If passed, TABOR would limit state and local spending to a formula based on the growth rate of population and inflation. Any spending over the limit would require citizen’s approval at the polls.

“On September 14, the board voted to formally express its serious concerns about the negative effects TABOR’s passage would have on public higher education in Maine. The board took its position after seeking input from both TABOR proponents and opponents, and after looking at TABOR’s impact on public universities in Colorado, the only state in the nation to adopt TABOR,” the e-mail stated.

“The Board believes that passage of TABOR would only compound the budget problems that university leaders are working to resolve,” the e-mail stated.

Bruce Poliquin, a Republican candidate for governor in 2010, visited four Maine cities Monday urging people to vote yes on Question 4. He called state spending “out of control” and said Maine “must get a handle on spending.”

The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center invited Mills to UMaine to receive the Distinguished Maine Policy Fellows Award and to talk to students and faculty about Maine politics.

“I think it [TABOR II] is burdensome and unnecessary,” said Mills, who added she was speaking as a former legislator, not as the attorney general.

“I just don’t think we need a state-wide campaign every time there needs to be a tax expenditure,” Mills said.

Cailin Higgins, a third-year education student, asked Mills what her thoughts were on Question 1 — the people’s veto concerning Maine’s same-sex marriage law.

“We don’t teach divorce. We don’t teach foster parenting. We don’t teach adoption. We don’t teach marriage in schools, period. It’s not part of the learning results,” Mills said.

Susan Gendron, Maine’s commissioner of education, asked Mills on Oct. 7 to look into concerns some voters had about a court of appeals decision concerning same-sex marriage, and whether that decision or Maine statutes would require gay marriage be taught in schools if Question 1 fails to pass. Mills said last Thursday she was unable to find any basis for those concerns.

“So I read the First Circuit decision. I talked with the attorney that represents the Department of Education; I talked with the deputy attorney general. We looked at the decision, we looked at the Maine law curriculum. I scoured Title 19(A), Title 22, 21 for references to marriage in educational sections of the statutes — couldn’t find any,” Mills said.

Mills went on to talk about her own opinion of same-sex marriage and Question 1.

“I felt that marriage equality was an extension of Maine’s constitutional right to a population that deserved equal treatment,” Mills said.

Mills said people have a right to object to issues in government and public services, but said the right is not constitutionally protected.

Kenneth Nichols, professor of public administration at UMaine, asked Mills what she thought of Maine’s ballot and people’s referendums.

Mills said money interests are dominating political campaigns in Maine, and that the legislature has questioned the constitutionality of paying signature gatherers for campaign petitions. She said the legislature has talked about increasing the number of signatures a petition requires to become a question on the Election Day ballot.

Amy Fried, associate dean of research in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, agreed with Mills. She said California has a lot of paid signature gatherers and Maine is beginning to see them as well.

“It really is contrary to the spirit of Maine,” Fried said.

Mills defended Maine’s laws requiring the dissemination of campaign finance sources, which have come under criticism recently. The National Organization for Marriage sued the Maine state government two weeks ago claiming Maine’s financial reporting requirements violate the First Amendment and are unconstitutional.

“[Those laws] are critical to the functioning of a democracy,” said Mills, who added the laws “help the people of Maine to know where that money is coming from. … People voting on something have a right to know that.”

Jonathon Nason, a former UMaine art student, asked Mills about her thoughts on the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.

“That’s nothing I have any say on,” said Mills, who added President Barack Obama “knows what he’s doing.”

Nichols asked Mills what the student population at UMaine and other college campuses can do to help promote and advance today’s public issues.

Mills said there has to be a cultural change — a shift — in the thinking of young Mainers. She said Maine children — mainly young boys — are too heavily exposed to domestic violence and the idea that hitting other people is acceptable.

“What they grow up observing and understanding is different from what they should be observing and understanding,” Mills said.

Mills recalled a case she worked with involving one young boy whose father killed his wife and then himself. She said she asked the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to help the child adjust after the loss of his parents, but said the department told her that since the parents were dead, there was no need to help the boy. Mills said Maine children need good role models.

