“You Can’t Subsidize Your Way to 80,000 Houses” — Rick Bennett on Maine’s Housing Crisis

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Maine State Senator and independent gubernatorial candidate Rick Bennett explains why he left the GOP and why party structures have become an obstacle to real solutions. He says the parties have become a “net negative” and argues for a new path built on cross-partisanship, compromise, and transparency.

Bennett outlines three top priorities if elected governor: housing, energy, and schools. On housing, he highlights a shortfall of 80,000 homes by 2030 and warns, “You can’t subsidize your way to 80,000 houses.” He calls for cutting unnecessary regulations and enabling more compact, affordable development.

He also critiques Maine’s partisan budget process as “performative” and says the Legislature no longer fully reviews the state budget. He proposes flipping hearings to prioritize public testimony, rebalancing the state’s over-reliance on property taxes, and properly funding and expanding the Homestead Exemption, especially for seniors.

🌿 Cannabis Policy — He raises concerns about illegal marijuana grows worsening Maine’s housing crisis and undercutting legal businesses. Bennett questions the management of the Office of Cannabis Policy, saying it needs “a good house cleaning.”

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Disclosure: This episode of Q-Point Podcast is prerecorded, produced, and sponsored by Corenna Quirk, Broker at NextHome Experience. The views and opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily represent those of the hosts, Q-Point Podcast associates, or affiliates.

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1. “You Can’t Subsidize Your Way to 80,000 Houses” — Rick Bennett on Maine’s Housing Crisis (00:00:00)

2. Breaking Away: Bennett’s Shift to Independence (00:00:37)

3. Building a Different Kind of Campaign (00:03:40)

4. Bennett’s Top Priorities for Maine’s Future (00:04:58)

5. Tackling Maine’s Property Tax Burden (00:09:12)

6. Rural Maine’s Healthcare Crisis (00:15:09)

7. Enforcement, Prevention, and Recovery in the Drug Crisis (00:21:50)

8. “A Good House Cleaning” at Cannabis Regulation (00:24:09)