April 14, 2000
Dear School Employee:
Since my last communication concerning LD 2540 An Act Concerning Fingerprinting
and Background Checks for School Employees, there have been six recorded votes
on this issue. Although the House and Senate had supported checks for new hires
only earlier this week, yesterday many legislators reversed their position and voted
to mandate checks on all school employees.
In my first letter to you, I said I would work to repeal the law. I have done this
because that is what the overwhelming majority of survey responses I received
indicated was the preference of my constituents, Brewer-area school employees, and it is
what I believed to be the correct position. I have consistently voted against
checking all employees and against mandating checks for new hires.
It has come to my attention that the MEA has been circulating what must be unclear
and misleading information about my position on this issue. Today I have
received many messages from teachers asking why I am not supporting them. As
I have stated, I have voted consistently on the side of the school employees I
contacted.
I may not have the opportunity to vote in favor of repealing the law requiring
background checks and fingerprinting. My only choice may be to vote for fingerprinting
all employees or new hires only. I am certain that I will vote against all
employees being checked and fingerprinted.
The quagmire we are now in is due in large part to the action, or inaction, of
the MEA. Had the union surveyed its members (as I have done) two years ago
when this law was enacted and discovered the vast majority were opposed to the
background checks and fingerprinting, they could have fought this law. Instead,
the MEA supported it and is only now, after much-publicized opposition to it
from its own members, fighting its repeal.
I strongly encourage anyone who believes that I am not supporting teachers on
this issue or anyone who has further comments or questions to please contact
me. I can be reached by phone at 989-6055 (home) or 287-1440 (Augusta), by
mail at 811 Eastern Avenue, Holden, ME 04429, or through my website at
www.dickcampbell.com.
Sincerely,
Richard H. Campbell
Assistant House Republican Leader
Hard copies of Representative Campbell's letter may be obtained by emailing
don@mint.net