Speaking to reporters after her discussion with students, Mills said prescription drug abuse is one of Maine’s biggest problems.

“Prescription drug abuse is responsible for more deaths than cocaine, more deaths than heroine, more deaths than amphetamines, more deaths than traffic crashes. In this state, and many other states across the country, prescription drugs affected 464 drug-affected babies born in Maine last year alone. Prescription drug diversion and abuse is the No. 1 cause of crime in our state,” Mills said. “We had six homicides in the last 18 months or so over prescription drugs. People are killing each other over prescription drugs.”

Mills met with students in courses and across campus throughout the day.

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills rejected a request Monday from the TABOR Now campaign to investigate legislative staffers for illegally helping anti-TABOR campaigns, citing a lack of criminal wrong-doing. TABOR Now recently filed a complaint against the city of South Portland, which also concerned TABOR II.

TABOR Now asked Mills to investigate legislative staffers in the offices of House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, and Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro. David Crocker, chairman of TABOR Now, accused staffers of illegally helping to organize anti-TABOR fundraising.

The accusations stem from an Aug. 12 meeting in Pingree’s office where several businesses were invited by Rick McCarthy of Maine Tomorrow, a for-profit consulting firm specializing in public policy research, governmental affairs, community development and association management. McCarthy contacted Pingree’s and Mitchell’s offices to request they host the meeting and attend to offer insight into the TABOR and excise tax legislation present on the ballot. Approximately 16 members of the construction, engineering and transportation community were invited to the meeting, as well as the state Transportation Committee. In an e-mail sent to William Brown, a staff worker in Pingree’s office, McCarthy said his ultimate goal was to raise funds from the businesses invited. In the invitation to the businesses, McCarthy wrote asking them to “join us to learn more and discuss how you can help defeat these short-sighted measures.”

“We had reason, it seemed, to indicate that there was illegal activity taking place in direct opposition to the citizens’ initiative [TABOR II],” Crocker said.

Days earlier, TABOR Now had filed an ethics complaint against South Portland because of a packet the city mailed to its voters. TABOR Now may seek a similar complaint as a follow-up to the accusation of Pingree and Mitchell’s office staff workers.

TABOR Now obtained information about the meeting through a Freedom Of Access Act request, which Crocker said proved staffers working in Pingree’s and Mitchell’s offices used legislative computers to “solicit reportable contributions” from businesses for anti-TABOR efforts.

“It’s their [Pingree’s and Mitchell’s] staff, and the meeting set up with the Transportation Committee was hosted by the two of them,” Crocker said, who said the meeting’s purpose was “ultimately to raise money.”

Kate Simmons, assistant to the attorney general, said there was “no criminal wrongdoing whatsoever.”

“Some of those business interests did contribute to that campaign,” Simmons said, “but not because they were asked to by legislative leadership.”

Simmons said it is important to note that staffers are not responsible for the e-mails they receive.

Tim Feeley, communications director for Pingree, said the meeting was a discussion of public policy, not an event for raising funds to be used against TABOR.

“They [Maine Tomorrow] were asking the speaker and the president to give their characterization of the TABOR legislation and how it would impact the legislative process,” Feeley said.

Feeley said staffers in both offices did not use legislative computers to solicit contributions to an anti-TABOR campaign.

“This was a request to attend a meeting. This is basically in the job description for legislators. This is what they do; and to allege that it’s criminal activity is just desperation,” Feeley said. “They’re alleging the kind of conspiracy that’s reserved for Bigfoot and alien sightings.”

Feeley acknowledged McCarthy is a lobbyist.

David Loughran, communications director for Mitchell, said the president was not asked to help solicit funding from business leaders for an anti-TABOR campaign and called the allegations “frivolous.”

“The TABOR campaign is down into the polls the eve of the Election Day, and they’re trying to throw a Hail Mary pass,” Loughran said.

Loughran said the event was a meeting between legislative leaders and Maine business leaders “to talk about economic policies affecting the state of Maine.”

Crocker said the meeting was closed to members of the press, but Feeley disagreed. He said the meeting was in a small, enclosed room, but reporters were not barred from it. He said a suggestion to move the meeting to a more spacious room was never acted upon.

