Gov Baldacci said, "Whether it’s by combining state agencies, eliminating unnecessary regulations or holding the line on taxes, we must maintain our fiscal vigilance and question the way every tax dollar is spent."

I must say that would be a refreshing change of pace. They will start by taxing your plastic grocery bags, taxing canoes and kayaks, letting anthem increase its rates by 18%. I have one question. Have any of the governor's economic plans to date been successful? Like Dirigo Health Care ($300 Million) or the plan to consolidate schools. How about taxing health care claims, or increasing the car registration fee, or the cigarette tax, or the beer and soda tax, or the increase in speeding tickets. Sounds like all the governor has to do is increase a tax here or there and he will be fiscally responsible. BALDACCI why don't you come up with some sound financial ideas, like spending less!

Never has one man said so much that meant so little.

The only thing that Baldacci is going to lift is a 2 pound weight at the gym

Maine62.......GOOD ONE!

Not one word about politicians and state workers paying toward any of their free health care for life - or giving up one iota of their other free benefits. Just tax canoes and kayaks, bleed the schools and towns dry with your "consolidation" and mouth the pretty words. BDN, this is NOT investment - it is SPENDING. Do you not know the difference or are you just mouthing the words of The Messiah and his minions like Baldacci, Snowe and Collins?

Minnie me Obama. Just keep throwing money that we don't have at the problem. Lol.

Is it possible that you politicians might move a little faster? Here is my situation and until now have not complained once:

I am on a fixed income (Social Security) and will make it, but here is who I must help: My daughter is 42 years old, lost her job, has NO medical insurance, has a son in High School, cannot collect unemployment, and lives in a shelter because of certain restrictions in attempting to live with us.

We have never asked the government for anything, probably because only the welfare folks have it all, now we simply ask that our illustrious Governor gets off his highly paid duff and get these measures moving, we too must eat even if it is just bread and peanut butter.

...I am so so so so SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO so happy that he cannot run for another term.

Will someone stand up and admit they voted for Mr. Baldacci. Just admit it come on. Has to be a few here.

First of all the soda tax was put in by the legislature because they wanted to avoid another cigarette tax. This Governor makes less money then most professors at the University. Under Gov. king I was diagnosed with cancer, lost my job as I couldn't work, had no insurance for myself or my two children. I am a single mother and the kids have a dead beat dad. When Baldacci got elected and started Dierigo I was finally able to afford insurance for the kids and I. Dierigo is a hell of a plan, and has helped a lot of people. Without it i probably would have lost my home.

As far as his speech goes he was dead on. We need to go to energy in this state. These people that whine about paying taxes but they don't want to change anything. Can't cut anything that affects them directly. They want the schools to stay the same. Like Old Town and Orono High School. Both schools are falling apart but they don't want to give up their teams or rivalry. Its stupid. People whine but they want police, fire and ambulances, they complain about bringing in LNG or Wind farms because they want to keep the state looking like a picture postcard, but they cry there is not business here. they complain, blame Augusta, Washington, but do they get off of their butts and run for an office? Do they talk to their representatives and try to get bills passed? Know they sit here and think they know all of the answers.

Excuse me I have to go to work.

is this state really big enough that it needs 2 medical schools? seriously? 2? how many kids in maine actually go to medical school? and furthermore.. how many that actually do , will really work in maine when they are done? the medical school angle is among the weakest points he made all night.

no mention of roads which are at an all time worst right now.

Baldacci says plan would help lift state from recession --- What a great title --- at least I got my chuckle for the day --- As apposed to rambling along about what I think of our illustrious governor ... My opinion here is ... Maine is always the first state in the nation to feel the effects of a recession .... and the last one out .... Soooo instead of Baldacci looking into his crystal ball ... why not watch what the rest of country does first ... thereby not repeating the same mistakes ... I hope that Maine Voters have had enough of passing every Bond Measure ( for the good of the people)...I am all for going green ..but I am disappointed that with all these giant wind turbines disrupting Maine's Vista Veiws that not one Maine resident has benifited from reduced electrical cost. Further I would like to say...with all this stimulus money coming from Washington .. Nothing is in the works for a East - West or North & South Interstate to connect all of Maine..Washington & Aroostook County would be better off if they were part of Canada..Think about it

Kevin Raye got it right - "Raye said any initiatives using federal stimulus dollars cannot come with future funding obligations." Let's create self-sustaining jobs or work that definately expires when the money is gone. There is no shortage of such activity. It's bad enough to pay for the stimulus bill once but not repeatedly for the rest of our lives..

