AUGUSTA, Maine — 2012 can be a year of promise that moves the Maine economy forward, or it can be an election year full of political rhetoric and impasse, Gov. Paul LePage said Saturday in his final weekly radio address of 2011.
Wrapping up his inaugural year in office, LePage said he prefers the first choice in a year that brings fiscal challenges which the federal government can’t solve.
LePage said the state moved forward in 2011 with a budget that addressed a huge shortfall and reduced an unfunded liability in the state pension system. He said health care insurance laws were overhauled, red tape snipped from government regulations, school funding was increased and the largest tax cut in state history was enacted.
But LePage said more needs to be done to address continuing fiscal challenges, including overspending within the Medicaid program. He has proposed deep cuts in Medicaid to avert running out of money for the program. His proposals could affect 65,000 Mainers receiving benefits.
“So, as the New Year approaches, let us ask ourselves what we would like from Augusta — real solutions or rhetoric? It’s up to Maine citizens.
Demand more from your elected officials and insist they perform and keep your best interest in mind,” LePage said.
In the Democratic response, Rep. Emily Ann Cain of Orono gives a less-than-glowing appraisal of the Republican’s first year as governor.
Since his order to remove labor-themed murals from state offices in March, Cain said, the state has lost thousands of jobs. The House Democratic leader also questioned LePage’s commitment to environmental protection and health care, and his vision for long-term economic development.
“Next week, state lawmakers will return to work in the Legislature. Democrats will continue to push the Governor and Republican leadership to focus on real solutions that put Maine people back to work and get our economy going again,” Cain promised.
Cain said Democrats will take a tough stand against “extreme proposals” advanced by the governor and leaders of the majority Republicans.
“We will be asking the tough questions. We will keep our focus on improving the economy and growing the middle class in Maine. We won’t just be managing today’s crisis, but leading toward tomorrow’s opportunities,” Cain said.
And let it (the explanations) begin with you, as the song says.
Reality is in the eyes of the beholder. If one is serious and striving for “real solutions, they usually are opened minded to others opinions and ideas. They are not brash, pushy or egocentric.
If you want real solutions for Maine, then the Penguin is not your bet.
Help me out a little, Emily (D-Orono). Was your Democrat Party providing “Real” solutions over the past three or four decades for job creation, lowering energy costs, improving roads and bridges and linking business and education to prepare for the jobs of the future. NOPE.
The Democrat Party expanded social services and welfare, strengthened SEIU and other unions, bonded everything under the sun, corrupted public education, expanded quasi-state agencies like Maine Housing Authority and Maine Turnpike Authority, and never fully addressed how to pay state pensions or anything for that matter. Democrats have left Mainers in a lousy fiscal predicament.
Only strong leadership and real legislative action can return us to fiscal responsibility and stability. Governor LePage is providing that leadership. Democrats…please continue on your highly trumpeted “Get a Clue Tour.” Maybe you should take notes.
you do have a a few true facts, but the fact that you have more facts than what Lepage has had over the past year is scary!!! The man who represents us has lied more times than one can count. He wants ‘true answers” but he cannot give them himself!!!
Bravo! Well said.
That’s a lot of sweeping assertions.
You’re aware that neither party has the needs and wants of the people in mind, right? If not, you’ve bought into a fallacy. It’s fun to pick a team and all, but don’t buy the hype that corporate-controlled, ambitious lawmakers are selling.
I love the way people can blame the past 20, 30,or however long years on the democrats. In truth it wasn’t the democrats fault that their candidates kept getting elected to office. It was the republicans. Practically every election cycle the republicans put up candidates that Maine voters could not go into the voting booth and vote for. They have a name for people who do not win elections. They are the losers. Rather then nominate candidates who could be elected by Maine voters the republicans kept sending those with a decidedly radical right leaning up as candidates and in virtually every case they were defeated. The sound bite “it’s all the democrats fault” might make republicans feel good, but in truth the fact that the State of Maine has been under democratic control rest solely with the Maine Republican Party. We are seeing the same thing happen again in the Presidential elections. Watching the field of republican candidates get up at debates week after week and try to out tea party the other guy has turned into a comedy and for all practical purposes will end up with Barack Obama, probably the poorest excuse for a leader we have had since Jimmy Carter, being returned to the White house for 4 more years. Republican, and I have been registered as one since 1967, are their own worst enemies. I can guarantee one thing, keep nominating un-electable candidates and you will have plenty of time to point fingers blaming democrats for all of our problems. Unfortunately you will be pointing your fingers at the winners.
Wow blame the other side all the time. Lepage will fix your little red wagon.
No way. I am not letting him touch my little red wagon. Unlike the kids he was able to bully and steal candy from I’m bigger then he is.
