AUGUSTA, Maine — Some of the most controversial cuts Gov. Paul LePage has proposed for the Department of Health and Human Services will be put on the back burner so lawmakers can focus on keeping the agency solvent, a leading Senate legislator said Friday.
In the next day or two, the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee will find savings to prevent DHHS from running out of money in April, said co-chair Rep. Patrick Flood, R-Winthrop. Over the next month, the panel will tackle longer-term fixes to the department’s $221 million budget gap, he said.
“We have polarizing issues that we’re trying to address simultaneously,” he told fellow members of the budget-writing committee Friday afternoon. “One is an immediate cash flow problem and the second being solutions that are very long-term in nature and require, in many cases, quite some time to implement.”
The panel has identified $140 million in savings for this fiscal year by combining parts of the governor’s proposal with cuts outlined by a streamlining task force last fall, Flood said. Those savings will allow DHHS to pay its bills through June.
The remaining $80 million in red ink for the next fiscal year will be addressed in a separate bill later in the session, he said.
A few of the governor’s more polarizing cuts, such as a call to drop MaineCare coverage for childless adults, will take longer to negotiate, Flood said.
“I wouldn’t want to leave anyone with the belief that those [reductions] are easy, and we hope that they’re achievable in this effort to find resolution,” he said.
The committee has worked well together on its review of the budget, Flood said. Any delay on final voting indicates the difficulty of the task at hand, not foot-dragging by either party, he said.
The Appropriations Committee has been working on a proposal for several weeks, and on Thursday presented LePage with a compromise budget plan. A spokeswoman for the governor said Friday that LePage won’t weigh in on the proposal until it’s finalized.
The governor chastised Democrats on Thursday for “stalling” on his proposal. His plan, released last December, would cut $221 million in MaineCare spending over the next year and a half by tightening eligibility guidelines, eliminating services and repealing coverage for an estimated 65,000 recipients.
At least one major item — a plan to cut about $60 million from some nursing and group homes — has been rejected.
BDN reporter Eric Russell contributed to this report.
I hate it when Legislative bodies avoid tough decisions and using band aids and temporary measures to keep govt. running. We’re sliding back intothe worse of the Baldacci era and back into borrowing forward and other ‘creative’ accounting.
Amen!
“creative accounting” is what this administration presented to this legislative body. They were screaming for the real numbers and he refused to provide them. What do you expect them to do? Even the Republican’s on the committee said that his proposal was extreme.
Seeing the unavoidable collision that is soon to happen with the giant iceberg Republican members of the Maine Legislature don their life jackets and start to lower the lifeboats in hopes of not seeing their political careers go down with the ship. On the Bridge Captain Paul Richard LePage , like a lot of what remains of the tea party , totally oblivious to the up coming disaster calls to the engine room and orders full speed ahead.
These folks are cowards caving into what the Liberals want by kicking the can down the road leaving the problems to fixed at a later date. With them all failing to realize the state has major fiscal issues that these programs can longer function at the current levels they are at. Gov. LePage should reject this awful compromise and shut the state government down till at least Memorial Day if not through Janurary 2, 2013. He should let only DMV , Gambling halls, and Liquor and Tobacco sales continue to at least have some revenue coming in. Everything else including DHHS and Welfare should not continue in a shutdown.
Go get em darkcat33 run all those “COWARDS” right outta office! How do I know that a man like Mr. Flood makes your skin crawl? Because when I read this story all I could think was, wow we’d all be better off if someone like this was running our State. All I can say is if enough people like you don’t want them in your party we’ll be happy to have them switch to ours. Frankly that would be a great and logical choice for them. Clearly with hardcores like you wanting them gone and liberals like me ready to vote em out of office anyways about the only hope they will have to stay in office and still have further influence in making governmental decisions is in fact to switch parties. Then immediately and often speak out in public between now and next November and let everyone know that they in no way support most of what Mr. LePage has done or wants to do to our people and our once great State. Switch now “Reasonable Republicans!” “Reasonable Democrats” will have your back.
