AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine House on Tuesday gave initial approval to Medicaid cuts that are intended to help close a $120 million state budget shortfall, but the governor says they don’t go far enough to cut state spending.
The House vote was mainly a procedural step to get the bill in position for possible amendments before further House and Senate votes. There was no roll call taken for the vote, so it was impossible to gauge the level of support for a measure that would eventually need a two-thirds vote. A few amendments were being drafted, but it was uncertain if they would be offered during debate.
Gov. Paul LePage, who was due back in Maine on Tuesday after a three-day Florida vacation, has expressed reservations about much of the budget package, saying it doesn’t go far enough in reducing costs of MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program for the poor and disabled, which cost more than $552 million in state funds in fiscal 2011.
The governor has maintained the state will not be able to pay for the Department of Health and Human Service-administered programs past April if structural changes are not implemented now. He has criticized the cuts endorsed by the Appropriations Committee as insufficient and threatened to veto it. Addressing a two-year shortfall pegged at more than $220 million by the administration, the committee broke the budget into separate years to be dealt with separately.
The rhetoric softened Tuesday as his spokeswoman, Adrienne Bennett, said LePage would scrutinize any package that may emerge from the Legislature.
“We’ve got to see the results when it’s on his desk,” said Bennett. “He’ll read it like he does every bill.”
The supplemental budget before lawmakers seeks to make up for a revenue shortfall of about $120 million for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. Much of the shortfall would be addressed through MaineCare reductions. Additional cuts of more than $80 million for fiscal 2013, which starts July 1 of this year, are to be considered later in the session.
As approved by the Appropriations Committee, the budget reduces payments to childless adults by freezing enrollments, and reduces the income threshold for parents of children on MaineCare to 133 percent of the poverty level, affecting more than 14,000 parents.
State officials say 133 percent of poverty level for a household of four is $30,657.
Also, reimbursement rates would be reduced for some MaineCare services, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy.
WOW!
He says it doesn’t cut deep enough.
Who would have guessed?
I hope he’s not giving up his Florida vacation just to come back and VETO it.
Dust off your VETO pen Gov.
That’s a good idea. They’ll be less chance of infection once Maine voters stick it in his ear next November! We wouldn’t want him to run up any unnecessary personal healthcare cost.
I thought he said he wasn’t interested in running for a second term right from the start…he was going to do what was right for the people of Maine without regard for having to worry about re-election. I could be wrong but I thought he had said something like this — its not a direct quote just what I think I read.
Yes he did allude to not running again. However, has he said or done anything in the last year to make you believe anything that comes out of his mouth? No matter, it would be a joke even if he were to run for dog catcher in 2014. My comment is in reference to voting IN Democratic House and Senate majorities and crippling LePage’s efforts to do more harm to average Maine citizens.
You are right he did say right from the start that he wasn’t interested in two terms. Of course like everything else that comes out of his mouth that proved to be false. He has already had his first fund raiser for his second term.
All those contributions for his re-election must be “from away” because he can’t find any rich people in Maine.
And you expect that to be truthful? He has lied about everything else, why would he tell the truth about running for a second term?
He should stick to that statement and save himself the embarassment of a crushing defeat. But then again, he has been known to stretch the truth once in a while, like everytime he opens his mouth.
Trouble is the democratic party dosen’t have a leader anywhere in the state that can beat him ! Name one !
I heard the rumor floated out sometime in the last few weeks of Emily Cain possibly running. No idea about the truth beyond the soundbite though. I don’t know much about her either though.
That was just his excuse for being a vulgar outspoken blowhard!
“Gov. Paul LePage, who was due back in Maine on Tuesday after a three-day Florida vacation, has expressed reservations about much of the budget package, saying it doesn’t go far enough in reducing costs of MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program for the poor and disabled, which cost more than $552 million in state funds in fiscal 2011.”
Guess he really is concerned about the budget, he is coming back from FLA, he could have stayed!
If hell freezes over, and they build a monument for Paulie…it will look an awful lot like a urinal.
LOL!!!
