AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage says too much is being made in the media of his threat to veto a budget-balancing plan adopted by a legislative committee, and not enough about the real problem the budget addresses.
In his weekly radio address, the governor says the emphasis should be on a $221 million shortfall the state faces, and that MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program, is running out of money. LePage says that since 2002, enrollment has risen 78 percent, while Maine’s population has risen 7 percent. He says welfare spending has dramatically increased by $1 billion in the last decade.
LePage says the budget rewrite the Appropriations Committee has embraced contains short-term fixes that ignore out-of-control spending.
In the Democratic response, Rep. Mary Nelson of Falmouth criticizes the governor’s education reform plan.
The only reason the media is giving so so much attention to Lepage’s veto threat is because he has stated that he will veto any bill that does not go his WAY!!!!
I’ve read your post and a multitude of others posted by other posters subsequently. It looks like many posters here are in plain denial of the fact Maine continues to overspend while growth in social programs threatens the very future of the people these programs are intended to help. I see a lot of finger pointing but no solutions being offered. At least the governor offers one solution: Restructure welfare programs to reduce spending so that the state doesn’t need to borrow until it can no longer afford to service it debt.
He has not offered anything. He’s has offered a jobs bill, nor has he offered a plan with regard to this budget. He has threatened, cajoled, threatened, lied, and then threaten and blame everyone else. He needs to go to a mirror and point. There’s the blame.
He could not give the numbers needed by the committee, they had to get them themselves.
He swears by his 150 million tax cuts, but looks for money.
He wants public money to enter into private, religious schools, and all the while knowing it’s going to be contentious, and he does this…..while the state is dealing with his DHHS crisis.
There is a pattern, and it’s gonna cost him
the patriots are coming,the patriots are coming you liberals better crawl back under your rocks because we will take back our state and our country on the basis of what it was founded on and with Gods help. If God be for us who can be against us. I say go forward Mr. Lepage and cut the waste thats why we voted you in.
So what would God do with the poor and hungry?
He would give them seeds to sow, fish to catch and animals to raise unlike the left who simply prefer to give them welfare.
10 4 a hand up not a hand out. Give a man a fish feed him for a day teach a man to fish feed him for life
some1 better be there to show the poor what to do with seeds and animals or they will rot or die from lack of care.
….
And then pay him not to plant a crop or give him a federal subsidy … that should be good for a few thousand per year.
And turn the fish into wine…
Or put them to work at Mardens
He’d feed them. He’d cloth them. He’d teach them to be fishers of men. He’d heal them and rebuke the pukes on here. “Cast not your pearls before swine.”
God? God doesn’t vote, try formulating your own thought and quit being a parrot.
how do you know God does not vote??
He or she isn’t from Maine, Knowitall…..that would be fraud. Charlie Webster would have caught it.
You’re kidding, right? One time I saw rats in the shizt aouse nibbling away at one side of the cracker or the other.
A Lepage victory is proof enough that Not only does God vote in Maine, but that God is a conservative.
I think a LePage victory meant Satan has taken over, not God.
A Cutler or Liberal Mitchell victory would have meant goodies for the Moochers who live off of Government handouts , subsidies etc.. Thankfully the Maine people finally came to their senses by voting in the last election which lead to finally derailing the Welfare Train off of its tracks.
AGAIN,,,he speaks of people that……don’t matter. Cutler/Mitchell are NOT our governor now are they DK? And I might add, that neither of them would bully, lie, threaten and coerce their way though things. One thing is for sure…..neither of them would belittle a bi-partisan solution to an executive problem.
No they would be kissing the butts of those who want handouts to buy their votes and keep them in office. But it didn’t work that way did it rusjan. We have real leadership who wants to fix the mess that DHHS has caused Maine for 40 years. Something Democrats can’t claim because they provided no leadership when they controlled Augusta.
Well, guess Le Page should start puckering up, because come November he’s going to be very disenfranchised and aggrivated.
You R 1 sik sunova btch. When people get to the point that they actually have to “apply” = ask for assistance the last thing they need is for the type of crap you post on this comment section. I’d like to tie you to the Welfare TRAKAmerica and change your stinky tidies.
God is kind, benevolent, compassionate, forgiving, sharing, a humanitarian, and the list goes on.
I have yet to see much of any these traits in Mr LePage.
Was Jesus a consevative or a liberal ? I am not sure but I think Pontius Pilate would have labeled him a radical liberal.
And, of course Pilate did what? Crucify Christ, the liberal, the non conformist, the person with a different idea.
Our Appropriations Committee had different ideas, thank him and them for this.
Lepage gave the rich a 150 million dollar tax cut and then threatened to close nursing homes if he doesn’t get 220 million cut from the DHHS budget supporting the poor in Maine.
Where are the jobs from the so-called job creators he gave the tax cut to? !50 million in the form of incentives and rewards for creating jobs would have helped, and increasing the minimum wage to a liveable level would provide the needed incentive for people to return to work. Jobs are the key to reducing welfare, not cuts to DHHS.
Only 38% of the voters elected him. He had very little backing to start with. 62% of the voters did not support him when he sought the governor’s office. It’s a lie to say that Maine people sent him there to do a job. The majority of Maine voters did not put him in office to do the “job”.
We are a society, not a business, and he is socially irresponsble when he fails to help create jobs and makes up for his failure to do so by cutting aid to those most in need while giving tax breaks to the wealthy.
Mal Leary quoted him “..I sold my soul to the devil a long time ago.”
Interesting that you know the mind of your god. Why don’t you ally yourself with the Taliban, who also know what God is thinking. Religious zealots come in all faiths, and they all stink the same.
Does he have valid photo ID and a verifiable legal US address? And most importantly does he have the proper documentation that he is a US citizen?
No, he doesn’t, and neither does Santa Claus, who is obviously from Canada. Lol.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’d stay away from outright sacreligious statements. I get what you said and you’re right.
Hold on: Didn’t God tell Peter he was the rock on which the church would be built? If so, doesn’t it follow that God knew Peter was providing cover for the liberals who were under that rock? Does it mean that liberals have been with us since the Christian git-go? As for dear ole Maine, our state was founded because of an anti-Massachsetts allergy and envy. There weren’t any special appeals to God. It was all done by balloting in the several towns. Maine’s admission to the US came in handy to allow yet another slave state – Missouri- to enter the union while keeping the slave/non-slave state representation in the US Senate equal. There was no special dispensation from God. Much of Maine then, as now, was not particularly religious. Indeed, some might have uttered a modification of what was later said of Mexico’s relationship to the US in the 19th and early 20th century: “Poor Maine: so far from God, so close to Massachusetts.”
I don’t know why you say Maine is not particularly religious. There are more religions in ME than the traditional Christian Churches. http://www.MSSAC.org
Anyone can belong to a church and not be particularly religious, that’s all I’m saying. I think you’ll find Maine, along with NH and VT, is high on the list of states in which religion doesn’t rank as a high priority in everyday life.
If its class warfare your talking about…your on. And you will lose.Because their are more of us than there are of you. People like you make it evident why the Romans fed you to the lions.
I don’t believe God is a D or an R
OMG. Do you think the need for assistance to Maine people goes up or down then the economy tanks? Do you think the state needs to spend more or less when maintaining the public safety net when the economy tanks? When the Fed pays 2/3rds of every dollar Maine spends maintaining our safety net and most of those dollars are spent in Maine providing good jobs to hard working Maine professionals with careers they have studied and worked all their lives for, and most of the money they earn gets spent or invested in the Maine economy do you think it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of money spent this way during a bear economy? I’m trying to be a good little poster and not call names. So please try to think with your own mind about my questions and answer them honestly.
Do you expect me to believe you can’t figure out the answers to those simple questions??
When the economy was good but employer subsidized healthcare declined through a coordinated antitrust attack on American workers by Wall Street, big business, and corporate Political Action Committees, Maine raised income guidelines and added non-categorical people to the MaineCare roles. To clarify, MaineCare is a state sponsored welfare program using block grants and targeted grants offered by the federal government. It pays for healthcare and nothing else. It isn’t Food Stamps, it isn’t TANF or AFDC, it isn’t insurance. It’s welfare. MaineCare is NOT Medicare. Medicare is a Federal Health Insurance Program. You can’t get Medicare if you haven’t earned it by working and paying in for years. The cuts proposed by an ignorant governor, either criminally or ignorantly beholden to ALEC, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Prosperity for America Maine, the Cato Institute, snookered “grass roots” Tea Party supporters, and the Koch brothers with their $53 Billion from military weapons contracts and Political Action Committee organizing, training, and development make no sense, aren’t based in reality, and prove either complete incompetence or negligence per se on a grand scale. Civil remuneration to the injured parties, the residents of the State of Maine should come out of his personal assets and the personal assets of his handlers. To be specific, before they throw him in jail for racketeering, abuse of high office, campaign finance fraud, and high treason, we want every dime he’s got, every dime his supporters have, and a pound of flesh from each of them.
Much of what you stated in your comment is not relevant to the DHHS continued growth and overspending. The governor is simply telling the legislature to fix that problem or face a veto of the DHHS budget proposal. Why do you insist on complicating matters? It doesn’t have to do with blind partisanship, does it? Or the fact you might be on the receiving end of DHHS services?
You can read into my post as much as I did yours. I did state that he couldn’t get the numbers to the committee. I also alluded to the fact that he threatened to veto his first budget, and he has threatened, in many various ways regarding THIS budget. It is neither mine, nor your obligation to vote on this issue, it is theirs. Blind partisanship is what this state needs, not lines drawn by political unknowns and wannabes.
He is the one who put this on the back burner since last February, he has even admitted doing so, until December. THEN he points fingers at mainly the democrats, but also the entire Legislature of “dragging their feet”.
Every bit of my post was regarding the budget. Though I don’t receive any DHHS benefits, why would it make any difference if a poster did? You are stereotyping yourself with comments that can lead one to conclude that a poor person doesn’t have anything of any value to offer.
I feel sorry for you.
Obviously if a poster was receiving DHHS benefits, concern over possible loss of benefits might certainly be a factor in expressing disagreement. That’s why I mentioned it.
If you’re taken aback by my comment it’s because you have a tendency to take pot shots at the governor on every news bit concerning him. It’s hard for me to believe at this point you are able to separate yourself from party politics and be taken seriously on issues.
OMG, you ARE stereotyping yourself! What, in the world? would be wrong with someone posting their interest? And how things in Augusta affects them? So their thoughts and feelings, opinions and values mean what? …. not as much? NOT the way that I feel, at all.
You certainly do. And I gather that you are posting because you are concerned about your wallet.
To tell you the truth, I much rather discuss issues than personalities. I think most Mainers feel the same way. After all, when everything is said and done, it’s the issues that really matter.
I agree. My issue is this: Why are poor people being singled out on one department’s budget crisis, when our legislator’s are threatened and misinformed? Why are those same legislator’s being labelled by our governor as inefficient and inattentive when they were given the issue, or accurate information in a less than honorable fashion?
There’s an issue we can discuss. I take pot shots on the governor just as often as yourself and others label all democrats a liberals. I can take pot shots at the governor, because he ran for the office, both you and the governor have taken your share of pot shots.
So, as Harry Truman once said…..”if you can’t stand the heat…..”
