AUGUSTA, Maine — State Sen. Elizabeth Schneider on Wednesday accused the LePage administration of covering up financial problems at the Department of Health and Human Services and committing a “breach of trust” with lawmakers for not alerting them sooner.
Schneider’s words came during debate on the Senate floor over LD 1870, a minor supplemental budget bill not directly related to problems at DHHS.
But the Orono Democrat used her time to levy criticism at the department and its commissioner, Mary Mayhew, for providing bad information to the Appropriations Committee during recent budget negotiations.
“There is absolutely a cover-up that has occurred,” Schneider said. “I don’t see how going forward we can trust the information we’re being given, at least by the Department of Health and Human Services.
“We made decisions in the dark. I hope as a body that we will look into this.”
Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, defended Mayhew on the Senate floor for her hard work and said lawmakers shouldn’t rush to judgment before all the facts are laid out.
Lawmakers spent several weeks in January and February poring through the details of a proposed $220 million budget by Gov. Paul LePage that attempted to address a shortfall in DHHS.
The initial budget proposal contained a number of cuts to MaineCare services, including the elimination of an estimated 65,000 people from eligibility.
The Appropriations Committee eventually rewrote the governor’s budget proposal and the House and Senate passed a bill last month that addressed the shortfall just for the remainder of fiscal year 2012.
Shortly after the 2012 supplemental budget passed, though, Mayhew informed lawmakers of a problem she said she knew about while the budget was being discussed.
A computer error within the MaineCare program had led the state to continue paying medical bills for some beneficiaries after they became ineligible for the program. DHHS is trying to attach a dollar figure to the bad payments made over the last year and a half, but it’s likely the state will have to repay the federal government. Two-thirds of MaineCare’s funding come from the feds.
Mayhew has told lawmakers she plans to get to the bottom of the computer glitch and is tentatively scheduled to appear before the Appropriations Committee on Friday to update its members.
On Wednesday, Mayhew took the high road in responding to the criticism.
“The challenges of multi-faceted data systems have long been associated with this Department and I am committed to working with the Legislature to resolve these issues,” she said in a statement. “I am aware of the critical need for systems that produce accurate and reliable data to guide decision-making.
“Our organization is large and our day-to-day world is complex. Potential problems arise with regularity and are resolved continuously. I plan to do this work in a way that continues to reflect a high level of professionalism, transparency, personal accountability, courtesy and respect.”
The Legislature still has to deal with an estimated $85 million to $90 million DHHS shortfall for 2013, and some lawmakers are wondering how that’s possible given the department’s recent track record.
With a statutory adjournment date of April 18 approaching, it’s likely the Legislature will adjourn next month but then reconvene later this spring to deal with the DHHS supplemental budget for 2013.
Sen. Joseph Brannigan, D-Portland, a longtime lawmaker, said he believes the Appropriations Committee was “badly informed” by the administration during the budget negotiations and said he’s never seen budgets done that way.
“I’ve complained from the beginning that this budget is being done in pieces. I can’t remember when we’ve ever done this in the past; can’t even keep track of how many pieces of the budget there are or that we’re being asked to vote for,” he said.
Even during the 115th Legislature, when state government shut down briefly because of a budget standoff between Democrats and Republicans, Brannigan said the budget that eventually passed was a whole budget.
“We didn’t do it in pieces,” he said. “We should see the whole picture.”
LePage, though, has been clear that he wants to deal with the DHHS shortfall separately, and he hasn’t been shy about criticizing Democrats over their role in the process. Earlier this year, the governor accused Democrats of stalling and obstructing.
In light of the DHHS problems, Democrats now are saying they were right to put the brakes on the governor’s budget.
Hey Sen. Schnieder,how about placing the blame where it belongs.
40 years of your crap party, 50 million spent by the previous administration on a computer that didnt work from day one
Do you mean that they should have to eat their sour grapes?
Right on the money… lets not look at the 40 years and the crappy computer that they bought… nothing to see here, move on.
