Emily Cain Remarks at Maine Dem Convention

7/31/2019 Emily Cain Remarks at Maine Dem Convention

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Maine Democratic Party State Convention

Remarks by

Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono, House Democratic Leader

Augusta Civic Center

2 June 2012

Good evening! Thank you all for coming!

Cant you see why I want to join Justin and his team in the Senate next session? Lets give them

another round of applause.

There are some special thank yous that I have to give up front:

TERRY HAYES, the Assistant Democratic Leader. Terry and I are the first all-female partisan

leadership team the House has ever seen. She has been an outstanding teammate during this difficultsession.

JUSTIN & BARRY They have been dynamic partners in this crazy session. I am so proud of ourwork together, and of their leadership in the Senate.

I want to thank the Staff of the House Democratic Office and the House Democratic CampaignCommittee. They make us look good in State House and on the campaign trail.

BEN GRANT & JANET MILLS They have offered unprecedented support and collaboration as we

plan for November. Thank you.

MIKE & CHELLIE Talk about having the back of Maine people! They understand the challenge of

being in the minority and the importance of winning back the majority.

CAUCUS Every morning in Augusta, I start my day with our incredible caucus. We were fighting for

you, and we never lost hope. They stand with me tonight, and alongside them stand their futurecolleagues our amazing candidates.

But I especially need to thank you everyone in this room for the support you gave us this session,

and for the support youll give to help us win in November. Thank you.

Its wonderful to be here with people who define what it means to be a Democrat and who care

passionately about our values.

You are the support team for our leaders and our candidates.

When the Republicans in Augusta and Washington are running roughshod over Maine people, we know

we can count on you to stand with us, against them.

After nearly two years, Republicans have made it harder to live and work in Maine.

In Augusta, weve seen one Republican idea after another attacking working people and middle class

families, and not a single one that will create jobs or get our economy back on track.


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They have moved Maine in the wrong direction.

The republicans think their agenda should be our priority, and that what's good for them must be good

for us.

But Republicans have sided with big corporations to strip the rights of working people.

Republicans have sided with big insurance companies to hike rates on middle class families and small

business.

Republicans have sided with unscrupulous mortgage lenders over Maine homeowners.

Whose side are they on? Who are they working for?

Governor Paul LePage and his Republican allies in the legislature have put corporations from away and

big insurance companies ahead of Maine people time and time again, and it has to STOP. Well make it

stop this November.We have your back!

In these tough times, they chose to eliminate and reduce health care for tens of thousands of Maineseniors, children, and people with disabilities while giving unfunded tax breaks to the very wealthy.

As Democrats, we know better. We know that in times like these, millionaires should be giving to

charity, not getting it.

In time like these, we know that we should be taxing fairly and cutting wisely, not taxing the middle

class and cutting services to our children, seniors and public safety.

Thats because, as Democrats we believe in the American Dream, that all Maine people deserve to

prosper NOT just those at the top.

We have your back.

Right now too many Mainers are struggling. Too many Mainers have lost hope for a better future.

Imagine the 50 year-old man living in Franklin County. Hes worked hard his whole life, putting in

long shifts on his feet all day just to keep dinner on the table, warm clothes on his kids and to save upenough for a rainy day.

Because of the Republican policies, hes going to have a harder time. His health insurance is going toget far more expensive. Families like his in rural Maine will face higher costs, less certainty and fewer

options.

These are the people were fighting for. We have his back!

Were fighting for the 84 year-old grandmother in Aroostook who has worked her whole life just so she

could live with dignity in her old age.


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But now, because of Republican policies, she will be forced to choose between her heart medication or

heating her home. We have her back!Were fighting for a recent engineering graduate in Hancock County who dreams of living, working,

and raising a family in Maine.

Because of shortsighted choices Republicans have made, the good paying research and developmentjob shes trained for wont be here.

We have her back!

This is whats at stake in this next election and why it is so important that we win back Maine for the

people. We will take back the Maine House and Senate in November.

Weve recruited the best candidates and we are working harder and smarter than ever before. We have

staff all over this great state, and we need you on our team.

Are you as outraged as we are?

Tonight, Ill make this promise. We will show the governor and the Republicans our outrage in

November -- when TOGETHER we show them the door.

Maine House Democrats have 171 excellent candidates running. They are leaders in your communities

and they will be leaders in Augusta.

I want to tell you about just a few of them.

Bob Sauceier is running in Presque Isle because he believes his town deserves better leadership. He has

already knocked on 800 doors.

John Schneck is running in Bangor. House District 16 was one of our closest losses in 2010 and in 2012

John is going to win it back.

Lisa Miller, from Somerville, was a three-term incumbent and serve on the Appropriations Committee.

She was one of the most valued members of the legislature who lost in 2010. In the last two years

Republicans in the legislature have gutted the Fund for Healthy ME and Lisa is running to make surethat fund is restored.

Tim Marks, from Pittston, served as a Maine State Trooper for 25 years. He just retired and wants tocontinue answer calls for help in his community, so he is running for the legislature and will be the next

state representative from House district 53.

Jean Marie Caterina is running in Scarborough in one of the two seats we lost in 2010 to a Tea Party

candidate. She has already knocked on hundreds of doors and she will take back District 128.

And I have to mention Senate Minority Leader Barry Hobbins, who after a distinguished career in the

Maine Senate fighting Governor LePage and the Republicans by my side, has chosen to join our team

to represent Saco in the House.


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We are going straight to the ballot box to say enough is enough.

We fight on the right side of Maine people.

We have your back!

But we cant do it without you. We need you.

We are not the minority. We are the re-emerging majority.

We need you with us at the doors, we need you with us at the town hall, and on the campaign trail.

Can we count on you!?

Can our candidates count on you?!

We wont let you down. We have your back!

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Emily Cain Remarks at Maine Dem Convention