Announcement Speech Text Jon Hinck on the Issues On Letters from Charlie Summers, Secretary of State, to Maine College

e Students: Let me say this now, as a current State Legislator and as a member of the Maine State bar you students here at the University of Maine who are now residents of Maine, we are glad you are here, you are welcome here, we want you to stay, contribute here and be a part of the future of Maine. On Question One Election Results: The people of Maine spoke on Tuesday and with a large majority they said Dont mess with our voting rights. Im glad that I was able to be here on election day to witness students voting right here in this building, standing up as part of the 60% of Mainers who voted Yes on Question One. Students here should know, your right to register to vote in the place where you reside on election day has been upheld by your neighbors in Maine. On Career Experiences: As I talk to Maine voters I will be able to further highlight the varied experience that qualifies me to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate. I will say, during this entire time period, the incumbent has been a politician in Washington. Before that she was a politician in Augusta. During her entire career as a politician, I have also driven a taxi, taught English in Iran, sold advertising for a business publication, managed a movie theatre and packed UPS trucks on the night shift. The point is, in addition to getting well briefed on the latest bills, getting prepared for the latest vote or the latest filibuster, dont we all know it is also important to understand the actual lives of real people. I have had that opportunity. Olympia Snowe has not. On the Direction of America: Lets compare America today with America in 1979, the first year Olympia Snowe went to Washington. In 1979, Americas education system was still the envy of the world, considered by many to be the best. Today it is ranked 20th or worse. In 1979, the countrys debt then was less than 1 Trillion Dollars, today it has soared past 15 trillion and rising. On the Widening Income Gap: Today the great American wealth and income gap has replaced the great American middle class. This is a national disgrace. Since 1979, real income has grown by more than 275% for the richest 1 percent by 400% for the top one tenth of 1%, while staying stagnant or dropping for 80% of all Americans. On Snowes Votes Against the American Jobs Act: There are currently only 375 people in Maine who would have seen a modest increase in their taxes, but they were more important to those her than the creation of 5,000 new jobs in Maine, the modernization of our schools, and the cutting of payroll taxes for 80% of businesses and 100% of workers. Olympia Snowe prioritized the fortunes of 375 multi-millionaires over the rest of us.

On Occupy Wall Street: It should not take thousands of people in an ad hoc movement called Occupy Wall Street, to draw attention to how the top 1% , people who should be leaders in more ways than in wealth, have relentlessly pursued selfinterest. The lobby for the monied elite have resisted all regulation, avoided responsibility and opposed fair taxation. Corporations are sitting on nearly $2 trillion in stockpiled profits instead of creating good American jobs, while continuing to reap the benefits of generous tax give-always. While the movement can be chaotic, we should remind ourselves of the shameless conduct on Wall Street and in the suites and boardrooms of financial institutions and the need for reform. Olympia Snowe says no to even asking the wealthy to pay their fair share. She calls for eliminating financial regulations as the major plank of her economic program. On a New Vision for Maine: Among the top challenges we face is to reinvigorate the economy; achieve greater energy independence; put together a working health care system; free our democracy and politics from the corrupting influence of big money and an unworkable two party system; patch a tattered safety net; and restore faith in financial institutions by policing and prosecuting fraud and corruption. I want this country to balance its budget, to respect and protect peoples liberties and freedom, to develop the worlds greatest public education system, to pass on a livable environment to the next generation, to stand for genuine justice. I am intent on handing down a country which encourages innovation and entrepreneurship with more than just rhetoric. A country which takes care of its children and teaches them to be the best in the world once again. A country which treats each citizen equally, and ensures that each citizen has a voice as loud as any corporation. On a New Energy for Maine: The agenda is large but collectively we need to make rapid progress on all of these points. There is no better time than the present. Our federal government must play a key role and each Senator should be a part of a push for progress. I am ready to bring new energy to the task. On the Choice of UMaine for Announcement: Theres no better place than the flagship campus of the state university system to begin this campaign. Our States future leaders, those who will be creating new jobs, building innovative technologies, leading tomorrows businesses, advancing health care -- the people who keep Maine moving forward are on this and other campuses today. They come here from all corners of the State; from Eliot to Eastport, from Fort Kent to Fryeburg, they come here to learn, to advance their lives, and yes, they come here to play football, and play in the band, and participate in student organizations. These are young men and women who by investing in their futures are investing in this State. We owe the young men and women on this campus, young men and women across this State, our children and grandchildren, we owe the next generation to fix what is broken, support what works and make this a better nation. On His Brief Bio: I am married to Juliet Browne, a lawyer, and we have a teenage daughter Darcy shes the judge. For years I have worked for clean air, clean water and a healthy environment. I have done that as an attorney representing commercial fisherman in claims against Exxon over the Exxon Valdez Oil spill. For Maine well owners whose drinking water was contaminated by the callous decisions of oil companies. In my career I have also worked for the Natural Resources Council of Maine and for over ten years for Greenpeace. In 1979 I was one of the co-founders of Greenpeace USA.