Let me answer your question about restructuring first. As I pointed out earlier it’s needed because it has kept growing and growing and getting more expensive, approaching a point where the state will no longer be able to service its overall debt. Don’t forget, the state still has to maintain its school system and highways, among other things. The governor therefore has placed the DHHS on the table for long term cuts. That can only be accomplished by re-structuring the system. It means that the criteria for benefits will need to be tightened to ensure only those residents who are truly needy get benefits. DHHS is not the only agency being singled out. Others are as well, although maybe not to the same extent, since they have not grown nearly as much as DHHS over the years. The main problem with social services is that many people who could learn to fend for themselves get hooked on to them as they see it as a means of permanent support rather than a temporary form of assistance. Getting these people less dependent is oftentimes a blessings for them as they realize that they can fend for themselves with a little helping hand. Remember, the governor has repeatedly emphasized he does not want to take away services from those who truly need them. In the finally analysis, the legislature crafts the law and the governor approves or vetoes it. Crafting a good law should not be that difficult as other states, such as Wisconsin, have already done so with much success. All the legislature has to do is study the various available successful state programs and flesh out what parts of them it wants to emulate before incorporating them into a workable plan. So far the legislature has been reluctant to do so for some reason one can only speculate.
Taking pot shots at someone only because one can is not good and commendable conduct to say the least. It also tends to breathe ill-will towards others rather than creating cordial working relationships. In essence you end up with a they-vs-us adversarial relationship. As the adage goes: If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. This doesn’t mean however that policies should not be criticized whenever one feels a need to. The best criticisms are usually very specific in nature, not general as we often can attest to.
With all that said, I appreciate your concern for the poor. If we can take some off the public dole to permit them to fend for themselves partially or completely, that’s an accomplishment for all concerned. I think Maine can accomplish that goal because its public assistance programs are full of gaping holes with few alternatives to offer and hardly any followup procedures compared to some programs in other states.
Your very first paragraph leads me to question. you have indicated that “the state still has to maintain it’s school system and highways” First of all, It was this governor, not a former, nor a future governor, but THIS governor that threatened not once, but twice to cut school budgets if he does not get his way. That is not good governing, it’s political blackmail, it’s very well documented and is very noted. Also, it is THIS governor that has not offered an infrastructure bill, in any means whatsoever. What he has done is met with business owner’s and decided that it’s our school’s fault, and Maine itself as to why there are no skilled laborers.
Secondly, his opinion on energy. Once and again, his opinion is based upon business needs, not consumer needs. He has time and again stated that the prices are too high for business (if they are too high for business’s, then imagine what they are for homeowners?)
Having said that, his solution is natural gas; one, maybe two providers. The only means to help them do this is, again, in his eyes, is to : stop subsidy’s for other means of alternative energy, and have the towns themselves use TIF financing. TIF financing is, essentially a property tax rebate, but the money goes to the business. In other words…..a subsidy. And when the TIF is complete, the property taxes more likely than not will increase. Along with this, general maintenance cost will increase. WHO makes the money?, who gets the benefit of a tax rebate?……..it is certainly not the property owner. And secondly, it’s well known that the best means of reducing energy costs is by competition, where in the world is the competition? They can cover any costs, or failed ideas, just as CMP has done, rate structures.
You and I both have taken our share of pot shots. But to have this governor condone a committee that, together in a bi-partisan atmosphere, offered an alternative. And doing so with what little time and demand this executive demanded. Operative word: demand, he continually demands and threatens. He needs to be put in his place, a Governor does not demand, nor threaten, this legislature is set to do just this.
Public assistance is not, and never was intended to be a hand out. Your incessent need to compare this state to others is somewhat frustrating and, well, not relevant. What difference does it make what Montana does? We are dealing with our issues, not theirs. This is not about state’s rights, this is about people’s lives. Bill Clinton, Abraham Lincoln were both very poor growing up, and withstood broken families. It’s not safe to not care.
You might not like the governor’s approach, yet he is forcing the legislature to change its old failed ways of spending and talking down businesses who once were the backbone of the economy. Maine people elected him to change the ways the state government works. They knew it wasn’t working because people were struggling more and more to make ends meet as industry left the state or cut down their work forces on account of a lack of profitability due to higher taxes and more strangling regulations. I think his ideas need a chance to work. Continuing to apply the same decades-old solutions with no success in sight is just foolish.
Incidentally, he raised 15 million dollars for education to get his ideas implemented. That made liberals happy – after all he raised spending in one area of the government – until he told them that if they didn’t do anything to fix DHHS he would have no choice but use up those funds to keep the state operating. No doubt there is a tug of war going on between the executive and the legislative branches. Those members of his own party would oppose him are left-leaning like many members of the current Republican party mostly from Southern Maine. As far as I’m concerned they need to go just like all other left-leaning legislators who essentially oppose a more friendly business climate. Remember the state depends on the private economy for its existence, not the other way around. Without a vibrant private economy the state will utterly fail on the long run as more and more people become reliant on it.
Do you think the need for assistance to Maine people goes up or down then the economy tanks? Do you think the state needs to spend more or less when maintaining the public safety net when the economy tanks? When the Fed pays 2/3rds of every dollar Maine spends maintaining our safety net and most of those dollars are spent in Maine providing good jobs to hard working Maine professionals with careers they have studied and worked all their lives for, and most of the money they earn gets spent or invested in the Maine economy do you think it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of money spent this way during a bear economy? I’m trying to be a good little poster and not call names. So please try to think with your own mind about my questions and answer them honestly.Do you expect me to believe you can’t figure out the answers to those simple questions?? When the economy was good but employer subsidized healthcare declined through a coordinated antitrust attack on American workers by Wall Street, big business, and corporate Political Action Committees, Maine raised income guidelines and added non-categorical people to the MaineCare roles. To clarify, MaineCare is a state sponsored welfare program using block grants and targeted grants offered by the federal government. It pays for healthcare and nothing else. It isn’t Food Stamps, it isn’t TANF or AFDC, it isn’t insurance. It’s welfare. MaineCare is NOT Medicare. Medicare is a Federal Health Insurance Program. You can’t get Medicare if you haven’t earned it by working and paying in for years. The cuts proposed by an ignorant governor, either criminally or ignorantly beholden to ALEC, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Prosperity for America Maine, the Cato Institute, snookered “grass roots” Tea Party supporters, and the Koch brothers with their $53 Billion from military weapons contracts and Political Action Committee organizing, training, and development make no sense, aren’t based in reality, and prove either complete incompetence or negligence per se on a grand scale. Civil remuneration to the injured parties, the residents of the State of Maine should come out of his personal assets and the personal assets of his handlers. To be specific, before they throw him in jail for racketeering, abuse of high office, campaign finance fraud, and high treason, we want every dime he’s got, every dime his supporters have, and a pound of flesh from each of them.
Whawell
Please be fair with Rusty.
Before engaging in a battle of wits, make sure your opponent is armed.
What in the world make you think that my name is Rusty? It’s not. And I can certainly ascertain that you have come into a gun fight with a paint gun. You, AGAIN demonstrate your inability to speak upon a subject, rather, you focus on individuals. My name is Russell……..now let’s see if you have the dignity to tell me and all our fellow poster’s …..your first name? And, whatever you say, I doubt it will be truthful. Is it going to be : Hank, Fred, Frank…? George or maybe Al? you pick, I told you the truth, can you do the same?
are all you liberals always this mad? or do you all take the same prescription of ugly pills?
Not ugly pills.
It’s called a dose of reality.
You have absolutely no clam on reality, you live in your own little world thats filled with folklore and fantasy. For instance, you named me, …incorrectly. And then when given the chance to restore your posting image, you don’t! You just attack , or think that you are.
I don’t take ugly pills, no need. I simply need to respond to stupidity. And I will note, of course, he doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to answer my question.
Unlike all of you Nazis, we care about the well being of our nation, not our own wallets.
It’s a lot harder for a reasonable person to engage in a dialog with an unreasonable one. “Rusty” as you call him, is armed to the teeth and doesn’t understand that you and WhatWhale have no intention of having a dialog. That puts him at a severe disadvantage. I’ve got you kids pegged. You’ve just got your black shirts and you crop dusters and it’s business as usual for your ilk.
Do you think the need for assistance to Maine people goes up or down then the economy tanks? Do you think the state needs to spend more or less when maintaining the public safety net when the economy tanks? When the Fed pays 2/3rds of every dollar Maine spends maintaining our safety net and most of those dollars are spent in Maine providing good jobs to hard working Maine professionals with careers they have studied and worked all their lives for, and most of the money they earn gets spent or invested in the Maine economy do you think it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of money spent this way during a bear economy? I’m trying to be a good little poster and not call names. So please try to think with your own mind about my questions and answer them honestly.
Do you expect me to believe you can’t figure out the answers to those simple questions??
When the economy was good but employer subsidized healthcare declined through a coordinated antitrust attack on American workers by Wall Street, big business, and corporate Political Action Committees, Maine raised income guidelines and added non-categorical people to the MaineCare roles. To clarify, MaineCare is a state sponsored welfare program using block grants and targeted grants offered by the federal government. It pays for healthcare and nothing else. It isn’t Food Stamps, it isn’t TANF or AFDC, it isn’t insurance. It’s welfare. MaineCare is NOT Medicare. Medicare is a Federal Health Insurance Program. You can’t get Medicare if you haven’t earned it by working and paying in for years. The cuts proposed by an ignorant governor, either criminally or ignorantly beholden to ALEC, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Prosperity for America Maine, the Cato Institute, snookered “grass roots” Tea Party supporters, and the Koch brothers with their $53 Billion from military weapons contracts and Political Action Committee organizing, training, and development make no sense, aren’t based in reality, and prove either complete incompetence or negligence per se on a grand scale. Civil remuneration to the injured parties, the residents of the State of Maine should come out of his personal assets and the personal assets of his handlers. To be specific, before they throw him in jail for racketeering, abuse of high office, campaign finance fraud, and high treason, we want every dime he’s got, every dime his supporters have, and a pound of flesh from each of them.
Well said and explained. Thanks
Thank you!
problem is everyone is on the public dole: mortgage interest deductions, Sch-A itemized deductions including legal expenses to defend income deduction, investment loss deductions, 401-b, 401-k tax deferals, Roth IRA exemtions, hope credit, lifetime learning credit, health care expense deduction, first time home buyers tax credit, estate tax exemption, estate tax credit, parsonage exemption, child care credit, dependent under 13 tax credit, discharge of debt credit, real estate tax shelters, dozens of small business tax credits, deductions, and offsets etc. etc.
That’s complete crap. Do you think the need for assistance to Maine people goes up or down then the economy tanks? Do you think the state needs to spend more or less when maintaining the public safety net when the economy tanks? When the Fed pays 2/3rds of every dollar Maine spends maintaining our safety net and most of those dollars are spent in Maine providing good jobs to hard working Maine professionals with careers they have studied and worked all their lives for, and most of the money they earn gets spent or invested in the Maine economy do you think it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of money spent this way during a bear economy? I’m trying to be a good little poster and not call names. So please try to think with your own mind about my questions and answer them honestly.
Do you expect me to believe you can’t figure out the answers to those simple questions??
