$80M in cuts forced on state programs

cut cut cut thats the governors answer to everything......

I agree bassman4447, the governor needs to get rid of some of his "perks" for being governor, like a driver, his BIG SHINY BLACK SUV, and mabye he should take a cut in pay to $1.00 per year, as Lee Iaccoca (spelling may be wrong), who was CEO of GM did a long while back when that company had problems before. BALDacci is cutting programs that are needed, when he should be looking at some of the Administrators, Supervisors and other high paid people whose job it is to just sit at a desk and "supervise" ,some of those positions can be combined and mabye save some revenue there. And by cutting education funding, now that just does not make sense, our children are the future and if they cannot experience the school life and LEARN more than just what is taught in the classroom, what a sad day that will be. This seems to be the way with this govenor, he cuts programs that are needed most and keeps the ones, and the positions in State employment that could be done away with. Thanks Gov, but now you know why the kids that are graduating in and from Maine universities don't stay here to work and produce revenue, well, I would hope you could figure it out. We need to rid Maine of this govenor and put one in place that will see what is important and needs to be kept and worked with as far as programs for the residents of this state.

I agree bassman4447, the governor needs to get rid of some of his "perks" for being governor, like a driver, his BIG SHINY BLACK SUV, and mabye he should take a cut in pay to $1.00 per year, as Lee Iaccoca (spelling may be wrong), who was CEO of GM did a long while back when that company had problems before. BALDacci is cutting programs that are needed, when he should be looking at some of the Administrators, Supervisors and other high paid people whose job it is to just sit at a desk and "supervise" ,some of those positions can be combined and mabye save some revenue there. And by cutting education funding, now that just does not make sense, our children are the future and if they cannot experience the school life and LEARN more than just what is taught in the classroom, what a sad day that will be. This seems to be the way with this govenor, he cuts programs that are needed most and keeps the ones, and the positions in State employment that could be done away with. Thanks Gov, but now you know why the kids that are graduating in and from Maine universities don't stay here to work and produce revenue, well, I would hope you could figure it out. We need to rid Maine of this govenor and put one in place that will see what is important and needs to be kept and worked with as far as programs for the residents of this state.

I agree bassman4447, the governor needs to get rid of some of his "perks" for being governor, like a driver, his BIG SHINY BLACK SUV, and mabye he should take a cut in pay to $1.00 per year, as Lee Iaccoca (spelling may be wrong), who was CEO of GM did a long while back when that company had problems before. BALDacci is cutting programs that are needed, when he should be looking at some of the Administrators, Supervisors and other high paid people whose job it is to just sit at a desk and "supervise" ,some of those positions can be combined and mabye save some revenue there. And by cutting education funding, now that just does not make sense, our children are the future and if they cannot experience the school life and LEARN more than just what is taught in the classroom, what a sad day that will be. This seems to be the way with this govenor, he cuts programs that are needed most and keeps the ones, and the positions in State employment that could be done away with. Thanks Gov, but now you know why the kids that are graduating in and from Maine universities don't stay here to work and produce revenue, well, I would hope you could figure it out. We need to rid Maine of this govenor and put one in place that will see what is important and needs to be kept and worked with as far as programs for the residents of this state.

sorry all, had to cut some services here at home, and HIGH SPEED INTERNET WAS ONE, tried to stop the posting after one, but click click click, it didn't work, :)

This line is a joke, "Baldacci said four people will lose their jobs as a result of Wednesday’s cuts." These are tough times for everyone in Maine, and it looks like it will get tougher before it gets better here.

The Baldacci Administration has way too many people working for the state, and he's trying to do more than what our government should be doing, while many of those state employees are getting paid a lot more than the hard working average Maine resident. Not to mention the outrageous expense of their Cadillac insurance plan, and all of the other like perks and expensive benefits. In short, the governor needs to cut a LOT more than just four jobs. Spending is way out-of-control, but it can be corrected if we get some leadership with a spine.

Mr. Governor, how many "Special Assistants" do you really need?

