AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage accused Senate Democrats Friday of resorting to obstructionism for blocking a bill to close a budget gap at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Twelve Senate Democrats opposed the budget bill Thursday night, calling it “fend for yourself economics” and criticizing its cuts to the state’s MaineCare program. Three Senate Democrats voted in favor of the bill.
In a Friday morning statement, the governor thanked Republicans for their leadership on the budget bill and credited Democrats in the House, who supported the measure, for their cooperation.
“While there has been some progress, there is still much work to do and Thursday evening’s actions by most Senate Democrats show their unwillingness to reach a solution,” LePage said. “Their strategy to solve this $221 million shortfall is still unclear after 74 days since I’ve presented this plan.”
LePage said Senate Minority Leader Barry Hobbins, who supported the bill, “has shown a willingness to work with the majority, unlike others in the caucus who resorted to obstruction.”
In a swift response, Assistant Democratic Leader Sen. Justin Alfond of Portland said LePage’s criticism wasn’t helpful.
“We believe solutions are attainable and we are here today working on trying to make this a better deal for the people of Maine,” he said in a statement. “We are obligated to take a balanced approach that will take care of the needs of Maine people — not a plan that is short-sighted with long-term consequences.”
After weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, House members approved a supplemental budget late Thursday that addresses an immediate shortfall in DHHS.
The compromise budget bill, LD 1816, cuts approximately $120 million from the current fiscal year through a combination of changes to MaineCare eligibility and shifting funds from various accounts. It also includes an additional several million in savings across state government identified by a budget streamlining committee last fall.
Some Senate Democrats objected to a last-minute amendment passed in the House which preserved for Republicans a phase-out of fees that fund the state’s Dirigo Health program. In exchange, Democrats won a softening of planned cuts to hospital reimbursements.
Democrats in the Senate argued that the amendment was negotiated “behind closed doors.” They didn’t see the amendment until 4:30 p.m. Thursday, after LePage and tea party Republicans upped the political pressure to put an end to the Dirigo fees, Alfond said in an interview.
“We were supposed to go upstairs and vote an hour later on this budget that’s going to affect 32,000 Mainers,” he said.
Alfond said the choice to break with his minority leader was difficult, but he has felt all along that a more balanced approach was possible. Senate Democrats are discussing alternative budget packages with their Republican counterparts today and through the weekend, he said, declining to offer specifics.
The amendment received unanimous approval from members of both parties who serve on the Legislature’s budgetary committee, Senate President Kevin Raye, a Republican from Perry, said in a statement.
“It is disappointing that 12 Senate Democrats broke with Senate Republicans, House Democrats and House Republicans and that the prospect of the Department of Health and Human Services running out of money in April is now back on the table,” he said. “The irresponsible action of Senate Democrats in playing Russian Roulette with the DHHS budget puts at risk the well-being of Maine’s most vulnerable citizens and the health care providers who serve them,” he said.
The Senate is expected to revisit the budget bill next Tuesday. Once it passes, the budget goes to LePage, who then has 10 days to sign it, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature.
The measure stopped short of LePage’s plan, unveiled in December, to cut MaineCare coverage for 65,000 residents to save $220 million over the next two years. The Appropriations Committee rejected some of the governor’s initiatives, devising a plan to tackle this year’s $120 million gap.
An additional $80 million in proposed cuts to the DHHS budget for 2013 are expected to be debated in a separate bill later this month.
This is the pivot in LePage’s single term. Voters in SD20 sent a message in the election of a new Senator who campaigned on opposing Paul LePage’s disastrous policies. The 61% are paying attention now more than ever to plurality Paul.
It is indeed unfortunate that our obstructionist Governor has a four year term and that the coming electoral reversal that the GOP will suffer in the House will mean stalemate if LePage continues to bluster and bully as if he were a junk store boss and not govern. Perhaps if we are lucky he will like Sarah Palin choose to only serve a half term. He can move to Florida where his family’s residency is well established.
61%. Please. You guys make me laugh.
Libby 19% gonna run again?
How bout Scarcelli? She ought to be in prison for her hit site on Cutler.
But then again..that’s how you libs roll right?
Seems to me the obstructionists here who are now going to get the heat are your liberal friends in the Senate.
I laugh when I see those silly stickers on the cars of those progs dumb enough to have them. Like they think all 61% were for their crazy brand of stupid. They’ll be lucky to get 35% with the field of hacks and losers that are bound to run next time. It will be fun to watch them all meltdown when LePage wins a second term. Maybe the hospitals should stock up on painkillers for all the LDS (LePage Derangement Syndrome) sufferers that are bound to need help when it all goes south for them.
Yeah…don’t hold your breath for your predictions to come true…
Its so funny that the same democrats who recklessly bought votes with unsustainable welfare programs now obstruct the grown-ups tasked with fixing their mess. I just hope they cut up the credit cards of these idiots once we have got the state of Maine back into decent fiscal shape. If that is even still possible. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Here Here!
