MACHIAS VALLEY NEWS OBSERVER • February 13, 2025
I traveled to Augusta in early February to testify on several environmental bills. The three-hour drive triggered memories of similar past journeys. Thirty years ago, I took a leave of absence from UMM to work for newly elected Independent Governor Angus King. I had advised King to oppose car testing, which was part of how Maine was complying with the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. I’d leave the Dennys River watershed every Monday morning and drive west down the Airline through the East Machias, Machias, Narraguagus, and Union River watersheds to the Hancock County Highlands. The environmental left had just started their Atlantic salmon endangered species listing effort on those watersheds. I advised my new boss to oppose that listing, and he took that advice. The country remains closely divided. The shock and awe policy strategy and purpose that Trump is following is charging up an optimistic “irrational exuberance” amongst his supporters (I voted for him three times). ~ Jonathan Reisman