2007 PAYROLL & BENEFITS COST | NAME & JOB TITLE (partial list!)

$144,026 | Lincoln, Jane | Governor's Special Assistant

$138,808 | Low, Ryan | Governor's Special Assistant

$131,180 | Walsh, Jude | Governor's Special Assistant

$116,394 | Riley, Patricia | Governor's Special Assistant

$107,879 | Cashman, John | Governor's Special Assistant

$107,494 | Mahoney, Michael | Governor's Special Assistant

$103,784 | Sklarz-Libby, Christina | Governor's Special Assistant

$102,397 | Plummer, Sue | Governor's Special Assistant

$93,790 | Smith, Rosemarie | Governor's Special Assistant

$93,761 | Ende, Patrick | Governor's Special Assistant

$88,751 | Gilbert, Mary | Governor's Special Assistant

$85,286 | Tilberg, Karin | Governor's Special Assistant

$78,137 | Cooney, Leighton | Governor's Special Assistant

$73,595 | Farmer, David | Governor's Special Assistant

$73,045 | Mullen, Lenore | Governor's Special Assistant

$72,687 | Boucher, Lance | Governor's Special Assistant

$71,137 | Black-Salomao, Karla | Governor's Special Assistant

$70,337 | Arata, Kelly | Governor's Special Assistant

Mr. Governor, please stop wasting so many tax dollars on your flaming failure of a pet project, a.k.a. Dirigo Health.

$147,023 | Karynlee Harrington, Exec Dir Of Dirigo Health

$139,760 | William Kilbreth, Public Service Executive II

$138,482 | Gloria Tomsa, Public Service Executive II

$101,538 | Diane Bailey, Dirigo Health Program Coord

$87,023 | Raymond Vensel, Systems Analyst

$86,842 | D Joshua Cutler, Public Service Executive III

$54,908 | Ruth Burke, Secretary Associate

Plus, why did the Governor give $20 million tax dollars to Dirigo without our consent? If you haven't heard about this little incident, their is a GREAT story called "Baldacci raids the cookie jar" at

http://thephoenix.com/Portland/News/70044-Baldacci-raids-the-cookie-jar/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

and it's a must read.

Another reason for the excessive spending habits is related to the highly crooked relationship between the Baldacci administration and their campaign/political support team at the state union (MSEA-SEIU Local 1989). If not for that very inappropriate relationship, and the poor management decisions under the governor, the laziest and most wasteful state employees would get fired as they deserve. The Maine taxpayers are being hosed beyond belief, while our so-called state leaders are sitting all fat & happy and laughing about this reality. When will enough taxpayers wake-up and demand change by this administration?

Baldacci is tied for the lowest paid governor in the country.Maine won't do what it should-STOP PAYING BREEDERS!Also pursue aggresively all the illegal immigrants and lawbreakers/druggies who leech of the system.How about digging out all those BS bipolar diagnoses so the drunks and druggies can get a fat check,section 8,LIHEAP,etc,etc,etc in perpetuity-how about a break for SINGLE taxpayers??NOBODY talks about that

Don't forget, our Maine taxes will also be going up! To see more examples of how our current state leaders have been "spreading-your-wealth" to a certain group of people, just review the spending facts at

http://www.maineopengov.org

If you don't like how our tax dollars are being wasted, please get up off the couch and take-some-action to help implement positive change.

Govt2Big, You forgot to mention the fact that our "good governor" recieves an average of $100,000 per year for sitting up there and cutting the very programs that he VOWED not to while running for office. AND this isn't the first time. I guess that when he was spewing on and on about his committment to education and healthcare he meant only those programs that are under his personal wing. DIRIGO is the biggest and best known of these. How about the people of the state put through an amendment to the state constitution that cuts the paycheck? I work 40 hrs a week + (when we're not frozen on over time) and also care for a critically ill spouse while raising two children. I make approximately $25,000 gross. Put the governor on my paycheck and see how quick he does a backspin.

So far every time there were cuts that "had to be made" the first thing he hits is education and health and human services. What most people don't realize is that for every "Freeloading druggie" on a DHHS program...there are 5 hardworking families too. Also LiHeap, Medicaid, and Foodstamps are FEDERAL PROGRAMS. They are only "managed" by the State. So cutting these programs; and redistrubting the funds to his pet projects should actually be a form of federal fraud.

Apparently this is his way of punishing the people of the state for voting against his Dirigo tax on election day. How about he cut all those nice cushy paychecks and use that money to fund his pet projects.