When corporate welfare is eliminated then and only then can your make these arguments. We know what got us into this mess and it is not the people of Maine.
Lol Maine is ranked last as a good place to do business and you cry about corporate welfare? Your point of view wold be laughable if it wasn’t so reckless.
But that ranking had nothing to do with corporate welfare. Energy costs, growth prospects, and regulatory environment (meaning we like to keep Maine as pollution free as possible) were the main reasons for that ranking. “Unfortunately, if we went down the path of saying what can we do to
move Maine from 50th to first on the Forbes list, we may find that in
doing so we compromise a lot of the things that we value in the state
and that make us a unique and desirable place to live, work and play,”
Martin said. “The Forbes ranking is heavily skewed toward states that
have a host of policies that are not necessarily good for workers or for
the environment and that, quite frankly, don’t reflect the dynamics of
the Maine economy.” Who is laughable?
Its all About which way the wind is blowing for the liberal dem. people in gov. anything for votes just as long as they keep their positions and benefits after all its their entitlement is it not
Name one.
Baldy, emily cain, libby mitchell, mike michaud, etc, etc,etc.
Well the Liberals basically handed Republicans 2 issues they can easily run on successfully. The MSHA lavish spending debacle , and now this farce of a budget they voted down. This cemented their status now of being the Party of NO , and the Party of Welfare for everyone. The Democrat Party in Maine are taking a pounding in the local TV news Media (Bangor, Portland) and Talk Radio because of their actions. Everyone is angry that they are holding our state hostage. They could have benefitted from the problems the Republicans had self-inflicted on themselves as of late. But now with the MSHA coming out with all of this lavish spending of the last 13 years and now the Democrats basically doing what they did last night in the Senate. They may have cost them the momentum they had the last few weeks in just 1 day. If they don’t get a budget past and it hurts their voting block of Welfare Cases with them all losing their benefits it will be game over.
No not everyone is angry. But I can understand that those who have a constant diet of talk show verbal vomit might be feeling a little off. We can all agree that fraud, irresponsible spending, and criminal behavior needs to be dealt with, but there is plenty of that on both sides of the aisle.
Did you even read te article? They are most likely going to vote for it Tuesday. The reason they voted no was because an amdement was added very late and they didn’t have time to research.
Those stickers Should read I am with the other 60.9 % who are Clueless LOL
Of course if there was truth in advertising they would put I am in the 47% who dont pay their fair share, ie I have no skin in the game because I pay no taxes, so spend spend spend!
Save the statistics!
I Do believe! Lepage is A Crook!
Yet it is the former Dem legislator doing the perp walk to jail after stealing from the MTA. Soon to be followed by the former Dem legislator who is the MSHA director. A pattern is emerging here.
What Liberals like him also fails to mention that the low income weatherization program folks like him support. That folks including him have touted on here. That is supposed to be only for the elderly and disabled through LIHEAP with all the money instead went to Democrats in Augusta or had ties to Augusta does anyone remember that. Most of the money went to current and Former Democrat Legislators Emily Cain, Joanne Twomey, Bill Diamond, Nancy Sullivan, Peggy Rotundo, Justin Alfond , Former Lewiston Mayor Larry Gilbert. Liberals need to take a look at their own because these folks have done some unethical to criminal like behavior.
Do you believe LePage is a crook because he is a Republican? Just another ad hominem attack by you, I must say.
LePAGE DERANGEMENT SYNDROME: Malady most appropriately attributed to conservatives who support, believe, and repeat often anything they hear out of the mouth of their Loathsome Leader Lying LePage.
CURE: Opening eyes, ears, and mind (i.e. Waking Up!)
LePage is despised by the people of Maine – well, by those of us who aren’t fools, anyway – and with good reason. This buffoon has about as much chance of being re-elected as Ahmadinejad has of being welcomed to Israel as a guest of honor.
The people of Maine aren’t morons. We know darn well that this schmuck couldn’t care less about the wellbeing of this state. The only reason he isn’t universally despised is because there are some whose knee-jerk hatred of socialism blinds them to what’s really going on around them.
Be careful Steve. You’ve got a huge streak of moderate and common sense showing ! And thank God for it. LePage is gonna’ put you on his ‘No Christmas Card’ list at this rate. Nice to not the only one in that boat.
Do you really want to play this game? Fraud committed by Nutting and Burns (both Republicans). Poliquin actually broke the rules of the Constitution — can’t get much worse than that. It does no good to pitch one side against the other. The majority of legislators work very hard to make good decisions for our citizens. It is easy for everyone to sit back and criticize. BTW, if you call Occupiers Communists what do you call tea party people?
Revolutionary capitalists.