When will the Mural be returned? Yes, his Daughter did get a raise for her time n office, nice deal for her. Oh, have you seen any new jobs yet that the Governor promised – nothing!
One helpful measure would be to get Republican Speaker of the House John Nutting to return the $1.2 million he still owes us from overcharging Medicaid (Mainecare) in reimbursements. He should man-up, sell some of his real estate holdings and stop hiding behind bankruptcy laws so many Maine families in need can continue to receive health care.
The most remarkable irony of 2011 was the party running against “waste, fraud and abuse” electing Mr. Nutting as their leader.
You just can’t make this stuff up.
Such a yesterday problem, kind of like bringing up Bill’s cavorting in the oval office with Monica. Who cares and Nutting wasn’t prosecuted by the Dem’s when in office. Time for you to get a real issue to carp on.
Here’s what’s not ‘yesterday’…Governor LePage wants to remove benefits from 65,000 of our neediest neighbors because there is not enough Medicaid money.
I know where $1.2 million of it is. In Speaker Nutting’s pocket.
ripping the state off for $1.6 million in ‘over billing’ is not like a bj.
the dems may have prosecuted him, but the GOP elected him Speaker. it’s a travesty and he should excuse himself from voting on an issue that relates to DHHS.
notice how many “Like” got on your “republican” train so far???? If Mr LePage was doing such a good job you’d have allot more followers… Face it His Train is Slowing down because people are seeing Who he really is and What hes made of, and hes useless!!
I’m not a penguin supporter, but he’s got more than double the “likes” your comment got so what does that mean?
Simply means you wrote your comment before mine….
Sounds like you have assumed the Democrat plan to blame everything wrong in the U.S. on Bush and the Republicans by blaming everything wrong in Maine on Baldacci and the Democrats.
Funny, I seem to remember Angus King was an Independent and throughout the early 90s “Jerk” McKernan had a Republican legislature to work with…So much for three or four decades of Democratic rule.I’m sure LIEpage taking down labor murals and putting up “open for business signs, LIEpage hiring his daughter to keep drunk daddy away from reporters, and the ROBthePUBLICans not only naming ROBert Nutting (who stole $1.25 million from the state) as Speaker of the House but also passing an insurance-lobbyist written insurance law will really provide those “real” solutions you claim to seek.
Partisan drivel. NEXT!!!
Uncle I have heard several people on here make the same claim you have made about LePage having a drinking problem. I would suppose that if that is true it might explain some of his irrational behavior. Do you have personal knowledge that he has a drinking problem or are you repeating something you have heard?
Ask around the local bar scene in waterville, they have plenty to tell. I was suprised when I heard about his drunkenness around town.
Easy now you may have just step over the line skeejun.
Seriously jimbobhol, this isn’t the first time I have heard those accusations. Are you saying you have personal knowledge that is contrary to what skeejun just said?
No its called a personal attack and shouldnt be allowed on here. Thats all I’m saying. Read the guide lines for posting.
Number one I didn’t make a personal attack upon anyone. I asked a question of a former poster. Are you saying that you have personal knowledge that Mr. LePage isn’t a drunk is what I asked you.
I didnt mean you I was reffering to the original poster. I’m sorry. No knowledge of his personal life and wouldnt comment anyway. We have to remember hes a father, husband, grandfather and these are public forums and children could be reading these lets just try to be a little more civil.
Reasonable answer. Did you get that cow out of your garden?
Yea the cows out of the garden. You remembered thanks lol
When you are a public figure, especially in the position of the Govenors office then your personel life is all there for people to see. That is the life of high ranking public figures, he is not exempt, although I am sure he would like it if he wasn”t so scrutenized, but thats the way it goes when you open your mouth and say things that are insulting to the very people that you say you represent.
You can try to justify your comments in you mind but I’m going to disgree with you. Its just to personal and as I was saying to 4mermainer this guy is a father, husband, grandfather and this is public forum which children could be reading maybe his grand kids.
Sorry all full here, sell it somwheres else…..
Asking someone to prove a negative, 4mer? Sort of like if I asked you, “Tell me 4mermainer, when did you stop beating your wife?”
: )
Yeah…….telling the truth is WAY over the line!
No its called a personal attack maybe you need to think about that before making a comment without any facts.
Technincally he did not call him any names he asked to refer to the community at large and only made referance to what he had heard
On his best days lepage acts and speaks like a “Dry Drunk”.
What line? You mean the heel-toe-heel-toe line?
How about water retention?
That must be it.
Just lost any credibility if you had any with a comment like that. Hope you dont get sued.
And they say that the Democrats are the ones that are “sue” happy……..LOL.
No sense trying to rationalize with you, pkitty. Lepage is a disgrace. He is an ignorent bully who take joy in the pain of vulnerable human beings. However we are taking note on all his atrocities, and we will undo everything he does.
