Betsy Sweet in State of Maine Archives

On Government Reform: Only Democrat to use Maine's taxpayer-funded election system

Sweet was the only Democrat who used Maine's taxpayer-funded election system, which won't be available to her on the federal level. She ran with a progressive agenda including single-payer health care, an hourly minimum wage of $15 and gun control.

On Government Reform: Publicly funded federal election system

On Abortion: Protect a woman's right to choose

On Civil Rights: Equal pay for women; plus commission on racial justice

• Support Equal Pay for Equal Work for women and minorities.
• Establish a Commission on Racial Justice and Equality to lead state government in analyzing policies, practices and procedures that result in income, health care, aspirational disparities. then institute the changes necessary for correction.
• Support the Civil Rights Team Project in our schools to take on the issues of fairness, respect, bullying and harassment in their day-to-day lives.

On Drugs: Expand substance abuse treatment

• Treat opioid addiction as a health issue not a criminal issue, and treat it accordingly.
• Move addicts from prison to community-based treatment. Over 65% of prison inmates have addiction and behavioral health problems, and only 11% receive treatment in jail. It costs over $50,000/year to house a prisoner in Maine; let's spend that money on treatment services that benefit both the recovering addicts, their families and communities.
• Expand Medicaid to cover 80,000 new people. This is the single biggest, fastest, and most effective step we can take to expand substance abuse treatment in Maine.
• Incentivize treatment for the whole person, not just the addiction. We need to look at the life circumstances and the emotional pain that feeds the addiction at its core and provide the services necessary to address those issues.

On Drugs: Legalize and promote industrial hemp

On Education: Pay teachers better; cut back on standardized tests

• Give kids a chance at affordable higher education. Provide two years of free tuition to young Mainers in exchange for a year of public service. This will teach young people the virtues of giving back, community engagement, and help them address the escalating costs of education.
• Bring Back programs for technical and skills-based education.
• Pay teachers better. We are losing skilled teachers to retirement and few are entering the field because of low pay and unfair retirement benefits.
• Cut back on standardized tests. Our education system was born in the 1920's and has become about numbers and standardized tests. Instead, let's emphasize teaching strategies that enhance today's communities and economy.
• Make pre-k available to every 3 and 4-year old in Maine, where the most difference can be made in education, as well as affordable day care and developmental services. Let's invest our money where we know it will work.

On Energy & Oil: Invest in solar, wind, hydro, mass transit, & electric cars

Environment, Energy, Climate Change:
• Sign on to the United States Climate Alliance--I will add Maine to the 15 other states who have signed onto an alliance to achieve Paris Agreement climate goals by 2025.
• No state money or approvals for more fossil fuel use. No more pipelines, refineries, LNG facilities. Invest in solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and tidal sources so that Maine is energy independent by 2030.
• Support mass transit. Maine pays $4 per capita for mass transit; the national average is $45. Support systems of public transportation.
• Promote electric cars by ensuring charging stations available throughout state; convert state government fleet over time to electric cars; consider rebates for electric car purchases.
• Make state government a model green organization using renewable energy, green cars, walkable state campuses, and best sustainable practices.

On Environment: Reduce, re-use, recycle

Bolster the Land for Maine's Future Program. A political football under LePage, it's time to let them do what they do well.

Create a statewide trails network. Maine is sprouting up local trails across the state. I will support local trails and develop connections between trails so that people can hike, run, and bike safely from Kittery to Madawaska.

On Health Care: Supports universal coverage including alternative therapies

• Fund the Expansion of Medicaid Immediately
• Support Universal In-Home Care which will dramatically increase the quality of life of those in need of care, and of the (mostly women) caregivers.
• Cut costs by promoting healthy living: sleep, exercise, nutritious food, three free prescriptions!
• Increase support to our Community Based Mental Health system to provide the most effective treatment and to avoid ineffective and expensive hospital and incarceration costs.
• Support alternative therapies for stress reduction, pain management and addiction such as acupuncture, massage, Reiki.

On Immigration: Pay for transition costs of new Mainers

On Jobs: Supports $15 minimum wage and strong unions

Support the unions' right to thrive. Unions are an important safeguard for workers. As Governor, I will re-open the negotiations between workers and state government and not make employees have to choose between a strong union and a well-deserved raise. I also support responsible contracting for all state funds.

On Tax Reform: Level the playing field; more taxes for the top 20%