Turn out the lights and blockade the Kittery Bridge we're all doomed BALDASSI has a new plan to tax us into oblivion!!!

Why is it the 'leaders' of this state can't see the obvious. Spending money on repairing roads & bridges has an immediate positive return. It employs construction people immediately. That will yeild trickle-down, positive effects immediately.

Instead of spending money on a pie-in-the-sky medical school program that only very few students will attend, why not expand the state school system to offer evening & weekend courses @ primary campuses AND satellite campuses that would appeal to many? I for one would gladly enroll in an evening / weekend program. Heck, that's how I eraned my engineering degree, it worked out very well. I'd enroll in an evening or weekend program immediately if it were available.

Invest in healthcare? WTH, Dirigo Health is one of history's biggest failures that has cost taxpyaers in a poverty striken state millions!

The Augusta Gang has yet again missed the mark.

Maine is at the bottom of the economic barrel in this country. The fix should be obvious with so many wrong decisions over the years. Just compare us to say Texas and look at the difference. We have a bunch of tree hugging frog loving Hindu's running the place

How can he expect a recovery when nothing the only thing the government will do to help businesses is weatherization over a 20 year period?

Again, the Democrats are showing that they are not only incapable of fixing the economy, but that they're not really sure what the economy even is.

Medical schools, weatherization, and energy policy? Spending increases? Health insurance for the unemployed?

How about you work to get new jobs in the area and people will get their own health insurance?

The Democratic Party's aim is now, and has been for the past 70 years to get as many people dependent on the government as possible, whilst undercutting those who would pick up the bill.

It's shameful, but you idiots voted for this because the media arm of the DNC told you to. CBS news, the BDN, and MSNBC. And you bought it. Well, now you got it.

Well said nuwriter!

WoW!Quite an address,sounds like hes already got our stimulus money earmarked for retarted programs.What I didnt hear was how he was going to use the money to attract new business and companies to Maine,that pay decent wages.He touted energy jobs,Im sure us working class are going to get jobs in a field we know nothing about,that weve never been trained for and dont have the education.If Baldacci does pull off his dream of an "energy corridor"the energy will be sold to other states and will not reduce our energy bills.Weatherizing,Medical schools,computers for kids,same old $hit,he does realize whats happening in Easter Maine right???I agree, thank god he cannot be elected for another term .I didnt vote for him I can tell you that.Its hard to stay possitive when a moron is at the helm.Hang it there fellow Mainers,its sure to be a hell of a ride.

Well I HOPE the headline is true... I hope the State rises above the recession, if there were more positive optimistic people out there it just might. :)

Please do a search for ...how to organize tea party USA......About half way down the search page you'll see a great page on "Freedom works". It really gives good tips on how to organize.I live up north. Someone should organize one in Augusta. They are going on all over the US. It's a way of letting out politicians know we are tired of out of control government. We have to be more involved. I am going to try to call attention to this post. Get a few people together and start a group.

Please read above post...

Please read above post...

Please read above post...

Hoping the headline is true doesn't make it so. Watch what they do, not what they say. This state needs a proactive leader willing to redirect taxpayer & federal money @ rebuilding the state, not pi$$ing it away on welfare & welfare-type programs that do not produce jobs. The key to recovey is redirecting income to create jobs. If jobs are created, the rest of the economy will follow a path of growth. Money must be spent on creating jobs!

This is all about New World Order. Pay close attention to the ads on tv, where in Africa or other places kids sit around with flies crawling all over , no clean water, no food, no education and for pennies a day you can help! Well thats where we are headed this is part of the secret society Bilderburgers game, where even your president is a part of. What are they about, rich people who have nothing better to do then screw with countries.

