I've learned a lot during my time as a State Legislator. And I've had some real successes. I've been the primary sponsor of over 25 successful bills and an active champion for others.

I’ve been the primary sponsor of two major pieces of legislation supporting dairy farmers (one in 2003 and another in 2009). These bills have helped stabilize Maine’s dairy farms when federaly-set milk prices are as low as they were in 1970. At a time when the number of dairy farms in many other northeast states have declined by as much as 30%, Maine’s farms (though still in crisis) are holding relatively stable, thanks in part to legislative action.

I'm also very proud of the work I've done in three committees I’ve chaired; Joint Standing Committee on Agricultural, Conservation & Forestry, Joint Standing Committee on Taxation, and Special Select Committee on Maine’s Future Prosperity.

Piotti chats with Troy residents Barbara Adams and Robert Brennan.

The “Ag Committee” has always been my passion, and I served there for most of my time in the House. The Taxation Committee had a reputation for being the most partisan but when I was chairing it we reached real consensus over most major issues. Less than 2% of all the Committee’s bills were voted out on a party-line vote.

Maine’s Future Prosperity Committee tackled the biggest issues of the day, addressing job creation, regulation, taxation, heath care, and social services in a direct and common sense way that is truly rare in Augusta. In the end, we issued a comprehensive report that was unanimously supported by all committee members — Republicans, Democrats and the sole Independent.