LOL, I think it would end up being a urinal, no matter what it looked like.
very mature. you so wicked smart….. geez
Thanks Maine House! Nice to know that SOMEONE is WORKING TO MAKE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN in Maine while Mr. LePage is off on another Florida vacation. Now that Paul’s back we can expect another slow down in efficiency, communication, and fairness. Can’t wait for next November! Get those voting pens ready!
You mean he went home for the weekend.
why didn’t he stay there?
Hopefully the legislature will realize that the governor is right that the bill does not go far enough and they will have the courage to make the right decisions. It’s clear that Stillrelaxin and his faithful followers want to continue to believe that if they can just ignore the problem a little longer, it will go away. The trouble is, that’s what democrats have done for years, put a bandaid on the problem and wait for it to go away on its own. Any sensible person knows that we cannot wait any longer and the time for fixing it is now. Thank you Paul LePage for tackling this very difficult situation and handling it like a true professional.
No one is ignoring the problem. They are considering different ways to address the issues. That is what elected representatives are supposed to do. Any sensible person knows that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Kudos to the governor and the legislators for working on the problem, and kudos to Ms Bennett for letting us know that the governor intends to fully consider any alternatives proposed.
This cat can’t be skinned anymore. 40 years of cat skinning has not worked. Everyone one knows it, there may be people who don’t admit it but more and more people I talk with are fed up. Just as an aside I’ve been out collecting nomination signatures for R’s, many D’s have said they wish they could sign papers for a R candidate. Go figure! Ain’t that something???
I’m sure the Democrats just can’t wait to vote for a Republican. Guess all that tea can be intoxicating.
YOU VILL DO ZAZ I ZAY!!!!
Was LIEpage in Florida not paying his taxes again?
If he can be in Florida for 6 months and 1 day then he don’t have to pay Maine taxes..
Be interesting to know where his wife claims residency when she files her taxes, and where their personally owned vehicles are registered. No excise tax in Florida.
Let him fix the financial mess the liberals have gotten us in to and we might not need one either !
Just like Maine’s liberal elite who avoid Maine taxes while constantly advocating for more taxes for struggling Maine families.
The time for change is now. Do all the cuts you can Governor and don’t take no for an answer to save this state from the gimmee people in Augusta. Please stand firm.
He’s going to get a no and if he vetoes (which he will not do because he’s already worried about re-election), it will be easily over-ridden. In this case, the legislature is doing exactly what it was created to do – keeping an unbalanced governor in check.
Worried about re-election? I think that ship has already sailed.
don’t be so sure! There are many of us out here, in the real world, cheering at the top of our lungs!! Go Paul Go!!
Gee, I can’t hear you.
One thing about the governor that you must know, is that he is going to do what needs to be done regardless of re-election. There may be a lot of OWS types that post on here, but there is just as many voters that have had all the liberal BS that they care for.
The governor still has plenty of time to make life miserable for you.
Stereotyping people as OWS, liberal or whatever really makes you feel better about yourself doesn’t it? It’s all “us or them” in your world view. Sadly limiting and bitter.
That’s not stereotyping, that shoe fits perfectly.
Reelection?
His Campaign Treasurer, spent all the money at the bar!
LOL
I don’t think he is “worried” about re election. It is the old guard, R and D that is worried. Govs juts doing what he said he would do.
Gov. LePage has the awareness and common sense to realize most of the recipients of Mainecare are neither poor or disabled.
Mr LePage’s own numbers — 5% the elderly receive 55% of the benefit — and your point
She doesn’t have the awareness and common sense to come in out of the rain, maybe??
How is it that they qualify if they are not poor or disabled? Your statement is absurd.
How about 133% of the poverty level for a start.
133% over the poverty level is still poor, not middle class.
A single person it is less then $15,000 and a family of four it is less then $30,000.
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/11poverty.shtml
Awareness and common sense are mutually exclusive terms, when applied to governor lapudge.
He went to Husson Not Harvard Medical School!
He couldn’t recognise a Cold from the Flu!