I’m sorry to inform you pt. But, 70% of your party voted for those same bills. This tells the general public that big business was somehow involved.
Tell it like it is!
2011
Stole from the Poor and Gave to the Rich!
With two sides that bicker so badly, how do you expect anything to get done. Thats why things have been the way they are for so long. Just like anything, really :/
Hooray for Lepage!! He is right-hold their feet to the fire! Emily “raisin'” Cain still spouts rhetoric. I hope Orono wises up and kicks her out, unless she is termed. Michaud, Martin, Cain and Dill and any like minders have got to go. Ever been to Eagle Lake? Ask who owns most of the businesses. Schneider, thank God is termed.
“raisin” Cain.
Yuck, yuck, yuck. Heehaw, heehaw.
Honestly, do you write sitcoms?
“””Demand more from your elected officials and insist they perform and keep your best interest in mind,” LePage said.”””
I guess he meant it was best to take down murals, It is best for Mainers that he cut jobs in every sector he can get his hands in. Farming our logging jobs to Canadians.. Cutting pensions, is best for our Mainers cutting state programs and putting 50,000 people out of work.. Making 96,000 people lose their health care.. Closing Homes for the elderly and disabled.. I agree there has to be budget cuts or we wont make it i understand that. But i fail to understand how loosing all these jobs and taking down murals and putting our elderly and disabled in the street by removing their housing is gonna help us.. Yes there is fraud in the system i agree with that but those matters need to be addressed and acted upon.. I agree there must be cuts but to drive out dirigo then refuse obamacare and to cut mainecare how are we gonna get medical assistance? This is not in our best interest.. There will be repercussions from this that will have a greater damper on our economy here in Maine than one can see.. From homelessness to crimes to heavier monthly payments on our insurance premiums.. Greater costs to health care all over the board from hospital stays to doctor rates.. With all these people uninsured hospitals will charge the insured twice as much so they can compensate for the uninsured.. Therefore driving premiums up and the cost of health care in general.. If he had a contingency plan than maybe i could see the greater picture his way but till now i have not heard or seen one.. Something has to be done, i just wish and hope that he really does consider the interest of us Mainers while he is on the cutting room floor.. The reality that I see is nothing getting any better for Maine with all these cuts and no one weighing the outcome..
” Ask more of your elected officials ‘ Okay please stop insulting Maine citizens with your off the cuff remarks Mr.Lepage. Lets see some of that proffessional bussiness experiance that you propmoted during your campain. Remember the JOBS,JOBS,JOBS, promise ?
Jobs, jobs jobs! The governor’s latest proposal is going to eliminate thousands of jobs and dumps thousand of helpless disabled people on to the streets. And it’s going to cost more in the not so long run.
Jobs? What jobs? That was just “paulitics” as usual.
I am behind Lapage he is the first not be scared to tackle the welfare system!! it’s sad to look around at the people who get state help, have boyfriends living with them and still collect! It’s also sad to see these same people can lie on income taxes and get about 7000 grand back each!! But when your married, pay for your own groceries, mortgage, fuel, childcare, health insurance, we get pennies back! I think if someone has recieved food stamps, mainecare,fuel assistance etc when you file your taxes there should be a place that you need to enter this, then i think your refund should pay back the state for what you have recieved!! we wonder why our state is in debt!! I don’t have a prob with the people who really need it, but we have too many people who abuse it!!
I know of people who used their “earned income Federal tax refund” for a trip to Disney last winter. This was a check for over $4,000.00 that you and I fronted.They pay zero in federal taxes. While in sunny Florida, their house was heated with LIHEAP money. If they had gotten sick, Maine Care would have been there for them. Did Lepage create any of that?
You do realize that in order to get that much back in earned income credit you have to be a single person with at least two children who is also working full time, right? You also have to essentially be the working poor. If that hard working person used their federal tax return from EIC to take their children to Disney then good for them. At least you can’t accuse them of spending it on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. That means they aren’t lazy bums sitting at home drunk, high and smoking. They’re working and being a good, loving parent.
Only a true democrat could turn that Disney trip into a virtuous undertaking! Stuff like that is what drives taxpayers crazy. I used my tax refund, including the amount I received in child credits, to upgrade my heating system so I am less dependent on expensive oil and to pay off the oil bill from the previous winter. How many out there did something similar to that with their refund–if you received a refund. For those who did not–how many of you went to Disney last year?
Here’s a crazy thought….treat the kids to a Sea Dog game next summer or even a Red Sox trip, and save the rest for the kid’s college. And oh, by the way, they already received help with a new furnace through some government program several years back.
