AUGUSTA, Maine — After working for weeks to fashion a compromise proposal that would address a shortfall in the Department of Health and Human Service budget, a deal remains elusive as a divide appears to be growing among lawmakers, especially House Republicans.
At the center of that divide is Gov. Paul LePage.
The governor has castigated lawmakers, first last week and then again this week, for failing to pass his budget and for crafting their own revised version that he said doesn’t address the problem.
On Monday, LePage directed criticism at the Appropriations Committee for tinkering with his initial proposal and for infusing a new, alternative proposal with “gimmicks.”
The governor went one step further and said that if the Legislature does not pass a budget with the structural changes to MaineCare he believes are necessary, he would veto what they do pass.
On Tuesday, LePage took yet another step and called on Republican lawmakers to stop working on a compromise with the Democrats and pass a simple majority budget.
“The governor believes the Democrats have been sitting on their hands,” LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said.
Over the last couple of days, the governor has met with Republican House and Senate members, presumably to gauge their support for his budget or the bipartisan alternative. On Tuesday, he met with members of the Legislature’s conservative caucus behind closed doors.
Republican and Democratic leaders already have been trying to sell the alternative budget proposal to their own caucuses.
Rep. Andre Cushing, assistant House majority leader, said he understands the governor is frustrated that the compromise bill contains things he doesn’t like. Cushing also said he respects the governor for reaching out to Republicans in the House and Senate.
“But I wish we were limiting it to the scope of the problem instead of taking swipes,” he said.
Asked whether he has support in his caucus, Cushing said he suspected some House Republicans would not vote for the budget, so the Democrats would be key to a two-thirds vote.
House and Senate Democrats remained hopeful of a bipartisan solution on Tuesday but their patience seemed to be waning in light of the governor’s continued criticism.
“This is a philosophical divide. It’s not a budget issue anymore,” said Jodi Quintero, spokeswoman for the House Democrats.
Instead of dealing with a $220 million shortfall for 2012 and 2013, lawmakers are addressing $140 million in MaineCare cuts to pay the state’s bills through June. That would be done by creating a hybrid budget bill that combines DHHS cuts with $25 million in savings identified by a streamlining task force.
Appropriations Committee members have agreed on some alternative savings initiatives, including: a proposal to better manage the use of opiate drugs for MaineCare patients, modifications and redesigns of some of the MaineCare optional services, a reduction and redesign of the developmental services waiver in MaineCare, and a rate reduction for services provided by methadone clinics.
Perhaps the biggest point of contention has been eliminating childless adults, or noncategoricals, from the MaineCare rolls. Democrats want to prevent the elimination of thousands of noncategoricals but have agreed in negotiations to a reduction in enrollment.
The governor indicated that piece was non-negotiable this week, saying he would veto any bill that didn’t include structural changes to eliminate coverage for noncategoricals.
Another piece that was stalling negotiations on Tuesday was setting the eligibility threshold for parents of children on MaineCare. It is now 200 percent of poverty level.
The governor wants to set the threshold at 100 percent. The Republicans in the House and Senate are leaning toward 133 percent, which would bring Maine in line with provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act. Democrats want to bring the line down only to 150 percent.
Late Monday night, LePage reportedly directed DHHS staff to stop working with the Appropriations Committee. His office would not confirm that but Republicans and Democrats on the committee did.
Bennett said the administration believes the Appropriations Committee “has all the information it needs.”
Since LePage rolled out his proposal to cut $220 million from the Department of Health and Human Service budget in 2012 and 2013, lawmakers have been working toward passing it with a two-thirds majority vote.
That means 101 votes in the Maine House or 24 votes in the Senate.
Both Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature agree that a two-thirds budget is crucial because the bill would go into effect immediately. A simple majority budget would not be enacted until 90 days after this session ends.
If the Legislature passes a two-thirds budget, it automatically has enough votes to override a veto from the governor. However, if the governor does veto, he would force the Republican-controlled Legislature to do something it hasn’t done since LePage took office: overturn one of his vetoes.
Cushing said the rhetoric from both sides is not helping the process and is not reassuring the public that lawmakers have their best interests in mind.
“We’ll make our case to our caucus,” he said, adding that there will be some who probably won’t get on board.
Negotiations were continuing late Tuesday.
What’s wrong with you republicans???
You have the power.
Find yourself some cajones and take this opportunity to right at least some of the wrongs the dems have inflicted on this state.
And jeopardize your re-election by siding with, not your colleagues, but an executive that your own party has described an “extreme measure” a proposal that he knows the federal government will not ignore. And a person who simply ignored the division of responsibilities of these two branches of government, and made a laughing stock of the legislative process by just barging in on a committee working on the bill.
The DEMS were smoked in the last election because the Maine people have had it with the shenanigans. We voted for change, not more of the same budgetary gimmicks. If the Republicans want to retain their majority status, then I suggest they fix the structural gap and support the Governor. If not, then I myself will see little difference between the Republicans and Democrats and may just stay home on election day. I’m sure many others who support FIXING the state’s fiscal mess feel the same way. The Republicans need to do what they were elected to do. Pass a majority budget and support the Governor. If not, then the Republicans can indeed kiss their majority status goodbye and what a lost opportunity they had to move Maine forward.
I don’t think a six seat majority, and all the while losing 2 Republican members for illegalities is a “smoking”. You also need to remember that there are more Republican’s termed out after this session then Democrats. One of which is the Senate President and another is the majority leader. I for one think that this Legislature needs to put the Governor back in his place, and if they don’t protect the dignity of the process then they need not even try.
I am sure you are just loving the “change” for which you voted — ALEC, the Maine Heritage Policy Center and the Koch boys running things in Maine! Now, there’s “change” we can certainly embrace! NOT!!
Isn’t it interesting that when the liberals cannot support their arguments they come up with ALEC (Baldwin I presume) and the Koch (do you mean Coca Cola) Brothers? Can you please define and substantiate your claim?
As a minority party in the State of Maine, The republicans under the leadership of LePage have demonstrated with their tax cuts for the wealthy and now the attack on the poor, that they are selfish, greedy, and socially irresponsible. Bring on November.