How can you be so mean??? (tongue in cheek)
So many places that need fixing “in the system”..We need to ramp up enforcement on fraud. One thing for sure is that people should not be able to draw Unemployment and Social Security at the same time. Retired people are NOT going back to work, however they really appreciate that little supplement. I’m sure they are excited that the jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed will be renewed again.
Spot on. The libs want everyone to think if the government isn’t supporting you, you will die. It’s time to take the feeding tube out of the citizens of Maine and show them they can think and support themselves.
Do you have such an in depth insight into what liberals want because you are one? Or did you get that insight through the feeding tube you live on? Since you knowitall is it no longer necessary for you to think for yourself?
I’m not sure what your point is. If you read some of my other posts you will see I’m not a liberal. I happen to think for myself therefore I have no feeding tube. It appears I struck a nerve with you, so my guess is, you are one of the libs I was referring to. I know you have been brainwashed for many years. Please try to see the light and come over to the self supporting side of existence. If you need help getting here, I will be more than willing to help you. Seek and you shall receive. One step at a time, one day at a time. Before you know it you will be working your way right into independent living. Then you can step back and ask yourself, why do I need the government to tell me how to live my life? Let me be the first to welcome you to dry land. Live long and prosper.
I hope we cut hand outs to the well to do as well. No other group of people than the working poor gives more to help the poor as a percentage of income.A lot of the well to do give for political reasons, advertizing, or other reasons not just out off the kindness of thier hearts or Knowing what it is like to struggle.
It must be nice to be able to just go to Florida. Mr. LaPage could have better spent his money by donating it to the homeless or a food panty to help take care of the needy.
Lepage should pay for his own vacations just like Barry and Moochelle do. They always pay for their own vacations. Always. Every time. Yeah right. Focused like a laser on jobs……and golf.
Mr. Obama just submitted his budget. If you didn’t have the chance to read it, there are 350 million dollars of infrastructure in the budget. But I’m sure that won’t create any jobs. It also supports the middle class, closes corporate tax loopholes and increases taxes on the super wealthy. But I’m sure you don’t care about any of that, only the (D) next to his name. Partisan hack.
Maybe you should take a closer look at the budget. Obama’s fourth budget has now been released, which allows for a relatively full accounting of deficit spending during his four years in office. Not pretty. Adding all of it up, deficit spending during Obama’s four years in the White House (based on his own figures) will be an estimated $5.170 trillion — or $5,170,000,000,000.00. To help put it into perspective, if you take our deficit spending under Obama and divide it evenly among the roughly 300 million American citizens, that works out to just over $17,000 per person — or about $70,000 for a family of four. If that sounds good to you….who is the hack?
Why is he planning to cut our nuclear capabilities by 80%, per this morning’s news. This is planned after/if he is re-elected, so there will obviously be no recourse. With all our enemies building for all they are worth, one can only assume that he wants the US to be caught with their pants down. The worst thing that can happen is having Obama in office with no possibility for re-election in a second term. Then we are really going to see his anti American plan.
Budget deficit under Bush – 5.7 Trillion in 2001 to 10.7 Trillion in 2008. I’d much rather spend 5.17 trillion at home helping middle class families than 5 trillion overseas in two wars and tax cuts to the rich. That’s just me though.
Nice try. That is not the TOTAL debt…….. $5.170 TRILLION is merely the ADDITIONAL debt in the Barry O. years. Not the total debt. You might rather SPEND that money wherever doing whatever but…..it is money we don’t have getting spent at a rate we can’t sustain. Nice try on the blame Bush thing though.
Harry is 100% correct! nice try. Speaking of partisan hacks hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Of course the President pays for his vacations insofar as all the personal expenses such as hotel costs, meals, etc. just as all Presidents do. Public costs for mandated security measures and travel are required for national security purposes. Obama and vacations? Enough of the typical right wing hypocrisy. Your buddy Dubya lived on vacation at his ranch in Texas. Obama has done more for the middle class than your corporate worshipping Gordon Gekko cronies have ever thought of doing. LeBuffoon is a classic bumblefool, and the Maine GOP will be pounded to smithereens in November.