We will be able to judge the sincerity of the Department of Education in making rational and prudent budget cut decisions when we are able to view their proposals and see that the Maine Maritime Academy has been fully scrutinized and appropriate and sizable cuts have been initiated to their lavish state subsidizations. Acquiring $1,600,000 mansions for their president from the 2007 enacted bond fund and to maintain a $multi-million dollar alumni center for a student body of 800 is beyond comprehension. Aggressively recruiting out-of-state students which currently make up 1/2 of the student body that leave immediately after graduation is not in the interest of Maine taxpayers nor Maine youth which are seeing tuition increases and facility budget cuts. A small college the size of a junior high school doesn't need their own Augusta lobbyist on their payroll.

Speaking of the leeching druggies, do you know HOW they get their money? In my local DHS office, right on the bulletin board, there is a pamphlet that says if you admit yourself into a rehab program, you can receive SSI benefits! And your kids can receive SSI benefits on your behalf. And then, you can go to the methedone clinic (and it doesn't have to be the one nearest to you), and Mainecare pays for the dosage everyday....AND you get paid mileage for your trip to and from the clinic!!.....everyday!! WHCA pays mileage and gets reimbursed through the Mainecare program. And if you have a spouse or partner who is going to the clinic, too, you can say that you go in different cars and get TWO mileage checks in your household!!

So, you can continue to buy illegal drugs, buy the kit that cleans your system (I'm told that Rite Aid sells them!) so when you go for your methedone, you don't have "a dirty test"...and get your high from the methedone. I know this, because I see and hear about it going on everyday.

So, Baldacci, you want to make some cuts....start with that "program". Throw all the druggies in a room and let them go through REAL withdrawal! Maybe they'll stay away from it after that. Don't cut from people who REALLY need medical coverage.....don't cut from education......and STOP ENABLING the drug addict to remain a drug addict!

It seems to me that continually cutting funding for education feeds a vicious cycle. Kids that do not get a good education are the first to windup on the unemployment and welfare rolls because they do not have the skills to hold down jobs in this technically oriented job market.

C'mon John, get your priorities straight! Education should be the LAST area to be cut, not the first!

I have a question maybe someone can answer. The Maine State lottery promised money to go for education out of the lottery proceeds. Where is this money going and who is in charge of it. I agree old baldy is sitting on a fat salary and has way too many aids and he should be on the top of the list to bear the biggest cuts but we will never see it happen. I think it's a shame for the poorest of our population having to bear the burden of his plans. And I also agree with those on drugs and booze raking in benefits that cost us outrageous tax dollars that could certainly be done away with.

Did you all hear that this trip Baldi is taking to Canada he is supposedly traveling on his own dime.... He is trying to look better, but he is not really doing anything to fix what he has done to the state. Winter is coming, bad time to be cutting jobs or anything, he knew of this shortfall months ago, why is he waiting until now to do anything? I am sure all these months he could have come up with a better strategy than taking away from our schools. Maybe the DHS cuts will help weed out the baby breeders and leave mostly the people who deserve the help. People who are trying to get back on their feet, the elderly and disabled!! How about making the fathers of these baby breeders children actually take responsibility?

80 million down, another 300 million or so to go.

When you have an outrageous tax burden, it's being spent SOMEWHERE........

Does anyone besides me find it a tad peculiar that the state can just find 80 million by looking under the couch cushions?

If there's waste to be cut, why wasn't it cut 5 or 10 years ago?

PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOU VOTE!

EDUCATION???!!!??????!!!!!!!!!

What the HELL....how do u even consider cutting back on education??????

Did the Yankees not teach us anything.....always invest in the Farm leagues if u want to secure your future.

The problem is that people in govt ( in general) are not sucessful business people.....(i guess if they were they wouldnt be in governement), and they are having to deal with complex business solutions.

Education is the answer....Example....everyone knows of the nursing shortage....for years now there has been talk of expanding the nursing programs to allow more to graduate and fill the void....thereby keeping jobs and people in Maine and not reducing our tax base...not to mention helping our struggling medical system. Simple, ....right?