First off he is not in my party. I am in Independent (never been a Republican or Democrat I am proud of it). I don’t like the fact he is caving in from the demands of Liberals by kicking the can down the road again. He needs to stand up to them show who’s boss. The bottom line if they refuse to make these cuts LePage needs to shut most of the Government down and leave a few departments going to keep some revenue coming in. The state is broke it can’t keep having shortfalls. The Legislature needs to have a spine and start doing the right things to put Maine in a better fiscal situation. Why do you Liberals have problems with trying to make Maine be a business friendly, a prosperous , anti-welfare state.
Tell me DC exactly what is it that LePage has done for Maine’s small businesses?
He cut red tape for all businesses, he has cut taxes here in Maine to help business grow. He wants to cut Welfare to stop people being dependent on social programs. He is making much long overdue Education reforms. Much needed Health Insurance reforms were don to replace that foolishness called Dirigo Health. He has done alot. What has Maine Democrats ever done anything good for Maine???.. You don’t need to answer because the answer is ZIP, ZILCH, Nothing , ZERO. Oh sorry take that back they (Democrats) now want to add more Casinos & Gambling Halls to take all of the Gambling in Maine to have massive expansion DHHS Welfare. They also gotta bring back Gay Marriage gotta give Special Rights for those less than 5% of the population.
You keep saying he has done a lot for small businesses, but as they say the proof is in the pudding. And DC I haven’t seen any of what you are talking about happening. It is still impossible to get a straight answer from Maine Revenue Services just like it was before LePage took office. Since he has become governor I and other company owner’s that I know have seen our unemployment rate increase even though we haven’t laid off anyone. Our cost of group insurance on a per capita basis has gone up substantially. I haven’t seen any decrease in the State’s portion of the gas tax. Vehicle registration hasn’t gone down. Our workers comp hasn’t either. So I guess my question to you is if the business owner’s that I associate with and I have not seen any evidence of all the wonderful things you are saying LePage is doing who is reaping all of the benefits?
What is the unemployment rate now in Maine huh 7%. It was rising when the Prince of Pasta was running things. Who left us with 1 Billion Dollar shortfalls when they both left office King and Spagehtti Boy that’s who. What party has only created 56 total net jobs while in Power — answer Maine Democrats. You folks can keep defending it go ahead but polls just came out yesterday with Mainers happy with the way the economy is going. You can’t spin that negatively. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19878652
DC you very conveniently ignored my question completely and launched off into another of your rants. Please answer the question I asked. It is after all the polite way to conduct a conversation.
Gambling will create jobs not welfare, and gays want the same rights as everyone else, not “special rights”. As far as the rest of your listed accomplishments, you’ve been listening to Adrienne Bennett again haven’t you? I know, I know, I must be a welfare bum collecting freebies from hard working intelligent taxpayers like yourself.
What has the stupid out of touch Liberals in Maine done to help job creation absolutely nothing their policies only got 56 total net jobs while in power. WOW that “Investing” they claim we should do sure does the trick. If their Investments are such a good thing we would be rich and prosperous instead. Instead we are poor and having everyone trying to collect Welfare. Gays and Lesbians don’t deserve Special Rights period we have catered to their agenda long enough. It is time for LePage to take a sledgehammer to what rights they do have. He should repeal the special rights law that Spaghetti boy put in. It is time to for him to stop dealing with the BS that comes from Liberals. The Governor should start doing what we put him into and that is bringing fiscal and social conservatism and independence back to the State of Maine which has been lacking for 50 years.
Your ignorance is showing again.
…..