And if the family rents? You do realize that most lower income people and the working poor don’t own their own home and rent, right? Take a look at most rentals in the newspaper…most include heat. The majority of people using HEAP are people who own their own homes, and frequently they are elderly people on a fixed income.
I have relatives that go to Disney every single year. They don’t receive any kind of assistance at all and never have.
That is the most irrelevant thing that I have ever heard from BOTH Sides!
Tax refunds dont belong to the State, they belong to the individual and are part of their net income.
How someone spends it is up to them and them alone!
Who needs to go to Disney when we have all the laughs and entertainment we need coming from Maine’s latest theme park…the Blaine House?
You may want to check your “facts” as they are wrong
i know all they have to work for is a few months and they’ll have a nice pretty check!! Sadly to say but the middle class seem poorer than the lower class!! You buy your own groceries, heat etc!! Atleast let us right off all that stuff if no one needs to claim assistance as income!! Sorry but if someone gets 500.00 a month in foodstamps, free health insurance, free fuel!1 Then this should be counted as income or payed back!! But on the other hand, why would someone recieving all these benefits want to better themselves then your welcomed to middle class to watch lower class buying lobsters etc at the grocery store!! I hope Lapage makes some changes, because it is frustrating to watch people taking advantage!! i also think dept health and human service, Heap and the irs should communicate, because you also have people who apply for help being married and conviently are single on income tax
Lobsters aren’t that expensive in Maine. A lot of the time it’s cheaper than buying ham. It’s healthier too. Even people on food stamps aren’t buying lobster all of the time. Just like everyone else people on foodstamps celebrate holidays and special occasions with a special meal. I’m actually astounded at how nosy people are that they are eyeballing what other people have in their grocery carts and how they pay for the food. Frankly, I think that’s really pathetic.
no a lot of people get too much foodstamos and decide to sell the rest for cash to buy beer and cigarettes
No, they are not wrong. EIC stands for EARNED INCOME credit. To qualify you have to EARN an income. Only people who file as head of household qualify…and you can claim up to two children to get the maximum amount allowed. The amount you get back is determined by your actual earned income. Meaning…if you earn zero in wages then you get zero in EIC. If your earned income goes over a certain amount (I think it’s 30k a year) then you don’t qualify.
” Only people who file as head of household qualify”……..WRONG
” EIC stands for EARNED INCOME credit. To qualify you have to EARN an income”.. RIGHT
But you’d be surprised at how little you actually have to earn to get $4000 and I’m not saying getting 4 grand BACK, I’m saying GETTING $4 Grand.
lot of BS
I am all for fixing fraud and getting people off Welfare and MaineCare who shouldn’t be on it. But that is not what the governor is doing. He is cutting off severely disabled and elderely people. If he had any honor he would get rid of the cheaters and undeserving without cutting off some really sick people. The governos say the families will take care of them. Most of these people don’t have families.
You, sir are lying.
I think you better read up on the governor’s plans to close down the Private non-Medical Institutions. I know because I am on the front lines of this battle. Plus, it’s all over the news too.
“Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine, and you sir are no Jack Kennedy” ! lol
“I am behind Lapage”, I really need to ask you a serious question. If you are truly behind LePage, how can you see anything?
funny lol
You know, there are other punctuation marks apart from the exclamation point. I suggest you become acquainted with the period. Your misuse of the mark detracts from what you’re attempting to say.
And I would like the Penguin administration to start providing some real solutions, instead of just bringing us National Tea Party agenda.
and what is your solutions to save money cut where its needed .We live in a state where their is very little industry We are about out of money .Most people want to work but they would rather not labor to much for their money.United we stand apart we shall fall.We need real solutions real soon.Mr. Lepage is not worried about re election but at least he is willing to take a stand to turn the ship around before we go over the falls.We have way to much pork in this state Dem. &Rep. are both to blame.Where I work we have taken some hits but I Knew we would when I voted for Mr.Lepage at least he does something with out worrying if it will be popular with everyone
Mr. Lepage is not worried about re election, I would certainly hope for the republican cause that he would not even consider running, but if he did the Dems or an Ind. would surely win, and that would be an end to the biggest problem in Augusta.
Bangorian’s only solution is to establish a national park in the Katahdin region so that he/she/it will have a place to go to schmooze with the rest of the liberal elites.
I’ll be demanding REAL solutions with my vote. The only way to solve the problem that is LePage is to vote straight democrats all the way down my ballot.
What a laugh. We’re supposed to demand things of him? He can’t even handle a question at a public forum without flipping out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCszcknZb_Y
Here is an example of a REAL person demanding a real answer in regard to a proposed blanket policy on drug testing welfare recipiants and the governors answer is Ultimately that it is warranted Because that “”””HE””” does not want to support drug addicts.