You see the Gov. thinks he can push people around as he did at Mardens where the employees hated working for him and his ill treatment of people!
Actually, my brother has worked there for years and loves it there.
I dont think hes worried about re election right now hes doing his job of cutting the fat out of the states monies .A real servant who was elected to do a job which he is doing without worrying about making a career out of politics.
If he isn’t as you say worried about re-election right now then why has he already held fund raisers?
maybe they take their jobs as representatives of their districts seriously and are listening to their constituents.
SingleTrackGirl, since you are the self-appointed grammar police who, in the past, has accused others of being too uneducated to comment because they made minor grammar or spelling errors, should I point out to you that sentences begin with a capital letter? Right back at ya’,toots.
By the way, I agree with your comment.
You’re right, and i’ve tried…ooops…I’ve tried to be better about it for the sake of the readers. Please know my habit of lower case stems from a decade of utilizing online bulletin boards and instant messaging, where caps are generally not used.
News comments are a relatively new online phenomenon.
btw, thanks, and no worries.
;)
They have the RESPONSIBILITY to act on behalf of their constituents in the district that elected them. The overwhelming MAJORITY of Mainers in ALL districts vehemently OPPOSE what LePage wants to do. The job of a legislator is NOT to bend over for the governor. It’s to REPRESENT the people who elected them.
Is this based on fact or something a doctor with a flashlight had to find?
That’s a fact. It’s ignored by dittoheads, but it is a fact.
If you can’t provide a link to a reliable source which apparently neither you or the original commentor can provide then it becomes something that only a doctor with a flashlight can find
Gov. LePage refuses to understand that he shouldn’t be a legislator while he’s in the executive branch. He needs to get out of the legislators’ way. I wonder why there is at least one Walmart in Maine that gets $450,000 in breaks annually while the governor insists on balancing his budget on the backs of poor people. (I refer to a previous BDN article.)
If you look above, (in the related storys) you will see that the Governor threatened a veto on his very first budget. Is this what we have to look forward to, every year, twice a year!?
In this budget, he gave businesses and corporations 150 million in tax cuts, now he is looking for money. I don’t want to do this every year, the Legislature needs to act.
The Governor is treading upon very thin ice. With an election in November, the Republican members need to understand that if they side with the Governor, and not their districts, they will be dramatically affecting their chance of re-election.
All of the Legislature needs to be reminded that this crisis, eventually will go away. And that there are very important decisions yet to be made. If they choose not side with their legislative brethren and allow the Governor to dictate to the legislature as to how they should be voting, then they ought not to even seek re-election. The Governor does not run the Legislature, as a body of government, it is as equally as powerful as the Governor.
LePage accuses the democrats of sitting on their hands. Yet has publicly stated that he knew as far back as last February about the shortfall. Now, what was prohibiting him from going to the Legislative leadership and conducting Appropriations deliberations much earlier ? He gave them the bill in December, and accuses, not only the democrats but the whole committee of failing the State of Maine.
The Governor failed this state. He refused to provide the numbers the committee wanted, which caused them to go to the Office of Fiscal Program and Review to get what they wanted. That takes time. The Governor told the committee he would have no trouble getting a waiver from the feds, and this is not the case at all. This Governor is an embarrassment and refuses to recognize that people aren’t that misinformed.
We need to call our legislators and see what they can do to pass a recall provision. If this legislature does not, it would be prudent for the next to do something. Someone must stand up to this man, he is not acting in our best interest or our legislator’s.
“All of the Legislature needs to be reminded that this crisis, eventually will go away”
So typical of the past 35 years of smoke and mirrors.
Give em he11 guv.
You make not one single ounce of sense. The man KNEW about this last February, and did NOTHING until December? There’s your smoke and mirrors. He created a crisis, but now his actions are being questioned, as well they should be. He did not act at all like a Chief Executive with his state’s best interest in mind, not at all. You are just going to have to live with that little piece of reality.
We will see who really has the citizens of this State in mind. If it so chose to, this Legislature could render his opinion on the whole matter moot, if it does do this, it’s going to send a very powerful message to this man. Enough is enough.
You are really something!
Emily Cain, Cynthia Dill,John Dion, and John (vote stuffer)Martin all were given notice back then that this would be taken care of one way or the other.
All these poor excuses for government representation could do was call the gov names and kick the can down the road.
John Martin, a member of the Appropriations Committee, voted in favor of a bi-partisan resolution, it’s the Governor that doesn’t want the cooperation, not Martin. Emily Cain is the House Minority Leader, it’s her job to go after the other party. You can say what you want, but I laugh at you knowing that you have Charlie Webster in your corner.
and how many do you think are laughing at you and your team of lying slanderers?
Lying slanderers? Wow, If a slanderer is lying, wouldn’t he or she be telling the truth? We need to teach that one to our Executive, he would probably screw it up though.
“Slander is the oral communication of false statements that are harmful
to a person’s reputation.”
Rusjan, the above is the legal definition of slander. It basically says slander is a lie. So your double negative take is misguided and incorrect, as usual.
Operative word there George, false statements. What’s another word for a false statement? A lie. Something that this governor has no problem doing. What makes you think that only the legal definition apply’s?
So instead of lying to one or two people, you lie to a group of people, and slander doesn’t necessarily have to damage a person’s reputation, it can damage many things, including company’s groups, and other organized entities. Therefore, the governor slandered Forbes magazine? And then tried to lie about even doing that.
I don’t base my correctness on your opinion, I doubt that many people do, my guess only one person does, and that would be you. But of course, even then, you are wrong.
The governor slandered Forbes Magazine? How did he do that, because a liberal reporter said that he lied? Did you hear the conversation or is it to your liking to believe the Forbes reporter because he is saying what you want to hear?
As far as you basing your correctness on my opinion, I certainly don’t expect that nor should you be that offended. I like to point out when you are wrong which is almost always but there is no requirement that you change your position to suit the facts, you should continue to live in your la la world and pretend that things are the way that you think they should be. That way, nothing ever needs to get fixed and we can just go on and on like we are without a worry about anything. Life is good in your world, but out here in reality where those of us paying the bills live, its isn’t that good.