I said Maine Democrats are proposing adding more Casinos and other types of Gambling to expand DHHS and Welfare (Rep. Valentino, Carey, Russell , Rotundo, Goodall, Sen. Hobbins, Diamond) . They all have bills or are co-sponsoring bills on wanting to expand the number of Casinos (at least 4 more) and legalizing other types of Gambling . Having all Gambling money in Maine (Casinos, other types of Gambling, Lottery , Bingos, Horse Racing, OTB’S) going to expanding DHHS and Welfare. The problem with you Libs we gotta have it your way or no way at all. Well it is time to accept reality Maine is broke and we are going to cut your programs one way or the other.
I don’t want Republicans gone. I just want them standing up to liberals. You want Liberals back in so we can go back to business as usual. With Maine’s economy continuing to tank while folks like yourself collecting freebies. If only their was 2 choices on the Ballot a Democrat or None of the Above on the ballot. I would vote None Of The Above across the board. Democrats only care about regaining power so they can go back to screwing up the state even more.
Here we go again, if you’re not with darkcat your a welfare bum. How dare anyone disagree with him. Typical canned insult will surely be slung at you if you do.
Sounds like a very bitter angry bully to me. Maybe he’s related to LePage. That would explain a lot!!!
Check out this site on folks who like this fellow proudly proclaim themselves to be “Independent” voters. My guess is that he (Much like Mr. LePage) fits into the “Angry Victim” category.
http://smartvstupid.com/2010/07/12/pretending-to-be-independent/
I still think he sounds like an angry bitter bully. He always says anyone who doesn’t think like him doesn’t work and lives of welfare. Sound like he protests too much!!! Maybe he’s just an angry bitter welfare recipient who isn’t getting enough!!!
Sure sounds like an ‘Angry Victim” to me. Interesting site!!!
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You want to know what is getting old us working folks being nickeled and dimed to death having to support all of the bums and moochers here in Maine. All of these lazy folks who are living off of working folks like myself. It is time to cut these programs and time to put everyone on Welfare & Welfare and Unemployment to work because we are tired of having to pay for all the bums in Maine.
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Of course he/she assumes if you are caring and have compassion for people, you are a Democrat and a welfare recipient. If he only knew………………….
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At least Conservatives and us Independents who have a clue we would rather be like LePage than spineless clueless Liberals who refuse to have the guts to cut spending. Liberals love playing victim oh heaven forbid their voting block were to lose their taxpayer funded freebies. That they may have to get a job and become responsible adults like us. The Republicans in the Legislature are caving into what Liberals want because they feel sorry for them. LePage needs to do the right thing and shut state government down leave a few departments as I said open to get some revenue coming in. While letting the Liberals including the bums suffer from no Welfare checks and other handouts.
At least I am not spineless like Liberals in Maine if I was in Augusta I not only would be angry at what is going on. I would be angry telling of all of the obstructionists Democrats who are in the holding Maine hostage why they are destroying our economy putting Maine over the cliff. We need more people like LePage in Maine because they are the only ones who get what is wrong with Maine today. Unlike spineless cowards like Emily Cain who think we should all be taken care of that we can takecare of ourselves. Emily Cain should go back to Obamaville or Liberal New Jersey where she came from before moving to Maine messing things up even more.
The Republicans have the majority, they could do any cuts they want and nothing the Democrats could do about it. Seems to me no one is being held hostage. You just have a group of reasonable people who refuse to be bullied and want to do what’s right. Emily Cain isn’t even on the Appropriation Committee so how is she aspineless coward. Sounds like you are also like LePage age in the you don’t like women!!! Especially ones who can’t be bullied like Mayhew.
What’s in your organic garden that leads you to believe the Appropriations Committee is avoiding tough decisions and using band aids and temporary measures? None of that is evident in the article. Instead, the committee members are apparently working hard to find a solution to the budget problems that reduces the harm that LePage’s proposed cuts would create.
Representative Flood is the right chair for the committee. Positive, conciliatory, encouraging statements that should allow all of us to take a sigh of relief. It is a great start to solving a very difficult situation. Shows what can happen when we all work together. :)
You forgot he has a pair of Baldacci steel toe boots to kick the can down the road.