Crocker said TABOR Now isn’t done pursuing the matter.

“I think we’re considering an ethics complaint at this point,” Crocker said.

Phone calls to McCarthy were not returned by press time.

In a similar move, TABOR Now recently filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission against the city of South Portland, claiming it needs to register as a ballot question committee.

South Portland recently sent its taxpayers a packet announcing the city council’s recent decision to oppose both Question 4 and Question 2 — concerning the automobile excise tax — and asking voters to learn more at the city’s Web site. TABOR Now, in its e-mailed complaint from Chairman David Crocker to commission Executive Director Jonathan Wayne, said it is unlikely South Portland’s mailing cost less than $5,000. After exceeding $5,000 in election spending, any group in Maine must register as a ballot question committee and report to the Ethics Commission.

“The question that David Crocker [sent] is whether the city of South Portland should’ve registered with us as a ballot question committee and reported that expenditure,” said Paul Lavin, assistant director of the commission.

James Gailey, city manager of South Portland, said the mailing cost $564. He said Crocker’s complaint is unfounded.

“It didn’t seem like a whole lot was going on. … There was a lot of disconnect. There was a lot of belief by residents that the way the questions were worded were very attractive to the voter. As a response to all that we included into the tax bill mailing. … Quite simply just a one-page sheet that announced both the questions,” Gailey said. “We added two bullets under each which were completely straight up facts, and then on the bottom we said please learn more about these initiatives, and then we gave the city’s Web page.”

Gailey said the cost was six cents per sheet. He said the city will respond to the complaint this week and that state attorneys are drafting a response. He said he has not seen the response and does not know the exact day the city will release it.

“Is it appropriate for a municipality to send that type of advisory out with property tax bills?” Crocker asked, who called the move “not very subtle.”

Crocker questioned Gailey’s cost estimate of the mailing and whether it includes staff time to draft the advisory.

“[The packet] makes a little statement there about what the city thinks will be lost if the excise tax referendum will be passed … and then it sort of says, ‘Oh, by the way, here’s your property tax bill.’ Again, not very subtle,” Crocker said.

Gailey said the city’s Web site indicated the mailed packet includes the two ballot questions and both the proponent and opponent messages.

The poll, conducted by the Portland-based Pan Atlantic SMS Group, found 48.8 percent of registered voters were likely to vote against Question 4 — the Taxpayer Bill of Rights also known as TABOR II. According to the poll, 42.1 percent are likely to vote for the proposal, and 9.3 percent are undecided.

The findings are a dramatic reversal from a poll released Oct. 14 by the same group that found supporters of TABOR II to have a 14 point lead. The earlier poll said 52.8 percent of respondents said they would vote or were likely to vote for the proposal, with 38.7 percent saying they would vote or were likely to vote against it. The poll found 8.5 percent to be undecided.

Mark Brewer, associate professor of political science, said he did not know much about the polling company, so he could not gauge its accuracy. Pan Atlantic sometimes provides polling services for businesses.

“I’ve been looking at those numbers with a pretty skeptical eye,” Brewer said. “It’s not to say that they’re not accurate; it’s just based on the little I know about this outfit.”

Brewer said the wide swing on TABOR was large, but not implausible. While many people are very passionate about same-sex marriage, TABOR is a more complicated and nuanced issue, Brewer said.

“As people learn more about it, as they are lobbied, indirectly at least, one way or another, I don’t think it’s that unusual for a swing like that to happen on an issue like TABOR,” Brewer said. “I’d be stunned, on the other hand, if you saw that kind of a move on an issue like same-sex marriage. Most people have made up their mind.”

Opponents of Question 1, which would repeal Maine’s law allowing same-sex marriage, showed small gains. The new poll found 52.6 percent of those polled were likely to vote against Question 1 — in favor of keeping the law — and 41.5 percent said they were likely to vote for Question 1 and the repeal. Six percent said they were undecided.

“I doubt that the final outcome’s going to be anything near that big, and if it is, I’m going to be surprised,” Brewer said. “I think if there’s a difference of anything more than five points, I’m going to be really surprised.”