When the economy was good but employer subsidized healthcare declined through a coordinated antitrust attack on American workers by Wall Street, big business, and corporate Political Action Committees, Maine raised income guidelines and added non-categorical people to the MaineCare roles. To clarify, MaineCare is a state sponsored welfare program using block grants and targeted grants offered by the federal government. It pays for healthcare and nothing else. It isn’t Food Stamps, it isn’t TANF or AFDC, it isn’t insurance. It’s welfare. MaineCare is NOT Medicare. Medicare is a Federal Health Insurance Program. You can’t get Medicare if you haven’t earned it by working and paying in for years. The cuts proposed by an ignorant governor, either criminally or ignorantly beholden to ALEC, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Prosperity for America Maine, the Cato Institute, snookered “grass roots” Tea Party supporters, and the Koch brothers with their $53 Billion from military weapons contracts and Political Action Committee organizing, training, and development make no sense, aren’t based in reality, and prove either complete incompetence or negligence per se on a grand scale. Civil remuneration to the injured parties, the residents of the State of Maine should come out of his personal assets and the personal assets of his handlers. To be specific, before they throw him in jail for racketeering, abuse of high office, campaign finance fraud, and high treason, we want every dime he’s got, every dime his supporters have, and a pound of flesh from each of them.
That’s not a real problem if you eliminate the federal income tax system and replace it with a personal consumption tax where the amount of tax someone pays is mostly self-controlled by spending less on personal goods and services. But the liberals will not hear of this because they want to continue tax and tax unnoticeably until one’s hard earned money is all but evaporated.
The problem this liberal has with a consumption tax is twofold.
First, if it is achieved like the present “consumption taxes”, it spares the wealthy. (Yes, really!) If you buy a car, you pay the tax. If you buy a yacht, you don’t pay it. If you buy 100 thou jewelry, you also don’t need to pay it. Please don’t try to tell me that exempting yachts makes jobs, that was the rationale used when it was enacted.
Secondly, if you make 20thou/year, chances are that everything you buy will be taxed and your tax rate will be much higher than if you make 100thou and spend the same amount of money. That is, if you spend 15 thou on food, clothes, etc at 5%, you tax rate will be higher than the fellow making 100thou.
On a related note, why do the rich already enjoy a tax rate about 1/2 the rate of mine? Do you really believe that if Mr. Moneybags sells stock and gains $10,000 his tax rate should be 1/2 mine who goes out and works for it? Do you really think the $10,000 he made creates a single job? He just swapped some papers and escaped 1/2 the taxes, and the Republicans defend this as fair?
No, no, no! You got it all wrong! In the new tax system, if the wealthy spend their money on a lavish lifestyle, you liberals will have all the more reason to spread the wealth with all the consumption tax money generated. If they choose not to spend any of it, then they will not be using up their share of the earth’s resources. Either way, you guys will make out, that is, by spreading the wealth or saving the little worms in the environment.
One more thing: I know just how much everyone hates attorneys, CPA’s, tax auditors, needless booking, long income tax forms, etc. Guess what? All these yucks and more would be eliminated in the new system.
Now here’s one aspect you won’t like (Brace yourself):
Since you and your buddies are all about controlling others through mandates, you won’t be able to take away people’s incomes like you’re doing now. Earners will have more choice on how much tax they want to pay by controlling how much they choose to spend. Since conservatives are all about having as much individual freedom as possible, I reckon the new tax system would suit them just fine.
Oh well, you can’t satisfy everyone all the time.
“When I was a child I dressed as a child, I spoke as a child, and behaved as a child. When became a man I put away childish things.” Acountian is being swept out to sea by a rip current.
Do you think the need for assistance to Maine people goes up or down then the economy tanks? Do you think the state needs to spend more or less when maintaining the public safety net when the economy tanks? When the Fed pays 2/3rds of every dollar Maine spends maintaining our safety net and most of those dollars are spent in Maine providing good jobs to hard working Maine professionals with careers they have studied and worked all their lives for, and most of the money they earn gets spent or invested in the Maine economy do you think it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of money spent this way during a bear economy? I’m trying to be a good little poster and not call names. So please try to think with your own mind about my questions and answer them honestly.Do you expect me to believe you can’t figure out the answers to those simple questions?? When the economy was good but employer subsidized healthcare declined through a coordinated antitrust attack on American workers by Wall Street, big business, and corporate Political Action Committees, Maine raised income guidelines and added non-categorical people to the MaineCare roles. To clarify, MaineCare is a state sponsored welfare program using block grants and targeted grants offered by the federal government. It pays for healthcare and nothing else. It isn’t Food Stamps, it isn’t TANF or AFDC, it isn’t insurance. It’s welfare. MaineCare is NOT Medicare. Medicare is a Federal Health Insurance Program. You can’t get Medicare if you haven’t earned it by working and paying in for years. The cuts proposed by an ignorant governor, either criminally or ignorantly beholden to ALEC, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Prosperity for America Maine, the Cato Institute, snookered “grass roots” Tea Party supporters, and the Koch brothers with their $53 Billion from military weapons contracts and Political Action Committee organizing, training, and development make no sense, aren’t based in reality, and prove either complete incompetence or negligence per se on a grand scale. Civil remuneration to the injured parties, the residents of the State of Maine should come out of his personal assets and the personal assets of his handlers. To be specific, before they throw him in jail for racketeering, abuse of high office, campaign finance fraud, and high treason, we want every dime he’s got, every dime his supporters have, and a pound of flesh from each of them.
Who says these folks are poor. If they are so “poor” as you and other folks on here claim. How come these folks are getting new cars and trucks, new swimming pools, cableboxes & satellite dishes with the very best plans from those cablebox and satellite companies. While the rest of us are struggling having to pay for these folks while none of us get any help or etc.. It seems to me all of the liberals are petrified that their handouts are going to be taken away. While the majority of working folks know these cuts have to be made. Why because the state can’t afford it anymore and the budget can’t keep having these massive shortfalls every single year.
DK….do you have a car, a cablebox and perhaps a dish? Do you have an internet connection?
According to your point of view, poor people ought not to have those things, guess what? A person can budget, poor or not, just the same, and probably better then you.
And it’s not up to you, or I to say what the state can or cannot afford. You are doing the same thing as Warwell did, you consider yourself better then poor people. And the ONLY difference between you and them is……..money and (in their behalf) class.
Hey, rusjan I’m so glad you put down some other poster, namely Warwell, instead of me, Whawell. At least now I know I can relax a little more knowing you pick on some else now and then.
I wouldn’t get to comfy, I save all your posts, removed by the censor or not. You aren’t a very nice person and I don’t like you.
Mainahs in Cadillacs.
Again.
And you’re sick as a brick. Get help for that sociopathic streak. It’s bound to pop up somewhere sooner or later and really hurt you. Do you think the need for assistance to Maine people goes up or down then the economy tanks? Do you think the state needs to spend more or less when maintaining the public safety net when the economy tanks? When the Fed pays 2/3rds of every dollar Maine spends maintaining our safety net and most of those dollars are spent in Maine providing good jobs to hard working Maine professionals with careers they have studied and worked all their lives for, and most of the money they earn gets spent or invested in the Maine economy do you think it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of money spent this way during a bear economy? I’m trying to be a good little poster and not call names. So please try to think with your own mind about my questions and answer them honestly.Do you expect me to believe you can’t figure out the answers to those simple questions?? When the economy was good but employer subsidized healthcare declined through a coordinated antitrust attack on American workers by Wall Street, big business, and corporate Political Action Committees, Maine raised income guidelines and added non-categorical people to the MaineCare roles. To clarify, MaineCare is a state sponsored welfare program using block grants and targeted grants offered by the federal government. It pays for healthcare and nothing else. It isn’t Food Stamps, it isn’t TANF or AFDC, it isn’t insurance. It’s welfare. MaineCare is NOT Medicare. Medicare is a Federal Health Insurance Program. You can’t get Medicare if you haven’t earned it by working and paying in for years. The cuts proposed by an ignorant governor, either criminally or ignorantly beholden to ALEC, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Prosperity for America Maine, the Cato Institute, snookered “grass roots” Tea Party supporters, and the Koch brothers with their $53 Billion from military weapons contracts and Political Action Committee organizing, training, and development make no sense, aren’t based in reality, and prove either complete incompetence or negligence per se on a grand scale. Civil remuneration to the injured parties, the residents of the State of Maine should come out of his personal assets and the personal assets of his handlers. To be specific, before they throw him in jail for racketeering, abuse of high office, campaign finance fraud, and high treason, we want every dime he’s got, every dime his supporters have, and a pound of flesh from each of them.
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Bull most people on Welfare are doing better than us working folks who work 40 t0 50 hrs a week stop making excuses for them . They have new automobiles, swimming pools, satellite dishes/cableboxes etc.. They are abusing the system but to Liberals it’s ok for them to continue to do it. Why should working folks like myself continue to fund them abusing these programs they should be kicked off of these programs. LePage should be mandating them heading the to career center and making out job applications. It will never happen because the Republicans in the legislature are cowards. They have become wimps because everytime the Liberals cry because their voting block may get hurt they cave into their demands. The Liberals have held Maine hostage for 40 years. They have driven this state’s economy and quality of life into the toilet. It is time for all of you folks see Reality Maine can’t afford these programs anymore the state is broke, these programs have never worked all they do is waste taxpayers money. It is time to be cut other states aren’t afraid to make these cuts and they are doing better than Maine. Maine needs to be a Pro-Business state not a Welfare Haven.
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If they are on Welfare they are supposed to be poor not living the good life. Welfare is a handup not a lavish lifestyle. These folks are living off of mine and other working folks tax dollars. They should not be living a better life than those of us who work for a living. But in yours and other folks view on here Welfare Bums should be doing better than those of us who struggling to survive ourselves. It shows how out of touch you folks are and why your party is in the minority. Because they are in a fog and not have been in touch with what Maine people have wanted for 40 years a prosperous pro-business state, pro-freedom state. We don’t want Socialism and a Restrictive Nanny State.
But the economy just collapsed. They didn’t buy the swimming pools with food stamps. What the Helll is wrong with you? If I put my pool up for sale in my backyard straight off my deck, how much would you pay me for it? I make more in a week than you make in a month, but just for the sake of argument. Who gives a shhit what you think??
If they are using my dime, YES.
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One thing you should know. Having a vehicle worth more than $1500 disqualifies you for welfare, so does owning your own home (where else would that new pool go) and they would have to pay for their satelite dish or cable from their $483 a month they get.
Well than DHHS and Bill Schneider the AG better hire folks to check on these people . Why because everytime you see them at Welfare Mart , Hannaford’s, Shaw’s these folks are in newer vehicles new chevy silverado pickups, Dodge Charger cars, Toyota Camary Hybrids etc.. If they are on Welfare they don’t need to having all of these luxuries they shouldn’t be doing better than us who work 40 t0 50 hrs+ a week.
Oh, I see, DHHS needs to spend money to “check up on them”, when “them” is what has caused DHHS to be 220 million short? OK, let’s instead of paying the bills on time, which is what they didn’t do, let’s just not pay them again and concentrate and spend funds on “them”.
And the AG has plenty to keep his office busy, he should concentrate on what he has in front of him and wait for the DHHS budget to get settled. You continually state the we “spend, spend, spend”, and yet you propose spending?
U did notice they had no response to that. They’d rather starve people, deprive them of health care and a roof over their heads because they aren’t bright enough to realize that it will someday mean they have to care for an elderly parent they aren’t trained to care for and can’t afford the time off from work to do it anyway; and they’ll have to be dealing with that in a world where people are constantly watching them and finding the opportunities to kill and rob them. Did I mention they’re stooooooooppedd?
Did the boogums get a didy rash flying in on his broomstick with made up information?? I’ve owned and run businesses for over 35 years in Maine. All of my employees have always begged to remain on my crews specifically because they worked for me and enjoyed certain perks and lavish recognition for their achievements plus my immediate agreement to do whatever it took to stabilize the health ect. at home.