Somehow I dont think LePage and the Legislature is going to fall for this type of non-sense again.
Sounds like a very partisan response to an optimistic NON-partisan comment.
The fraudsters think it’s just fine. Honest people Don’t!
Save the funds for those that Truly need it.
Report Fraud in Maine
Allegations of fraud or attempted fraud involving funds, including Food Stamps,
administered by the Department of Health and Human Services should be sent to:
Fraud, Investigation and Recovery
11 State House Station
Whitten Road
Augusta, Maine 04333-0011
Phone numbers for DHHS Fraud office are:
1-207-287-2409 and 1-800-442-6003
Further questions and suspicions can also be submitted by e-mail.
Fraud.Dhhs@maine.gov
For Additional Fraud, Attempted or Suspected,
Contact the Office of the Attorney General
Phone: 207-626-8800
Mailing Address:
Office of the Attorney General
6 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
http://www.maine.gov/ag/contact.html
Do All three, Phone, E-mail and send a Letter.
Follow-up in 30 days with a Certified letter if no response.
Send a letter Directly to the Governor’s Office, that should get their attention.
Keep a written log of actions and attempts to notify.
Hold them Responsible!
Rep. Flood worked his butt off getting a bipartisan resolution to last year’s budget and all you can do is ridicule him? That’s pathetic, EggMan.
Sniff, sniff, is that the smell of compromise and rational thought I smell coming from the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee? Silly people, don’t they know that all their time, considerations, cooperation, and other efforts to resolve our budget issues in a fair manner for all Mainers will be “Dead On Arrival” once what they’ve agreed on hits King LePage’s desk? He’s not going to compromise anything until people in his own party gather up the courage to start speaking out against his single minded hatred for the most needy among us.
What’s the GOP/Tea Party plan now that will indicate to Mainers that they are worth casting a vote for next November? Apparently to say nothing to or about Mr. LePage and simply throw their hands in the air and say, “We tried to do the right thing but the King just wouldn’t let us do it?” Somehow I don’t think that’s gonna save a single one of them. Speak up! He can’t fire elected officials and if you say nothing you’ll be voted out next November anyways. Might as well give yourselves a fighting chance and go down with a little dignity still intact.
More praise of the failed status quo from SR….
“Praise of the failed status quo.” Where did you read that? It’s no wonder why it’s so hard for Liberals to talk to conservatives when every utterance is automatically transformed within their heads into something totally different they once heard on Faux News or talk radio.
The only praise I’ve suggested and will flat out offer now is to Mr. Flood and the other reasonable people who are gathering together in an attempt to resolve this State’s budget issues. Sadly we know they are wasting their time because Mr. LePage has no respect for what they’re doing. It’s also sad that these very people will be called cowards and turncoats by the far-far right within their own party. As I’ve stated elsewhere here, if you folks don’t want them in your party we’ll be happy to have them switch over to ours. Given what’s about to happen in the upcoming November elections (A GOP/Tea Party Bloodbath) they‘d be smart to come on over as soon as possible.
The Governor has publicly stated that he knew of the shortfall as early as last February. Yet he allowed the issue to lie dormant until this past December. THEN he blames democrats for stalling?
He knew what he was doing, he wanted the crisis, he created it. He did so because he knew he wasn’t going to ever get a waiver, which would allow him to invoke emergency powers. Or so he thought, in order to place funds where HE wanted them.
The man has never been a legislator, he’s not capable of his duties.
Sorry to burst your bubble. Yes, LePage knew about the shortfall last February. However, he did try to fix it, but our legislative body refused to fix this structural gap problem. Instead, they were hoping the problem would go away by itself. Unfortunately it did not and will not go away, until we re-structure Medicaid once and for all. Until then, this DHHS budget shortfall will continue coming up and further across the board departmental cuts will occur every budget cycle. Are you prepared to go back to the Baldacci furlough days and are you prepared to cut education?