All leaders of all countries are apart of this, Ronald Reagan pretty much got off the hook cause he couldn't remember when and where he was suppose to screw us over. So Clinton introduced New World Order along with N.A.F.T.A. and other life sucking acronyms.

Look these people up there is a little about them on the internet.

One again, Baldnazi spews the rhetoric of useless intiatives and empty programs with no payback. Look, he wants to buy power fromm Canada? They generate not far from our border. How? Hydro. Why can't we do it? We have a buch of powerfull rivers. No we ripped all the dams out because of the fish huggers! Lets see, some of the dams were over a 100 years old. You don't suppose the eco-system has changed or adjusted to the dams? Now we have a concern about access to inland waters by species of fish that have not been known to go there before! Can't have our cake and eat it too. There is some stupid ideas out there. Get some common sense policy on board here. I know, let's do this: Let's allow the Feds to turn the entire North Manie Woods into a National Park. We (residents of the park area) would wholeheartedly agree to this provided the Feds pay each household 80,000 per year for the next 20 years. There, that would fix the problem of recession in Maine. I, personnally, am against the thought of a National Park in Northern Maine, however, I can be bought!

Baldacci already has his next job lined up with the wind industry, just like Angus King, and Kurt Adams, Baldacci's chief of staff. That's what ex governors do in Maine these days. No wonder he is trying to grease the skids with draconian legislation that deprives Maine of home rule as guaranteed by the state constitution.

It costs about $100 per megawatt to generate electricity with grid scale wind turbines. Electricity sells for about $40 per MW in the day ahead ISO NE market. $60 per MW comes from taxpayer funded subsidies from your wallet to the wind industry. Will we wake up to this scam before it is too late and the mountains are destroyed with 35' wide blasted roads and giant food processors slicing up eagles, migrating flocks of birds, and bats by the thousands?

NBC nightly news reported last night that the cost of the worldwide economic collapse stands at $50 trillion dollars. The cost of adjusting to global warming, by comparison, has been estimated at only $9 trillion in a worse case scenario. Seems like our priorities should be on sustainable job creation, not spending billions subsidizing wind power to fight global warming.

The Governor missed an opportunity for a stunning proposal that would combine high speed monorail and electric lines down the I95, I295 corridor R.O.W., giving us clean, fast electric powered commuter rail and delivering power.

This corridor is perfect for Mass transit, especially monorail, since that's where much of the commuting is and where roads interface with stations.

With monorail, you can easily send spurs into nearby towns using air rights, largely leaving ground usage intact. With ground rail the cost of acquiring property makes it a very expensive undertaking; and sharing/acquiring freight lines is problem some.

There are some engineering problems where the R.O.W. involves intersections or where it narrows; but the footprint of a double rail elevated track is fairly small.

I'd even push the envelop further and do a feasibility study of moving containers in off peak hours, i.e. midnight to 5 a.m. There would be weight & speed limitations, but a lot of heavy freight would be removed from highways...and potentially some savings.

On a day like today, you can zip down to Portland or up to Augusta at speeds approaching 100 mph, while ground traffic is slowed by the snow.

Were I governor, I'd combine the two ideas into an ideal marriage of public policy goals.

Barraachhii is an idiot! Plain and Simple! He should just quit ASAP!!!

Didn't even watch his speech, I already knew it would be full of talk of "wind corridors" and transmission lines! He is trying to set his next job up, after he FINALLY gets out of office! That can't be soon enough for the damage he has created in Maine! Maine doesn't need more taxes, it needs factory jobs, to employ people, then they can take care of themselves and their familys. Thats all most Mainers want to do, given the chance. Too bad he couldn't put his blinders on in that direction, instead of spending his days thinking of what he can tax next, or what poor county in Maine will be desperate enough to think they will make money on wind power. The man has a one track mind!