Campaign finance reports released Oct. 23 showed No on 1 continued its fundraising streak, raising $1.36 million in the period for a total of more than $4 million this year compared to Yes on 1’s $1.41 million in the period for a total of $2.55 million.

On Question 2, which would lower Maine’s excise tax on vehicles, 60.8 percent of respondents said they were likely to vote against the measure, with 28.5 percent saying they were likely to vote for the reduction and 10.8 percent undecided.

Question 3, which would repeal Maine’s school consolidation law, dropped slightly as well, with 44.5 percent responding they were likely to vote against the repeal and 39.1 percent saying they were likely to vote for it.

Question 5, which would create a distribution system for medical marijuana, was not polled earlier in the month. Monday’s poll found 59 percent of respondents said they were likely to vote for the proposal, with 32 percent likely to vote against it and 9 percent undecided.

South Portland recently sent its taxpayers a packet announcing the city council’s recent decision to oppose both Question 4 and Question 2 — concerning the automobile excise tax — and asking voters to learn more at the city’s Web site. TABOR Now, in its e-mailed complaint from Chairman David Crocker to commission Executive Director Jonathan Wayne, said it is unlikely South Portland’s mailing cost less than $5,000. After exceeding $5,000 in election spending, any group in Maine must register as a ballot question committee and report to the Ethics Commission.

“The question that David Crocker [sent] is whether the city of South Portland should’ve registered with us as a ballot question committee and reported that expenditure,” said Paul Lavin, assistant director of the commission.

James Gailey, city manager of South Portland, said the mailing cost $564. He said Crocker’s complaint is unfounded.

“It didn’t seem like a whole lot was going on … there was a lot of disconnect. There was a lot of belief by residents that the way the questions were worded were very attractive to the voter. As a response to all that we included into the tax bill mailing … quite simply just a one-page sheet that announced both the questions,” Gailey said. “We added two bullets under each which were completely straight up facts, and then on the bottom we said please learn more about these initiatives, and then we gave the city’s web page.”

Gailey said the cost was six cents per sheet. He said the city will respond to the complaint this week and that state attorneys are drafting a response. He said he has not seen the response and does not know the exact day the city will release it.

Gailey said the city’s Web site indicated in the mailed packet includes the two ballot questions and both the proponent and opponent messages.

“[Crocker] is not even making the allegation that it was the improper use of funds,” Lavin said.

Phone calls to Crocker were not returned.

The question on the ballot reads: “Do you want to change the existing formulas that limit state and local government spending and require voter approval by referendum for spending over those limits and for increases in state taxes?”

The core idea of TABOR II is its formula, which disallows state and local governments from exceeding its limit. The formula — put simply — is inflation plus population growth. The cost of inflation, as defined in the referendum, is the increase in the consumer price index for the most recent year, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. Population growth is defined as the “average annual percentage increase” in population during the past three years of available data compiled by the Executive Department. In the words of Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, TABOR II is “a very complex piece of legislation.”

During an Orono Town Council meeting Oct. 19, Town Manager Catherine Conlow took issue with TABOR II. She said it was unrealistic, partly because it includes a provision that requires the state and towns to mail its registered voters information about a ballot at least 30 days in advance of an election whenever the state or town is considering going past the tax formula limit. Conlow said the mailing costs associated with such a state-wide endeavor would be about $800,000. Jim Martin, D-Orono, agreed with Conlow during the meeting.

“We will be having dozens of elections. We will have tons of questions, and we will end up like California where, when you go to the ballot box, you are literally presented with pages and pages of questions,” Martin said.

Proponents of the initiative say the voter-approval requirement of the act would not increase the number of elections or their cost. The act requires voter approval for tax increases that exceed the formula limit to be approved through the usual general election. It does, however, allow for towns and the state to conduct special elections outside of typical voting times.

“It puts control of extraordinary increases into the hands of voters,” said David Crocker, chairman of the TABOR Now campaign, a Yes on 4 group.

TABOR II also requires any excess money left from a fiscal year to be given back to voters as a refund, rather than transferring to the next year’s budget.