Just have a bottom line Maine Government....No cutting back on Education....Expand it....and invest the money to weed out the abuses in the Medicaid...state aid systems...Every tax paying Mainer sees it....DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did it take us this long to figure out that we are electing idiots to run our State's and Gov't. The majority of the politicians are either lawyers, who know the laws.......,political Science majors, who have been taught to speak well, educators that see an easy job in government, silver spoon fed babies that never had to work a day in their lives (Pengree's). We the taxpayers need to form together and force these bums out for doing such a terrible job. When cutting education is the best and first place to start, we have a big problem. The fat cushy positions that the politicians and their aides hold are just the beginning of the waste. Why cut education subsidies and not new school building projects, totaling more than $118,000,000.???? or the 14 Baldy aides totaling about $1.4.ml. yearly. Would we rather build monuments than bus children to school or go on field trips???? Where's the common sense???? You are right, let's hit them where it hurts (taxpayers who didn't vote for an increase in taxes), than they will see why we have to make cuts in reducing spending. Hello...........again do they think we are that stupid. KICK THE BAST...S out I say.

I think it is pretty sad they are going to cut back on our schools. I have an idea, lets cut back on the people getting state aid. Food stamps. I drive by the Bangor low income housing, they have nicer clothes, nicer cars, nicer toys for their 5,000 children and my husband and I both work full time and can't afford what they have. The State of Maine may have a little more money if they actually investigated some of these people. Why can't they go out and get a job? Because they have a child? So do I! My step childs mother abused the system and I had to sit back and watch it. Nothing I could do about it. And she had another child so she could stay on the system, that is pretty sad. And you know who is paying for it, all these working people who would love to stay home with their kids. It is ridiculous! So lets get a little money back for the state and make some of these people work instead of giving them free money!!!!!

The only Pork I can really see in cutting anything to do with education is the outlandish shcools we are building. Do we really need some of the features we are putting into our schools? Auditoriums as well as Gyms in Grammar Schools etc. However beautiful they may be are they necessary?

dregsfan as for what you said about these two programs "section 8,LIHEAP", those are fedral funded programs. And also many working people get LIHEAP.

As for what you said about "How about digging out all those BS bipolar diagnoses so the drunks and druggies can get a fat check" , I agree with you.

CandyofBrewer all that you say is very true.

Well folks all I can say is this...YOU RE-ELECTED HIM. His campaign manager said he had a mandate right after he won re-election. And I only saw one letter to the editor at the time call him on it. MINE. You reap what you sow.

Baldacci is going down as the worst governor of Maine history. And I love it. What a prick

Bingo SethFortier.

A bunch of people up here are showing righteous indignation that they would make educations cuts......... are the same people who have voted this same legislature in time and time and time and time again, full well knowing that they would fund all kinds of "social programs" like methadone clinics and dozens of other "needed" social programs -- this legislature has only done what the people have told it to do. If the people want something different, they will vote in a different legislature with a different philosophy.

These people have voted (LITERALLY) to break the bank year after year. And now that it's broken, many businesses chased out, and the remaining taxpayers are maxed out......... they have the gall to express indignation that the state government is going to have to do without some of these things?

The people of this state have continually voted in one of the biggest spending legislatures in the country. Now that it has come full circle, they shouldn't act as if they're surprised that we can't have our cake, and that cake, and that other cake, and also eat our cake too.

Some things are going to have to go if the state doesn't want to go bankrupt, because it has NEVER been this legislature's focus or mandate to attract new jobs or industries in order to broaden the tax base, they simply keep raising taxes on those that are here until they leave.

I have to say I pretty much agree with all of this. With all the birth control that is available, why are so many babies being brought into the world when no one has any intentions of working to take care of them? That is just wrong, and most of all for the children! Drunks and druggies should be on their own! This is the path they chose, no one forced it on them. I don't agree with the comments on Bi-Polar. I worked in the medical field all my life, Bi-Polar is a very serious disease. This illness needs to be closely watched, Lithium levels have to be controlled,along with a whole lot of other things I won't bother with here. This is not an easy disease to live with , a whole family can be made pretty misersble because of it and it cannot be controlled without medication. As for the rest of the comments, you are all within your rights to feel the way you do. When you have worked your ass off your whole life, it's hard to sit back and watch the 'takers'!

i AM SHOCKED AND DISGUSTED WHEN i READ THE LIST OF bALDACCI'S "SPECIAL ASSISTANTS AND THIER EXORBITANT! SALARIES ALONG WITH MANY OTHER LEECHES SITTING IN FAT AND PLUSH POSITIONS, WITH EXORBITANT SALARIES--ALSO!! PERHAPS AN AMENDMENT-BALLOT TO FIND "BALDACCI" ANOTHER JOB--IS IN ORDER. NATURALLY!! WHEN ANY GOV. WANTS TO MAKE CUTS--THEY ARE ALWAYS DONE TO THE STRUGGLING WORKING-POOR AND THE ELDERLY/NEEDY FOLKS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ANY DIFFERENT. REMEMBER THE OLD ADDAGE: "THE RICH GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER". i LEARNED IT AT THE AGE OF ABOUT (14).