Hey Mom, (re: post @ 0900:) we are trying to be positive and optimistic people, but on the heels of the gov's speech and his comment, quote “Whether it’s by combining state agencies, eliminating unnecessary regulations or holding the line on taxes, we must maintain our fiscal vigilance and question the way every tax dollar is spent,” one opens up the news and finds this other story about more taxing being proposed by House Speaker Hannah Pipsqueak and other democratic reps. and legislators...crazy!

SORRY, typo, by House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven.....

So THAT'S what was on the tube last night. I thought it was some strange version of the 3 Stooges, but I had had a glass of wine and a few oxys.

Factory jobs do employ lots of people, it's true. Unfortunately, Maine is not an attractive state for companies whose products come from factories. The high cost of electricity, the high taxes & more importantly, the propensity to form labor unions leaves companies little choice but to do business in other states. Maine needs to cut the utility rates, cut the tax rates & guarantee labor unions can't form in order to attract 'factory' companies. This of course won't happen, it makes too much sense.

Our Governor should be ashamed - two medical schools, laptops, wind power? How can he be optimistic when hundreds of people across the state are going hungry and cold. How can he be optimistic when so many have no jobs or healthcare? How can the hospital adminstators and university system adminstrators make +$100,000 a year and have a clear conscience when the farmers and fishermen and loggers and mill workers are either out of work or underemployed.

Sometimes I think Governor Baldacci's "Maine" is a far different state than the one I live in.

I think the gov'nor should take the feds stimulus money and have a big spaghetti dinner and raise more money. We all need to eat! And he sure knows about spaghetti, not much else.

Music what are you talking about "how can he be optimistic" what do you want him to do stand up there and tell us we are screwed? And he didn't say two Medical Schools, he wants to join EMMC and Portland with Tufts and Vermont. Whats the problem with that. We should have something to attract doctors. And make it possible for the kids in Maine to become a doctor. What do you want the kids to have for a future? Potatoes and clams? And sled, Maine offers help to businesses, I would think someone with your intelligence would know all about Pine Tree Zone. You people act like this is only happening in Maine and Baldacci is the cause of everything. Why don't you watch something on TV besides the Price is Right, soap operas and Fox News.

Too funny...you people write negative comments about Baldacci, but next year you'll turn around and elect another blithering moonbat for Governor.

The gov should spend less time getting his mug in the lens and tend to business, he's a dollor short and a day late.

Kate123 --- Exactly, Could not have said it better myself

wait... he's going to return ALL the money that disappeared from the state during his FIRST term!!!!

Kate123: I checked the Pine Tree Zone stuff, lots of fluff but it looks good. Now only if the state would do a better job of promoting it!

Kate123:

Like what you wrote. And yes.....what is wrong with giving the young people in Maine more options and the ability to have aspirations for going to medical school if they wish and have the good grades to get in.

Nice to hear a "dissenting", or "minority" point of view here too.

Thanks for pointing this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOCqAUwfDNE

hope you guys enjoy. took a lot of work for this one

THERE IS NO PLAN

THERE IS NO REASON TO TRY TO DECEIVE US

THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HELP THIS STATE IS

1. A MASSIVE OVERHAUL OF MEDICAL CARE, THE ELIMINATION OF DIRIGOHEALTH, AND REORGANIZATION OF MAINECARE

2. A SET OF CLEAR RULES AND A REVIEW BOARD THAT PEOPLE MUST HAVE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ANY WELFARE, MEDICAL CARE, ETC.

3. THE LOWERING OF TOLLS TO 1.50 TO ENTER MAINE AND .75 ON MINOR PLAZAS TO ENTICE VISITING

4. ALLOWING OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS TO HAVE THE SAME OUTDOOR AND LAND USE LAWS OF RESIDENTS TO ENTICE VISITING

5. ALLOWING ORGANIZATIONS AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO DEVELOP 'NATURE OR SCENIC' TOURS OF DIFFERENT AREAS IN MAINE