“The majority of legislators work very hard to make good decisions of our citizens”. So is that why we keep having a massive shortfall every year in the Maine Budget. Because of the mistakes , the out of control spending habits and welfare program expansion from the Democrats. The finger pointing and blame goes with the Democrats. The Maine people and it’s taxpayers want jobs, more businesses, growing our Infrastructure roads, bridges, east-west highways, better communications etc.. They didn’t expect a Lavish out of control Welfare State and Nanny State. With folks who are on Welfare doing better than us who work our butts off to support these bums. The Investing the Liberals keep telling us will help grow Maine has done the opposite. Our state is dead last or in the bottom half in everything from the Economy, Schools , Infrastructure. Top 3 in Welfare, Top 5 t0 8 states in terms of high taxes. It is not a record that if I am a Democrat which I am not (Independent) I would be ashamed of. It is not a record Democrats should be proud of running on any election cycle.
It takes both sides to pass legislation. And, as I stated before, most legislators have good intentions – not Democrats, not Republicans; both. We so need to work together to make things better for all Mainers. We need to put people to work. And, we do not want people living on welfare all of their lives. The people who can, should work. However, there are people who cannot work because of disabilities. Plus, we have many elderly people who worked hard all their lives and need help. We should not deny them the help they need.
Now that is the first rational, common sense comment I have read here tonight. Thanks for posting.
Corporate welfare accounts for how much in lost revenue to the state? Public assistance wages cost the taxpayers how much?
Stop with the corporate welfare nonsense that is not Maine’s problem. Maine has a major spending problem, they have very high taxes, a Welfare Problem. They also have awful infrastructure with no east-west highways to ship goods, no rails in rural areas to ship goods with the rails being ripped up for nature trails. They have an awful communications system with Fairpoint. We here in Maine should be signing deals with Hydro Quebec and New Brunswick Power to lower our costs for electricity. These are issues that Augusta should be fixing but they are not. They are worrying about appeasing voting blocks.
Rails are being ripped up because there is no demand for the tracks. Maine is old.
They are ripped up because the Liberals always wanted to do everything they could to kill jobs here in Maine and appease the Enviros. That is why we have a few rails left here in Maine instead we get these pathetic walking trails that do nothing. These trails do not create jobs it makes the enviros feel good protecting what grass and dirt that is all it does. They are using nonsense and foolishness about the proposed East-West Highway from Calais Border Crossing to Sherbrooke , Quebec Canada through Coburn Gore. That it will hurt trees, dirt, cause disruption to certain animals, bugs etc.. Are you freaking kidding me. This is the same garbage they did to the last East-West Highway proposal from New Brunswick Border to Southern New Hampshire going through Central Maine into Fryeburg into New Hampshire. Anything if it is Railroads, East-West Highways, Power Plants, getting low cost power from Hydro Quebec and New Brunswick that can lower business costs that can create jobs these stupid Liberal Groups pop up from nowhere to stop it. That is why Maine is in the toilet economically (50th last). I ask Liberals what has your Wind Turbines, Weatherization, Nature Trails, Land Buys, National Park proposal gotten us for jobs. I will tell you NOTHING. Just more taxpayer dollars flushed down the drain for absolutely no fiscal benefit to the Maine People.
Of course it is Maine’s problem. People who work and still need public assistance are a welfare problem because those they work for do not pay their workers well enough to not qualify. Taxpayers subsidize these businesses. That need to stop. And tax breaks for corporations that are making billions in profits a year needs to stop. If you cannot run a business without help from the government should you even be in business?
Stop playing class warfare and criticizing business. Businesses aren’t the problem. We are suffering from Liberal Maine Democrat Policies from December 1974- December 2010 are what is putting Maine into the dumps. Maine should be investing in helping businesses and working people. Not helping people jump on the Welfare Wagons. We need to help grow jobs, fixing up, building up and expanding our infrastructure, lower taxes , eliminate most to all stupid business and environmental regulations. If folks like you want a Welfare State that is your choice you can fund it. But us working people we are fed up with having to pay for people who refuse to get off their butts away from the tv, away from the computer and facebook . Also stop paying for other Liberal Programs that don’t work such as Dirigo Health we keep creating. I am pro-business , pro-jobs, pro- infrastructure , lower taxes , more freedom. If you want a Welfare Haven with everyone jumping on the wagon, fraud running rampant. With little to no job creation, roads and bridges in decay with full of pot holes etc. that is your choice you folks can fund that type of government. But I voted for change in 2010 and will vote for even more change in 2012 because we need to continue fixing the problems Liberal Demcorats caused.
You need to stop calling welfare reciepeants Bums!
Get a job!
