As the 130th Session of the Maine State Legislature kicks off, PenBayPilot.com has reached out to each area state legislator to see what is at the forefront of the minds for each of them.

Representative Valli Geiger, D-Rockland, is entering her first term as a state legislator after being elected in November by voters of Owls Head and Rockland to represent House District 93. 

Rep. Geiger’s priorities for her inaugural term in the State Legislature include protecting gains already made as legislators attempt to pass a balanced budget while protecting healthcare, education, further addressing climate change, housing, and the people of Maine.

For her first committee assignment, Rep. Geiger has been appointed to the Innovation, Economic Development and Commerce committee, where she will address issues such as climate change and broadband access. 

“This committee is an exciting one to be on and is about solving complex problems that cross many disciplines, industries, and departments,” said Rep. Geiger. 

With President Joe Biden poised to place more emphasis on combatting climate change, Rep. Geiger sees Maine tackling the issue through the state legislature. 

“We can not be caught up in multiple short term crisis to the exclusion of addressing climate change,” said Rep. Geiger. 

Rep. Geiger has requested two bills be addressed by the Legislature:

An Act To Provide for Education Funding Reform for More Equitable State Support to Communities

An Act To Remove Barriers to Accessory Dwelling Units and Allow Accessory Dwelling Units where Single-family Houses Are Allowed

Ahead of the December deadline to request pieces of legislation to be placed in front of the state legislature, Rep. Geiger has requested two pieces of legislation be introduced: one changing how education is funded in the state, as well as a proposal to increase housing units allowing any homeowner to build to code a small accessory dwelling unit on their property.

Amid a divided nation, Rep. Geiger sees a path to achieving bipartisanship work in the state legislature. 

“As US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, ‘Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not his own facts,’ commented Rep. Geiger. “As long as we can agree on a set of shared facts, we as a legislature can move forward. It is when lies and distortions lead to utter differing realities that we are stalled. I will actively work with fellow [legislators] on areas of shared agreement.”

Rep. Geiger noted the legislature has important work to accomplish and will have to tap into finding common ground to achieve that work. 

“I am a firm believer in civility and conversation,” she said. “These are difficult times and we have work to do, speaking across chasms to find common ground. But a basic principle value for me is that our job is to advance the opportunities for a safe and meaningful life for all the people of Maine, regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity and to protect the environment on which we and fellow creatures who have no voice at the table, depend.” 

As an incoming legislator, Rep. Geiger has been working since Election Day to become familiar with the innerworkings of the legislature and about the issues she will be tasked addressing. 

She is provided legislative briefings in five to six zoom sessions each day by various industry experts on a myriad of topics, and has a weekly lunch with her predecessor, Rep. Anne “Pinny” Beebe-Center.

Additionally, Rep. Geiger has jointed the housing caucus, the climate caucus and the children’s caucus, each meeting regularly to find solutions to these focuses.