You mean like flying his dog to Bar harbor in a separate plane? Real savings there. He and Marie Antoinette couldn’t care less about anyone but themselves.
Gas prices are up 83% under Barry. How is that working for the middle class? And people like you blamed Bush for being in bed with the oil industry. Hmmmmmmmm. We’ll have to wait and see about Lepage being “pounded to smithereens” in November. Many people would like to see problems in this state. If he is able to overcome the liberal status quo of handouts for everyone another term might be possible. Let’s hope.
Geez, I remember paying more then $ 4.00 a gallon under Bush.I don’t see the national R’s doing anything but opposing anything that Obama would like.Jobs are not important to them.They know that big unemployment numbers are their friend.Protect the rich and vote against any plan that may increase jobs, great plan!
How about the D’s let us drill for oil in our own country. That will take care of the gas prices and Barry’s unemployment percentage problem.
Oh yes you are right. What was I thinking? The Keystone Pipeline was totally blocked by the Republicans right? NOT. And the way things are going with Barry O. you soon will FONDLY be remembering $4 a gallon gas under Bush. Jobs? Why worry about jobs. Barry O. is focused like a laser on jobs……and golf……and vacations.
LePage didn’t go on vacation. He went home for the weekend on our dime.
Lepage took a 3 day vacation. Barry and Michelle Obama went with 3 planes and 6 million dollars lol. About 6 times in 2011 alone! The people on these sites sound like broken records. I don’t understand why they want to make republicans sound like horrible human beings. We want to pay for the sick the elderly etc. but NOT for the able bodied americans just being lazy! I am so tired of the dems blaming someone else for everything.
In his second home in Florida…
Maybe, just maybe, gov’nah, the people of Maine do want MaineCare to pay for the disabled and elderly who will be out in the cold with deteriorating health. It’s not all about welfare fraud.
Florida is his first home. He has no home inMaine except for the Blaine House and that belongs to the people of Maine. He’s just a temporary resident living on taxpayer money!!
Doesn’t go far enough? It’s Gov. LePage that doesn’t go far enough, and needs to go far far away. More budget cuts? How about LePage moving out of the Blaine House; renting it out. Then LePage governing from his wife’s house in Florida.
Dust off your RESIGNATION pen Gov.
Jobs, East/West Highway/New and affordable energy sources/lower gas prices
He is a mess, but it is so nice that he takes the time to vacation.
I think we the residents of the State of Maine deserve to know whether our Governor is a believer in Hayek economics or Keynes economics. Hayek belief’s are of government backing off and free market rules. Keynesian belief’s are of government involvement and controls in markets. It has been historically proven that markets tend themselves and governments spread inefficiency. I have not seen the regulatory floors and ceilings eliminated so my guess he is a believer and practitioner of Keynes economics. The differences are not party exclusive. Richard Nixon (the Nixon Gold Shock) was a Keynesian believer and follower. Ronald Reagan was a follower of Hayek economics and brought the U.S. out of its then economic downturn. Margaret Thatcher was a believer in Hayek economics, and brought Great Britain out of socialism and harsh economic times. Anyone that lived through these periods has experienced how these two economic practices affect the economies and the people of states, nation-states, and the world. Our Governor should divulge his entire economic plan for Maine, as well as his basis of economic beliefs. I see much economic turbulence in Maine’s future if we have a Keynesian thinker leading our state.
Gee acadian I think you are asking a lot from Mr. LePage. The first thing he needs to do is find some people to work in his administration that actually know how to add and subtract.
Paulie thinks as he is told by the Kochs, no more, no less. Real time self-correcting markets only occur in the financial industry, and in the real world profits trump safety, security, and responsibility. In those areas, the correction moves at an evolutionary pace. Reagan? sure lets go back to his tax rate of 35%. Those republicans like to quote him, but they don’t like to be reminded of his near doubling of the defecit, or his Job killing tax rate.
Well said, BigPaw!!