“You need to stop calling welfare reciepeants bums”. Typical Ignorant Liberal Response attack everyone if you have nothing to say when you know they are losing the battle. Are you scared that LePage is gonna kick you folks off the Welfare System waahhh want a crying towel. I don’t think the Republicans and him are going far enough they should kick everyone off the system. Anyone who sits home and does nothing claims to be disabled they sit home watch tv, play computer but is able chase the mailman everywhere for their Welfare Checks, SSDI, WIC, LIHEAP, free Spring- Labor Day Electric Bills because they qualify for LIHEAP, Free Cell Phones because of MaineCare & LIHEAP is a bum to me. Anyone including YOU!!! who can sit their on the computer all the time attack all of us including me defending this failed system wanting us to pay more taxes so you can all live the good life shows how elitist, ignorant, arrogant and out of touch all you Liberals are . The Maine people spoke loud and clear by voting out the Democrats. We are tired of having to go to work and do things honest having our tax dollars redistributed to those who don’t do things honestly. We take cuts, change work schedules to do everything we can to keep our jobs but it isn’t enough for the Welfare Bums and the Welfare Appeasers who support more Welfare Expansion. You want us to pay higher taxes so you can live the good life that is why people like me are fed up. LePage and the Republicans aren’t going far enough in my opinion they should start booting everyone who collects it then put those who are truly needy on it and just pay for those folks. The time is here to make the cuts and put Maine onto a better fiscal path. We can’t have these shortfalls anymore and working folks we don’t want our taxes raised anymore period. Cut baby Cut is the answer. If anyone including you lose your Welfare benefits I have no sympathy towards you as I said earlier in the post want a crying towel.
Kinda like the obstructionist in Congress,huh? Well, quite a difference, at least quite a few d’s are willing to compromise.Compromise is a word that doesn’t exist in Congress with the r’s.Ther is no compromise with them until they got clobbered in the last taxextension deal..
We can only hope that he will not finsh his 4 year term in office.
Be careful.
Some would think that is a threat of of terrorism.
But I know that you mean after the election he might quit just like Sarah Palin did.
I agree!!!!
In Maine, who is like the “vice Gonvenah ” ?
The alternative to Lepage is Kevin Raye, which isn’t any better…if Lepage quits!!
But it goes with the position, right ?
I think we identified a critical race in the next election.
; )
Kevin Raye wouldn’t be Governor he is running for Congress he is term limited after April. You would likely have Bob Nutting as Governor if LePage got impeached but never going to happen Liberals themselves say they wouldn’t have the votes to impeach him.
LePage bragged when running for office that he is going to create jobs. So how is the big mouth doing ? He thought he could just jump in and snap his finger and change the world.
His bully tactics are showing he is a fool and anyone with any common sense can see this.
The republican party must be really depressed that they supported this fool.
I thought he wasn’t going to say anything until he got the bill.
The Lepage Half-Bakery is in full production.
Obviously Senate Democrats hate the working people of Maine, but love their special interest groups. This bill had the support of the committee UNANIMOUSLY.
I agree. It’s sad to see liberal partisanship sinking this bill that both sides had worked on and carefully negotiated. The people of Maine are the losers here.
So looking out for the best interests of the people of Maine is “liberal partisanship,” is it? Sounds about right to me. We should all be thankful that these 12 senators had the guts to stand up for what’s right. Too bad there aren’t more politicians who had their integrity.
Last week Mr. LePage was beside himself in opposition to this bill, running around waving his hands in the air, sitting in committee meetings holding his breath, turning blue, threatening to veto it.
This week it’s his pride and joy. Mean and nasty Democrats are unreasonable for not passing it so he can hurry, hurry, hurry and sign it.
Give me a break.
I agree. He just boggles the mind doesn’t he?
LePage should calm down, he could break one of those bulging veins.
that gets to the heart of the matter.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Charlie Webster did the same thing in 1991, unanimous committee budget, they all, including Republicans who voted for the budget in committee, voted against passage on the floor. I guess it was ok when they did it, but not ok when Democrats do it?
When you balance cuts in corporate welfare with cuts in human welfare you will get a bill that most sensible people can support.
….
And thanks to the senators who stood up for the people, and against the MHPC, ALEC, and their stooge, Paul Laplague.
“you can’t markdown a person’s health and life and put them on clearance”
Oh no, that’s right we can only bundle ’em up and use ’em as collateral to acrue more government debt via the progressive’s centralized banking system…cool, got it
Excellent comment, you certainly do have a way with words.
belly aching i never seen so much as you libs really know how to belly ache you have no room to say it the pot calling the kettle black
They don’t like people cutting into their bellyaching time! Go Paul!! I don’t believe he bellyaches. I think he states his case and doesn’t argue and go along with their political name calling and they hate it!
….
That’s my man!
Um, didn’t LePage already state he was going to veto the bill anyway because it didn’t go far enough?
No, he said he was waiting to see the specifics of this particular bill.
I think that a week or two ago he said he would veto any bill that didn’t have all of his cuts and that he would shut down DHHS if the legislature didn’t pass what he wanted by April 1 (kind of like the threat to close all schools by May 1).