Anyone but Obama or Romney
Obama is the only safe choice. Can’t let the Tea Party get any more power. Until the Tea Party is dead and gone and the Republican Party goes back to being mostly moderates with only a few nutters on the right I’m voting strictly Democratic.
I am not part of the tea party, but both Obama & Romney are bad choices
Obama is the most moderate choice.
As a Republican; if it comes down between Obama & Romney, I see only three choices:
*Not Vote
*Vote a third party
*Vote for Obama
Romney will do more liberal harm than Obama would
As the crop of republican candidates decreases, it will eventually get down to 3: Larry,Curly and Moe.
except for Romney, they are all better than Obama
Obama is the only safe choice, I think we all are tired of the political bashing from any republican or the tea party member, we all want to hear solutions how your going to fix this economy and debt. They are not willing to talk about it. It’s obvious they don’t have any solutions either, why vote for them ? It’s really a disgrace to this nation when we are in such a mess all they want to do is attack. This isn’t going to work anymore in my book, let the people decide who they want . Obama is the only one that has been trying to get things accomplished he has some good theries.
Both the R’s and the D’s were happy to spend our money to buy our votes. We were as culpable as they because we happily took the dough. The only way this will change is when we all achnowledge we will have to spend less, pay more in taxes and truly…share the pain.
Maine’s economy demands sustainable solutions not sustained rhetoric. If it was analogous to a sinking cruise ship, it’s all “hands on deck”. Our economy is barely moving. The two parties (and the rest of us Mainers) need to quit worrying about what ideological course, or what color to paint the staterooms, and start plugging holes, bailing water, and get the ‘economic engine running again at peak efficency.
Yeah we tried to demand real solutions from elected officials, including earlier this year. Mr LePage you do realize you are an elected official don’t you? Are you not the same guy who worried more about telling people to kiss your butt, take down a mural (just to name 2) before you even did something yourself? How about that vacation? Do we need to remind you of that too?
Before you tell the people of this state what “WE” should do. Perhaps you should practice what you preach. Take a look in the mirror buddy and watch how much work can get done if you kept that trap of yours silent, put some hands on some paper and pen and HELP the state instead of reviewing your personal agenda.
I would suggest LePage begin at home and look at the cesspool called American Politics.
see http://www.lbjmastermind.com/
Harvard Professor Richard Alpert said in his book THE ONLY DANCE THERE IS that
communities are only as high as their elected officials.
LePage can only take Maine to where his consciousness is. When a pick pocket stands in the middle of a group of saints all he sees is their pockets,
Alpert also feels that “. . . a peaceful man is the first criterion if you want
to have a peaceful universe, (p.41)” “I saw that, finally, my responsibility was to work on myself. (p. 40)”
Well we know what the past 40 years of the liberal welfare state has got us. Lets go the other way and bring prosperity back to Maine.
Our state motto is “Maine the way life should be” at the time it was. This what we have now is not what life should be. Lets stop being so anti busniess and bring jobs here. Lets not let the eco nuts continue to ruin our local communities by there removal of our power generation stations. So on and so on.
Let us return Maine to “The way life should be” where Mainers care for there own and gov programs are no more.
You do realize that there has only been two Democratic governors of Maine since 1975, right? Brennan and Baldacci. All the others were Republicans and Independents.
Roger that.
Our state motto is “Dirigo”. It is the Latin for “I direct or I lead”.
“Maine, the way life should be” is on a sign put on the interstate by former Governor Angus King.
As far as most Mainer’s are concerned LePage can crap in his hat and pull it down over his ears.
WELL SAID!!!
Amen!
Yes, Governor, I demand REAL solutions in 2012! Are you able to meet that requirement of your job?
The only way he’ll provide a REAL solution in 2012 is if he resigns.
Rumors are that Ralph Nader has offered Guvnah Page the opportunity to
do the 2012 New Year Countdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne-aUQ0KOnA
yeah,like where are all the jobs YOU’VE created,guvnah??
40 years of Dems pushing the jobs and our children out of the State and you expect him to fix it in so short a time?
Maybe you should give him the benefit of the same excuses I’m sure you will use to reelect Obama.
Mardens, Wal-mart,McDonalds, and all the other Minimum wage places are hiring, but after Lepage is done you will lose your food stamps if you work for them, does that make sense to any one? This Gov. bites off OUR nose to spite His Face.
I donot believe Lepage is looking for solutions. He is pushing an extreme right wing agenda and passing it off as solutions to those who don’t know any better… and he’s being quite rude and uncivilized about it in true Lepage fashion.
It is intersting how his “solutions” tend to mirror those of two other new TeaParty/Republican Governors. Gov. Jan Brewer (R) of Arizona and Gov. Scott Walker (R) of Wisconsin.
Does anyone else feel that he has brought dishonor to the office of Govenor, by his actions, and his foul mouth ? I grew up way worse than he has and I never spoke to people the way he has, and I’m not even in public service.