Opponents of TABOR II argue the consumer price index and population growth added together make for a constrictive spending limit that will put a damper on the state’s and towns’ ability to fund local necessities such as roads, schools and utilities. They also argue TABOR II will — because of the limit — force towns and the state to greatly increase fees to make up for the loss in tax revenue. Proponents claim these fears are unfounded and that the formula is not restrictive.

“What governments consume is the same as what the private sector consumes,” Crocker said.

Martin disagreed.

“When you’re passing TABOR … it mentions the formula, but it highlights the act that you get to vote in an election, and you get to vote on taxes … but the reality is that the formula is extremely flawed,” Martin said.

Martin said the consumer price index is based on goods the average Mainer buys at home, which can’t compare to services the state and towns pay for.

Martin said Mainers should have a say in tax increases but TABOR II isn’t the way to do it.

“The problem is we already have a process in Maine to do that. It’s called the people’s veto, and it’s used extensively in Maine,” Martin said.

Maine voted in 2006 to reject a similar TABOR initiative.

“At this time in 2006 … [the government] said to the people, ‘Vote down TABOR, and we’ll fix the problem,’” Crocker said. “Well, they haven’t fixed it.”

Out of 26 states that have voted on TABOR-like initiatives, Colorado is the only one that has approved it. Colorado voters suspended the taxpayer refund provision of TABOR in 2005.

Sen. Nate Wildes introduced a resolution on behalf of the Legislative Relations Committee titled An Act to Promote Discussion and Self-Education Regarding the Effects of TABOR II on the Undergraduate Student Population at the University of Maine. Wildes said it is “not taking a stance. It’s meant to be a resolution about a specific policy,” adding that the Legislative Relations Committee did not pass the resolution unanimously.

After presenting the resolution, Wildes and others were surprised by Sen. Ben Goodman’s amendment to the resolution.

Goodman’s amendment changed the title to An Act to Recognize the Potential Detrimental Effects of TABOR on the Undergraduate Student Population at the University of Maine and added language language that took a stronger opposition to TABOR.

The resolution says: “Be it resolved that we, the General Student Senate of the University of Maine Student Government, Inc. believe that the consequences of a law such as TABOR will have detrimental and far-reaching effects on the Undergraduate Student population at the University of Maine.  Therefore, in order to encourage the sustainability and viability of the University of Maine System we hereby reaffirm our 2006 stance that Student Government, Inc. stands strongly opposed to TABOR.”

Vice President Ross Wolland ruled the amendment as “out of order,” citing its intent to “otherwise influence legislation” as defined by Student Government’s Constitution. Sens. Nelson Carson and James Lyons offered constitutional evidence that led to a majority rule, appealing Wolland’s motion — allowing GSS to consider Sen. Goodman’s amendment, which Goodman explained.

“First, it changes the title of the act [and it] reflects the possible detrimental effects on the student population of Maine. TABOR [II] would be a grave danger to this campus and university system. Therefore we once again stand in opposition of TABOR [II],” Goodman said, who credited Sens. Peter Christopher and Joesph Nabozny as co-sponsors of the amendment.

“We need to be the voice for the student body. … We can’t be used as a conduit for our own beliefs. If we’re going to pass resolutions that directly relate to student body opinion then we should have the student body opinion,” Carson said.

Senators were encouraged to talk to students around campus to inform themselves about student opinion.

Sen. Nick DeHaas reminded the senate that referendums are not political because they are not tied to a political party.

“It’s more of a financial issue than a political issue. I would really hate to see [TABOR II] happen. … I really support this amendment,” said Sen. Dayna Margarita.

“There are other students out there like me who believe that [TABOR II] could possibly be beneficial to the state of Maine,” said Sen. Zachary Jackman.

The amended resolution passed.

Senators passed another resolution amending the Student Government’s policies on summer compensation. Wolland described the Act to Revise and Update the Financial Policies of the University of Maine Student Government Inc. as “eliminating the opportunity for student government executives to apply for compensation [in the summer].”

The resolution would affect summer compensation in the following Student Government executive positions: President, Vice President, Vice President of Financial Affairs, Vice President of Student Organizations and Vice President of Student Entertainment.

The resolution states that only contractual and service employees will receive summer compensation from now on.