LePage 2014!!
He keeps this stuff up and does not back down He will have my vote.Thanks Guv.
Yes, he will probably get another 38% of the votes, well….. maybe not. Some people I have talked to that said they voted for him are sorry they did. So maybe 30%?
I believe that instead of losing votes, as many would like us to believe, He is gaining votes. Gov Lepage is cutting down on the people who are scamming the working people of Maine.
Can you please explain to me why anyone would want this incompetent, corrupt, arrogant bully to be our governor for eight years?
If you want to destroy our state that badly, you could just start distributing bath salts for free; that would do even more damage than LePage and his cohorts have managed to do, and there wouldn’t be any pesky Democrats to stand up to your shenanigans.
That is hillarious! I can’t stop laughing and slapping my knee’s.
Out the door in twenty one four
20 1 4
he will be in again because hes the one who can!!!
Mr. Alfond, what is really not helpful is you rejecting everything proposed while not offering any proposal yourself. You say you are willing to work to find a solution. What is your solution? LePage is right–you haven’t offered any yet.
Gee, I thought he said they were working on something and would be all weekend. What part of that didn’t you understand, as usual???
First Lepage says he will veto the bill. Then he says it doesn’t go far enough. Now he’s saying the Democrats ruined a good bill. What a jerk!
Welcome to politics 101 “Ala LaPage” style. The man has no pride. Everything he’s ever done in life is all about “What can I say or do to get someone to give me some sympathy or support?” Clearly it makes no difference how silly or hypocritical any of his pleas may be. As we saw with the hiring of his daughter, he’s clearly shameless.
Watching LePage is very much like watching a very large hot air balloon floating high above the Maine State House on a long tether. One day it blows this way. Another day it blows that way. Every day brings a new direction in which it blows. The one thing that we have come to be certain of is that “Job Killer” Paul Richard LePage will blow hard.
You folks done stroking each others emotional egos.
What was King , Baldacci and Democrats doing to us all of these years telling the truth LOL. His buddies from MCEP (Maine Center for Economic Policy) always would come in and tell us everything is splendid. That Maine was always growing jobs when infact Maine had massive job losses and factories closing all the time. Complain what you want about LePage at least he wants to get a hold of this problem , plus also finally get the East-West highway going. We need Job Growth not this obstruction to keep the Welfare State alive and growing.
Hey DC how are you today? All set for a great weekend are you? I have been reading your post and I really think you need to take several deep breaths. I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself getting so worked up defending a person who could care less if you get out of bed tomorrow morning. As far as King and Baldacci go I wasn’t a fan of either one. I consider what Baldacci did as far as selling off the liquor monopoly and jumping into bed with the windmill crowd about as stupid a thing that a politician could do. You think that I am just against LePage and that just isn’t so. I actually voted for him and supported him until he started off with the bullying and lying. I have never liked bullies and I most certainly do not like people who lie. LePage has shown himself to be both. I wouldn’t want a friend who was a liar and I most certainly would not tolerate having a liar on my payroll. I consider lying a form of dishonesty.
He is not “normal” and definately not superior.
Darn, he didn’t get his way again.
They have to face their constituents too. We just made it clear (in a senate election) that we have had enough of him and them. We need a good 3rd party.
LOL. The Democrats had a 2 month head start on that race, they started campaigning in late October, while the Republicans couldn’t start until January because of the pending resignation, then in the 2 weeks leading up to the election the GOP had statewide caucuses, which effectively shut down their volunteers for the majority of the time, then the Democrats win by a few hundred votes in a race with 1/3 the turnout of the previous Senate election in that district and it represents a statewide repudiation of the LePage administration? Seems to me it was a repudiation of a moderate Republican who had not always supported the Governor and therefore couldn’t excite his base to GOTV. But think what you want… Whatever helps you get through the day…
Lepage said he will veto the budget when it reaches his desk. What could be more obstructionist then that?
When I read the headline, I wonder if he understands the word, or just applied his I am rubber you are glue thinking to something he has heard people calling the no compromise freshman class of GOTea Congressman.
Augusta is BROKE!
Not only is Augusta broke, it’s broken too.
Being accused of obstruction by Paul LePage is like being accused of financial fraud by Bernie Madoff.
Let me get this straight. Gov. OutRage is outraged at the Senate D’s for obstructing the budget bill??? He should be thanking them. Didn’t the Gov. threaten to VETO this very bill many times over if it was altered in any way, shape, or form? Well it was.
So, Gov. make up your mind already! Or are you upset ’cause the D’s prevented you from following through on your threat?
So even though the ROBthePUBLICans have a majority, they still blame the Dems when they can’t pass something? Puh-leeeeze…
I know that math isn’t a strong area for you libs, but what part of requires a 2/3rds majority to pass don’t you understand?