To grow an economy with free markets and smaller government are the way to go. It appears that people get hung up on Democrat or Republican when the foundation is and always has been in economics. You fail to mention why Reagan’s tax rate doubled, and at what point in his presidency it doubled. I’ll help you; it was when he took office right after a Keynesian thinking president. Reagan contracted government as a Hayek thinker, thereby causing this affect in the short term. Breaking free of government and the contraction of government is a very painful economic process. Welfare occurs on many different levels and forms, and when contracted it hurts. The Reagan policies caused the economy to start growing again in his second term. The rewards are found in businesses, unfettered, by the bureaucratic process. In my first post I mentioned Nixon, another Keynesian. I remember a film footage some years ago of Milton Friedman (Hayek thinker) in a conference with Nixon. Nixon, his eyes rolling, could be seen disregarding everything Friedman had to say. Nixon’s economic practices of the times carried over for the next presidencies and were very evident on the street. Without the government hand in the pot you would be very surprised how many businesses and how trade would free up and quality of life would improve. However, we have those that are afraid for this reason or that. They maintain party ideologies in lieu of thinking and looking a little bit more into the belief intricacies of those who they are voting for. This is not about parties; this is about growing an economy.
Acadian, the main reason that the entire country is in such a mess right now is the simple fact that we are all recovering from an 8 year ‘Hayek’ing’ courtesy of George the 2nd. While I may not be a big fan of Obama, I am seeing that some from of responsible Keyesian gov’t oversight is needed. The Financial Service’s and Banking Sector’s recent abuses more than justify serious oversight. Courtesy of George the 2nd, these 2 sectors were totally gutted of oversight. The resulting meltdown, caused by these 2 sector’s being deliberately unattended, is now the reason why the current GOP is so vocal about the Dodd-Frank Act’s oversight provision’s coming into play. Because of this Act, the Bank’s and Financial Services Sector are now going to have to go back to being a responsible institution. Dodd-Frank also EXPRESSLY prohibit’s them from tieing their funds together for financial speculation purpose’s. That’s what the Investment Bank’s are for. The Business Bank’s are their for the business community, like checking account’s, business loans and the like. Glass-Stegall was instituted in the 30’s for this express purpose, the safety of the depositer. George the 2nd stripped that away and we’ve all seen the result’s, haven’t we ? Why some people are so gung-ho to go back to the days of George the 2nd, and take a financial high-dive in to an empty monetary pool, is beyond me. But hey, if you’re a 1%’er, you go the money to cushion the fall, don’t you ?
sorry mike but the blame bush era is over. anyone who thinks that bush created the current situation is one of the brainwashed dems that obama loves. its taken many politicians from both parties to screw us this badly.
blame the rich, blame the corporations, blame wall street, blame the banks. how about we look at the real problem, and blame the politicians. they have over a period of many years collected money for themselves by selling their votes and support to the highest bidder. now they are spreading the blame to anyone else. yet they still have their salaries and all the perks and are continuing to grab more power.
Do you believe that Bush II was a Hayek thinker? When did he demonstrate or practice Hayek economics? In regards to Obama you stated “…some from of responsible Keyesian gov’t oversight is needed”. Obama is another who has not reduced government manipulation in the markets, but if anything has expanded it. Keynesians do not practice “oversight” they move towards centralization and governmental controls over the economy. They attempt to manipulate the market through available means and the results as history has proven around the globe have not been good. The now defunct U.S.S.R practiced Keynesian economics.
But, Gov., they either don’t understand english, or have trouble in math!
He is so concerned with this he was in Florida…he must know he has a chance of not making it another 4 years here and is probably launching a dual campaign in Florida to run for Governor as well.
No — in four years he is going to take his Maine State Retirement ( 37.5 % of his income $ 26,250.00 per year ) with full benefits and move to Florida year around — suppose he will take Lauren with him
Lauren will go with him, only if he can finagle some kind of long-distance consulting job for her in Augusta …
I and many others would probably donate some money to the Paulie for Florida campaign, it would be easier than a recall.
You could always print his photo from these articles and drop it in the crapper before use if that’s what you want to do.
They should make toilet paper with that image on it. It will be a big seller. Open for business.