Ya Knooooooow. I don’t give a crap about your lovers’ spats. I will stand firmly behind this statement because I was ordered to give a deposition and provide a sworn,, notarized statement. To be truthful I used to think I was learning and finding ways to live in the world via cub scouts etc.
They aren’t you screwball. Have you been eating those mushrooms again??? They suddenly can’t pay their bills. They thought that was temporary so that’s how they managed their household budgets. Now they’re ready to kill somebody or a whole lot of somebodies. If you girlyboys are ready to watch your children die while you starve to death and then pay reparations while your grandchildren starve to death, you might want to read up on and watch public TV about the last civil war we had.
Do you even know what a “Liberal” is?
“The budget can’t keep having these massive shortfalls every single year.”
The forecasters predict revenue. The governor hand picked the people on this committee so he could destroy the State of Maine. He’s not the only governor in this country involved in this mission. The governor submits a budget. The legislature works on the budget and eventually it is ratified by both House and Senate.
Don’t get too wrapped around the axle. This is the process every year. Can you even begin to imagine the the piranha feeding frenzy if the state said it had a surplus???
Most Mainers feel as you do?
Heh.
What the 61% ers aka the Welfare Crowd or Maine’s Majority as they are calling themselves now LOL. Us working folks we want them kicked off we want them to get jobs because lifetime Welfare is not sustainable. It is a drag on our economy as it has shown now that Maine is dead last economically. That investing sure has worked hasn’t it huh. That far left radical Liberal agenda sure has “Maine is on the move” “Maine moving foward” like Angus King and Baldacci claimed it would do. Put down the kool-aid the Liberal Groups like MCEP (Kit St. John) can claim that LePage is losing jobs. But in the past this person and his group always claimed it was gaining tens of thousands of jobs a year under Democrats. The facts are the Democrats are bad for business, working people and taxpayers in Maine. Their policies for the economy, infrastructure, schools, welfare, quality of life is awful. The Dems have created a state that is poor, anti-business, anti-jobs, failing and crumbling schools, awful infrastructure, a welfare and nanny state . Where people are going to the government for unlimited handouts, while Augusta treating it’s citizens as 3rd rate people telling them how to live their lives holding their hands like little kids. Well now the working people and taxpayers finally saw the light and booted the Liberals out of power. The state is finally slowly starting to head in a more positive direction. With the working people, taxpayers and businesses being finally put first. While Liberals cry about their Welfare Bums losing their free ride which they have had for 40 years. It is about time to send the Welfare Crowd packing all they have done is break the wallets of the Maine people.
Nobody in this state besides the Bangor Daily News would allow you to ever post again based on your post above. And they would rip down the post you posted. You would be banned. Do you have any idea what you sound like? You’re going to send the “Welfare Crowd Packing”. Where are you going to send them? I personally would like to send them to a private room for five minutes alone, but that’s just with me.
Ya think?
Be careful now rusjan. If you say something that doesn’t go along with the way whawell sees things you will soon be called a liar. He seems to be quite expert at that.
Don’t worry 4mer, I’m as afraid of him as I am of………….milk.
Yes, and then he has the anyone who points out his bad attitude flagged for removal. Say, I bet whawell is a brother to MeForest.
Ouch!……that had to have stung!
Bravo!
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If you want to pay for them that is your choice you can send more money to Maine Revenue but why should the rest of us have to pay for them. It isn’t my responsibility to “take care” of these folks. Shared Prosperity and Shared Sacrifice is a joke, more like Welfare and Nanny State that Liberals love so much. We are dead last economically because of the Welfare Mentality of the Liberals. Our schools are failing (75% of them), our roads and bridges are pathetic you can’t go 50 ft hitting a pot hole and doing damage to your car or truck. But instead we gotta “take care ” of those too lazy to get off the couch or away from the computer. All this does is drive even more people out of Maine. Wait till their is none of us working taxpayers left who will pay for the Welfare Bums then. The state will completely collapse because Maine Government refuses to do something on Welfare.
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No I am fed up of having to pay high taxes, utility bills etc. and get nothing to show for it. I am sick of having to pay for those who refuse to get a job. How hard is that for all of you libs on here to understand. The well has run dry it is time to cut these programs their is no more money to give. The phony gimmicks are nothing more than pushing the problem onto those who will make the cuts much sooner than later. It is time make these sensible cuts and start putting Maine’s budget onto a stable path.
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The cold hard facts Maine is a Welfare State until we get the able bodied folks out and working Maine will continue to have budget issues. We need to get the deadbeat dads off welfare. We need to freeze those benefits on those keep getting pregnant. If they are on Welfare they need to be on a time limit have them showing they are making progress getting off of it. If they get pregnant those kids should not be put on the system either.
Dark Cat, have you even read any of the responses you have been receiving from other posters on this site? Nobody agrees with you. Nobody. Nobody at all agrees with you.
I hate to bring this up, but you are either one of those lazy welfare bums you describe as watching 42 inch plasma TV all day when they aren’t in their private swimming pools, or you are a bare faced liar. Would you like to know what I think? I think you are a bare faced liar. No lie is ever too big, right?
You should be sure of where you tread. You just described a woman who most likely has a husband in jail, a child or two that haven’t been taken into state custody yet, and who prostitutes herself for money she needs and for trading items for her husband in prison. I could take you to meet a couple of ladies in her particular situation, but somehow I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Whawell, you take every opportunity to defend every single misstep, lie and posturing by this governor. His threats are treated like pearls of wisdom by you, each and every time. So don’t get up on a soapbox now and accuse anybody of partisanship. You have never wavered from your defense of the Republicans and Paul LePage. I don’t have a hard time believing you are a shill for this administration, because you are. That might be ok from where you sit, but don’t throw the partisanship thing out.
Remember, if you do it, it is ok for others to do it too. For me, I think hypocrisy is the hallmark of the right.
Yes, LePage just sent me a check (the amount is to generous for me to disclose) for my personal services. He says I need to keep you guys in line if I want to keep getting paid the way I do. You see, you guys keep wanting to make LePage the issue when clearly there are so many issues needing discussion in this very prestigious forum. After all this time I am now persuaded more than ever before you guys realize you can’t win the argument on the issues, or are jealous of me on account of all the money I am making, or both.
I don’t care who you are. That was funny right there. Sometimes you just shouldn’t say anything. This was one of those times.
“On the receving end of DHHS services?”
Grandmothers and children are on the “receiving end” of DHHS services.
So it’s ok for deadbeat dads to jump on the Welfare Wagon and Women to keep getting pregnant so they can get more in benefits due to having more kids. When are we going to say enough is enough and start kicking them in the butt and making them get a job.
We obviously didn’t say enough was enough early enough or your welfare riding Asss wouldn’t keep posting these Goddamnn stoooo0pid posts. I did cold cases (5 or more years inactive) interstate child support enforcement for some time. You’d be surprised how many of these men had money I could take to repay the State of Maine welfare system.They were unmistakably more indignant, angry, furious, and likely to threaten my life and mean it as compared to any other clients in the State of Maine. I never let it slow me down. We were revenue producing meaning we were in untouchable jobs when layoffs and downsizing hit. I really love that job!
You see, in Interstate Support Enforcement you work in a seriously secure building. That’s because of all the death threats and all of the attempted murders. I loved that job! In my experience, states where irresponsible absent parents reside will pay what they have. But on in ten of these guys own yachts, camps, fancy second cars, etc. etc.
Do you expect me to believe you can’t figure out the answers to those simple questions?
Do you think the need for assistance to Maine people goes up or down then the economy tanks? Do you think the state needs to spend more or less when maintaining the public safety net when the economy tanks? When the Fed pays 2/3rds of every dollar Maine spends maintaining our safety net and most of those dollars are spent in Maine providing good jobs to hard working Maine professionals with careers they have studied and worked all their lives for, and most of the money they earn gets spent or invested in the Maine economy do you think it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of money spent this way during a bear economy? I’m trying to be a good little poster and not call names. So please try to think with your own mind about my questions and answer them honestly.Do you expect me to believe you can’t figure out the answers to those simple questions?? When the economy was good but employer subsidized healthcare declined through a coordinated antitrust attack on American workers by Wall Street, big business, and corporate Political Action Committees, Maine raised income guidelines and added non-categorical people to the MaineCare roles. To clarify, MaineCare is a state sponsored welfare program using block grants and targeted grants offered by the federal government. It pays for healthcare and nothing else. It isn’t Food Stamps, it isn’t TANF or AFDC, it isn’t insurance. It’s welfare. MaineCare is NOT Medicare. Medicare is a Federal Health Insurance Program. You can’t get Medicare if you haven’t earned it by working and paying in for years. The cuts proposed by an ignorant governor, either criminally or ignorantly beholden to ALEC, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Prosperity for America Maine, the Cato Institute, snookered “grass roots” Tea Party supporters, and the Koch brothers with their $53 Billion from military weapons contracts and Political Action Committee organizing, training, and development make no sense, aren’t based in reality, and prove either complete incompetence or negligence per se on a grand scale. Civil remuneration to the injured parties, the residents of the State of Maine should come out of his personal assets and the personal assets of his handlers. To be specific, before they throw him in jail for racketeering, abuse of high office, campaign finance fraud, and high treason, we want every dime he’s got, every dime his supporters have, and a pound of flesh from each of them.
Nice Liberal talking points did Emily Cain, Justin Alfond, Meaghan Maloney, John Martin, Peggy Rotundo, Cynthia Dill , Troy Jackson write them for you. Same old Liberal talking points we have heard from them for 40 years.
My comments and thoughts are original. They come from me based on what I think. I’m neither a Liberal nor an extreme conservative. I don’t cut and paste (I might paste a link that I think helpful to user into a message though).
YOU DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER TO READ MY POST!!!!!!
Nothing in my post is anything but original. Ya wanna know why? Because I’m throwing out tidbits of what is to come; you might want to read it.
The Governor is obviously very rude, crude and heartless! In his demeanor and speeches…he shows really no intelligence nor much of a clue on how to govern a state! If you love the state of MAINE then LePage is not the man for you, me..us!! He is ridiculous! A complete baby! In your reply you assume/blame us citizens complicating matters? seriously? Things were never this complicated until he stepped in office! and what if ‘rusjan’, whom you were replying to was receiving DHHS services? You must be bias! so sad! and you must be a Republican, all about the almighty buck with you people! Rich gets richer; poor gets poorer! What is really important is the welfare of Maine’s citizens, the real people who make up this beautiful state. Why target the elderly and the low income families? Makes no sense! Target the Rich, skim cash off the top of their pay before they get it. They don’t need all that money, maybe they should donate to a ‘fund’ to help the ‘needy’, welfare, elderly, less-unfortunate people who do matter, who are equal, and who do deserve to be treated fairly and not secluded! DHHS services is there for people who need it and is being used for just that, don’t fix a good thing! Never much of an issue before. Messing with the public schools? for what? Religious/private schools he wants….ha ha, ME. would have an even higher rate of drop outs! He needs to govern our state, but he is clueless. 85% of the state is still pissed he got voted in. Your STEREOTYPING, rude, crude remarks in your comment sounds like you may be related, and it is sad! You sound like you are one of those people more concerned about the money in your bank account than your neighbor scrounging to feed their child, or find a ride to the doctor! Money isn’t everything….try taking it with you when you go on to the ‘next life’! Old LePage wouldn’t be getting ‘hated’ on if he actually did SOMETHING productive. He has accomplished absolutely nothing and promised everything! He needs to figure out things for himself, take blame and not constantly point fingers. He needs to act like he gives a shit….PERIOD!! and care about the whole state….the majority of the state is low income, on welfare, or below poverty! What does he expect? What he is good at tho? Moving murals in the night for no reason at all!!!