6. THE REVIEW AND FIRING OF UNNEEDED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, STAFF AND GOALS OF THE STATE

7. THE SEPARATION OF AROOSTOOK, NORTHERN PISCATAQUIS, PENOBSCOT, AND SOMERSET COUNTIES INTO A NEW STATE

-BANGOR SHOULD BE THE CAPITAL OF THIS STATE

-IT WOULD SAVE MONEY BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER RESIDENTS IN THAT PART OF MAINE, AND SOUTHERN MAINE IS MORE LIKE CIVILIZATION

8. THE CREATION AND MODIFICATION OF THE BOAT LAUNCH IN DEXTER, ME

9. MAKE A 'FOXWOODS-LIKE' CASINO IN AROOSTOOK COUNTY AND HAVE IT BUILT BY "THE TRIBES"

10. BUILD A NEW ARENA IN BANGOR (10,000 SEATER)

Thank you

Bill Wyman III

hellianinbangor@yahoo.com

Kate123 wrote the following.......My responses in CAPS>

First of all the soda tax was put in by the legislature because they wanted to avoid another cigarette tax. MAYBE THEY SHOULD CUT SPENDING AND AVOID ANY NEW TAXES.

This Governor makes less money then most professors at the University. GOV GETS $70K A YEAR, WITH MANY PERKS LIKE FREE CAR, FREE HOUSE...OOPS DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY FREE....PROVIDED BY TAXPAYERS.

Under Gov. king I was diagnosed with cancer, lost my job as I couldn't work, had no insurance for myself or my two children. I am a single mother and the kids have a dead beat dad. I AM GLAD DIRIGO HELPED YOU, I AM JUST SORRY THEY SPENT $300 MILLION TO INSURE ONLY A LITTLE OVER 10,000 PEOPLE.

When Baldacci got elected and started Dierigo I was finally able to afford insurance for the kids and I. Dierigo is a hell of a plan, and has helped a lot of people. Without it i probably would have lost my home. AGAIN, GLAD IT HELPED YOU.

As far as his speech goes he was dead on. We need to go to energy in this state. These people that whine about paying taxes but they don't want to change anything. Can't cut anything that affects them directly. I WORK AND PAY MY TAXES, NEVER RELIED ON THE STATE FOR ANYTHING.

They want the schools to stay the same. Like Old Town and Orono High School. Both schools are falling apart but they don't want to give up their teams or rivalry. AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

Its stupid. People whine but they want police, fire and ambulances, they complain about bringing in LNG or Wind farms because they want to keep the state looking like a picture postcard, but they cry there is not business here. AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS ONE TO.

they complain, blame Augusta, Washington, but do they get off of their butts and run for an office? I WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE I CAN'T DO ANY WORSE.

Do they talk to their representatives and try to get bills passed? Know they sit here and think they know all of the answers. I AM STANDING AND I ALWAYS TALK TO MY REPRESENTATIVES.....IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER.

Excuse me I have to go to work. HAVE A NICE NIGHT.

Kate 123 I have no problem with opening up medical programs for our yong people. But we also need to take care of the working people of this state. And I agree we should cut spending and avoid taxes. Have you witnessed some of the programs the state has initiated? School consolodation, for instance. There is a huge cadre of "advisors" who are paid upwards of $60 an hour to get schools to work together. Way too cumbersome.

Cut taxes, limit spending, and trim (or hatchet) layers of uneeded adminstration. But don't forget the working people of Maine!

And by the way, I don't watch Soap Operas and The Price is Right, but Fox News is ok as one source of news. Kate123, just because someone has a different opinion, there is no need to insult or berate them. This is, after all a Democracy.

I also understand that Governor Baldacci didn't cause the economic problems we are facing. But I don't feel he has a true understanding of how bad the suffering is that many Mainers are facing. Let's tackle the most important problems first - heat and health care and food and housing for those who need it (many of whom work but can't afford to heat their homes or pay their medical bills).

I hope you have a great day!

MAYBE PETER VIGUE COULD MAKE OFFSHORE WINDMILLS AS THE NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE DOING IT. THEN IF THE GOV WANTS TO BLOW MONEY AWAY AT LEAST WE WILL HAVE OUR MAINE LAKES AND HILLS INTACT. STEVE THURSTON ,ROCK ON!!!