July 21st, 2011 by rosascarcelli
Former Marine Resources Commissioner Norman Olsen offered a peek inside the inner workings of the LePage administration yesterday when he abruptly resigned his position.
In a lengthy public statement, Olsen laid out a stinging indictment of the governor and his unwillingness to stand up to special interests, support his rhetoric with action and manage state government. Olsen went so far as to predict that the administration would cover up a report that would be unflattering to the department and some members of the fishing industry.
But there was one piece of information, if true, that demonstrates a dangerous vindictiveness on the part of the governor and an economic short-sightedness that could hurt Maine’s chances for economic recovery.
According to Olsen, LePage ordered: “No further collaboration with the City of Portland to develop measures to return our groundfish boats to Maine, despite the work already done to secure the support of visiting Commerce Department officials. Portland was against him, he said, and we will not work with that city. Rather than work with Portland, he said, we’ll build a new port somewhere.”
It sounds absurd that the governor would turn his back on the largest city and one of the economic engines … Continue reading "Punishing Portland?" »
Posted in Maine, Portland, Rosa Scarcelli, economy, fishing, government | No comments »
April 12th, 2011 by rosascarcelli
Take a minute to look at the recommendations that came out of last weeks women in the economy task force sponsored by the Wall Street Journal. I was one of 150 women who were invited to take part in the working group. My focus was government improvement.
1. Mentors and Sponsors: Develop more industry wide and company-specific programs for both mentorship and sponsorship. Tie sponsorship goals to pay or career advancement. Such programs should include succession planning and “co-mentoring,” which allows advice to flow from junior to senior levels. Involve men and women.
2. Leadership Wisdom Portal: Create a nationwide portal for insights and advice on leadership for women, pooling the resources of multiple media companies. Include formal career advice and discussion of the “unwritten rules” of being a woman in the workplace. Take better advantage of social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
3. Women on Boards: Get more women on the boards of companies by having the SEC require all listed companies to set and disclose their own goals for adding women to their board, and then explain their progress in their SEC report. Goals should include training programs for women interested in board membership.
4. P&L Leadership: Companies should … Continue reading "Wall Street Journal’s Women in the Economy Task Force Recommendations" »
Posted in Rosa Scarcelli, economy, women | No comments »
April 7th, 2011 by rosascarcelli
The high stakes game of chicken that’s going on in Washington is hurting our country.
Short-term continuing resolutions are no way to run government. Every few weeks, we find ourselves waiting to see if we can kick the dented can down the road just a little further.
With half the current fiscal year already over, Republicans and Democrats should stop wasting so much time and effort and pass a CR for the rest of the year, and then get busy on the real work of the next budget. The Bangor Daily has it right. http://tinyurl.com/6ah6szd
The arguments have done little to solve long-running political arguments, but have done a lot to create uncertainty. Everywhere you go, people want to know about their Social Security check, about whether their taxes will be due or processed, about whether our men and women in uniform will get paid and about a long list of other critical government services.
It’s no way to run a government or a country. But there’s no worry for Congress. Members paychecks aren’t on the line.
If Congress can’t figure out a way to do its work in … Continue reading "If gov’t shuts down, Congress should feel the sting" »
Posted in Rosa Scarcelli, economy, government | No comments »
March 28th, 2011 by rosascarcelli
Gov. LePage’s plan for an advisory council was good, and he shouldn’t back away from it — as long as it’s public.
SCARBOROUGH – Maine businesses deserve a voice in our government.
Our small businesses and homegrown industries have a perspective that we can’t afford to ignore. But we are a state made up of workers, and thinkers, and entrepreneurs, and we need to hear from them all. Not just a select few.
Gov. LePage’s desire to make the Department of Labor more open to business is a worthy goal.
But banishing history from the halls of the agency is a cynical attempt to ignore the important role that women and unions have played in the struggle to grow our economy, expand the middle class and improve working conditions.
Last week the administration announced that it would remove a mural depicting important moments in labor history, including an image of “Rosie the Riveter,” from the walls of the Department of Labor.
The department is also being forced to rename several rooms, including one named for Frances Perkins.
Perkins was secretary of labor under FDR, and was the first woman to serve in a president’s Cabinet.
The U.S. Department of Labor building is named for Perkins, who is … Continue reading "Maine Voices: Small business deserves to have its voice heard in Augusta" »
Posted in Maine, Rosa Scarcelli, economy, small business | No comments »
March 1st, 2011 by rosascarcelli
Here’s a quote from David Brooks today that makes sense. We need to use this as an opportunity, not mindlessly cutting. We can’t cut our way to prosperity. We need to invest in the future.
“This period of austerity will be a blessing if it spurs an effectiveness revolution. It will be a disaster if the cutting is done politically or mindlessly. Unfortunately, that’s often how it is being done now”
Read his whole piece.
New York Times Opinion Article
Posted in Rosa Scarcelli, economy | No comments »
January 7th, 2011 by rosascarcelli
As the year 2010 draws to a close, I’m struck by the major accomplishments in Washington that were made recently and seemingly all at once as the clock ran out for Congress in its current form. When it reconvenes in 2011 it will be a very different body when the new Republican majority in the House gets settled in to work, but the opportunity for impactful work will be as great (or greater) than the so-called “lame-duck” session just ended.
I say “so-called” because few saw the recent flurry of notable achievements coming. Here’s a partial list of the most newsworthy: extension of the Bush Tax cuts; repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; ratification of the New START Treaty; and health care benefits for 9/11 responders.
The President’s compromise on the two year extension of Bush era tax cuts caused a stir among stalwarts of both parties. On balance, tax relief for the wealthy was fairly balanced against other important concessions the President obtained for millions of hard-working Americans, especially given the continued fragile state of our economic recovery. It reminds me of the old adage we have in the … Continue reading "The Year 2010" »
Posted in Rosa Scarcelli, economy, government, national security | No comments »
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