You mean go back to Jock McKernan days when all this mess was started:)
Part of the problem is the MaineCare Look Back.The MaineCare Look Back refers to the checking records for the transferring ofassets. In a nursing home it is a 60 month Look Back but in a PNMI it isonly a 3 month Look Back . The result of this is that many people whoare entering into PNMI’s are transferring assets to get on MaineCare atan extremely rapid pace. This is harming the bottom line of PNMI’s andMaineCare. If the Look Back were to be converted to the same term as anursing home (60 months) this would represent a significant savings tothe MaineCare program.I think that it is extremely important to address this concern.
Do you happen to have any data that would show all of us how all of these people entering PNMI’s are now the newest to defraud the State and Federal Governments?
The panel has identified $140 million in savings for this fiscal year by combining parts of the governor’s proposal with cuts outlined by a streamlining task force last fall, Flood said. Those savings will allow DHHS to pay its bills through June.
And that tells us what? Not much. How is it that all of a sudden they have found $140 million in savings? It has to come from somewhere; details, please.
As aggravating as this vague story is, I did have to smile when I saw the words, “Streamlining, fall, and Flood,” in the same sentence.
Take the 140 million and grab those tax cuts for the “job creators”, and you would have your DHHS problem solved. Give back the tax cuts when it’s a little more prudent and the state can afford it, which is after his staff at DHHS takes accounting 101.
Actually I think accounting 101 assumes they’ve mastered high school math. They may need to take some refresher courses before the accounting class. So far 1 + 1 = “We don’t know”.
You mean that it would be a good idea for State Treasurer to take a course in accounting 101. great idea oldboy3:)
Your a broken record.
To fix this permanently, they just need to trim 120$ million from DHHS, no gimicks allowed. Then the problem is fixed permanently. You can play your games and try to steel money from other departments, but it will get interesting when these other Departements find out they are being robbed and the state workers and the Unions will not allow this.
Arbitrarily trimming the money fixes the accounting today, and creates a bigger mess tomorrow. Lets look back over the past 8 years or so… what might be the reason for the higher number of people who qualify for social services? What would it be that has taken people from making a living wage to suddenly needing social services? You don’t suppose it might have to do with large numbers of job losses do you? We trim the $120 million and LePage gets to pat himself on the back. Next day all those mentally ill people who were being served by the PNMI file suit. Why? Because the State has already lost a law suit and is REQUIRED to treat the mentally ill in “the least restrictive environment” which the PNMI’s provide. So that money will have to be put back and add on top of it the costs of the State defending itself in court. Lots of saving there. Not to mention how the people he cuts will still get sick, and still can not afford health care, so where do they go? The hospital, who legally cannot refuse them service due to inability to pay. So hospitals are now having to charge more for services to insurance companies in order to maintain their ability to run. Now who do you think the insurance companies are going to pass those price hikes onto?
Then we have insured people who will no longer be able to afford their coverage… See how just slicing $120 million doesn’t work?
You mean go back to when Jock McKernan was governor and he started all this mess – is that what you mean:)
thank you Karl Rove.
Excellent comment. If only the gov had such a brain stack:)
Augusta is good at kicking the can down the road, and this is a real nice example.
They may “gimmick” their way out of this one, but that will not fix the fundemental problem. They are spending more money than they have and many of us know what would be the inevitable result if we did it on our credit cards and checkbook.
The government of Maine is not immune to “recklessness”.
Lapage mustn’t be happy.. He didn’t get to close anything down…
Hay Gov – can we have our Murals back:)
Finally, some wisdom emerging on this key issue.
Why not charge a premium for MaineCare for low income families that are working and that can’t afford $18,000 a year for a policy. I’m sure most could afford at least $100 a month or more – on a sliding scale say up to a maximum of $200/month.
Sounds like Patrick Flood is a RINO, also– not willing to stand up and stand out for the right thing to do, but concerned mainly about being re-elected by the people who benefit most from the DHHS funding, etc.