The Governor's cuts are necessary. What is not being done is a total organizational overhaul of every department in every agency. Inefficiency in state government is hurting Maine state budgets. The best place to start is in the legislature. Why does a state with 1.3 million people need 186 public officials. Reduce the reps to 75 and senate to 25 and the state will save thousands every year. Second, reduce the number of days the legislature can meet. After the first of the year, South Dakota's legislature will meet for ONLY 40 days - it is in the constitution. 20 days in an odd year. Every year, there are over 2000 LDs for the Maine legislature to look over, hold public meetings, committee meetings, and etc. Imagine the manpower and energy involved making sure every one of the LDs went through the system. Perhaps there should be a cap on the number of years an employee can work for the state. 20 years and a full pension would save millions. Think of all salaries and benefits for those over 20 years. Going back to the beginning, a full organizational overhaul is needed.

“All states are going through this, and Maine is not immune,” Baldacci said at a State House news conference. “These are hard times, and everyone is suffering.”

Do you think him and his 35 aides are suffering... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get rid of this shit!

The two drivers of Maine’s high state spending habits are Public Welfare (Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy

Families [TANF], and other welfare payments) and Health Spending (Women, Infants and Children [WIC], state clinics,

etc). These two categories account for 44 percent of the state’s spending. In both areas, Maine ranks #1 in the U.S.

in terms of the spending burden on income earners. The high Welfare spending is due to some of the nation’s most

generous eligibility rules for Medicaid, and the lack of any lifetime limits on TANF eligibility.

I agree that we have to cut spending, one of my pet peeves besides the dirigo health ficasco that should be stopped immediatley, is the fact that we have so many women having babies, and they think it is ok to stay home and let us take care of them. It is time we go back to the bare basics if you don;t have a job because you are lazy and think the state will take care of your illegitimate children . It is time to make people responsible for their own mistakes and not put all this on the hard working tax payers of the state of maine. Why are Mr. B's assistants getting so much money for doing nothing, these are the jobs that are not necessary and a burden on the tax payers. If this keeps going on much longer, in five years the state of maine will be a ghost town, because no one will be able to afford to live here anymore. Wake up Mr. B., and make cuts that make sense, start with yourself and close to your home.

One more think I am ticked off about is all the dope addicts that we are supporting. Why should we have to pay for their bad habits, ship them out of the state, get rid of the clinics..This is another big drain on us.

you just wait til his term is up and he'll finally be out of here...only 2 more years of hell.....we'll get someone thats not crooked and has atleast a half-assed brain and will eliminate rediculous spending and hopefully not have 800 "special assistants" making over 80K a year....

I'm still in shock at all the "Governor's Special Assistants." Are you serious? C'mon. That right there is a COMPLETE waste of tax payers monies! Unbelievable. I also agree with the "flaming failure" called Dirigo Health. What a joke that is... I agree with everything you said, Govt2Big! I really don't think that you could've said it better! I think that all of the government agencies should be revamped from top down.

higer ed could cut free scollershipes to hocky players and baseball,and basketball. who payes for spring training? us tax payers. How about that big racect ball court was that needed? how about perfessors that teach one class a day and draw big paychecks.I fell we should fund higher ed but look at all the wast. If the parents want there kides playing sports then have them pay extra and not burden the tax payers. I feel higher ed is to learn not PLAY at tax payers expence sorry for the spelling

How much does the governor receive after leaving office? I have heard but never had confirmed that the elected officials ie: senators and governors receive health benefits (family members included) and a salary for the rest of their lives. That alone could put a lot of money back in the state. Programs need to be cut but I too am stuck on all those special assistants. Cut some of those....like all but one. Look at all the money for education then.

This poem has been floating around since 1978. When I was still a freshman in high school...Just for all you folks that want to down someone addicted to anything...Heroin is the subject here...but how about nicotine, caffiene, or just plain Alcohol....how many of you who are "itching about "druggies" have one or more addictions of your own that are "legal". FOR NOW.