It’s going to be a sad day when reality hits right on the head. You are just making things up to try get me worked up, and it will not be successful.
And it wasn’t a liberal reporter, go back and read all of the articles. And if Forbes wasn’t bothered by what the governor said, then why did they publish this?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/12/16/maine-gov-lepage-stretches-truth-on-forbes-ranking/ On December 16th?
I’m going to send you a postcard with a picture of the earth on it and write “wish you were here”
The truth is not slander.
your name, says it all. end of story. maybe i know everything!!??
I laugh to think that you no longer are down there, so things are looking up.
You really are struggling aren’t you? It just irks you to no end to know that I spent so much time down there and actually understand how things work. I resigned from my position, I was not replaced. Imagine that, I’m sure that you will find a way how my not being from Millinocket makes it unfair.
Resigned from your position and was not replaced.
That sure makes your time down there look valuable.
Almost 8 years of an invaluable learning experience. And it’s none of your business why I resigned, but I can say that I did so out of family concerns and not professional.
Have your boy keep it up. The 61% will easily be 71% the next time around…and the Repubs know it!!!
“Kick the Can Down the Road”, God, you LePage followers even use his catch phrases, though it’s not really very catchy. He’s a bully, big mouth and a baby, and most of us that are the true Maine majority don’t want this crude, incompetent, and embarassment of a man representing us.
What we really need is a NOcameral legislature so the gov can do it all! After all, he really would rather be a dictaor than live in a democracy.He wanted this to happen so he could put forth his social agenda.Now he wants to bully it through.
How many grandparents have to be denied care, how many disadvantaged kids have to be denied a lift up, how many mentally challenged have to be denied supervisory care in order to subsidize the Maine Maritime Academy to the tune of $9,000,000 ($10,000 per student/per year) and nearly 1/2 of the student body are not even from Maine? LaPage can not afford the MMA .. it needs to be privatized.
Your rant about MMA is getting as old as Rusty’s rant about cream cheese and olive sammiches.
It is like listening to a broken record….kick the can down the road kick kick kick kick…………. kick the can can can can can…….. down the road road road road road. I guess when you do not have any valid reasons for acting child like you resort to parroting . Kick kick kick the can can can can………………………………..When all you have is a worn out phrase to fall back on perhaps it it time to actually come up with something new. The LePage administration will be known for important things like women with beards, stolen murals, kiss my butt, jokes about pregnant nuns , putting down not only Democrats but also members of his own party, lies, threats, more lies, more threats and of course kicking cans. Great job Mr. LePage. The reality is that the budget that is , if you believe LePage and most don’t, $220 million short is the budget that was prepared by the LePage Administration and which was signed by that old can kicker himself Paul Richard LePage. The only one to blame for the budget shortfall is Paul Richard LePage, not Baldacci, King, McKernan, or Brennan. The Maine Constitution requires a balanced budget. Deficits can not be passed on from one administration to another. If he and the members of his administration do not have the ability to add and subtract perhaps they should turn the reins of government over to those who can.
The Portland Press is now indicating that the Governor has indicated that “parts of the compromise budget deal is unacceptable”. Well, you know what Mr. Le Page, much of your proposal wasn’t acceptable. Is he just going to continue to try and cry his way through this , rave and rant, scream and hollar? Or is he going to man up and take the political hit, like any normal Governor would do?
If he doesn’t come around, the ramifications will be catastrophic for him and his party. People, don’t forget, and myself and others will be sure to remind them daily.
Here’s the latest : This person is not leading, he is demanding. Time to take a serious look at how well this person is serving the people of Maine:
http://pollways.bangordailynews.com/2012/02/08/maine-politics/bipartisan-targets-of-paul-lepage/
But do you think LePage will get the message. He doesn’t listen to anyone but his Tea Party cronies. He has no respect for anyone, and he’s reaping what he has sown. As long as the people allow this bozo to stay in office, he will continue to try to shove the Tea Party agenda down or throats. This isn’t democrats versus republicans; it is Tea Party versus the people.
Le Page’s agenda duplicates that of governors like Scott Walker and others. All backed by the tea party and the Koch brothers ideology and cash.
Dirigo Blue is carrying a story stating that tomorrow LePage will announce diversion of public money to religious schools.
If there is any doubt remaining that LePage is a rabid idealogue who cares nothing for solving the real problems of real people in Maine, this should lay that to rest.
Sorry, NoPark, but if you are counting on LePage to fix things, you will be sorely disappointed.
sounds like you are already dissapointed or is it worried that your favorite programs will be exposed for what they really are?
Go to he11 Gov!
Calm down nopark. Rusjan is right, for once believe it or not. I normally don’t agree with him but in this case the evidience is undeniable. LePage refused to provide the figures the Legislature needed to craft a Bill that could fix the entire matter. Instead, the Legislature had to go and find the figures on their own. That alone tells me that there was something in the figures that LePage didn’t want the Legislature, of both sides no less, to see. That is not a good sign. Then when the Bill is drawn up, by both Dem’s and GOP’rs and agreed to and shown to LePage that it not only works but actually improves services, LePage tells everybody that unless he ‘likes it’ he’s gonna kill it. That’s ‘My way or the highway’ thinking’ and it’s gonna be the downfall of Paulie come the next election cycle, if not sooner if he keeps on going down this road any further.
But what is even more tragic, and more importantly serious, is LePage’s threat to close the school’s, and most interestingly, seizing their operating fund’s, unless he’s given complete and unrestricted control over the DHHS Budget. In case Paulie’s forgotten, a majority of the DOE’s funds are MATCHING FUND’S that are provided for by the Fed’s. LePage seizes Federal Fund’s in violation of Federal Law simply for political, not legal, reason’s then he’s gonna be in front of a Federal Judge explaining why he shouldn’t be jailed for Abuse of Authority under the Civil Right’s Statute. And this is just the BOE’s Matching Fund’s. Paulie goes after the Federal portion of the DHHS Budget’ Matching Funds and there is no telling where this is gonna wind up, be it in front of a Federal Judge, who by the way have a lot less tolerance for this crap than the State Legislature does, or in front of an impeachment panel, who are going to be made up from those same Legislative member’s that Paulie just smacked in the mouth with the Press’s 2 x 4. Either way, come the next election cycle, and Nov 12 is coming, Paulie’s brand of GOP is about to a lot more expensive than the GOP itself realizes. Susie and Oly, are you hearing this ? You should be !