Time for Paul to pack up his carpet bag and head back to Canada, Florida, Jamaica or where ever he is from and let the people run this State.
the people? where have you been? its been a long time since the people ran any level of government.
I think last Nov. with same day voter registration result spoke volumes about government by the people.
we have to make all these cuts to all depts so the gov. and lawmakers can still have all there perks i wish someone would pay for my 3 day vacations or my mileage to go to work and back sorry i seem so cynical but being the working and taxed to the hilt class is getting old way too fast
I think all the legislature and senate get those same benefits too ! All parties. Lepage walks to work !
Maybe instead of complaining and saying “it is not enough” he himself should present his plans. He will not do this however because he is too nervous of criticism keep all the heat he can off of him. Or maybe its because his cabinet members are dropping like flies.
dont you recall all the bleeding hearts crying about the budget he put forward? he presented a plan, the dems did not want to cut any “aid to the poor”, even if we cannot afford it. the dems think that we need to raise taxes. they cannot understand that we the people are already paying too much, and that government is too big and continues to grow. “welfare” grew by aprox 80% in the last ten years, there is no way we can keep giving to everyone. someone needs to pay the bill, and borrowing money at the fed level and taxing more on every level has created a very bad economy that has no hope of improving as long as government continues to grow.
I am- almost daily- rewarded with proof that I voted for a person who has the courage, brains and self-confidence required to adjust State spending DOWN to a reasonable yet adequate levels.
Or go down in history as one of the few who honestly tried.
yep you are right.
Suddenly he wants to ‘scrutinize’ the Legislature’s Bill ? Gee, I wonder why ? Maybe it’s because he’s been shown the writing on the wall, not to mention the very real possibility of being subject to both a formal impeachment hearing and a Federal Contempt hearing the minute he tries to seize Federal funds directed to both the DHHS and the DOE, the minute he opens his mouth with anything more than a ‘Let’s talk about this’ opening. LePage is in over his head and the recent GOP Caucus ‘bunny hump’ shows just how bad this is going to get unless someone in the State GOP grab’s little Paulie by the scruff of the neck and tan’s him pretty good, poltically, to get his attention. It is way past time for Charlie Webster to go have a little ‘talk’ to Paulie and get him straightened out.
For the 1st time in a V-E-R-Y long time the Legislature, on both sides, are actually talking to each other and working to solve the State problem’s, as much as they can be internally to the State, as quickly and practically as possible. What is fast becoming painfully obvious is that the only part of the State’s Gov’t that isin’t working to solve the problems is the Governor. All we’re getting out of Blaine House is a constant No, No on anything that even comes close to a solution simply because LePage deems it to either not pass his personal ‘stinky finger’ test, or worse, he deems it not worthy of discussion and debate simply because he didn’t think of it 1st. That’s arrogance by any standard I know of. It’s also fast becoming seen as the accepted means of operating of the Governor’s Office. He uses that ‘stinky finger’ test as a yardstick for any veto and he’s gonna see just how ‘stinky’ things can get when the Legislature starts overiding his veto’s on a daily basis. ‘Ticking off’ the Legislature when it’s actually working is not only not smart politics, it’s also usually the last gasp of an arrogant and outmoded system that is finally seen for what it is. The ‘My way or the highway’crowd looks to be running ouuta’ gas. The only question that has to be asked now is where does the car run out and finally come to a halt ? And that is a question we will all have time to ponder between now and Nov.. That and what do we do next.
I wonder what this bill would look like if the legislature and the senate were limited to ONE TERM in office. Most of these jokers have been there to long and are more worried about what the voters will think than fixing the hole that they have created.
Poor, you’ve hit on the BIG issue that comes with government and politics, that being that in order for government to actually be effective it needs a historical basis, and memory, to work from. The current term limit’s (and I am all for them by the way) criteria is designed to prevent a political party ‘dynasty’ from happening which leads to, over time, an almost One Party Gov’t. That was what the writer’s of The Constitution were so strongly trying to keep from happening. But the writer’s never conceived of, and couldn’t given the times they were writing it in, a society such as ours, so diverse in political position’s and responsibilities, that the lessons of each generation would be lost.