Wildes questioned whether a lack of summer compensation would deter executives from fulfilling their duties and commitments. Sen. Alex Ortiz expressed the need for executives to be “responsible and dedicated enough not to need compensation.”

Vice President of Financial Affairs Justin Labonte — co-sponsor of the resolution — added, “We’re a non-profit organization. It’s a stipend, not an hourly wage or salary — you can’t treat it like that.”

“The way the system works right now is really unfair. … It’s hard to show what work’s being done,” said Vice President of Student Entertainment Abtin Mehdizadegan.

Walter Lazarz, president of UMaine’s Green Team, voiced support for American Clean Energy and Security Act during the meeting. Sen. Derek Jones was appointed Sergeant at Arms, the Senior Skull Society was announced as the Student Organization of the week and Wilde Stein presented a Pride Week itinerary.

Pride Week will take place the last week of October and begin with a pride flag raising ceremony.

Allocations included $700 to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, $300 to the Senior Skull Society, $750 to Doulos, $255 to the Student Women’s Association and $2,500 to the International Students Association. Future projects, as presented in the President’s Report, include a Student Government Advisory Committee, dining service research, implementation of service learning as an academic model and the repurposing of outdated university computers.

Many students are unaware of the inner-workings of the senate. For example, while it would be easy to assume the organization is a legislative body, it is in fact a corporation. Regardless of its legal status, students look upon senate to act as a government, and taking stances on issues that affect students can go a long way in improving the group’s image.

In the cluttered world of college activities, legitimacy is everything. If a group takes themselves seriously, the campus community takes notice. Student government is crucial to the University of Maine. They are put in charge of distributing students’ money and make important decisions on a daily basis. For example, student entertainment deals with huge sums of money, intricate contracts and national entertainment acts.

Possibly because it is so misunderstood, student government is often looked down upon. Its complex intricacies and habit of fighting over what senate’s purpose is instead of what senate should do sets the group back as a whole. But when senators come together to make decisions on issues crucial to the student body, that’s when GSS lives up to its name and acts like a student government.

We urge student government to continue to be vocal on issues that matter to students. As the flagship university in a relatively small state, the UMaine student voice should be a loud one.

Student government, like most university organizations, is a learning experience for its members. But what better experience is there for student senators than being involved in real political issues? A group is only as legitimate as it chooses to be, and we hope student government continues to decide to take itself seriously as the voice of the student body, not just the organization that controls its wallet

TABOR II, if enacted, would impose restrictions on Maine that would trickle down to affect small towns, according to Catherine Conlow, Orono’s town manager. Current law governing municipalities allows them to carry over any remaining funds from their previous year’s budget into the new one. Under TABOR II, those funds would not be allowed to be carried into the new fiscal year, negating any town’s ability to build up a reserve of money.

“Big impacts to the municipality come in if they’re going to cut state services. Those service cuts are going to trickle downhill,” Conlow said. “One of the direct impacts is that it mandates referendum voting on the town.”

TABOR II requires voter approval for revenue increases and expenditure increases above the limit it sets for towns and the state. It also requires any relevant information and notices to be sent to every registered voter in the state prior to any statewide referendum vote. The direct costs associated with a referendum vote are $800,000, according to a report by the Maine Municipal Association.

“And you know what they’re going to do with it?” asked councilperson Lianne Harris, who answered herself by making a throwing-away gesture. Councilperson Thomas Perry exclaimed “Jesus Christ” when the mailing requirement was mentioned.

Municipal costs of mailing the notices would be around $1 million, according to the Maine Municipal Association’s report.

“TABOR II is going to add to the mil rate, too,” Conlow said.

The mil rate is the number the town uses to determine property taxes.

Geoffrey Gordon, the council chairman, asked whether the state could overrule TABOR II.

“The state has often changed its own requirements when regulations are put on it,” Conlow said. “It would take TABOR II, if it were passed, and then find some way to work with it.”

TABOR II would place restrictions on the authority of voters at town meetings, city councils, county boards and county budget advisory committees, according to the association’s report.