Things never got this complicated until you ceased having your way all the time! Don’t lose sleep over the governor. It’s the issues that matter, that really make a difference on our lives. You have it all wrong. poor people are not being targetted, just the system. When you can learn to separate the two, you will begin to understand that the type of change conservative are seeking in the system will benefit us all. In contrast, if no change occurs, then the system will eventually collpse along with the state. Then, where will the needy find themselves?
As far as my conduct goes, I don’t have a problem with it. With you, the problem you seem to be having with me is a difference of opinion on ploitical matters. I don’t know how I can help you with that.
Life can seem to be tough from a liberal viewpoint after liberals have had it their way in the Blane House for decades, can’t it? It’s time for much needed change in society in my opinion. No, I’m not against the poor or the elderly. You read me all wrong. I just don’t think that the enabling policies of the past are working in anyone’s favor. In fact, the state is heading for a certain financial collapse unless something is changed before long. That is just reality. Better to face it now than wait until later when it becomes too late too make much less painful changes. The state of the piggy bank is just very terrible right now. We need to improve the business environment before we lose all our jobs by lowering the level of state services that have increased to unsustainable levels over the years and by cutting back on paralyzing government regulations.
If you happen to be truly needy, you have nothing to fear. Let me tell you, I’ve worked for nearly 4 decades straight with two disabilities, one sufficient enough for me to have qualified for full disability benefits. I chose not too even though I don’t expect others to do the same. I was brought up on a farm where the family struggled and never let up. Not one of my siblings today is poor because we learned the value of a dollar and saved when we could while others were “enjoying life.” Well, we had our enjoyments too, through struggle nonetheless. Today my siblings are doing well and remain contributing members of society even in retirement. We will rest when we have no other choice. Happiness for us is found in helping others to help themselves. We do that by working hard and enjoying the simple common gifts God has given us.
If I sound tough, it’s because I am. If you happen to be a wimp (which I hope you’re not) you can expect to feel uncomfortable with people like myself and the governor who a has depth of feelings for common folks the media won’t acknowledge.
As I’ve said many times. Until you offer some solutions, your just blowing hot air. Good luck in November.
There are plenty of options. The first would be to get rid of the tax cuts worth 150 million. The second is to make the mill in Millinocket just as accountable for it’s disposal debts as anyone else is.
Third, would be to allow Maine businesses to enter the school system and target those kids that they think that can help them. Once targeted, they will sponsor that student’s tech. studies. And offer that graduate a reliable and honest insurance package and wages.
Oh wait, what! business’s actually being involved with education? They are concerned about one thing…profit. What happens if we teach this kid to weld…….and all of a sudden he or she markets their skills? OMG…….that’s bad! But, isn’t that what a business does?….market their product?
The answer is: offer them definitive and comprehensive packages. If they want “skilled labor” then they are going to have to pay for it. That’s the way business goes, it’s an investment, it’s no longer taken for granted.
He also pulled all the DHHS staff last Saturday because as far as he was concerned Appropriations had asked enough questions and didn’t need to know any more. Talk about control!!!! Have you ever heard of a Govern0r (I can spell it right!!) keep Department personnel from asking questions they may need to make an informed decision!!!!
I would say unbelieveable, but it’s par for the course for him!!!
Well Pond, it’s has got to a point that I don’t understand why the Appropriations Committee didn’t ask him to leave their work sessions. He is in control of the administration of government, he can call all the meetings he wants. But you don’t abruptly and deliberately insert your presence into another branch of government’s deliberations.
Would he jump into a supreme court hearing? who knows?
What would he do if those committee members just showed up at his DHHS staff meeting? Would he be upset? yes!
He’s going to get what is coming to him.
Exactly, and it’s going to cost all of us. And is absolutely not OK.
Amen.
I agree that some cuts have to be made, but the whole 220 million for the next two years does NOT have to happen in this year end budget, as our legislature have agreed to!
I’d agree with you except for the fact the legislature has not really re-structured the programs. It is only proposing band-aid remedies in the hope the problem of runaway growth and spending will magically go away. They are kicking the can down the road as they have been doing for over two decades, always hoping greater revenues are just on the horizon to make up for the shortfall of money. It’s no way to operate a household. Why should it be any different for a state agency?
If they aren’t going to make all of the cuts now when are they going to make the cuts. They will do the same thing next year postpone making the hard choices kick the can down the road with all of these gimmicks. If Democrats get back control the shortfall will be worse because they are too lazy to do the hard work the Maine people want them to do. We will be back to where we were when they had control of everything.
“we will be back to where we were when they had control of everything”
You mean, when people are treated equally? And our governor didn’t lie to and threaten us? When our State Treasurer didn’t push the limits of our constitutuion? And Oh my word, how dare them compromise. You cannot “re-structure” programs that depend upward to 70% of funds on the national government. That’s the fact of the matter, every dollar that is spent, Maine pays about .30 cents of it.
Back then? There is only one reason why you can say “they”. And that’s because “they” were continually being elected, and “you” were not.
This administration is indicative as to the reason why “you” were not. I’ve never seen so many department heads, commissioner’s, high ranking state officials leave, in the matter of a year, then I have with this Executive. There’s your sign.
Great post.
Take the blinders off. No be back to where the taxpayers get screwed by having to pay for the lazy welfare bums. More policies that kill jobs, drives out businesses and taxpayers. Going back to a nanny state to the point where all of our freedoms are taken away. Another words back to living the nightmare that Maine people have had to experience under Democrats. With everything failing from the economy, schools, quality of life. That’s the policy liberals want to live in where the Welfare Bums and Special Interest are making out like bandits.
I have suggested solutions: MaineCare stop paying for methodone, stop adding new babies to TANF when their mom is on TANF, do away w/UP part of TANF-this is where the 2 legal parents are in the HH. The 1 who is the “primary wage earner” (meaning has worked a certain # of work quarters in a specific length of time) is not working or working less than 140 hrs monthly. Stop the PAS (Parents as Scholars). This is where a person on TANF can go to college without working for at least 2 yrs.
I’d have to know more about those specific suggestions in order to comment on them. Certainly, for instance, if PAS is not giving the state a good return on its investment, I would not be opposed to altering the program if not entirely scrapping it all together. The problem I often find with the legislature is that there are too many holdouts who oppose changes to programs they have created and fallen in love with. Term limits were supposed to eliminate that kind of behavior. It doesn’t appear to have worked well because legislators keep switching from one bicameral legislative house-term limitation to another endlessly.
Looks like they got you to drink the cool-aid. This whole thing is not about restructuring welfare. It is about gutting MaineCare which is about health care.
Mr LePage’s method was just to throw a large number of people off MaineCare to meet a budget shortfall he was somewhat involved in creating. A large number of those to be affected were elderly, disabled, handicapped and children. But that does not both Mr LePage as long as he gets his way. These people are not just wonderously cured by Mr LePage’s plan, they still require health care.
Fortunately the Appropriations Committee worked long and hard to come up with a compromise budget that does do some restructuring, some budget balancing and some people now receiving MaineCare will lose out. This bipartisan plan embrased by the republicans and the democrats will save this health care benefited for most of our elderly, disabled, handicapped and the children.
It is not a perfect solution and will require further sacrofices down the road but it is better than just throwing the most needy out on the street.
I have posted similar statements to no avail. My only conclusion is that the majority of comments here are by those who derive their lively hood from Maine’s outrageous welfare programs and the sweat off our backs.
Here’s a solution for ya:
Tax wealth, not labor.
You’re suggesting failed policies of the past. It’s time for new and bold thinking: Tax personal spending, not income; thus eliminating IRS, CPA’s, tax attorneys, and needless expensive bookkeeping; and thus saving hundreds of billions of dollars nationally per year. This way everyone pays some tax and becomes more responsible for ensuring government no longer wastes money for re-electing incumbents. Wiser and less spending by both the public and private sectors leads to increased conservation of natural resources. Now, that latter point ought to make liberal environmentalists very happy for a change!
Failed policies of the past? Taxes on the rich, as a portion of their income, has been going down since the Eisenhower years. When has wealth ever been taxed EQUAL to labor?
My grandfather always used to tell me health was wealth. No, I don’t think my health should be taxed. Maybe you feel differently about yourself.
More seriously, how much do you want to tax the rich? Enough so they keep moving abroad to save on taxes? Enough to keep the government’s insatiable appetite for spending going? Enough to make them decide to earn less? Enough to make them cheat on their taxes? Enough to make them hate you and everyone like you?
Do you think the need for assistance to Maine people goes up or down then the economy tanks? Do you think the state needs to spend more or less when maintaining the public safety net when the economy tanks? When the Fed pays 2/3rds of every dollar Maine spends maintaining our safety net and most of those dollars are spent in Maine providing good jobs to hard working Maine professionals with careers they have studied and worked all their lives for, and most of the money they earn gets spent or invested in the Maine economy do you think it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of money spent this way during a bear economy? I’m trying to be a good little poster and not call names. So please try to think with your own mind about my questions and answer them honestly.
Do you expect me to believe you can’t figure out the answers to those simple questions??
When the economy was good but employer subsidized healthcare declined through a coordinated antitrust attack on American workers by Wall Street, big business, and corporate Political Action Committees, Maine raised income guidelines and added non-categorical people to the MaineCare roles. To clarify, MaineCare is a state sponsored welfare program using block grants and targeted grants offered by the federal government. It pays for healthcare and nothing else. It isn’t Food Stamps, it isn’t TANF or AFDC, it isn’t insurance. It’s welfare. MaineCare is NOT Medicare. Medicare is a Federal Health Insurance Program. You can’t get Medicare if you haven’t earned it by working and paying in for years. The cuts proposed by an ignorant governor, either criminally or ignorantly beholden to ALEC, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Prosperity for America Maine, the Cato Institute, snookered “grass roots” Tea Party supporters, and the Koch brothers with their $53 Billion from military weapons contracts and Political Action Committee organizing, training, and development make no sense, aren’t based in reality, and prove either complete incompetence or negligence per se on a grand scale. Civil remuneration to the injured parties, the residents of the State of Maine should come out of his personal assets and the personal assets of his handlers. To be specific, before they throw him in jail for racketeering, abuse of high office, campaign finance fraud, and high treason, we want every dime he’s got, every dime his supporters have, and a pound of flesh from each of them.
Flesh, “a pound of flesh from each of them.” Sounds you’re very angry.
About as many Mainers, not including state pensioners, are on some sort of welfare as there are employees. This phenomena is not recent. It has emerged over at least 2 to 3 decades. How come? For instance, just look around you in a crowd of people and observe. Obesity and overweightness is pretty much the norm. I’m sure life has treated many of these fairly well. You don’t get that way by having too little to eat or by working real hard. Being overweight is a sure means to more frequent trips to the doctor’s.
Now, go to Wall Mart and watch shoppers? Until two to three years ago, they were filling their baskets with unadulterated junk, junk that often ends up in garage sales with the original sale tag still attached and the product label ‘Made in China” on it. Where did the savings and jobs go to? You guessed it. Not in back in the U.S.
