James B. Longley: Difference between revisions
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Governor Longley presided over a change in Maine governing philosophy in which it was declared that "centrally managing teh economy is an essential government function", which must be done by public-private relationships. |
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The owner of a successful insurance agency in [[Lewiston, Maine|Lewiston]], Longley got his first opportunity in statewide politics when then-Governor [[Kenneth M. Curtis]] asked him to lead a state government commission called The Maine Management and Cost Survey Commission, which was intended to make government more efficient, and cut costs. After some initial reluctance, Longley accepted the position and pursued the job with vigor.<ref name="Cover">{{cite news|last=Cover |first=Susan |title=Dead Serious: Independent Jim Longley wanted to be 'the people's governor' |place=Kennebec, Maine |publisher=Kennebec Journal |date=2007-12-31 |url=http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4587604.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511184453/http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4587604.html |archivedate=May 11, 2008 }}</ref> |
The owner of a successful insurance agency in [[Lewiston, Maine|Lewiston]], Longley got his first opportunity in statewide politics when then-Governor [[Kenneth M. Curtis]] asked him to lead a state government commission called The Maine Management and Cost Survey Commission, which was intended to make government more efficient, and cut costs. After some initial reluctance, Longley accepted the position and pursued the job with vigor.<ref name="Cover">{{cite news|last=Cover |first=Susan |title=Dead Serious: Independent Jim Longley wanted to be 'the people's governor' |place=Kennebec, Maine |publisher=Kennebec Journal |date=2007-12-31 |url=http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4587604.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511184453/http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4587604.html |archivedate=May 11, 2008 }}</ref> |
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Seven years after Maine became a constitutional Home Rule state in 1969, Governor Longley presided over a major ideological change in Maine government. Under advisement of Longley and a special board composed of the heads of Maine's wealthiest industrie, the Maine legislature instituted a centrally managed economy. |
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Governor Longley's Task Board produced a report titled "Legislative Recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Economic Development". The report contained only two specific recommendations, one was to charter the Maine Capital Corporation and the other was to "eliminate the requirement for a local referendum on municipal bond issues". The later cannot be disputed as a plot against the Maine Constitution as the provision for municipal referendums is found in the Home Rule Amendment. The former is arguably a violation of the Maine Constitution, Article IV Part Third, Section 14, which prohibits the Maine Legislature from chartering corporations by special acts of Legislation. There was no constitutional challenge to the formation of the Maine Capital Corporation, and so it stood until it was repealed. |
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In 1983, the Maine LegislSature Oversight Committee was required to review<ref>http://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Rpts/kf1080_z99m2_1984.pdf</ref> the consistency of the Maine Capital Corporation with its enabling legislation. The Oversight Committee hired the Beldon Hull Daniels firm to produce a report studying the effectiveness of the Maine Capital Corporation. A report titled, Maine Small Business Development Finance by Belden Hull Daniels<ref>http://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Rpts/hg4057_m2c68_1983.pdf</ref>, concluded that the Maine Capital Corporation was not meeting the purpose of its enabling legislation. The Maine Legislature concurred with the findings of the Daniels Report, but decided to let the Maine Capital Corporation continue until the tax credits expired a few years later. When the tax credits expired, the Maine Capital Corporation was repealed with a statement of fact that it had met its purpose. The Maine Capital Corporation is the model for several economic development corporations charted by the Maine Legislature in the ensuing years. Maine has never been the same since as the centrally managed economy grew and progressively marginalised Maine's free enterprise economy |
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Longley made several recommendations that were projected to save the state in excess of $24 million. One of his major proposals included restructuring the Maine university system, which he felt was grossly inefficient.<ref name="Cover"/> His work at the commission gave him a prominent statewide profile, something he decided to try to turn into an electoral mandate when Governor Curtis retired in 1974. |
Longley made several recommendations that were projected to save the state in excess of $24 million. One of his major proposals included restructuring the Maine university system, which he felt was grossly inefficient.<ref name="Cover"/> His work at the commission gave him a prominent statewide profile, something he decided to try to turn into an electoral mandate when Governor Curtis retired in 1974. |
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Revision as of 17:34, 11 December 2019
James B. Longley | |
|---|---|
| File:JamesLongley.jpg | |
| 69th Governor of Maine | |
| In office January 2, 1975 – January 3, 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Kenneth M. Curtis |
| Succeeded by | Joseph E. Brennan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Bernard Longley April 22, 1924 Lewiston, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | August 16, 1980 (aged 56) Lewiston, Maine, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 1975) |
| Spouse | Helen Longley |
James Bernard Longley Sr. (April 22, 1924 – August 16, 1980) was an American politician. He served as the 69th Governor of Maine from 1975 to 1979, and was the first Independent to hold the office. In 1949, he married the former Helen Angela Walsh, who died on September 13, 2005. They had five children, including former Republican U.S. Representative James B. Longley Jr. (born 1951). Longley Sr., a graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, resided in Lewiston and Auburn, Maine.