No.
I think this says a lot about what other people in other places think of our truthless leader.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfmDtP5ljCs
“So, as the New Year approaches, let us ask ourselves what we would like from Augusta — real solutions or rhetoric?” I think that Paulies new year resolutions should be #1 to stop lieing #2 Resign.
as long as he does number 2 I don’t care about number 1
He’s already done number 2…all over us.
If he doesn’t stop #1 you will not be able to believe #2.
“Demand real solutions”…talking to my representative is like talking to a a dummy in a wax museum. Looks good…Press button for recording….”I’ll look into that” ….”I understand”….”I’ll fight tooth and nail for my constituents”…”Oh by the way what are constituents?”….”I had to vote for part of that to get the part I wanted”….”Now that I’m elected …call my office and leave a message”….”I’m Busy doing the work I was elected to do”…”Now why was I elected?”
LePage created one job his first year and that was for his daughter. He’s Maine’s biggest joke.
No you are wrong he created that job for the state cop that sits outside his offfice.
GREAT first year job, Governor.
You’ve shown that there ARE soultions out there, difficult as they may be.
I’m looking forward to seven more years of sound fiscal policy from your office.
You feeling ok ?
That picture just made me throw up a little in my mouth……..
The reason that LePage has done next to NOTHING is that he is in this for one reason……….TO PROMOTE THE NATIONAL AGENDA OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! He really doesn’t give a rats behind about Maine or anyone that lives here……..he is just trying to run rampant as fast as he can to change laws, get rid of any people or entities that stand in his way, and set the table for the CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGISTS to make as many inroads as they can in the state while he is in office. Good luck with that, Penguin.
Gov Lapage , Mainers are demanding real solutions from you too. So far nothing. Where are all the jobs you promised and how you were going to fix education?
Foolish mortals, the democrats offer you enlightenment, the richness and goodness of their wisdom, and all they ask in return is your money.
and the extreme team wants your soul, first born, used toilet paper and anything else they can steal including your vote.
Seems to me that big Pauley and his cronies gave a tax break to the rich, the biggest break in the history of the great State of Maine, and now we are in trouble. So I ask who enlightened you? I also believe that the middle class is carrying the rich and the poor alike how do you like that for enlightenment?
Yeah, LePage…I want you to use solutions that work AND keep my best interest in mind! I don’t see you moving in a positive direction.
Mr. LePage: define solution.
So far he sucks. The only things that were remotely good was him trying to squeeze some money out of Maine State Housing for LIHEAP and handing MTA off to Peter Mills.
I hope you read this Mr LePage! If you want to start fixing things in Maine, start reducing salaries for state officials and state workers starting with yourself! Take away all the fringe benefits starting with the very nice retirement and health care packages you and most state workers get! Start doing it in the state of Maine and just maybe other states will follow your example! The man who can do this is a man who can make it all the way to the White House carried on the peoples shoulders!
You asked for ideas, lets see you do something!!
he’s already cut the state workforce substantially.
The real problem lies with our welfare system, which he has been working to fix since he was elected.
starting with the ending of the baldacci regime’s “sanctuary state” policy.
You think the only problem we have is in the welfare system? You need to get out more and take a good look at what is going on. You don’t see a problem with Jobs? Homeless families with kids ? Veterans that are homeless, ask yourself why are veterans homeless they did serve this county and this is the best we can do. What about Education? These kids are our future if we don’t do something about education we will see more uneducated people in American living on the streets and on welfare.
okay, let me address all of those:
welfare: thousands of people have moved here for the welfare system. a system that was and is unsustainable.
When you have a majority of people freeloading off of the backs of a minority then eventually the system will fail because we will run out of everyone else’s money!
homeless families? I thought your messiah obama was going to fix the housing crisis?
A big part of that comes down to the banks and corporations that both bush and obama bailed out with our money. Predatory lending, “robosigning”, mortgage backed securities, hedge funds, option ARM loans. pretty crooked stuff.
The jobs issue is twofold: one, our business climate sucks. lets face it. overregulation, ridiculous restrictions, lack of infrastructure…. pretty difficult place to make pretty much anything except fast food here.
And second, the federal governments “free trade” agreements have sold us out and shipped our jobs to china for a quick profit for the very top.
Education? LOL!!!! we should have the best education in the country! we are giving students a laptop each to get them through their schooling. that’s an 80 million dollar a year program that only seems to be getting bigger. Couple that with the fact that in some cities the government is now having to hire interpreters to translate for the foreign population that the dems brought in in the name of diversity. Yes our education system is fizzed, but really, it’s our own doing.