Since the 60’s era when “consensual sex” became popular, the divorce rate has skyrocketed to the point where more than half of all the marriages break up. What ever happens to children from these broken relationships? Do they just go on growing as if nothing ever happened? What about children of parents who don’t even bother getting married on account of their unwillingness to make a permanent commitment to each other? I could go on mentioning other ills, but I think you’re getting the point. Personal responsibility has all but nearly vanished. Social ills that produce unhappy people are exceedingly very costly to society. The contributions you mentioned by Wall Street excesses, partly due to the rampant depravity in our society, pales in comparison to the negative impact so many people cause to the general welfare for themselves and others. We can’t go on growing the safety net. Something somewhere has to give.
Plenty of people in the state government are looking for other options. This article is about the fact that your Governor has said if anyone offers a solution that is different than his he will veto it. If he was serious about our debts he would have not cut taxes BEFORE getting our spending under control. It doesn’t make any sense.
The state of the state can’t remain still. The legislature and the governor must do all they can to bring back business and lower unsustainable government spending. You don’t do one and then the other in sequence. Bringing back business to put people back to work while cutting government spending to keep taxes lower is an absolute necessity. The faster this occurs the better off everyone will be. As for solutions, the governor has been traveling around the state to hear people’s input. He doesn’t claim he has all the answers and solutions, but is quite willing to listen. In the meantime we have a legislature that can’t think much further than the tip of their noses. For one, they are too much in love with the failed programs they are responsible for having created. The governor needs to pressure them or else they won’t budge much from the past spending policies that aren’t working or working well. To me it makes a lot of sense when you have way too many legislators who have been in Augusta far too long. No, the tension between the two branches are unavoidable.
LePage does seem overly concerned with making sure he is the center of attention, even when he claims he does not want to be.
Yep. It’s hard to keep out of the media’s eye (ear) when you have your own radio program.
Paul Le Page’s problem is his Governor’s fault. It’s never, ever his fault, it’s either the democrats or the governor’s fault. When he stops looking for fault, he will realize that he spent so long looking for the nail, instead of changing the tire and drive on. Then again, I wonder if he will ever realize who his governor is?
When are Maine citizens going to realize that LePage cares about one person and one person only…..himself, everything is about him. Look at me, aren’t I wonderful. Until that changes, the state of Maine will continue decline in it’s greatness both in business and in its people. We need someone who is going to bring all of us together, so we can work together to help each other, instead of driving a wedge between the rich the middle class and abandoning the poor.
He is so good at going around telling Maine people that the reason they are so miserable and have such a rotten life, is because of President Obama, the dems or his own Rep, rather than except some of the blame himself in his free handed off the wall bulling , and start bringing people together to solve the issues instead of dividing us as a State.
Too much emphasis by the administration on hacking budgets and not enough on job creation is more like it. Not saying there isn’t any fat to cut but just where the emphasis should be.
Actually, for once he’s right. We should pay much less attention to what he says. In fact, I think it might be best for us to just ignore him entirely.
The first four words says it all!
Lepage Says Too Much!
At least he is manning up to the fact that there is large whole in the budget and it needs to be fixed. If they keep putting a bandaid on it the next caption you read is that the state is bankrupt.
Paul “says” a lot of things but is there really anyone out here that still believes anything that comes out of his mouth? I loved this line, “Welfare spending has dramatically increased by $1 billion in the last decade.” Ok let’s just assume that this is true. Now why would that have happened? Suppose it could have some connection with the fact that we just endured eight years of the worst presidency ever? Could it be that the senseless wars, nation building, and tax cuts for the wealthy could be connected to the economic downturn we’re in now? Ya think? Could it be that putting so many people out of work so that a few could increase their personal wealth has caused our welfare rolls to increase? Ya think? Now Mr. LePage wants us to believe that the reason our economy is suffering is that there are too many people on welfare. People like him put them there!!!
Paul, could you please just shut up about poor people, labor, old people, murals, tiny beards, voting rights, pensions, and unions and start creating the jobs you promised. Other than Lauren (On our tax dollar no less) you’ve been one miserable failure in that department. I hope the voters give you what you deserve next November.
Now why would you say that LePage has been a miserable failure when it comes to JOBS, JOBS, JOBS? Like you I always thought that when he was telling all of us about how he could create JOBS, JOBS, JOBS when he was on the campaign trail he was talking about creating them in the State of Maine. Actually he never said that he would create all of those JOBS, JOBS, JOBS in Maine. In fact under his leadership plenty of JOBS, JOBS, JOBS have been created since he became Maine’s Governor. Just not in Maine. Think of the 600 jobs that were created in Wisconsin when they just up and flew away from Maine. Under his leadership Fairchild Semiconductor created quite a few new jobs in California when they moved their Corporate headquarters out of the State of Maine . Those are just a couple of examples. A recent US Department of Labor report claims Maine has lost 7200 JOBS since LePage moved into the Blaine House. “Job Killer” LePage is doing exactly what he promised on the campaign trail, creating jobs. Unfortunately they just aren’t being created in The State of Maine.
http://mattw.bangordailynews.com/2012/02/08/business/maine-led-in-2011-per-capita-job-losses-says-mecep/
Here’s a link to the job loss information
So where are the jobs from Spaghetti Boy, from Mr. MPBN now Mr. Windpower Angus “Maine is on the move backwards” King. Those Democrats did a good job those 36 years losing a ton of jobs while creating only 56 when trying to replace the ones they lost. Nice try putting the blame on someone who has been their for only just 13 months when the Democrats are the ones who put Maine in the place it is today. I have said in the past on here I think it will take 20 to 30 years to fix the mess the Democrats put Maine in.
you are clueless. Deny reality much?
What reality are you living in. The Clueless Reality that comes from the Maine Democrat Party that always denies the problems they create and puts the blame on everyone else except them. If this Investing that Maine Democrats claim is so great where are the jobs then huh?. All we have done is raise taxes, increase spending, create every welfare program known to man. Them putting huge borrowing packages every year on the ballot that was supposed for roads instead all of the money went to expanding DHHS AND Welfare. Their policies are so great only 56 total jobs were created while losing tons of the 36 years. So go back and drink the kool-aid that comes from Emily Cain, Troy Jackson, John Martin, Peggy Rotundo, Justin Alfond , Cynthia Dill and the rest of the idiots in Augusta who want live in an alternate reality. While the Republicans continue to fix the mess they put us in.
I hadn’t realized that the only polititians in state office for the past 40 years were democrats. That must have been what the people wanted. Reread what 4mermainer and StillRelaxin posted and what you responded to. Your response had nothing insightful to add, just a bunch of tea party non thought name calling. You’re just angry, probably generally, with nothing going on. We’re gonna walk all over you next election. And it won’t be by less than 35% either.
Yeah the only reason they got power because 60% of the Maine people are on Welfare or on Welfare and Unemployment. It’s not because of that is what people wants. When you have more folks on Government than those paying taxes they will vote for that crowd that gives them freebies. But Conservatives and Independents like myself we finally spoke . The taxpayers of Maine won because they didn’t fall for the BS that Liberal Democrats such as Liberal Mitchell and posers like Eliot Cutler were selling. I wouldn’t get too arrogant of the next election because Gay Marriage is likely to be on the ballot and it will bring out all Conservatives, Tea Party, Independents. It will likely be rejected again because the people don’t want it, Maine is moving to the right after each election. So go back to your cave because the Welfare Train has been derailed and will futher be taken apart after the next election, NOBAMA GOES BYE BYE, the Gay Marriage Express will brake down on Nov. 6th. The working taxpayers of Maine we will win another victory sending you Libs a crying towel after the defeat we give you on Nov. 6th.
More unsubstantiated piffle. Gay marriage, by the way, is already a done deal. The majority has no power to vote human rights, whether it’s voted out this time around or no. You’re on the wrong side.
lol It’s always the democrats fault. if he had his way…..Lincoln was wrong. and he was the first republican………
Hi again DC. Having a good weekend are you? I hope so at least. I am not the one who came up with the numbers DC. It was the US Dept of Labor. The same organization that is telling us that more and more people across this great Nation of ours are going back to work everyday. Well that is if you don’t count the State of Maine and her Governor “Job Killer” LePage. I have been giving some thought to what you said about Angus King and if I remember correctly employment did go up under his administration unlike what we are seeing since last January. Are you saying that only 56 jobs were created in the State of Maine over the last 36 years? If so that makes me feel really extra special good seeing that my company was started during that period and we have 18 employees. As much as I would like to take credit for being one of the major job creators in the last 36 years I somehow think that 56 number you are using might be a little suspect. Getting back to the budget how if it was balanced back when Mr. LePage signed it as is required by the Maine Constitution how do you suppose it is now $220 million short? Especially when according to Commissioner Mayhew there hasn’t been that big an increase in the number of people getting services? I’m sure that you will agree with me that $220 million is a fairly large chunk of change.
Eliot Cutler also mentioned them only creating 56 total jobs during the campaign himself so it wasn’t just Republicans. Eliot Cutler tried running on a conservative platform himself. He was very critcal of Dems and Baldacci during the last campaign. Only Liberal Mitchell wanted to keep the status quo everyone was running basically a similar agenda to LePage. That is why 81% wanted change Welfare isn’t a lifestyle it doesn’t pay the bills. It drains the pocketbooks of working folks. The Liberals here in Maine think we want to keep their agenda WRONG!!!. Their agenda is garbage people are fed up of being nickeled and diming us to death. We want the same things people in larger states want more freedoms, less taxes, little to no welfare, more jobs and prosperity. Democrats will never bring that to Maine because they are tied to the Social Program Sector.
DC let’s try this forget about the rant about how bad democrats and liberal are just for a few seconds. l promise they won’t toss you out of the tea party. I asked you a specific question. Which you completely ignored which frankly DC is beneath a person of your superior intellect. So I will try once again. How is it possible considering that the State of Maine Constitution requires a balanced budget and that the current DHHS budget was prepared by the LePage Administration and signed by Mr. LePage himself is now a few months after that budget was signed $220 million short? Ms. Mayhew herself has testified that the number of people receiving services did not increase drastically. So what happened to make the budget $220 million short? I am sure that if you were short $220 million in your bank account you would want to know where it went wouldn’t you? I know I sure would if it were my bank account.
It’s short because Maine has too many on Mainecare & Welfare bottom line. The Welfare System is bankrupting Maine what is that so hard for you folks to understand. The Democrats went bonkers with their welfare programs we have more folks on Welfare and Welfare with Unemployment because they care about social programs. They are the anti-jobs party here in Maine. So we should continue to pay for all of those who shouldn’t be on Welfare. We working folks are tired of “taking care” of folks. Why should I struggle paying high taxes, heating oil costs, utility bills, worry about a massive tax increase that could tax my family out of my home from the gas pipeline revote here in Madison coming up in 3 weeks. Why should it be my problem having to “take care’ of lazy baby mamas who keep getting pregnant, dead beat dads who refuse to work trying to mooch off of the system. We wouldn’t be broke if their was some strict rules on Welfare. In my opinion the most needy should get it at most. Not people who are able to work. Though Liberals think everyone should be on it. No we have shortfalls every year it is time to put the hammer down and start revolting because no need of this foolishness every year. Time to make the cuts people may cry but they can get over it. They should realize what we go through every day getting up and busting our butts 40 t0 50 hrs a week. Never had a handout and don’t want one. I don’t feel sorry for those lazy folks period.