The council members also touched on another citizen referendum to be on the November ballot — an initiative to eliminate the automobile excise tax. Conlow said she expected the tax’s elimination would cost Orono $260,504 each year and increase the town’s mil rate by 0.62 percent. Conlow said revenue from the excise tax is usually used for public works projects such as roads.

“Our total budget for maintenance and care of our roads … is over a million dollars,” Conlow said.

Proponents of the initiative argue the excise tax is unnecessary because towns often use less money in their public works budgets than the tax provides, but Conlow said that isn’t the case with Orono.

“Our operations cost us significantly more than our excise tax collections,” Conlow said.

Conlow added that Orono saw a slight improvement in tax revenue because of the cash for clunkers program.

Maine Leads is the nonprofit advocacy group leading the effort to pass TABOR II and has collected signatures that account for its place on the November ballot. The Maine Heritage Policy Center wrote the initiative.

Mainers voted to reject TABOR II’s predecessor, TABOR, in 2006.

The council decided to hold a public information session on both the impact of TABOR II and the excise tax referendum on Oct. 19.

TABOR II, if passed, would require voter approval for state and local government overspending and increases in taxation. Senator Nate Wildes, head of the Legislative Relations Committee, said GSS does not exist to pass resolutions for or against TABOR II, but to “enable and educate [the student body] to make decisions. … We have to look out for the best interest of our constituency.”

Senator Nelson Carson agreed with Wildes, saying there should be no resolution for or against TABOR II in GSS.

Senator Benjamin Goodman shot back against The Maine Campus’ Sept. 21 opinion column by Michael Shepherd during Special Orders and Announcements.

“When I’m in this room serving [GSS], I’m not serving the Democratic Party — I’m serving the General Student Senate,” Goodman said. “We have an obligation to fight for issues that affect students’ lives at the University of Maine. And as long as I’m a member of [GSS], I’m going to fight for them.”

President Owen McCarthy said GSS has a new Web site, umainesg.com.

Vice President Ross Wolland reported “senate is officially full for the upcoming session,” with 35 nominees. The 31st session of GSS begins Oct. 6, with the swearing in of new members. All committee and chair position terms will reset Oct. 6.

Two resolutions brought before senate were referred to the Policy and Procedures Committee for debate: a resolution to revise the Fair Elections Process guidelines and a resolution to revise and update the financial policies of the University of Maine Student Government, Inc. Senate tabled both resolutions until the Sept. 29 meeting.

Vice President of Student Entertainment Abtin Mehdizadegan thanked all involved with last Friday’s Decemberists concert, calling it a huge success.

Senate elected Nyssa Gatcombe by secret ballot to Student Organization Committee and Angelica Allen is the Fair Election Practices Commission’s newest member. In Community Association representation, Emily Fortin, Student Women’s Association president, reminded GSS of SWA and Wilde Stein’s upcoming Take Back the Night event on Oct. 6.

Guest speakers included Laurie Sidelko, Director of the Office of Alcohol and Drug Education Programs and Alan Stormann, Assistant Director of Parking Services. In conjunction with GSS, Sidelko has implemented changes on campus this year targeting the risks associated with alcohol abuse. Stormann, also in conjunction with GSS, has helped implement a new program that streamlines the parking permit application process.

Sidelko described the Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan Policy, which was put into place Sept. 21.

“[It is serving] all of us as a community, protecting one another.” The Medical Amnesty Project coincides with Safety Week — a weeklong drug and alcohol awareness event sponsored in part by GSS and created after the death of UMaine student Dylan Lyford last winter, which involved alcohol.

“It’s a pilot project, not a policy,” Sidelko reminded the senate.

The project’s board will run data and statistics on a monthly basis and meet every Monday to review cases and determine amnesty for students. The Orono Police Department is currently uninvolved with the project.

Stormann spoke of cooperative efforts between UMaine Parking Services and GSS that culminated in an online parking permit application process used by 1,611 students this semester.

“That’s 1,611 sales that didn’t have to take place in student services,” he said in praise of GSS.

During the meeting, senate allocated $200 to Maine Masque, $250 to the Commuter and Nontraditional Students Association, $820 to the Cycling Club and $2,171.60 to the Equestrian Team.