Legislators lobby for paper co. jobs
Maine legislators are rallying support against part of a bill that would end the inclusion of paper inserts with pharmaceutical drug packaging, which they say could affect business for at least two Maine paper mills.
MPBN reported that supporters of the federal bill say it could help secure the drug supply chain and eliminate printing and shipping costs.
In addition to the paper industry harm, opponents, including all of Maine's congressional delegation, say rural areas don't have reliable enough Internet access for electronic distribution of that information to work.
U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud told MPBN that federal Democratic leaders have been supportive of efforts to remove that portion of the bill, a move that Gov. Paul LePage has also pushed for in a press release Monday.
In separate statements, LePage and Michaud said the mill in Madawaska, which Twin Rivers Paper Co. agreed to purchase from Brookfield Asset Management Inc. in late May, and Verso Paper Corp.'s Bucksport mill are important parts of the regional economy. Combined, the mills employ around 1,100 people.
Michael McKeon, a spokesman for Twin Rivers, told MPBN that the uncoated printing stock used to make inserts is a significant portion of the company's product line.
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