Hey DC sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I have been watching the latest results from the Maine Republican Caucus. Pretty good the way the republicans run a caucus isn’t it. They have got this guy, “Crazy” Charlie Webster, the Head Republican in the entire State of Maine who is kind of like Johnny Carson was when he played Carnac the Magnificent. He can predict the out come of a caucus a week before all of the caucus’ have been held and declare a winner. Got to hand it to those Republicans they sure know how to steal an election. And DC get this they are stealing it from a republican. No wonder they are all worried about voter fraud. They seem to the the masters of it. Wait til this goes nationwide Maine Republicans will be the laughingstock of the entire Country. It’s almost like “Crazy” Charlie Webster and the Maine Republican Party are trying to get Obama re-elected. Oh by the way your answer to my question doesn’t make it DC. But DC the democrats aren’t the ones who want to tax you out of your house for the gas pipeline. That is “Job Killer” LePage’s idea and he is your hero right? DC my friend you really have to cut down on all that tea you are drinking I’m really starting to think it is effecting you and not in a good way.
20 to 30 years to fix our problems is okay for the Republicans but you Right Wingers act all insulted because Obama hasn’t cleaned up your mess in just 3 years. Same old tired Sh-t.
Your hero the Emperor Obama already announced we are already going to be at least 1 trillion dollars in debt for the 2013 budget that hasn’t even taken effect yet. The Community Welfare Bum sure has done such a great job LOL. His stimulus plan was a joke a colossal failure. The big bank bailouts failed, Wall Street Bailouts failed, Solyndra and Siga now under federal investigations, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac want more Bailouts. The clean energy scam it is such a success that is why noone wants any part of it. The Ethanol Subsidies which Republicans were so smart to repeal. E-15 fuel which Congress rejected the EPA went behind their backs to put in which most cars and small engines may not be able to run on it with cars having a hardtime now with E-10. Obama is such a failure everyone in this country wants him gone. It can’t come soon enough. Drink the kool-aid from the libs because to most of us that kool-aid is poison not worth touching the bottle it comes in.
Believe nothing, from his “rags to riches” myth about his upbringing, through the campaign lies of the buffalo count, his marden’s poster child for welfare, through his administration the mural, his adopted black son, the schools he would close and on and on and on and on. The one basic thing that citizens ask of an elected official is honesty, we have not received that for even a week since LePage appeared.
You forgot to mention Fanny and Freddie, the failed stimulus and National Health Care. Oh wait, those were all forced down our throats by the Democrats. No wonder you wouldn’t want mention those.
Republicans could have had a say. They chose not to. Too damn bad.
You have elegantly put into words “The Republican Ruse”
So, the bully has no teeth? My, what large teeth you have, Grandma.
….
Am trusting the legislature to do the right thing and pass this overwhelmingly and then get on with the next cuts that will inevitably have to be made. Kudos to the appropriations committee for showing us what working together is like. Take notice Washington. :)
The Governor, is providing political cover for Republicans to do what must be done. You cannot spend what you do not have. The Republicans have done what they had to do to get something done with a 2/3 majority. The Governor is correct in that kicking the can down the road, leaves a judgement day in the future. He was also correct in saying that a new Governor should have more time than a couple on months to submit a budget.
Out the Door,
In Two Thousand One Four!
elected again because he can
Who’s gonna replace him that buffoon Cutler LOL. Even with her problems as of late Rosa Scarcelli and Barbara Merrill in my opinion are the only two folks that can beat LePage in 2014. But the Liberals will have their blinders on they will nominate some stupid buffoon.
Such as Emily Cain, Meghan Maloney, Cynthia Dill, Justin Alfond or Ethan Strimling. Someone who isn’t qualified to be dog catcher much less Governor. Scarcelli and Merrill actually are the only ones with business experience, have good ideas, have energy that would attract younger voters, Independents, Conservatives etc.. But I see the Liberals who are all talk now but when it comes to voting time like it was in 2010 with their arrogant attiudes thinking they have it in the bag messing up again.
Bring back Barbara !!!!! We all need serious Independent who has a firm grasp on reality, not the baby oil grip Paulie has.
That he keeps concentrating on the veto threat just shows how far removed he is from the legislature. When both side’s come together and craft a bill that solves the problem, in the face of a radically bent Governor who is determined to refuse any solution but his own, then it is time for the Legislature to put aside their respective ‘Party’ position’s and stand up to the Governor and say ‘Enough is enough’ and take the Governor on. That LePage is so determined to literally gut the State’s most vulnerable of any protection’s shows the extent he is going to go to push a radical right-wing agenda that is going to strip those most vulnerable without any means of defending themselves. To the Legislature’s credit, even they know the inevitable when they see it. That the Governor doesn’t should give us all a reason to think.
It’s also very interesting that LePage has decided to make this statement this particular weekend, right when the GOP Caucus votes are being released AND have 2 of the 3 most radical Right-Wing GOP Candidate’s here in Maine, along with the national media. That theses 2 are here now is no coincidence ( and any one who tells you that, and expects you to believe, it is selling you the Kittery Bridge at a discount rate) given that both Mitt and Ron Paul are both calling for an almost identical push in both their social program’s. And that should give us all, given the slowly growing rate of the economy, more than a moment of pause when considering just how close everyone is to ‘the edge’ when it comes to the usefulness, and inevitablty of, MaineCare. Maine deserves better than to be turned into some kind of Northern pina`ta, being used to break some ‘new political message’ here at the expense of Maine’s most vulnerable simply to make a point that has been made before. What is disappointing is that these same politican’s are nowhere near making public their economic plan’s beyond a whole lot of political speeches that hold as much water as a Charmin paperbag. Speech’s are useless. What the country needs are for these GOP Candidate’s to announce, and put on paper with their signature’s for accountability, their respective economic plans. Anything else, including being associated with the Governor and his antic’s, are going to be seen as just another grandstanding ‘pony show’. Maine voter’s know the difference between smoke and substance. At the rate the GOP’s Candidate’s, and the Governor, are going it’s not going to take much more for any number of voter’s from all 3 side’s, GOP, Democrat and Independent, to make up their minds. Maine might just be the political barometer for the election, Super Tuesday notwithstanding, at this rate.
so……which campaign are you working for??
In all honesty, well, I’m not quite sure yet. One big advantage I do have is that I came here from the DC area back in ’04. I saw what you are all screaming about at the National level. I served with both Bill Cohen, and under Rumsfeld, at the DOD. I was there, 500 ft from impact, at ‘Ft. Fumble’ (as we DOD folks call it :) ) when the plane hit. I saw the resulting group ‘cluster’ that came out of it. And what came out was not pretty. I saw wholesale criminal violations of civil rights sanctioned under the rationalization of ‘national security’, by both Party’s AG’s, and never investigated or prosecuted simply because the prosecution would embarass a whole lot of people, not to mention give us all a serious cause to really wonder just what philosophy’s are driving both Party’s leadership. I was there when Wille had his little ‘Monica problem’ and Tailhook. To a great many military folk’s credit, they held their opinion’s private under the UCMJ provision’s. As a civilian I had no such restriction’s. And as both a Federal Worker, and infantry vet, I had no problem making my position known. What did come out of this last 28 years has given me maybe a unique view of the Country’s political perspective. Those of you political philosophy ‘hack’s’ would be well advised to re-read Edmund Burke. A truly informed and free voter needs to be reminded of Burke every so often.
Politically, Democrat’s have been usually pictured as spending nut’s, not giving any thought to the costs. The GOP, on the other hand has been traditionally seen, and plays themselves to the Country, as the ‘staunch defender of the people, their rights and their money’. Both are so far removed from reality as to be disgusting. Democrat’s have been both concerned about the economy, since even they know that every program costs money, and the people that make the actual economy work. When the Democrats’ and the GOP (there is always ‘stuff’ to go around) passed NAFTA, the resulting economic mess created the means for the Bush crowd to do their damage, more so in Bush 2 with the repeal of the Glass-Stegal Act that is now being re-instated in Dodd-Frank Act. Gulf 1 and 2 simply added an additional means of camoflaging the literall rape of the American economy under the guise of ‘defending American values’. Please, the last time this type of internal propoganda was seen was back in WW2 right after Pearl Harbor. And the fact that Willie was shown the damage that NAFTA was going to cause is still something that any number of Democrat’s are still smarting from, especially up here in Maine with the closing of Hathaway and Bates.
The GOP, on the other hand, has been traditionally a small gov’t philosophy Party that has been driven by the position that the individual is the only true authority and that any Federal gov’t has no right to govern. Such a position was, even back then in the 1700’s and since, seen as a hiding and breeding place for small minded people who have absolutely no concept of community, much less the responsibility that we all have to and for each other. The KKK was created under this concept simply because some people decided that a group of people were ‘deemed’ to be less than a person simply because their skin color was different than their’s. In case any one has forgotten, and the GOP and their Tea Party fanatic member’s should take note, The Constitution provides for EQUAL PROTECTION, EQUAL APPLICATION & DUE PROCESS OF LAW FOR EVERYONE, regardless of their skin color. I am not going to go near the immigration issue as that is another whole different argument. What is so sad about the GOP is that, under Lincoln, it was a Party that was dedicated to the building out of the Country and the encouragement of business development, regardless of whoever was in business. It’s even more sad that that philosophy was buried after Reagen called for it under the ‘Big Tent’ philosophy. One has to wonder just where that Big Tent is now that the GOP so desperately needs it. What the GOP has done well is the keeping alive the ‘Devil’s Advocate’ philosophy of keeping us all from overeaching ourselves, and the Country’s, ability’s and resources when there is no logical or reasonable reason to. I, for one, have no problem with the GOP keeping the economy an issue. What I do object to is their constant use of the political system as a ‘reason’ to throw constant temper tantrum’s that serve no purpose except to keep Country, or Maine, from recovering, growing and expanding under a system of reality based guidelines and responsible oversight. Virginia’s Eric Cantor is the GOP’s poster child for this. That the GOP moderate’s haven’t reined him in and replaced him is a sad commentary on the GOP’s current philosophy. That the philosophy that he’s spreading. like some kind of gray paint on a fresh wooden floor, of ‘Me before anyone else’ is also a sad commentary on how the GOP looks at and respect the individual’s personal position’s. And that’s what the Country was founded on, namely respecting each other’s position’s and philosophy’s and coming together to provide for a means of Self-Governing.
I, for one, am now an Independent. Any any Candidate that wants to have my vote is going to have to work for it and show me, in writing with their signature on it, their plan for the Country’s, and Maine’s, recovery and business start-up’s. There is so much energy in The County’s workforce just waiting to be unleashed that for it to just be left hanging is nothing less than political and economic irresponsibility to leave it undeveloped. If LePage wants to locate any business start-up’s in an area that has a workforce that is more than ready to work, he would be well served by coming up here to The County. And that is what LePage was elected to do. Not to lead but to be responsible for leading, be it good or bad. Leadership is not about being there when all is going good. It’s about being responsible when the roof caves in. It’s also about providing opportunity’s to shore it up, how to replace it safely and what to do when no one can agree on the ‘how’. Time to step up is now, not next Nov.
If I may, he threatened to veto his very first budget last March. He has threatened eduction budgets, and he has threatened nursing homes on THIS budget. If he is willing to publicly say that, then by no means should we assume “that too much has been made out of a veto”…
You made this cake Governor, start chompin on it.