The owner of a successful insurance agency in Lewiston, Longley got his first opportunity in statewide politics when then-Governor Kenneth M. Curtis asked him to lead a state government commission called The Maine Management and Cost Survey Commission, which was intended to make government more efficient, and cut costs. After some initial reluctance, Longley accepted the position and pursued the job with vigor.[1]
Seven years after Maine became a constitutional Home Rule state in 1969, Governor Longley presided over a major ideological change in Maine government. Under advisement of Longley and a special board composed of the heads of Maine's wealthiest industrie, the Maine legislature instituted a centrally managed economy.
Governor Longley's Task Board produced a report titled "Legislative Recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Economic Development". The report contained only two specific recommendations, one was to charter the Maine Capital Corporation and the other was to "eliminate the requirement for a local referendum on municipal bond issues". The later cannot be disputed as a plot against the Maine Constitution as the provision for municipal referendums is found in the Home Rule Amendment. The former is arguably a violation of the Maine Constitution, Article IV Part Third, Section 14, which prohibits the Maine Legislature from chartering corporations by special acts of Legislation. There was no constitutional challenge to the formation of the Maine Capital Corporation, and so it stood until it was repealed.
In 1983, the Maine LegislSature Oversight Committee was required to review[2] the consistency of the Maine Capital Corporation with its enabling legislation. The Oversight Committee hired the Beldon Hull Daniels firm to produce a report studying the effectiveness of the Maine Capital Corporation. A report titled, Maine Small Business Development Finance by Belden Hull Daniels[3], concluded that the Maine Capital Corporation was not meeting the purpose of its enabling legislation. The Maine Legislature concurred with the findings of the Daniels Report, but decided to let the Maine Capital Corporation continue until the tax credits expired a few years later. When the tax credits expired, the Maine Capital Corporation was repealed with a statement of fact that it had met its purpose. The Maine Capital Corporation is the model for several economic development corporations charted by the Maine Legislature in the ensuing years. Maine has never been the same since as the centrally managed economy grew and progressively marginalised Maine's free enterprise economy
Longley made several recommendations that were projected to save the state in excess of $24 million. One of his major proposals included restructuring the Maine university system, which he felt was grossly inefficient.[1] His work at the commission gave him a prominent statewide profile, something he decided to try to turn into an electoral mandate when Governor Curtis retired in 1974.
Longley had been a lifelong Democrat, but due to earning a maverick reputation acting in a non-partisan role on the cost-cutting commission and because he inadvertently missed the filing deadline for party candidates in the gubernatorial election, he ran as an independent.[1] Some Maine observers believed he knew he would be unable to beat both former Edmund Muskie adviser George J. Mitchell and state Senator Joseph E. Brennan in a Democratic primary, causing him not to file with the party. He ran on the slogan "Think About It," a phrase he often used with insurance customers to get them to consider his products.[1] He had been endorsed by the Bangor Daily News.[4]
As Governor, Longley issued 118 vetoes, a record that stood until Paul LePage vetoed 624 bills.[5][6] Longley holds the record for having the most vetoes overridden by the Legislature in a single term (64).[7]
Longley is still notable in Maine politics for having a reputation for making off-the-cuff abrasive comments. He once referred to state legislators as "pimps". Other Maine governors who are seen as having a similar style are sometimes compared to Longley, such as LePage.[8]
Longley promised during his campaign that he would serve only one term, and he did not run for re-election in 1978.
Longley died of cancer on August 16, 1980, and was interred at Mount Hope Cemetery in Lewiston.
References
- ^ a b c d Cover, Susan (2007-12-31). "Dead Serious: Independent Jim Longley wanted to be 'the people's governor'". Kennebec, Maine: Kennebec Journal. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008.
- ^ http://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Rpts/kf1080_z99m2_1984.pdf
- ^ http://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Rpts/hg4057_m2c68_1983.pdf
- ^ "Gov. Longley's Lesson". Bangor Daily News. 2005-08-16. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
- ^ Steve Mistler (April 2, 2014). "Maine House overrides three vetoes by Gov. LePage". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- ^ Scott Thistle (November 7, 2018). "Voters put Democrats in charge at State House with majorities in House and Senate". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ Scott Thistle (June 11, 2015). "LePage nears Maine record for overridden vetoesl". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ "Blunt-talking Gov. LePage rankles many Maine voters". Bangor Daily News. 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