And with D`Ambroise making noises just like Paulie, the sneak peek of the upcoming election result’s already are providing more than a chuckle. It is, in fact, providing more than a little reason for the moderate’s of BOTH Parties to come out and, if not run for office, then to vote in record numbers and make their position’s clearer than they have been for a VERY LONG TIME ! Whether Paulie realizes it or not, he has all by himself both provoked the Moderate’s of both sides to come out, stand up and make their political voice heard for the 1st time in a very long time and at the same time provide the clearest picture of the Party’s running, their position’s and their intention’s even before the election’s are held. In short, LePage and D’Ambroise have managed to give everyone a good long ‘sneak peek’ of the right-wing’s agenda and where they want to take Maine for the next 8 years. The picture any clearer now nopark ‘ cause it’s fast becoming reality.
Nice post..
Your comments are excellent and I agree.
Excellent comment rusjan. keep up your good work in behalf of the people of the state of Maine, Not King Buffoon:)
The other problem here is that Penguin has firmly established himself as a liar. So, we have to rely exclusively on the legislature to determine whether or not his administration is being truthful and then make the decisions that he is too ill-equipped to make – that takes time.
As Dirigo Blue documented today, LePage told us a whopper when he said Maine spends $50 million per year reimbursing travel to methadone clinics. If we can’t believe him on that, why should we believe him on this?
how is your relying on leg. to tell you the truth working for you maybe you should paint a large L on your forehead so we know what to expect from you . it will really show up when Lepage gets re elected
One sure thing that should be of a high priority is: Don’t vote for any republican even if you like him or her. The H– with them. They can K– my B—
Let’s suppose that ALEC wanted to a governor to challenge federal medicare guidelines and federal willingness to uphold those guidelines. Let’s suppose LePage is their man to do it.
Let’s suppose this isn’t about Maine at all. Let’s suppose it is about big money wanting to keep more of their money.
Let’s suppose a lot of people have been duped.
There’s a lot we don’t know here. But we do know that LePage’s cuts will hurt many people who truly need the benefits as well as perhaps some who will get by ok without. And we do know that things are not so bad in Maine that we have to rush into irresponsible cuts that do real damage to the lives of real people.
We are left wondering if Mr. LePage really doesn’t understand how the branches of our government works. The legislature will always be able to override a veto by someone who clearly doesn’t know what he’s doing or is doing something so blatantly harmful to the welfare of citizens suffering under his rule. Or perhaps he does understand but doesn’t care how foolish he looks as long as the big bucks keep flowing his way from the 1% who own him. Running America into the ground wasn’t enough for them, now they’re looking to “sweep” up whatever wealth still lays about and put that in their pockets too. Hey Paul, we’re getting our own brooms ready for your party come next November.
“All of the Legislature needs to be reminded that this crisis, eventually will go away.”
This is the philosophy of the democrat party – ignore it long enough and it will just go away. It speaks volumes about their leadership and vision.
Governor, when the time comes to teach irresponsible spoiled brats a lesson, you’re going have some whining, crying, and foot stomping. Most of us realize that the “Emily Cain types” are no more than a nuisance, and will eventually go lay down near their dish.
Keep up the good work.
…..
The Appropriations Committee is a complete embarrassment to the State of Maine. If they cannot make the tough decisions, then why did they run for office and certainly why are they on Appropriations? Governor LePage, dust off your VETO PEN, please!
They should be commended for their efforts, it was at the very least a much more honest and open approach than that idiot tried to sell them on.
The Appropriations Committee should be commended and praised. They had to get the REAL information first, they did so. They used their heads and found ways to avoid extremism, and their approach was an honest one, and bi-partisan. The governor simply did not demonstrate any of these efforts.
If this were truly the case, the DHHS structural gap would have been fixed years ago. Instead, the Appropriations Committee failed us years ago and are failing us now. Why else does this Medicaid budgetary shortfall continually come up in every budget cycle? Are you in favor of robbing funds from education and transportation to fund welfare? What next, is Appropriations going to ask our teachers and state employees for wage cuts, so they can continue expanding welfare? This is where we’re heading and failed leadership is what is driving us there. Wake UP Appropriations and do your JOB! No more Gimmicks!
You know as well as I, that Mainecare funding has remained pretty steady over the last 5 years. This shortfall is not about fraud, it’s not about over spending. This is a budgeting problem that his administration is also at blame. This is not a policy issue, this is a budgeting issue. If bills don’t get paid on time, no policy is worth it’s weight now is it?
And the only Gimmicks being played are those attempted by Penguin. His ruse didn’t work, and now he is, in vain, attempting to save what little credibility he has.
So there is no fraud??? Open your eyes! The methadone clinics alone would take care of the budget. Close them all!
How is the utilization of provided services fraud? I don’t necessarily agree with the clinics because I don’t see replacing one dependency with another, but that’s not the point.
ITS A WASTE OF OUR MONEY!!!! can you hear me now
I’ve never listened to you, I think tax cuts for the “job provider’s” is a waste of money. If they are job provider’s, where’s the jobs? Where’s the bail out money? Everything just seems to land in a corporate executive’s pocket. So, I’ve never listened to you, when you have something constructive to say, I still won’t listen.
When you say it’s a waste of our money, you really mean yours. And I really don’t care what you think your money should be used for, because it’s not your money, it’s the state’s money. You just can’t seem to hook onto to that.
No matter how I try to tune knowitall in, his signal still comes in weak and stupid.
yea Ralph I remember some of your comments your a bright one you are
” it’s not about over spending”
Really, that about sums it up. We spend 35% above national avg on welfare.
How much can we afford?
The Gov wants 18 and 19 year olds(who are able bodied) off the doles yet Cain et all, wants to continue the same old non-sense. Sorry but most people see thru this. Time to prune the tree and get rid of the dead wood so to speak.
