The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce held a "Meet the Legislators" event Tuesday night in downtown Waterville. It was a fairly informal, fun event.

More than a half-dozen lawmakers attended. There was no press conference or public question-and-answer. Rather, chamber members met and queried the lawmakers in small groups or one-on-one. I did too.

Here are the themes I picked up on:

— This session will be marked by a lack of money. A key question being asked of many bills with costs attached is whether to reject them in committee or send them to the Appropriations Committee and have them turned back there. That doesn't sound like much of a distinction but by forwarding some measures, legislators hope at least to send a message that they support the idea.

— There is genuine concern over the fate of the school-consolidation law. Many small-town educators and leaders, and the legislators who represent them, have reasons to work against this bill.

— Legislators on both sides of the aisle give Gov. John Baldacci credit for his provocative (by Maine standards) consolidation proposals, and a few others. But he suffers from a lack of political capital. He has said openly that he will not pursue a political future after his second term as governor. Lawmakers don't think they have to be too careful around him.

Eric Conrad
Executive Editor
Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel
Telephone: 207-621-5630