Two wrongs don’t make a right…. at least they never used to. Maybe defending wrong is the new right.
You guys always just leave out the FACT that we’ve had two Republican Governors and an independent with Republican leanings running this state during that time too, but the GOP never never never does anything wrong, now do they in your eyes?
A Republican Governor did something about it.
Yeah–Fubared it.
He’s done nothing of substance and more bad than good, no jobs, a bad healthcare bill that has caused older Mainers health insurance rates to skyrocket while imposing a $4 per month TAX on every policy, a $200 million increase in the state budget above Baldacci’s, unnecessary estate tax and income tax cuts for millionaires, tried to disenfranchise voters, his big mouth has embarrassed the state. He’s a BIG FAILURE so far, but in your fantasyworld you can believe whatever you want.
So he should just let things be the way they have been. Increase taxes, stop businesses from coming to Maine and sit back and watch our companies leave the Welfare State.
He’s done more harm than good so far. Trying to get the budget under control is good, but the way he’s doing it is wrong ie cutting from the poor and elderly but giving estate and income tax cuts to millionaires and pushing for MORE of the same. If LePage does manage to significantly lower electricity rates that would be good too, but so far he’s a failure.
He’s FAR from a Big Failure. The guy is a man of ACTION. You may not like his moves but it’s for the common good of the state. Do not tell me his about Fantasy Worlds. Your left wing fantasy world has given the mess we are in now. I guess I shouldn’t say that because you Libs have that phrase coined.
In a message dated 3/22/2012 1:24:10 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, writes:
(http://disqus.com/)
theGOPsux wrote, in response to danwent7:
He’s done nothing of substance and more bad than good, no jobs, a bad healthcare bill that have caused older Mainers health insurance rates to skyrocket while imposing a $4 per month TAX on every policy, a $200 million higher budget, unnecessary estate tax and income tax cuts for millionaires, tried to disenfranchise voters, his big mouth has embarrassed the state. He’s a BIG FAILURE so far, but in your fantasyworld you can believe whatever you want.
_Link to comment_ (http://disq.us/63tp61?imp=64d5e897-988e-4064-839f-e54b2ad82251&thread=619918867&zone=email_notification&event=shortener_click)
There is alot of wasted energy being expelled in the blame game!
Lets fix the problem, NOT useing the KNOWN faulty #s as a guide and then “move on”!
Nothing against the Democrats…. but what did they expect ? Who in their right mind would think the Gov. was trustworthy to begin with ?
I agree but I am glad the Dems are aggressively calling LePage out for what he is: a deceptive bully. There’s plenty of evidence for it now, a wake of offended towns and groups behind the Governor’s bearish and rude gait.
I am willing to hate LePage as much as you do, but I guess I don’t see how you consider him a deceptive bully. I understand you don’t agree with his political ideology, which is fine, but simply disagreeing with someones political ideology does not make them any and every name that you can think of. But like I said, maybe I am simply less informed on certain things that you are.
Check out the list above provided by Wildbeau, and add the Millinocket dump handshake fiasco, the NAACP, the BPA beards on women and the chemical company stationary–and the mural, and offending Aroostook and so on.
I am not familiar enough with any of those issues except the mural, and as posted below the whole mural ordeal may have been inappropriate or in bad taste it is not really bullying, either way, I personally don’t care about it. That being said my only comment is that I guess I will have to read about those things.
But in all honesty, it takes a lot to offend me. This is why I don’t criticize Obama for a lot of the stupid things the right does (Like bowing to the Emporor of Japan), it is irrelevant.
And do not forget to read the paper again tomorrow for the next episode.
Not a bully? How about the Labor Murals? How about “kiss my butt”? How about “Either cut DHHS or I’ll cut eduation”? How about “they’ll just have little beards”? How about threatening Millinocket? How about yelling at anyone who disagrees with him? And on and on and on. Well, come November the Republicans won’t be able to win a race for dog catcher. We’re gonna pound them hard.