Well then, how can the program go from being somewhat constant to a great big blow out, in ONE year? Why do you constantly compare what we do to other State’s? It’s not a national problem we are trying to solve, it’s a state problem. It’s not about policy, it’s about adding and subtracting, and paying bills on time. Why do you think the administration hired a nationally known medicaid billing firm to handle the financials, after he announced the shortfall?? Answer that one.
no one really believes that the number of people who recieve state aid jumped that much higher in one year, and that caused a big increase in the budget this year. so the question is why did the numbers increase so much? the possibility of accounting errors or mislabeling of expenses, comes to mind. so who has the correct numbers? is the current admin. fudging the numbers or were past admin. hiding some numbers to “solve” a budget problem? i think the truth is somewhere in the middle. regardless, the fact that half of the state collects, and the other half pays shows a real problem that even the left cannot ignore.
and yes we are dealing with a national problem. to try and say that this same problem is only a state of maine issue is indicating that you are not paying attention. every state is trying to deal with a bloated federal government that continues to overwhelm the states.
politicians are currently promoting class warfare, and we citizens aught to realise that its the politicians that are the problem. they have not seen any changes to their lifestyle, they have not made any sacrifices, they ave not made things better for any of us, they continue to tell us how hard they are working but nothing gets done.
the problem is not which party is in control, the problem is that we citizens are not.
Excellent response. thank you.
You couldn’t be more wrong. If what you say is true, then please answer the following questions:
1) Why has Medicaid grown to be 35% above the national average in just the last 10 years?
2) Medicaid expenditures increased by more than 1 billion dollars (78%) since 2002. Can Maine afford to see another 78% increase in Medicaid in the next 10 years, without raising taxes and cannibalizing other essential state departments, such as education, public safety and transportation?
3) Are we prepared to layoff school teachers and state workers to preserve the exponential growth in welfare?
4) Why is the budget shortfall always in DHHS and not in the other departments?
5) Are you telling me there is no fraud in welfare?
6) Many believe Medicaid has turned into socialized medicine. Do you support socialized medicine, even if it means laying off school teachers, collapsing bridges, unsafe roads, etc.?
We are at a crossroad and we must choose which path is best for Maine. As my questions illustrate, which direction is best for the Maine people? In my opinion and in the opinion of thousands, maintaining the status quo, will only lead to Maine filing for bankruptcy, but not after collapsing every essential state department that our economy depends on. Is this the best Maine can do? I believe Maine Can Do Better.
Our liberal friends can spin it a thousand different ways, but the fact of the matter is this Medicaid monster needs to be brought back down to the national average and the only way to do that is to implement structural reforms. Only this will preserve Medicaid for our truly needy, without bankrupting the State of Maine.
I’m not wrong and I’m not going to do your work for you. Go to the DHHS website and the numbers and see for your self. Ten years did not create a shorfall that just suddenly showed up in the last one. Use your head, a decade of trends, with pretty steady budgeted amounts do not end up in a 220 million dollar shortfall. If this were the case, the shortfall would have shown up long ago.
What’s the matter? Have my questions stumped you? Are you starting to see the other side of the coin?
I’ve seen your questions before, and all you are doing is towing the party line and not offering any thing other then what Le Page says. I’m sick of his numbers; they are not truthful and are being misrepresented.
I know the real numbers, there is nothing the matter; I have the information I need to make some sort of informed opinion on THIS issue, not an ideological difference.
What take the figures from the Baldacci and King era LOL. They would do everything to cover up their accounting mistakes so they can keep their base of Welfare Bums and Moochers happy. Welfare rates have been climbing for years and will continue to climb if the Democrats get back into power. While the amout of people paying taxes in Maine will decline.
No, The very same information that was provided to the committee by LePage, and the information obtained by Fiscal and Program Review. It’s all right there, you don’t seem to want to look at it. But that committee certainly did.
1) We deindustrialized later than the rest of the country and the economy hasn’t recovered
2) No, that’s why taxes should have stayed where they were instead of being cut
3) Sure, we’ll start with Lauren LePage, she’s about as expensive as 8 people’s TANF checks
4) In this case, because the governor appointed a clueless hospital lobbyist to run DHHS (and she should resign for that level of budgetary mismanagement)
5) There is, about .2%, and it would cost more to investigate it than leaving it be — although maybe we could collect a million bucks from the Speaker
6) Health care for all, and I don’t care how high my taxes go to pay for it, it will be cheaper than my health insurance
Are these answers the best you can do? No wonder we’re in such a mess.
“I don’t care how high my taxes go to pay for it, it will be cheaper than my health insurance”
Your probably one of the47% who dont pay their fair share and dont pay any taxes, so try again!
As Clint would say, that mouthwash aint making it!
Actually, my family will be paying about $7k in taxes this year, and unless our taxes go up another $6k, it will be cheaper to have universal health insurance than to get it through a private company.
There are other ways to address this problem. We’re just seeing the republican solution. It doesn’t even manage to kick the can down the road to more prosperous times, let alone do anything to fix the problem. Driving Maine’s poor deeper into poverty surely won’t fix anything.
How about limiting welfare to Maine residents, and stop the influx of people who move here to take advantage of our generosity to our fellow Mainers? That’s as much of a factor in this as the declining economy. Then, how about raising the minimum wage and creating jobs by creating tax breaks for businesses that do create jobs? Why does the only option have to be creating deeper poverty? Excuse me for thinking, I forgot for a minute just what republicans stand for.
They are an embarrassment to our state. The Republicans caved into the demands of the Liberals who have been stalling or holding the process hostage from the beginning. This committee calls this a bi-partisan compromise its a farce that keeps these useless programs that don’t work going. If they do get this farce through somehow hopefully LePage or MHPC puts out a website exposing these traitors for continuing to screw the Maine people by having to continue to support these programs. Hopefully too Lepage will do the right thing and shut the state down till January 2013 make the welfare crowd, liberals in Augusta, and their supporters all suffer. Then we in November can put in real conservatives and independents who will come in and do the job and fix the mess that Democrats have created.
It is just a political showdown, Govenah, relax, don’t be so scared. .
