Second District Congressional Question 10-30-12

Updated 1 year ago

This is also our final week to bring you our special segment on candidate profiles.Tuesday, we again feature the two men running for Maine’s Second Congressional District Seat.We asked Senator Kevin Raye and Congressman Mike Michaud this question…Do you support the proposed East West Highway in Maine? Why or why not?Kevin Raye:”I think the East-West highway holds tremendous potential for Maine’s economy, particularly for the northern part of the state, both east and west, and central. You know, I would like to see a study go forward that would answer the questions, the concerns that people have. I would like to see transparency, obviously, on how it would all work. I understand that there are concerns from some folks who worry about the potential of eminent domain, for example. As a private road, it shouldn’t be subject to eminent domain. The private entity doesn’t have the power of eminent domain. But i think it’s wise that the governor has decided to slow the process down, so the legislature can provide clarity around those issues, and then I hope I we move forward with the study that can answer the questions and tell us, if in fact this would help to stimulate job growth and economic growth, where it’s badly needed here in Maine. “Congressman Michaud:”One of my first jobs, important jobs, actually on the transportation committee at the federal level, we had a re-authorization and in there actually, I was able to designate a high priority quarter for an East-West highway, starting in Calais Maine, ending up in Watertown, New York, and where it was in the middle, was left up to, to the states to decide, but that was a publicly funded highway system. Right now, we currently have a proposal dealing with private entity and I do have concerns about eminent domain power for what’s going to happen along that route, whatever route that they choose. So, but that’d be an issue that the state will have to deal with it. But eminent domain is a big concern that I have, particularly for a private proposal, such as this, versus what’s normally done with a public infrastructure needs. “