Day 3 started early with a Federal Issues briefing at 7:00 a.m., followed by business meetings. Linda Gifford needed to stay in Maine to work on several bills in the Maine legislature, so we were missing her. Barbara made a trip to the ER in DC due to breaking a bone in her foot last night - and quickly found that Hill Visit days aren't easy with crutches.
We met with Senators Snowe and Collins, and their staffs, thanking them for their support of several important bills and providing info about current challenges in the real estate industry in Maine. Issues discussed included: FHA, Small Business Health Plans (SHOP), the $8000 tax credit, preservation of the mortgage interest deduction, reasonable approaches to energy efficiency, and providing liquidity to commercial real estate markets.
A behind-the-scenes tour of the Library of Congress informed us of the array of material in their collection - including cartoons, playbills, film, audio recording, children's books, maps, memorabilia and a scientific research area. President Rita Yarnold found Charles Stanhope, a senior official with the Library, to be a classmate from kindergarten through high school. Mr. Stanhope credits a kindergarten teacher and summer job at the Portland Public Library as starting his interest in libraries.
With our cost-saving efforts, we headed to a small Mexican restaraunt for Maine Night Out where we enjoyed fajitas, quesadillas, fried ice cream, flan ... and a margarita.
With our cost-saving efforts, we headed to a small Mexican restaraunt for Maine Night Out where we enjoyed fajitas, quesadillas, fried ice cream, flan ... and a margarita.
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