You’re lucky, it not a class warfare thing.
Then you would be really outgunned.
Yeah Gov. push people around, that is your style:)
Not pushing anyone, he is leading and doing the correct thing here.
How much respect can a good honest person sincerely give to anyone saying LePage
is a leader ?
Really, think about it.
It is so a perfectly reasonable and fair question, isn’t it ?
Governor, Get the pen tuned up and stand your ground. This is the first time in 40 years we have a Governor who is doing the right thing.
No more can kicking. And to GOP members on the comittee, we are watching and expect you to stand your ground against the special interests. You have the majority, put the permanent fixes in place instead of the lame Democrat gimmicks!
Yeah Gov. do like Joke McKernan did and leave up with a large load of debt. Yeah:)
Yep, get that pen out Paul. Nothing will make me happier than to see and hear your temper tantrum once the legislature overturns your veto. Oh how funny you’re gonna be! It’s going to get even better next November when the public gets to hand you and your party a conservative bloodbath when we go to vote again.
As for reasonable Republicans in government now, all I can say is that if Paul and the Tea Party folks don’t want you in their party then come on over to us as soon as possible. That might convince (Or more likely confuse) some voters to cast a vote for you in the next go round. Or just take your full State pensions and join the whole LePage family living a nice retired life in Florida.
A lot of blabber for one person…with one vote.
And one voice that seems to frighten the likes of you enough to come here to be nothing but critical of little old me for having it. Yes, we see who you are and what political system you’d like to have. Sorry bubba, this is America. If you don’t like it here, there’s plenty more space for ya in other countries with less civil liberties. Good luck! Send us a postcard when you get there.
I think Lepage is trying to solve the debt problem. He’s not the one saying ignore this crisis and it will eventually go away…Like Baldacci did before him.
If he were to do that he would be signing the document that ends his administration. And you know that. You can’t lie, cajole, threaten and interrupt your own view through.
Also, if he were to do that, he will be giving the next Legislature so much political power that he will be having the most miserable 3 years left in a governorship.
Here we go again, 40 years ago, kick the can. Come on, find something new will ya. your just slinging old garbage you heard someone else say.
Doing the right thing would involve creation of jobs and increasing the minimum wage.
This ain’t much of a “Showdown.” Lepage is coming in as a hick with a shotgun while the legislature will come in as trained professional marksmen/women with a six shooter in each hand. Unless he’s planning on hiding in the hills and sniping them off one at a time, he doesn’t stand a chance. Why? Because as WE all know they also will always have the last shot/say on the budget. Hands up Paul you’ve already lost. Come next November it’s off to Lame Duck prison for you.
I think LePage will do just fine there partner. He’s got True Grit!
And as it the old days, its time for LePage to leave town, and return our Mural before you leave for Florida or Canada where ever you now claim for tax purposes:)
that mural was the most dreary piece of “art” ive ever een in my life who the heck cares where that is. regulate food stamps and limit the length of time people can mooch off my taxes and that would be a help. i have to pay for my own food and oil let them try it out….oh yeah then they couldnt afford to have their cigs and booze and cable
OK, then when you retire, you get nothing but hate and discontent. Your taxes…….lol…that money belongs to our state, and you can take your 1/100th percent of your penny’s and move.
bdn didnt post my reply back to you and it waasnt as rude as yours and i hit like by mistake on your comment. are you gonna be camping out in the park once it warms up?
Haven’t thought about it really, I don’t think I have ever “camped” up there, I’ve fished but not camped. I’m from the Greenville area, there’s plenty recreating to do. Oh wait, once when I was a kid we spent a week at Rip Dam, and when I was in college I had a job running some big rubber boats down the West Branch, other than that, it’s not much different than Greenville.
Your mural was a waste of my money!~
A mural, that the man never saw before he had it removed. Now isn’t that just hilarious, I bet he preferred the 1930’s portrait of Mickey Mouse.
There are fools, damned fools, and Tea freaks.
Did you mean to say – There are liars, damn liars, and Tea Party liars.
All a bunch of freaks and LePlague can veto away……whatever…….I D I O T S
When did the FY2012 shortfall become $140 million? I have the proposed supplemental budget right here, and LePage states that it’s $120 million.
And LePage does understand that it will take a 2/3 vote in the House to pass any budget bill, right? That’s 101 votes, and there are only 75 Republicans.
The $140 million is the total of the new “hybrid” bill that includes the streamline cuts. Sorry that wasn’t clear in the story.
-ER
He doesn’t even have all 75 republicans. Some of them want to be re-elected.
“If you don’t let me make the rules, I am taking my ball and going home. ”
–“little” Paulie LePage–
Governor LePage, I am truly sorry I did not vote for you, I won’t make that mistake again, you Sir, Rock!
Kick that can at every single idiot in the Legislature,.. love this guy,..
think about it, the only ones that give a $#!| about re election are Legislators,.. Gov. Paul LePage stands his ground in the face of the fact that this state is over run by people that don’t understand, “Not Enough Money to Go Around” Regardless of whether the polls favor him. This is clearly an indicator of the passion and drive this man has on behalf of Maine,.. and people thought change meant paying less taxes,. Agrarians,..lol
He acts like a spoiled child, who’s not getting his way, so he’s laying on the floor,whining & kicking his feet, throwing a tantrum…..
News flash for you folks. Mr LePage will never be governor — he does not understand the position. He is a bully who has no respect for either party. He has no concept of what it means to lead. If I tried his methods in the industry that I work in we would be bankrupt in a heart beat — if I did not get fired before that occurred.
Obviously the Appropriations committee has worked very hard to come up with a bipatisan budget that most can support. With this compromise I doubt either group is satified but they have come up with some thing that will work for the citizens of Maine . For that they are to be commend.
Mr LePage it is time to end the threatening, bullying and being so devisive. Let the legislature do the work we elected them for. If you do not like what they pass you have the right of veto. If you lose that battle be prepared to lead for that is the job you were elected to.
Republicans and democrats you have done what was necessary –you cut some here, you adjust fund balances there and we will have a program that will take care of our needy’s health care.
On that note vote as your constituents wish you to vote and do not cave in party politics.
