherwise feel the sting of rising property taxes. Of particular concern are folks on fixed or otherwise low incomes who find that rising property values and taxes are forcing them out of their homes. Of course, the beneficiaries of the plan would be all us who currently own a home that we stay in for many years. This has merit but also downsides. First, actual tax relief is achieved only gradually. On the other hand, as the valuation freeze kicks in new homebuyers face the prospect of paying far higher property taxes than their neighbors with the fixed valuations.
In my view, the best property tax relief would apply equally to new home buyers and long term homeowners. It makes sense in the alternative to target property tax reductions to people living in areas with fast rising property values, but this relief should either be limited to those who really need it or be designed like a “reverse mortgage” to be recovered when the houses are sold at much higher than original value. If “deferred” tax revenue is collected this way at the point of sale, local mil rates will be kept lower, and new home owners and those who move frequently do not have to pay more than their fair share....
Read the rest here
|
