Dear Friends:
Thanks for visiting my home page. I wanted to tell you a little bit about myself and to keep you informed about issues of interest to me and the 54th District.
I entered political life thinking that I might be able to make a difference in peoples’ lives, although I am not sure I knew exactly what form that might take. As a lifelong Democrat from a family that believed that Franklin D. Roosevelt was their salvation, I was brought up to believe that everyone has a responsibility to participate in the life of the community, and that political life is the embodiment of that activity.
My major area of legislative interest has always been education, at all levels and all ages. I believe that we need a better plan for the changing demographics of the state and country. The national commitment to education made after World War II has diminished, as have our investments, particularly in higher education. As families spend more time working, a better system of care for young children is also an imperative. I have spent the last decade trying to make improvements in these areas.
I have also been interested in innovation and industrial redevelopment, particularly linking research and development efforts with start-up businesses in emerging technological fields. And as House Chair of Appropriations over the last two terms, I have sought to change the way we budget by setting goals and looking at actual outcomes of the programs we fund through “results-based accountability”. I hope this will make a difference in the way we think about the programs we fund, and ultimately make government more efficient.
Everyday, people call me with problems and questions about state government. I see this homepage is just one more link between people and state government. I hope you enjoy the visit and find it useful.
Denise Merrill
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