I don't know who wrote this..but here is where I found it for the gazzillionth time...btw it was handwritten when I saw it the first time..about the time when David Tomah came to Brewer High School to talk to the "young" about drugs and crime...I saw a lot of kids go clean that day...maybe one of them was the original writer...it showed up a year later as a black light poster called the Marraige Creed...sold at Spencer's Gifts. Just for those looking for truth and plagiarism. OH! I also remember one of the more prominent members of the student body dying of an overdose about the time this was written.....as far as I know it has always been handed "down" as anonymous...but it's very possible that the writer was that student.

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/inspirations-thoughts-poems-sayings/42831-miss-heroin.html

THE MARRAIGE CREED

So now little man, you've grown tired of grass, LSD, goofballs, cocaine and hash.

And someone pretending to be a good friend says,"I'll introduce you to Miss Heroin."

Well honey, before you start fooling with me, just let me inform you of how it will be.

For I will seduce and make you my slave.

I've sent men much stronger than you to their graves.

You think you could never become a disgrace.

And end up addicted to poppy seed waste

You'll start sniffing me one afternoon,

But you'll take me into your arms very soon

And once i've entered deep down in your veins

The craving will nearly drive you insane

You'll swindle your mother and just for a buck

You'll turn into something vile and corrupt

You'll mug and you'll steal for my narcotic charm

And feel contentment when I'm in your arm

The day when you realize the monster you've grown

You'll solemly swear to leave me alone

If you think you've got that mystical knack

Then sweetie, just try getting me off your back

The vomit, the cramps, your gut tied in knots

The jangling nerves screaming for one more shot

The hot chills, and cold sweats, withdrawal pains

can only be saved by my little white grains

There's no other way, and there's no need to look

For deep down inside you know you are hooked

You'll desperatly run to the pushers, and then

You'll welcome me back to your arms once again

And you will return just as I foretold

I know that you'll give me your body and soul

You'll give up your morals, your conscience, your heart

And you'll be mine, "Till death do us part"

I originally had planned on a much different post than what I did previously...but I"m tired of "hearing" people down others who have illnesses....any addiction is an illness....It doesn't necessarily mean that you are none functional and can't hold a job...sometimes the addiction is actually a symptom...believe it or not...depression does weird stuff. Stop judging those who you have no reason to...You have never been in there shoes..you've (very obviously for some) never had to raise a child on your own..whether from divorce..death or just plain mistaken trust....So I will (forgive the plagiarism here) tell you something that I've heard and read a million times since I was old enough to understand written and spoken word......"""LET HE IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE""" so...here we stand again....unless you are without fault...(AND I KNOW NONE WHO ARE) DON'T BE SO JUDGEMENTAL OF OTHERS IN POSITIONS LESS DESIRABLE THEN YOUR OWN.....Instead; you should be counting your blessings.

who was downing people with illnesses????but i love your alma mater ;)

USAofBangor I already posted a statement about welfare benefits....they are FEDERAL that means ...NOT STATE. That means that whatever cuts BALDUMMY makes to the health and human services in order to "divert those funds" is actually FEDERAL FRAUD. But then again...go ahead and prove that...I mean my brother isn't Attorney General for Penobscot County now is he?

On top of that...Your statement " the lack of any lifetime benefits on TANF" is totally unfounded and WRONG....IF and that is the operative term. IF.... you have a child under 4....you may go to ASPIRE to "qualify" yourself as "unemployable"...BUT This is only after you have proven that ther is absolutely no way you can......Get work......Get childcare (which is funded by ASPIRE) find a job, or get an education that will allow you to find a job....(Pretty insurmountable odds if you have half a brain). THEN you are "indefinitely elligible" for benefits...btw SSI or SSDI do NOT make you indefinitely elligible.

Thanks USAof Bangor...LOL I'm not really a brewer...itch but I am a witch from the heart hon....always....BREWER #1!!! I don't mean to sound like I'm cold...I'm just trying to state the truth...as I've read it.

lol love it....but back to the story I was just copying and pasting from a research firms findings here in maine...