Government, no matter what your position is on them, needs a historical basis to work off of. It’s like the old Physical Science’s class’s you took in high school. Theory, experiment, record, analyse and learn. The big problem is that government’s, on the average, don’t bother to record their action’s, and the consequences, very well. The most tragic example of this was in Bush 2 when the Glass-Stegall was repealed, that was put into law when FDR came in. Prior to Glass-Stegall, the bank’s oversight was non-existent and they started to use depositer’s fund’s, not the bank’s fund’s, to speculate on the stock market. When the stock prices couldn’t be sustained at inflated prices, the bank’s suddenly used their depositer’s fund’s to absorb their loss’s, not their own. When Bush 2 repealed Glass-Stegall the bank’s were more than ready to go back to the old day’s and started to use depositer’s fund’s, and now they had how many 401k’s to use with no oversight, to invest in. And when these same stock’s and bond’s started to falter thru speculation and artificial price ‘jacking’ these same banks did what they always do. Stick it to their depositer’s and claim ignorance and surprise. That’s why it is so important for Government, at all level’s, to keep a record of what they do and how well it worked out, one way or the other. And that’s why what is commonly called an ‘institutional memory’, and a real Civil Service, beyond the reach of petty politics, to keep it remembered. How many Mainer’s who worked, and retired from, State Gov’t, every year, are called back by their boss’s when their boss’s ‘suddenly’ can’t find something ? That’s the practical result of the concept of Term Limit’s being applied to a Civil Service. That these same politician’s keep ‘forgetting’ what has been so painfully learned, repeatedly no less, is what the voter’s need to be educated on. More importantly, it’s what Maine needs and the Country deserves.
For the 1st time in a V-E-R-Y long time the Legislature, on both
sides, are actually talking to each other and working to solve the State
problem’s,
i would guess that the dems are now talking to the repubs for a change. we have had a dem run state for some time and the problems have grown out of control. and now, when the repubs are in control, the dems find a need to talk to the other half.
What a poor excuse for a human being Laaplague is. Cut taxes for the rich to create the budget shortfall and put the elderly and sick out on the street to pay for it.
He should replace the revenue stream he gave away in tax cuts to his wealthy supporters.
Hey, if LePage doesn’t like it, he can leave. Don’t let the door hit ya…
….
If it doesn’t go far enought how about if LePage takes a cut in his salery? He’s way overpaid for the job he is doing. Everytime he opens his mouth all he does is cause more controversy He must think all us Mainers are stupid people for us to go along and believe all his nonsense.
Spoken like a true deomocrat, shame on Paul for being fiscallly responsible, shame on him for wanting to balance budget. You people are a joke! He should be paid double what your Governors, the people who got us in the financial mess we are in. He is right to believe some Mainers are stupid, people like you. People who just piess and moan but offer no real solutions, GO GET EM PAUL
The financial mess we’re in came from 30+ year of trickle-down voodoo. Eight of those years were presided over by a pseudo-cowboy / pseudo-commander and chief, while Wall St, Banking, Mortgage lenders and other got drunk. W. executed two wars, and enacted Medicare Part D and gave Huge Tax cuts to the 1%, all unpaid for. Yet before leaving office W. managed to give a large chunk of the US Treasury to failed Wall before handing the keys to Obama.
And now we have that same mentality, (tax cuts and de-regulate) at the state level telling us it’s the answer, after all look how well it worked at the federal level. The 2010 Republicans will prove on Nov 7, 2012 to have been a bad mistake in history.
WHATEVER BVD, you are willfully blind if you think dhs and maine care and all the allowed abuses that have long been going is not a huge problem, WAKE UP, PUT THE ROACH CLIP DOWN, SAY NO TO CRACK OR WHATEVER YOUR SMOKIN
All those on maine care are not drug users. Dclarkus stay off the bathsalts. You have no clue what your talking about.