For the voters — when November comes be sure to ask the incumbents how they voted — if they simply voted party line instead of how you wanted them to — do not vote for them.
He should work on other ways to create money, how about jobs.
let’s stop kicking the DHHS can down the road, and start kicking the progressive democrat leadership and their sheep followers in Augusta down the road!
Goin off of the rails on a crazy train(Penguin that is)
is that the only pic you’ve got of Gov. LePage , if so I’ll send ya another one with me in it and a smile on both of our faces..just let me know cause that one must be wearing out…
They couldn’t find the one of him before he shaved off his little postage-stamp mustache.
Hey Mr Veto Man: Ever heard of something called an OVERRIDE?
We elected a governor that is mentally unstable. He should be removed from the Blane House right now.
Removed in a straight jacket is more like it.
I just love to watch the liberals on here try to psychoanalyze the governor. All they ever care about is how something “feeeeels”. LePage is a man who pursues results, not warm fuzzy feelings. I just love to see legislators squirm in their seats. Come on guys and gals–I know you have to face re-election every two years, but it’s time to get the job done right.
Can’t argue the issues? Call LePage a “bully” or some other slur. Well, that is productive, ain’t it? Feeeeels goood, eh?
The Democrates refuse to balance the budget.
Wow, this Governor is truly out there. It’s gone beyond political naievete. If he thinks he’s having a hard time now, wait until the dems are back in control of both the house and the senate. That is exactly what is going to happen in November if he continues to play political suicide with the careers of the moderate repubs. If he and the conservative caucus succeed in bullying them as far to the right as they are on this issue, the slim chance they stand to keep control in November will evaporate over night. They are already signaling him in the strongest terms that they can’t go there but he just refuses to listen. He believes these same tactics that he employed at Mardens and in Waterville will work at the state government level and he is flat wrong. Hang in there moderates, you have bigger fish to fry come November. Put out the compromise bill and then over ride him. He’ll get the clue.
Very astute, tomthompson, except “he’ll get the clue”. I don’t see that part happening.
lol…i see cynthia dill and her other BDN “blog force”, as she refers to them in local drinking establishments, is out on the prowl tonight
Cynthia Dill’s stupidity crosses party lines. Cape Elizabeth should be ashamed of electing her, but by electing her, they have displayed that they are irresponsible voters or victims of limited choice in candidates in their district. They could have done better by leaving the seat vacant.
When can we toss this governor??
Report ALL Vigilanty Groups!
How about that, a politician that follows through with campaign promises. Go get’em Paul! We don’t have to follow states like California down the chittah.
LePage looks as if you stuck a pin in him he would burst. Running the state isn’t the same as running Mardens, the states populace doesn’t have to do what he says.
So true. We are a society, not a business.
Give it a rest.
Once again the thinking of a business CEO and the concept of compromise necessary in politics are at odds. I wonder if Landslide LePage encouraged his workers at Marden’s to apply for MaineCare as opposed to providing adequate health insurance.
Even if welfare was cut no one would have lower taxes, the governmant would say “we” have a debt to pay.
It’s not a party problem, all politicans, government agency’s are under one roof. They’ve been playing pit one group against another with our money for centuries. The thing thats really upsetting is people still fall for it.
Bennett said the administration believes the Appropriations Committee “has all the information it needs.”
That is a decision for the Legislature, not the administration.
The irony of this brinksmanship is that the Governor is now at odds with his own party.
It seems that LePage has a “Why?, because I said so.” attitude.
I would not be one bit surprised if the legislature is already discussing the possibility of impeachment. I believe that if LePage continues with his rogue behavior that it will come to that.
GO GET EM GOV…………….
Rah, Rah, Sisboombah. Pom-pom toting cheerleaders for followers. GOP voters always have so much to add. LOL.
Structural change would be better than trimming around the edges. Please remember there are real people struggling to pay these assessments to support government programs.
It never was about a budget crisis, it is about the teabag dis like of social programs, unfortunately for the governor this a democracy and he will have to compromise with the legislature. But the bigger question is , where are the jobs, and where is the effort to attract new and expand jobs in Maine.
Lepage brought this whole mess upon himself and he does not know how to handle it, so he will veto anything that does not go his way! Three more years is a long, long time to put up with this, he is in way over his head!!
When democrats regain the legislature because voters see the need to restore checks and balance between the executive and legislative branches of OUR government, he will run out of air.
Your wrong, 42 years of blind leadership brought this on, He is trying to fix their mess! GO GET ‘EM PAUL
Create jobs and increase minimum wage. OUR government can fix the dependency on welfare issue. We just need to elect a governor and legislature to do the job for US, instead of their party and special interests.
our government cannot and will not fix any problems. the idea that the government, which IS the problem, will change without us citizens rebelling is pure fantasy.
If you think government is the problem, try living without one . . .
While I don’t agree with the measures the Governor wants to take, I do agree that something needs to be done. I do not understand why he and the rest of the state legislature has FAILED to address a very large expense in the methadone clinics. The time has come for the state to stop funding them! The state doesn’t pay anywhere near as much money for a recovering alcoholic as it does for a druggie wishing to go to a methadone clinic! People sometimes forget that alcohol is a drug too! 14-39 days at detox and alcoholics are on their own. Why should drug users be any different?
Also, what is wrong with MaineCare charging a small fee? While I realize that not all people have an income, most do and should pay something for their medical coverage, even if it is just $5.00 a month per person. The fee won’t totally fund MaineCare but it will help defray the cost.
It is time for the PEOPLE to come together as there is much too much divisiveness. We need to be part of the solution! I have emailed the Gov. but I guess he didn’t like my suggestions. I will email the state legislators now and pray someone at least reads the email and gives it some serious thought.
They are unable to pay $5.00 because they are so poor. What will happen when gasoline hits over $4 a gallon as expected in May of this year? More and more people will not be able to afford to drive to their jobs (that pay very little), and it will be a burden for people to get to medical appointments, bring kids to school. The economy will suffer because people will shop and buy less.
I really think that LePage should concentrate on fighting fraud, cutting the fat in government, creating jobs and attracting business to the state, and energy solutions.