Yes, welfare benefits are a federal program, but the state regulates the funds they get from the government (as well as the taxpayers of Maine). So, I would assume that if the government was making cuts...to let's say, education...then the cuts would have to be made at the state level, too, IN THAT AREA. If the cuts weren't being made on the government level in a certain area, then the state shouldn't be cutting from it....and I would agree, that would be federal fraud. Oh.....and I thought there was a surplus in "the rainy day fund"?? Why can't some of that be shifted over to some areas that need some funding....such as education? As far as TANF, once a child reaches the age of 4 or 5, the parent receiving the benefits have to either go to work or college through the ASPIRE program. BUT, I have seen some of these people keep popping out kids or going to college for an extended amount of time, just to keep the benefits coming. THAT'S showing real responsibiliy to their kids......it just keeps the cycle going....

We're bailing out auto makers while we abandon our children. I guess I don't get it. I don't understand how the government can be bailing out the auto industry when, here in Maine anyway, we are looking at an unprecedented $27 million cut in education in the middle of the school year. When the auto company CEOs are making $400,000 a year, and a fraction of that is being cut from a statewide school budget that is likely to deeply affect our children's education. When these same CEOs show up to testify to Congress, asking for billions (nor millions) of dollars in free money, and they show up having flown to Washington in their individual corporate jets. Isn't that like driving a limousine to a food cupboard?

Here in Maine, our governor has ordered $26,000,000 in cuts, not for next year, but in the middle of the year, well after school supplies have already been ordered, when schools are trying to figure out how they are going to pay the winter fuel bills. This is money that has already been promised to the schools that the schools have built their budgets around. What are the schools going to do? My school district is giving pink slips to all the education technicians, anticipating that some or all of them may lose their jobs somewhere around Christmas. (Happy Holidays and don't let the door hit you in the butt as you leave for good.) My wife's school is looking at having 30 to 35 kids per classroom for next year. In my school, we are already cut back to the point where we can only offer our students English/Language Arts classes every other day. Are we going to have to do that with Math, too? We have cut our reading instruction from last year to this year by two thirds, from 350 minutes a week to 110 minutes a week. And now we hear that there may be more cuts. Maybe the kids can get by with 30 minutes of reading instruction a week and English every third day. Maybe we can cut Math out completely. I've always heard its over-rated anyway.

But, we better make sure we bail out the auto industry. Some of those executives might not get their Christmas bonuses. Isn't this the same industry that was told to produce more fuel efficient vehicles a few years ago? And they refused? They said people wanted the big SUVs and Hummers. Now, which vehicles are sitting on the lots rusting before they have ever been driven?

But lets cut all those ed techs from the schools. What do they do all day, anyway? They only work with our toughest students: the kids who can't read, the kids who kick and bite and punch, the kids who didn't get any supper the night before because mom was passed out drunk and dad hasn't been seen since last January, the kids who swear at them all the time, the kids who aren't toilet trained. Who is going to work with them? The principals? The superintendents? Maybe the school board would volunteer to come in every day at lunchtime to catheterize that student that used to be catheterized by the ed tech? Lets get rid of some of our most important staff members, the ed techs, and see what sort of school we have left.

I'm not blaming the superintendent. His hands are tied. To have cuts in the middle of the year is an impossible situation. There is very little supply money left to cut. The teachers have signed a year-long contract, there are legal issues if they are let go in the middle of the year. That leaves the hourly employees. I understand his dilemma.

One solution: take one tenth of one percent of the money that may be going to bail out the auto industry and send it our way, toward Maine, toward education, and we might be able to keep our already cut to the bare bones schools going for a little while longer.

I WORK FOR THE STATE AT THE PRISON AND ONE OF JOB'S THAT MIGHT BE CUT AND I'M AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE THEY COULD SAVE MORE MONEY THAN MY INCOME BY CUTTING ONE OR TWO DEP.WARDEN'S WHICH THEY HAVE 5 WHICH 3 ARE DOUBLE DIPPING AND SO IS THE WARDEN,THATS WHERE THEY SHOULD START CUTTING FROM THE TOP DOWN IN ANY DEPARTMENT NOT JUST CORRECTIONS,TWO MANY CHIEF'S,TAKE CLOSE LOOK AT DOT THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THEM WORKING ON THE ROAD,COUNT HOW MANY SUPERVISORS STANDING AROUND OR SITTING IN THERE PICK-UP WATCHING(WHERE IT WARM)

MAINETEACHER01...AMEN AMEN AMEN! Finally someone who sees the problem here.......My children would be blessed to have you as an educator....