Of course the Republcans could do what the Dems did in the recent past and adjourn the legislature, convene an emergency special session at a cost of a few million, and pass a simple majority budget. It would be worth doing it just to see the liberal’s heads explode.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Charlie Webster did the same thing in 1991, unanimous committee budget, they all, including Republicans who voted for the budget in committee, voted against passage on the floor. I guess it was ok when they did it, but not ok when Democrats do it?
Nice dodge of the money wasting strong arm tactics referenced in my post. You must be a legisvermin.
You think you might see a People’s Veto should that be tried? Can we do that with appropriations?
Clue for the Guvnah – the GOP has a majority in the Legislature.
If they can’t pass legislation – who’s fault is that?
LePage must be having a panic attack. He had his heart set on this budget making him look like a great leader. He didn’t plan on the opposition to undermine him.
Ideology trumps compromise, hard work and common sense in the eyes of this small band of hard-core left wingers in the Senate. All of the Democrats on Appropriations, Democrat leadership in the House as well as the vast majority of the rank and file Democrats understood the importance of this budget. However, for this group of grandstanders it was more important to use this issue as a partisan statement against the chief executive.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Charlie Webster did the same thing in 1991, unanimous committee budget, they all, including Republicans who voted for the budget in committee, voted against passage on the floor. I guess it was ok when they did it, but not ok when Democrats do it?
Actually the Senator from Allagash said he was sent to Augusta to take care of Mainers. He is doing just that.
These 12 Democratic Senators should be RECALLED!!! I can’t believe that these 12 Senators are trying to glorify THEMSELVES at the expense of our truly needy who depend on Medicaid services. Who is going to pay our hospitals and who is going to treat our disabled and elderly when the DHHS budget runs dry, all on the backs of these 12 Democratic Senators? Shame, Shame, Shame!! I hope the voters are paying attention and vote these 12 BUMS out of office in November.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Charlie Webster did the same thing in 1991, unanimous committee budget, they all, including Republicans who voted for the budget in committee, voted against passage on the floor. I guess it was ok when they did it, but not ok when Democrats do it?
…Both Republicans and Democrats have “done it” so it’s OK for you to “do it” too, right?
Mainers, I guess not all of us are sufficiently nauseated yet, as per this post.
Charlie Webster and Emily Cain both strongly believe that these 12 Democratic Senators crossed the line when they cast their vote against Maine’s most vulnerable. How can there ever be bi-partisan legislation with these 12 glory seekers in the Senate? We are talking about protecting the poorest of the poor and these 12 Democratic Senators are kicking them out in the street by voting for the Medicaid budget to run dry. I encourage these 12 Democratic Senators to come to their senses and to stop thinking about themselves. Maine’s most vulnerable citizens need our help and these 12 obstructionists are standing in the way of providing Medicaid to these people who have fallen on hard times. I thought the Democrats represented the poor. After this vote, I guess NOT!!!! Shame, Shame, Shame!!!! November can’t come soon enough to vote these 12 BUMS out into the street. Perhaps they will get a taste of their own medicine for their vote against our elderly and disabled citizens of this great state.
These guys stood up for the people of Maine against our bully of a governor, and you call them bums? No good deed goes unpunished, I guess.
More hysteria. You know that is not going to happen.
Where is the leftwing outrage at these 12.Is it only an outrage if its the Guv that with holds from the so called needy.
LePage holds Medicaid hostage so he can decimate seriously needed social services, and the people who stand up to him are the ones who should be ashamed?
You’ve got your morals (as my father would say) bass ackwards, buddy.
Oh, quit the hysteria. This happens in Washington all the time. It will be dealt with. I can hear the applause from their districts. They were sent there to take care of The People of Maine. This budget obviously does not do that very well.
Look out LePage is going to blow a gasket. If you don’t like it Gov LePage don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
I don’t think it’s LePage who is going to blow a gasket. I believe it’s Emily Cain who is going to blow the gasket because the DHHS budget is still on track to run dry on April 1 and it’s the Democrat’s fault.
Thank you Guv for doing just what you said you were gonna do.
You mean like getting jobs?
My business is up.
do we need the senate? If they elmiminated themselves we could bank that money and nobody would miss them.
I can’t help but notice this 61% figure that the left wingers like to throw around,It must be a feeble attempt to give themselves some sort of false hope.
This 61% they are referring to actually means this is 61% of only about 10% of the active voters in the State of Maine.
They used this same percentage tactic to try to make it appear as though Lepage was elected by “only” 32% of the total number of voters in the state.
False sense of hope? So you think LePage is going to win again? How exactly is he going to get that magical lucky split vote again?
Of course LePage is going to win again. Especially now that the Democrats voted to throw out over 300,000 of Maine’s most vulnerable citizens into the streets. I just hope that the people have awoken and realize that LePage has been trying to protect Medicaid and welfare benefits to Maine’s most vulnerable. The writing is on the wall folks, the writing is on the wall. The Democrats do not represent the poor and these 12 Democratic Senators are testament to that.