All people in here will do is to tell people to get a 2nd job like i half to.
LePage, by telling his administration’s DHHS Commissioner and staff, to stop providing information to the Appropriations Committee, may be crossing the line over to not fulfilling his duties as Governor. I wonder if this would not be the basis for removal.
Our politicians can know longer work together. They are more concerned with getting reelected than doing the right thing for the people of Maine. On the other hand the Governor should learn that you get more cooperation with sugar than salt. Unfortunately, we the people suffer once again. Our politicians are failing us and we the people will need to replace those obstructionist in the next election.
The democrats wish to keep their heads in the sand and keep things as they are.
They keep the votes that way!
What will they do when there no more working people in Maine??.The only ones left will be government workers….
LePage’s approach to specify categories of people who will have reduced services, be eliminated completely, or pick artificial percentages of reductions of poor, elderly, mentally and/or physically challenged, and unemployed as targets, does nothing to truly reform the social service system. Now, he directs DHHS to stop working with the Legislature and proposes setting the eligibility threshold for parents of children on MaineCare at the poverty level. This man proves time and time again that he doesn’t give a darn about people.There is no perfect system – there will always be some people who take advantage of the system and needy people who slip through the cracks; however, I believe that the most appropriate structure does its best to specifically and individually identify those who both need and merit support. I have a suggestion for LePage and others in government who promote a “hatchet” approach to this issue, who apparently believe that being at the poverty level is living well. Essentially, they are blaming many people for being poor or needy, while, at the same time, in a contradictory fashion, publicly decrying their plight. Do you remember LePage’s P.R. visit taking food to the Ellsworth food pantry? Compare that to his policies. Hypocrisy?For the remainder of this legislative session, beginning with LePage’s “leading”, set aside your salary, perks, health insurance, bank accounts, and any other income. Then, you and your family live at the poverty level, or even a bit more, surviving in the same manner as those who are unemployed, working but earning subsistence wages, are poor, elderly, physically and/or mentally disabled, on fixed incomes, etc. – i.e. those who rely on public support to survive. Perhaps some of you might have a different perspective than you do now. However, I have no illusions that you will voluntarily experience what the world is like for these “classifications” of people, these “statistics”. Contrary to the mythology, most people receiving public assistance are not living “on the gravy train”, nor is the vast majority “welfare cheats”. The most egregious examples of abusers are always cited, ” I know someone (or three or four someones), or a friend told me…”, but the actual statistical data, even factoring in an additional percentage of cheats and abusers refutes that a large proportion of public assistance recipients are not in need. For the record, my family and I do not receive any form of public assistance, have a modest lifestyle, have financial stresses, and pay our taxes. Certainly, fraudulent recipients and those who are not truly in need must be dealt with. However, a social conscience and empathy are sorely lacking in the ideology of LePage and others like him, so many of whom preach Christian ethics, cite the Bible and Jesus’ teachings, and profess that they are on the moral high ground – all the while ignoring Jesus’ fundamental message of caring for the poor and our neighbors.Lastly, for those of you who choose to comment and disagree with me, fair enough; but, read carefully what I have said and respond thoughtfully. Then, agree or disagree, your response will have meaning and value. Too often, I have seen comments from people on all sides of issues that “cherry pick” other’s commentary, take it out of context, misrepresent it, try to show their superiority by citing spelling errors or typos, and make derogatory, inane, ignorant, dismissive, and pointless statements. When you do any of those things, you underscore that you have no solid argument or position and illustrate your own ignorance. So, if this is you, please don’t waste your time or mine by posting.
Your right about LePage. He actually says that the state gives “generous benefits”, even in regard to unemployment. He needs a reality check.
Some one is going to get his can kicked down the road.LOL.
the legislature must show leadership in Augusta. They represent the people of Maine. Contact them. I sent a message to Mr Flood. Overide veto.
“Late Monday night, LePage reportedly directed DHHS staff to stop working with the Appropriations Committee. His office would not confirm that but Republicans and Democrats on the committee did.”
Why would Lepage do this unless he was trying to hide something that would go against him?
GO GET EM PAUL
Atta boy Governor! Stand on your beliefs.
The problem lies with the legislators who do not want to stand with this principled governor to do what needs to be done in the spending cuts. What good has it done to elect a Republican-controlled legislature, when the leaders are only interested in acquiescing to the Democrats, who were never interested in “bipartisanship” when in control–or don’t you remember that? Gimmicks might work until after the 2012 election, but will not be a long-term solution, and the state will be right back where the liberals left us over a year ago. Why is there not someone to “stand in the gap” and let the people of Maine know that they are truly being represented?
Do you think it’s possible that Republican legislators are working with their Democratic counterparts, and vice versa, because their constituents expect them to work together? Is there any possibility that some of our legislators try to keep working for all of us instead of “them” Democrats or Republicans? Maybe the ones working together are capable of leaving the blame game alone while they deal with the reality of the limited funds and the reality of the needy by suggesting alternatives instead of beating the partisan drum.
Man up, Democrats!! Paul is just trying to fix the mess you have caused over the past 30 years.
Why is there such a deficit in the budget? LePage receives millions of dolllars in gaming revenues each year from Hollywood Slots …no other governor prior to Baldacci had this revenue…where is it going.
I think there must be a better way to fix DHHS without hurting Seniors and disabled remember there but for the grace of G-d go I. Each and everyone of us will grow old. Should we just line up all Maine Senior Citizens and shoot them…that would be more humane then taking away there much needed medications.
OurGovernor is a low class scrappy bulldog who is trying to play dictator. His way or no way. I hope the Legistlators put a muzzle on him. I am a republican but I have come to hate this man.
I have been to several Democratic caucus meetings in the Maine House of Representatives in the last few weeks, and I wish that every low income person in Maine could have the opportunity to hear the discussions that take place in there. Despite the falsehoods LePage and the conservative faction of the Legislature have been trying to spread about this budget and the supposed repercussions that an acceptable budget would cause to Maine, the Democrats have been standing up for every segment of Maine’s population, fighting for the right to health and quality of life for all. Those who have voted for them should be proud, those who haven’t should reconsider for November.