Well let me tell you a story. I was at Wal Mart 2 weekends ago and this guy and gal, both smelled like burnt grass, ask me if I would like to use their card to buy my stuff and in turn I would only have to pay them 50% of what it all came to in cash. When i asked them why, they said it does not matter why and got very angry with me. I declined thier very generous offer and off they went piessed at me! I do believe in a welfare system. There are people who desperately need help and i want to help them. But the current system is feeding drug habits and there are far too many loosers like the 2 I ran into on our welfare. They are addicted and will do whatever too get the drugs or booze they crave. The current system is enabling them. Sorry I have carried on too long and it is time for some more bathsalts, Hey O have a great day!
Declarkus you’re very bitter with society If you don’t like this country the door is open for you to leave. Enjoy your bathsalts.!!
I LOVE my country and wants whats best for it but I am not willing to turn my head and refuse to see that it has flaws. The welfare system is a tax sucking fraud and you seem to be ok with it. I am not. I do care about my education but I am not going to thump my chest and stick my nose in the air over it. Have a great day O! AND GO GET EM PAUL!
That psuedo-cowboy as you so ridiculously put it, had a gas price of $1.61 when your hero obama took over. He also had an umemployment rate of 7% maybe you should do your research before spouting about trickle down. Obama should be a man and take responsibility for what his actions have caused!
How ridiculously to think you need to research something you lived through. What Bush handed to Obama more closely resembled how a toddler leaves a badly soiled diaper vs. keys. No worries, your delusions of grandeur will be put to rest Nov 7, 2012.
huh??? You did not make a bit of sense.
I have no doubt that I could speak in tongues and it would make more sense than anything the Republicans have spoken in years.
Dclarkus , did you graduate high school? Doubt you did. I don’t see your solutions to fix this mess.
Sorry O I did graduate from high school and Husson but who cares. If you could read you would see that i agree with what the Gov is doing. He is not going to write a check that will bounce. We are out of money thanks to you dems who give out welfare to anyone who asks. He is trying to be fiscally responsible, something that is foreign to you I am sure. My solution is Paul Lepage
Well if you did graduate then I hope you know the word competent. This is not about dems vs republicians. Out of money cause of the dems? You got to be kidding. This is about Economy ( while your at it look that word up to) This is about finding solutions to these problems. I’m sorry you don’t care about your college education, that’s the problem right there. You don’t care.
amen!! I am one of the selfish people that think I should be able to keep my own money too! I am one of the idiots that think that when you are out of money you should stop spending and make cuts. I guess we are just wayyyyyyyyyyyyy out there!
AMEN SISTAH!!!
Long and short of it, this guy is a sack. He needs to be given same at earliest opportunity
We can’t give everything to everybody just because somebody somewhere has a need. We all have needs. We wall have wants. There has always been and always will be poor, sick and hungry people. I am sorry people but we will never, ever change that. Remember, stealing from one man and giving to another is still theft. Theft and redistribution by the government workers is not charity, it is THEFT, regardless the motive.
$30,000 for a family of 4 and still able to get MainceCare is wrong!! The level of income should be much lower!!
I agree!!! They also need to make it 1 year before anyone moving into this state can get benefits. I see so many that say they move here because the benefits were so easy to obtain in Maine!!
Do you believe that Bush II was a Hayek thinker? When did he contract government and truly push and promote privitized businesses as the key? Obama?
Shouldn’t we have a comment about MMA now, this just isn’t any fun with out those anti MMA comments. LMBO
How nice that he gets to take a vacation (even if it is only three days) during the legislative session. I can guarantee that no one else associated with the Legislature is taking any time off. Also, if LePage reads every bill, what to heck does his staff and department heads do? After all it is the department heads who are the experts. A good administrator hires good people to do good work so that the administrator does not need to do the menial work. But, I fear that LePage trusts no one and thinks he is the expert at everything.
Still need a drug testing program for all gov.funded assistants programs like TanF don’t pass no help.If I have to be drug tested to keep my job no reason they shouldn’t be drug tested for free tax payer money.
On vacation – that’s why we didn’t hear the sounds of his idiocy over the weekend. For a while there, I thought he had wised up and decided to let the other branch of government do its job. No such luck. He’s back and back to the same old same old.