And this, boys and girls, is what we call “out of touch with reality.”
You are hysterical aren’t you. You keep saying the same thing over and over again. Are you wringing your hands too?
First it’s the 61%, 99%, 1%, 38%, 47%, 53%, 81%, 2%, 10%, 90%, 65%, 12% and on and on and on. Can someone please tell me which leftist label they belong too? PHEW, I guess this is the left’s way of placing people in caste systems to pit one group against another. Class warfare, at it’s finest.
yeah, your numbers are a fractal matrix, and the Republicans are proving to be the masters of Chaos.
To a Liberal,19 = 61 LOL
The GOP is coming apart at the seams. They made Faustian deal and reneged on their end, leaving them with a 6 headed monster. When Mittens, Frothy, and Newt the Dinosaur are their best bets… you know they are in trouble. It doesn’t really matter, they couldn’t come to a consensus on a decent candidate, and besides that, no one worth his/her salt wants to be the sacrificial lamb.
LePage pointing fingers and blaming others? I’m shocked!
LePage, along with other extreme Republicans are the ones who should be accused, by continually
obstructing democracy, i.e. – the Republican caucus results. This is the cut and paste administration, they do as their told by those who orchestrate the overall message. It’s no coincidence that we see many of the same things going on in other states with extreme governors.
Is there any reason to be surprised that state governments are being controlled at a national level? I didn’t realize this was the way our state governments where intended to operate?
Is it extreme for Governor LePage to try to protect Medicaid and welfare benefits for Maine’s most vulnerable citizens? No, I think not. What is extreme is the 12 Democratic Senators who voted to throw our elderly and disabled out into the street, all while claiming to represent them. Throw these 12 BUMS out in November.
The issue is secondary, the “issues,” are the issue. Extreme administrations in many states are acting in concert by laying the burden of a failed economy on those who had no hand in its failure. Whether it’s health care, voter’s rights, contraception, unions or religion they are the “issues” Republicans use to divide us, so in the end it’s just ideological doom and gloom, I for one am tired of it.
He is far from protecting these programs. He wants to do things to them that are not allowed under current law and has ignored offers of assistance from Washington. It seems he cannot govern well at all in this area.
Yup, it’s called ALEC.
This is news? Really now, who would have predicted otherwise?
The picture is very hitleresque gotta love it.
Hey Paul, Where are the jobs you promised?
On Jan 5, 2011 Maine’s unemployment rate was 7.6%. On Jan 5, 2012, one year after LePage was inaugurated, Maine’s new unemployment rate was 7.0%.
LePage found a buyer for the Millinocket and East Millinocket mills, with the expected hiring of 200 to 500 employees. Richard Legault, senior managing partner of Brookfield Asset Management said, “Today’s announcement would not be possible without the tireless efforts of the governor. …”
Affiliated Computer Services in Lewiston is adding 200 jobs. Molnycke Healthcare will be adding 100 jobs in Brunswick. Idexx Laboratories in Westbrook plans a major expansion, which will add 500 jobs. Carbonite has moved to Lewiston, with up to 250 jobs by 2012. And to think, this is only a small listing, but a good start, don’t you think?
Well, yes, if the wage structure is also a good start. At the mill in Millinocket they start at $12/hour. Is that a step forward or backward? What kind of corporate welfare do these companies qualify for? That is money not going into state coffers.
A private sector company that re-opens it’s doors after years of closure is amazing in itself. If the starting wages are $12 per hour with the potential for career growth as the company grows, this is definitely a step forward. How anyone can claim otherwise is startling. From what I hear, the Millinocket residents are thrilled about the mills re-opening and have nothing but praise for LePage because he was a key player.
But, but aren’t manufacturing jobs touted as ‘good’ jobs? Oh, they have jobs, true. But not anywhere near the good jobs they had before. They are worth less as workers today.
But isn’t it a good start in the right direction? Many workers will be getting paid overtime and that rate will be $18 per hour. Not a bad deal considering the alternative of not working at all. We can thank LePage for this.
Scattered everywhere in Maine unemployed Mainers who have been looking in earnest for employment would be ever so grateful for a job like this. The mill would most likely appreciate people with previous millwork experience and because everyone’s financial situation and money handling abilites are different than everybody else’s, a pay rate of $12.00 per hour could certainly provide the needed paycheck to secure financial independence and self-pride for interested individuals.
Public employees who are accustomed to wages more than that probably find it hard to believe that anyone could subsist on such an hourly wage and probably feel threatened that their own inflated wages are under the microscope. Perhaps it’s time they learned a trade skill in order to compete with those who would “lower” themselves to take a $12.00 per hour job.