Homeless vets? unemployed vets? what should we say? sure, we’ll give you the jobs that don’t exist?
hate to break it to you, but all of our jobs went to china, indonesia, japan, the phillipenes, india, mexico….
If you want a future, then start voting with your head instead of with what a candidate says ffs.
If you want a future for your children then you would be out protesting what our politicians did with NAFTA, GATT, the banker bailouts, the corporate bailouts, the open borders, the list goes on.
The harsh reality of it is that no one wants to hear a politician say “we cannot afford to have freeloaders on the system” because it sounds harsh and cruel right? but regardless of that, it is the truth, and i would much rather have the harsh cold truth than a heart warming lie that will just kick the can down the road for our children to deal with.
Paulie : ” You can have whatever you want, as long as it’s what I’ve been told to give you.”
Thank you Gov LePage, you are a good man, honest, sincere and you are doing what you said you would do. Lets see some “likes” on this one and show the support for the man and what he is trying to get do.
not many likes? hmmm? I wonder why?
The REAL solution is a new governor.
what? another democrat that will spend us into the red again? year after year of overspending and unsustainable programs?
The thing about democrats is that they will smile and make you feel all warm and fuzzy while stabbing you in the back and robbing you blind.
Monk you’re very dangerous I don’t think you care who gets ellected as long as it’s a republician. I hope come election time you vote for the person Not the party he stands for.
I’d prefer to see honest people elected.
I don’t care what the next governor’s party affiliation is – I’m just after someone with compassion, understanding and intelligence. Our current governor is “three bags empty” on those.
Compassion, understanding, and intelligence?
we haven’t seen that in a politician in centuries.
And as much as it would be great to lie to everyone, say “our financial system is fine” and “we’re on our way to recovery” the truth is that it’s not fine, and that’s not what people want to hear.
People aren’t familiar with our politicians saying “no, we can’t do this because we don’t have the money” or that our system is broken.
It has to be done!
Don’t shoot the messenger that tells you the truth.
Now that the New Year is here I do believe LePage will have his plea for real solutions answered. One major fundamental step will be to rid the country of as many extreme governors, senators and house representatives as possible.
Rid our country of corporate interests which control the entire Republican Party and those independents and democrats which subscribe to their corporatists ideologies and objectives.
Reclaim the local ground that belongs to true small business which has been stolen by Big Box chains and Banks, revitalizing the layer of our country that has been stripped away by their likes. And last but not least, put an end to LePage Paulitics.
Dude, you got that right, nice post
LePage asks Mainers to demand real solutions from elected officials in 2012
So where the hell are the jobs you promised???????
what a joke!
l.l. bean just added more positions, businesses have been moving into the old BNAS
A firearms manufacturing facility in windham is starting,
call center jobs were added in lewiston,
the mills will hopefully soon be back up and running,
Fireworks are now legal,
…
tell me, what jobs were created under the previous administration?
Being Govenor is not about besting the previous administration, but about whats best for all Maine citizens, if you have that prospective you only represent a very small amount of Maine population, that sees things very differently than most.
um, yes it is.
that should be the goal of all administrations.
They should all strive to do better than the last, to make the right decisions regardless of how unpopular it might be at the time.
wake up.
I’m not posting from the past, I’m posting from 2012 ( the present), and the jobs you mentioned are a drop in the bucket compared to the steady stream of jobs leaving the state sense he took the helm, but I’m sure you already knew that didn’t you?
Maine Open for business? Not yet, you might need something more than a couple of signs.
at least they’re a start.
LL Bean’s addition of more positions has nothing to do with Gov. LePage. They have to do with LL Bean providing a quality product that has also become a “fashion accessory”.
The Firearms manufacturing was the revival of an old business after months of consideration, negotiation and planning. Again, nothing to with Gov. LePage and his new administration.
Call Center jobs are to the IT world what McDonalds is to the hospitality industry. Short term, low wages with no prospect of a future.
Fireworks were approved by the people of Maine, again, not Gov. Lepage. Considering how many towns, “cities”, districts are banning the sale and use of fireworks, it was a moot move.
Businesses are moving into the old BNAS because of the infrasturcture and advantages of the location, not because of Gov. LePage.
“the mills will hopefuuly soon be back up and running”. Means absolutely nothing more in this context than “NASA will hopefully contact alien life forms this summer”.
***** BREAKING NEWS ******
government cannot create private sector jobs.
Government can however make it easier for business to thrive.
What has been happening for decades now is the overregulation of industry.
For example:
Want to start your own company?
good luck. after you’ve somehow scraped together the money to start your business, then you have to get the permits, training, approvals from city/county/state governments, then you might be able to proceed with a business plan as long as the environmentalists don’t get upset that your increased traffic activity on the road isn’t going to harm any snails or anything.