“LePage says too much emphasis on threat to veto budget-balancing plan”
So, even he is surprised that anyone would take him seriously ?
Make them do the job they’re paid to do Gov. Seems the only thing coming from the Left is criticizim and no solutions.
The criticism is coming from both sides actually. Pay attention.
That the best you got ? More cynicism with no positive solutions?
The best I’ve got? I’m correcting you because you’re trying to dismiss the criticism as though it is coming from one side. It’s not. Both sides aren’t happy with LePage and his veto threats. That’s a fact.
I wasn’t dismissing anything.
Believe it or not, not all of your claims or statements are imperative or correct but most are cynical. That’s a fact. pay attention
The way he bullies everyone, has anyone else ever wondered what Mrs. Lepage’s life must really be like? Perhaps he doth protest too much about domestic violence?
and why do we never hear anything about his mother? We hear how abusive his dad was. where was mom? No wonder Mrs LePage lives in FL.
She lives in Florida and only shows up when there is a PR op. I also sincerely believe she is an abused women. He definitely has the characteristics of an abuser and an alcoholic. Believe me I can recognize those because I was married to one once upon a time.
I am also a survivor of a domestic abuse situation and I recognize the characteristics too. Abusers think they can bully and/or outsmart everyone. (Go to Washington and get a waiver for the Medicaid budget changes.) It also has been my experience that the ones who make the most noise about a situation are the ones who are actually engaging in it. You know—if people think that I am dead set against something they will never, ever think that I would actually participate in it. Just sayin’.
I won’t flag either of you; perhaps another fair-minded reader will.
Pond and Magic probably hit the nail on the head.. and YOU think THEY need to be flagged …
My abuser ( I admit I stayed too long cause I thought he would change) would, after abusing me, accuse me of letting him take my power away! LePage’s governing style has always reminded of that.
Everybody is hating Lepage, but no one has come up with a long term solution for this shortfall. Why do you say it, do the liberal solving thing. Just raise taxes on the working people for the one that don’t want to.
LePage, as governor, needs to stay out of the budget process and let the legislators do their job.
Who’s running this show, the Koch Bruthas or some ‘utha mutha’?
Perhaps someone needs to point out to the bonehead that if he stopped running his mouth and making threats the media wouldn’t be reporting HIS words. What a numbskull…
Paul knows 2/3 will overide his veto any way, he gains half a victory for his lies for now.
He threatens a veto but feels that fact is given too much emphasis? When you have aspirations to be “The Golden Penguin” and bask in the mindless adulation of the legislature you don’t need to make a lot of sense.
He’s always whining about something.
Where did BDN get a picture of LePage *without* his foot in his mouth.
I suspect a clever Photoshop job.
yesah
Well, this messenger with the bad news is not so popular.
He tries to “rule” the state as a personal fiefdom, not a democracy, through fear, threat, and bluster, and it’s the MEDIA’S fault ? Please.
If the media were really out to get him, we’d be reading daily revelations of how he treated underlings at Mardens.
Actually, my brother-in-law was a manager under him at Marden’s. He said as long as you did your job well you rarely heard from him. He had a lot of respect for him, and that’s who he voted for.
Oh dear: when he opens his mouth, stuff falls out.
This man has so much common sense I sense a second term.
If LePage would stop making outrageous comments, the press would not be quoting him. So long as LePage shoots from the hip with irresponsible comments, his comments will be reported.
Make threats to keep people in line and then criticize them when they object to being threatened. Who still needs more evidence that LePage is a bully? He can dish it out, but he can’t take it.
“LePage says that since 2002, enrollment has risen 78 percent, while Maine’s population has risen 7 percent. He says welfare spending has dramatically increased by $1 billion in the last decade.”
What better indictment of the great Republican robbery of 2001 to 2008 can be made ? Does the Guv understand why welfare spending has increased – why thousands of families ‘in Maine no longer have jobs ? Why the manufacturing base up and left the U.S. during that time ? Why welfare is all that is left for a huge segment of our population ?
Have you noticed that a typical response of any Republican is to take something away from you ? You know – your health care, your control of your own body (particularly women), your last safety net, your civil rights, your money ?
Exellent post. People need to wake up. The top 1% recieved 67% of the wealth generated between 2002 aand 2007. Now they want more. disgusting greed.
Did you ever notice that every Paul Lepage story (virtually a daily page one deal for the BDN) always has all the same posters commenting on each story, and they evidently have time to sit around all day posting the same things over and over.
News flash! For those who do not understand basic arithmetic, the State of Maine has far more money promised for future payments, for years down the road, than it can possibly raise the money for from taxation. When people who know about such things use the term “unsutainable” that is exactly what they are talking about.
Paul lePage is trying desperately to lead the movement that will be required to “restructure” how the state does its business, in order to balance future expenditures with revenues. Luckily for those deriving largesse from the state, both Dems and Repubs in the legislature are doing their best to thwart his efforts.
Those receiving state money in one form or another will, luckily, keep right on receiving the fruits of other people’s money, that which they feel they have a right to, for the near future at least. Beyond that I wonder what those folks will do when the state runs out of money completely.
It is impossible, based on any reasonable look ahead, at this point, to see any way to derive enough money from future taxation, in order to keep that gravy train funded. Just to pay the retirement system, in a few years, is going to take nearly half the entire revenue of the state. Where are they going to get the money to pay everybody else? Tax the rich? Ain’t happening folks, better make some plans before the end comes.
Of course those who don’t like Paul Lepage and his efforts can seek to recall/impeach him, that is if the laws of the state of Maine allow such a thing. I have seen dozens here post that this should be done. I wonder how many have looked at the statutes to see if that is even possible. Maine is not Wisconsin, or Washington, DC.
It is the same thing over and over from the Lepage haters. His voice, his hair, his weight, he is bully, he is this, he is that. Someone even suggests that he abuses his wife in these posts. All of this crap does absolutely nothing toward solving the problems of this state. Raising taxes and spending more on unsustainable programs has been tried before over and over and over. That has led us to where we are today. Someone needs to do something radical and responsible and soon to right this ship. To propose real change and to stand up to liberal policies that have become entrenched in our state is perilous. As you can see from reading these posts that if you do have the courage to stand up and say no you will be viciously and personally attacked over and over and over. Some posters here make no mention of the topic in the story. They go straight to name calling and ridiculing because that is what people do who really have nothing to say. Recalling Governor Lepage does nothing to solve the problems of this state. It also eliminates the one person who actually is trying to do something meaningful and not with gimmicks but with real change. Think Emily Cain is going to solve Maines problems? Not a chance. The status quo is no longer working folks. That is a fact. You can choose to ignore it if you want but these problems are not going away by themselves.
True Sir. It is not DC. But when, and if he is stupid enough, to try to seize the DHHS Budget, that’s over 70% funded thru the Fed’s, he’s going to find out that impeachment is going to be the least of his worries. He seizes, with out legal authority, those funds dedicated to the State DHHS Budget from the Fed’s and he’s looking at a stautory civil right’s violation at a minimum. Given the mood of the local Federal Judiciary, who’s getting a ringside seat looking at this right now, the Governor’s chances of slipping out of this aren’t looking to good right about now. And if he goes after the DOE Budget, as he has kept threatening to, then he might as well resign now and save the State Senate the trouble of holding an impeachment hearing. That and get ready to join Walker in Wisconsin for his mad dash to the Canadian border, one step ahead of a bunch of ‘ticked off’ voter’s who finally realize what they did last year.
This constant temper tantrum he keeps having is doing no one any good at all. The mere fact that the Legislature has crafted a bill to resolve this should, at a minimum, show that the problem has been recognized, is being worked on and will continue to be reviewed and modified as it develops. Trying to solve the DHHS Budget problem in a ‘Big Step’ manner is, at best, wishful thinking. At worst it shows that whoever is trying to solve it that way has a serious lack of appreciation of the situation and what it’s going to take, from Both Side’s’, to reach a final and permanent solutuon. That it’s being worked on, and partially resolved, is a huge step forward considering the situation and the current history.
Yes, and be sure to email a copy to Senator Nutting. He’s fascinated by these things and welcomes your support catching these people. And remember, read those letters that come in the mail saying they are not a bill. Those are “explanation of benefits” letters. By carefully examining them to ensure your health care provider is not double billing or padding your bill, you can take a bite out of crime. If people only knew that the fraud or misunderstandings that look like they might be fraudulent on the part of recipients are minuscule. There’s no way to make any real money as a client. The real fraud is being committed by the providers that misdiagnose, double bill, use incorrect billing codes, over-prescribe treatments that earn them kickbacks from suppliers etc. and for God’s sake, if you know who IPledgeMySacredHonor is, call the Provider Integrity Unity. I’ve never seen anyone so fascinated with fraud that wasn’t either an investigator or a hardcore fraudster themselves.
So how much are we allowed to Steal from You before you take Legal action?
Just want to know your limit level so we don’t go over it as long as it’s OK with you.
Thanks
P.S. Mine is ZERO !
I’m with you, misuse of tax dollars steals from us all.
http://lnk.co/IIFDQ
Words! You are full of them and people are getting sick of your threatening ways and acts of intimidation! Start by focusing your efforts on fixing corruption in state offices then address state welfare and health care issues! Stop running off at the mouth and making headlines that make you look like a want to be dictator and that only make things harder! Start helping the people in Maine, and the people in Maine will start helping you, that’s why you got voted in!!!
http://lnk.co/IIFDQ
Perhaps, if Mr. LePage doesn’t want the media reporting his words, then he shouldn’t say them in the first place.
( …yet another example of displaced reality.)
‘I should have bought it when I saw it at Marden’s!’
We did and unfortunately they have a no return policy on it.
Does the Banger Deadly also print a conservative edition?
Healthcare is not welfare, although Laplague and the radical right he represents would like you to believe that.
I wonder if that 1 billion figure includes corporate welfare? Probably not as that is in the 100″s of billions range.
Healthcare is not welfare? Really. When it comes to creating a dependent class and buying votes it is the same exact thing. The more people dependent on the government the more democrat votes. The more entitlements handed out the more democrat votes. Notice any trends here? Obamacare is the biggest vote getting scheme ever invented.
Changing the tax structure is an entirely different topic. I agree that we need tax reform so that the 50 percent of this country that doesn’t pay any federal income tax now can contribute their fair share. Good luck getting that passed.
There is a little problem with your logic. The poorest counties in Maine, therefore the most welfare and most dependent, voted for Mr LePage who ran as ???? Oh yeah a republican. Does not seem like he is doing much for them except kicking them to the curb. One has to wonder if they would like to take some of those votes back.
In all honesty though I believe they voted republican and I am beginning to think that Mr LePage is not the flag bear of the the republican party but is a member of the ultra right fringe.
In order to fix the problem in ways that will truly make a difference you are going to make all parties upset. Republicans and Dems. Being a so called flag bearer for one party is exactly what should not be done here.
I took your advice and reported WalMart to the AG’s office for welfare fraud. I explained how they have foisted the needs of their under employees on the tax payers in order for them to stack up $93 billion. Rampant food stamp abuse, rampant health care abuse, and rampant LLIHEAP abuse. I am patiently awaiting a response from the AG. Do you think that I will have to wait long and do you think they will take action. The rest of the welfare fraud in Maine is tiny compared to WalMart.
Then maybe LIEpage should stop bellyaching and threatening his veto every time he doesn’t get what he wants. My gosh, just put bars on the windows of the Blaine house and keep this guy in his crib.