Yes, it is better than a living wage for Penobscot County. But my questions was a then and now question. Jobs are coming back to the US but at substantial wage reductions. On the list of things only bad managers say is this one: You should be glad you have a job. Need I say more?
The unemployed I referred to would most certainly be “glad to have a job”…What is so hard to understand about that? You might be personally insulted at the reality but you cannot project your own dismay or disgust onto all other Mainers as a rule or law of community ethics.
Maine leads the nation with a record loss of jobs,
Lepage gave into Corporate Terrorist and bought the State a Toxic dump from Brookfield .
You can spin it anyway you like. but the Facts are the Facts!
http://www.maineahead.com/maine-leads-nation-in-per-capita-job-losses/
Oppps!
sen.alfond seems to be trying to help all mainers.He doesnt seem to be buying in to the big bully tactics of the republicans.Maybe if him and other dems went along with the reps they would be invited to a private club or the reps. could vote to pass laws to help them save more of their income where they have such poor benifits from their part time jobs. I say go sen. alfond
Senator Alfond is an extreme liberal Democrat who just through every welfare and Medicaid recipient under the bus. Alfond just took the first place prize in bullying tactics.
it seems sen.alfond stood for the moral minority and didnt give in to the bullying tactics that the others did if what he did to the others was called bullying we need more of that from the wishy washy reps that are scared of the govs. bullying tactics
Senator Alfond wants to CUT into the education, transportation and public safety budgets to ramp up welfare entitlement spending. All to maintain a Medicaid program that is 35% above the national average. If this isn’t bullying, then what is? If Alfond gets his way, Maine will always be a top welfare state and our kids will be dumb as sticks. This isn’t progress my friend.
T he first cut to any budget is the public saftey depts.we have been doing more with less for years.the amount of taxes collected in your town or city if it like ours 52% goes to the school dept. i could send my kids to U of Maine cheaper by a few hundred dollars a year and most school budgets just keep getting bigger like DHS
When the Republicans act to eliminate corporate welfare then and only then should they be considering eliminating human welfare. Corporations are treated better than people in this state. That needs to stop. You can send a Bravo to those who stood up against this callous approach to balancing a budget. It will only be ‘balanced’ when people’s needs are treated equally with corporate needs. Here are the brave state senators that said NO!: justin@justinalfond.com; phil@philbartlett.com; jbrannig@maine.rr.com;
diamondhollyd@aol.com; dillesquire@aol.com; stan1340@aol.com;
seth@sethgoodall.com; jacksonforsenate@hotmail.com; chris@dirigo.net;
johnpat2000@hotmail.com; schneidersenate@gmail.com;
nancysullivan4@gmail.com . Send them an email if you appreciate what they did for the people of Maine. We all can agree fraud needs to be dealt with, but you do not cut off your arm to remove a splinter.
Yes, LePage is short sighted. It’s not about YOU Paul.
That’s right and maybe LePage should get the log out of his eye.
I thought Jabba The Hutt didn’t like the budget the way it was finally laid out anyway. Didn’t he threaten (his favorite form of communication) to veto it if it didn’t have all the cuts he wanted?
Now he complains about Democrats who are just trying to help the guy out. Sheesh, damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Can’t win with the junk store man.
Wait, wait, LePage is blasting democrats for legislative obstruction?? Isn’t he the same guy who was going to veto this budget because it wasn’t his?
Appears that “democracy” looks like too much work. “Autocracy” is easier, both for him and Charlie Webster.
I see the name callers are out in full force again. Alfond wants a balanced approach, hmm… He had the balance tipped in his favor for 40 years, where did that get us? The last Administration said during their last budget talks that the next budget would be tough, due to no stimulus money to fix it. Democrats used gimmicks for years to patch the holes in their “balanced budget”. It’s time for these 12 who won’t compromise to do the right thing: fix it right for the 1st time in decades. Maine needs a new mindset: stop doing for those who would be better off if they did it for themselves.
There must be something in the water in Cumberland, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Aroostook, Lincoln, Oxford and York counties. It seems to affect understanding. The Gov. says 65,000 need to be removed, and either, the information was written in Stealth Ink, or, county rep’s. don’t understand! http://www.mainelegislature.org/LawMakerWeb/rollcall.asp?ID=280043806&chamber=Senate&serialnumber=358
Can-road-kick-can-road-kick…. even my Dem friends admit that something has to change and that there isn’t enough money for everything that we’ve done in the past. Hang in there Gov LePage at the end of the day more people voted for you than they did for the others.
Sorry but everytime I see this photo of lePage I cant help but think….Hurcules….Hurcules…Hurcules….
Caterpillar has
announced it is bringing it’s manufacturing operations back to the United
States and will build a new, large manufacturing plant in Georgia, creating
thousands of new manufacturing jobs and thousands of spinoff jobs. Gee, why
won’t they build a plant here, in Maine?
We don’t need well paying jobs here?