After lawyers, fees, permits, whatever ridiculous hoops that you need to jump through are done then you’ve got nothing left except a mountain of stress and debt.
What businesses, aside from those already established here, have been starting in maine?
Wal mart, target, sams, best buy, mcdonalds, call centers(sometimes)….
service sector.
why is that? could it possibly be because these corporations are already rich enough and have the right lawyers to jump through all those hoops? I’m thinking probably.
for all you TL;DR:
government can’t create business. it can only encourage it.
This is actually funny. LaPage is asking for our help, cause he knows our elected officials won’t listen to him. Our elected officials know we don’t have a Mainer as Governor we have a Maniac!
Really? so you’d prefer the bs that our previous regime put us through?
baldacci spent us into the red year after year, set up unsustainable programs, made this state into a “sanctuary state”, basically put everyone else except mainers first.
lepages acts this past year as governor have been the best thing to happen to this state in decades.
and guess what?
As of today, fireworks are now legal!
thanks lepage!
Yippee fireworks are legal! Becareful not to blow your fingers off I have seen this in states where they are legal, and other thing light them away from the house they can start a house on fire. And,, the most important keep them away from children!
You guys are funny lol.
What don’t you all understand about the fact that there is no money?
Lepage is the first governor in decades to try to put maine into the black instead of spending money we don’t have year after year.
8 years of the baldacci regime left us with a massive debt, an entire new generation of free loaders, and a sanctuary state.
one of his first orders of business was to repeal the sanctuary state policy set up by the previous admin,
Fireworks are now legal, as of today.
The speed limit north of old town is 75,
and we have gotten jobs into this state.
there are companies starting here.
the size of state government has been reduced significantly.
so yeah, i’d say that’s a pretty good start.
considering that our commander in thief in the wh pretty much bailed out his buddies and spent us farther into oblivion in his first few months of office.
just sayin
You better stop drinking the Tea Party Kool Aid when you believe in the Penguin Lies and become one of his Drones. I ask again where are all the jobs that the Penguin has promised Maine? They are nonexistent. This Clown is actually increasing the unemployment rate in Maine by firing state workers.
I don’t drink any kool aid. I think for myself, I suggest you do the same.
Well try to look beyond what you see, but if you look through a different lense, you will see the whole picture instead of just the one you want.
Fireworks and an upped speed limit. Wow, pretty incredible stuff there.
would it have been possible under the democratic dictatorship we had?
Dictatorship? Come on. Get a life.
well? are you going to speculate on if our previous administrations would have even considered it?
or are you merely going to brush it off and hurl insults?
I’ve got one real solution to one real problem.
I demand that Gov. LePage resign.
See? Problem solved.
why do you demand lepage resign?
It’s going to be even rougher this year than last, trying to deal with a man who was elected governor to serve the people, but prefers a dictatorship.
Governer, a real solution would be for politicians to show up for their town hall meetings instead of sending their homeboys to take the heat.
So Lepage wants to know what I’d like from Augusta? Simple. His resignation would be a great start.
Time will tell if 2012 will be as exciting as 2011 was with our Esteemed Governator II Paul Lepage.
Rep. Emily Ann Cain of Orono wants her name in the headlines for as long as possible, so whatever she can trump up on a slow news day will keep her checking account well balanced. What a load she spewed out in this story, it really made me think for a moment that there really are people in our great state that believe she is looking out for the best interests of the underprivileged, unemployed and unmotivated.
All the dems want those dependent on them to do is just keep drinking the kool-aid and do not ask where its from, “Don’t worry you poor little thing, We’ll take care of you.” Yeah right, just like they did the last 8 years prior to Gov. LePage
What Id like is a President that will uphold and honor the Constitution and not change it to fit their political views…. 2nd Amendment
Obama would change the 2nd Amendment in his second term
Romney would change the 2nd Amendment in his first year
Paul would change the 2nd Amendment
Santorum would uphold and defend it, and not allow any more changes
Bachmann would uphold and defend it
Huntsman would uphold and defend it
Perry would uphold and defend it
I would support any candidate that would defend the 2nd Amendment, and not allow anymore stipulations what so ever…!
Ya know I won’t agree with alot he’s done. but I really liked the idea of drug testing for tanif/wellfare applicant’s. This didn’t pass, encrouched on civil right’s etc,but what about my right’s, why should I pay for their bathsalts/pills what ever else their using? As far as I’m concerned if I was applying I’d be happy to do this if it meant my kids would eat and have a roof over their heads .I bet it would cut the cost of those program by 40 to 60%.Should reduce state tax on small bussines also, and remove Obama care most owners will tell you it’s killing their pocket and driving many into closing their doors.Now if you add that wonderful free trade act on top it’s no wonder were going down.
Oh and I like the idea of politician’s not being paid if they can’t do their jobs.