The Labor Murals is probably the only one I can give you. “Kiss my butt.” maybe inappropriate, it isn’t really bullying. “Either cut DHHS or I’ll cut education” actually reads more like this “If we don’t cut DHHS, we will have to cut education”, big difference. It wasn’t a “threat” so much as a “hey, here are the options.” “They’ll just have little beards”, I honestly have no idea about that, this is the first time I am hearing about it, it does sound interesting so if you have a link forward it.
I could give you him yelling at anyone who disagrees, but I do not have any evidence suggesting that he does that.
Just remember that the 1st Amendment only applies to the Gadfly Dem’s, not the Philistine GOP’s.
Oh the horror… Oh the horror …. you brute… I mock your silly post.
I’m sure you got all sweaty today thinking about dancing cheek to cheek with Rush Limpmind.
The level of incompetence and dishonesty that has gone into this mess is astounding. Now the legislature is expected to make a financial decision based upon reading tea leaves. Neither the commissioner, nor the Governor himself can provide any reasonable guidance about how much money we have lost and need to make up through the legislative process.
Bangorian, Do you remember awhile back there was like 264 million dollars unaccounted for in DHHS’s control.. This was never really investigated properly. Why probably because it was federal money and would have to be paid back, if it was used inappropriatly.
Nutting and Poloquin split that money, dont worry about it its in good hands.
You may be right, and as long as we have lobbyists in Augusta we will continue down the same old dead end street. The Governor has not demonstrated one single ounce of guidance in his actions (on any issue) that would prove he is honest or competent ! If he is an honest and competent man I personally challange him to show it to me and the rest the rest of the State of Maine. The only thing that he has shown so far is his willingness to play partisan politics, keep the staus quo, and rebuke in any way, shape, or form any inkling of progress.
And enrich his family and powerful friends.
They have run this state into the ground and made us a welfare super state. Now someone calls for cutting and all of a sudden the dems see problems?
The best way to prevent all and any problems with DHHS in the future close it down all together. Problem solved.
They can’t close it down, due to it’s Federally Fonded.
Don’t you mean Federally Fondled??
Ya right. You’ll be the very first in line screeching and whining when YOUR favorite programs are cut and when YOUR property taxes go up because LeBUFFOON and his TeaNuts totally messed up the state budget. You can defend crazy if you want. Mainers know better, and come November your nutty party is going get a first class pounding.
Elizabeth, we only need to go backward till November 6th. Afterwhich we can start moving forward with truth, honor, integrity and justice.
The funny thing is, you believe that.
It won’t happen … to many people have a seat at the public teet to keep the Republicans in power… its too bad… that is unless gas tops $5, then even Lepage derangement can be trumpted.
With a straight Republican ticket to finish up the 40 year old mess cleanup.
Is it plausible to think that the computer issue was discovered in december, it then took some time and analysis to determine what the true impact the issue was? This Elizabeth Schneider is grandstanding.
Anyone capable of thinking and remaining impartial could make the same observation. Look at it this way. When cops learn something illegal has happened they begin an investigation and work diligently to solve the crime and arrest a suspect so that when it is time for trial the person will be convicted and sent away. Sometimes this takes a few days, other times, it takes much, much longer. Schneider is grandstanding and should take into account that DHHS has been a mess since Angus King became governor and that is going back 16 years.
It still seems as though Lepage and Co. could be indicted for perjury?
How? You have to be sworn in and be under oath in a legal proceding to face penalties for perjury.
Try to control your anticipation… spit shine your little 61% and keep being self righteous!
I think her issue is not so much with the fact that there was a mistake, but more that the mistake was known to Mayhew, and that information was withheld from the Legislature that would have been instrumental in their decision-making process. Not only does that demonstrate unsound ethics on the part of Mayhew, it is also very disrespectful to the members of the legislature.
LePage gate, now is the time for impeachment, and save the state from paying his pension.
Yes ,you work on that then let us know how it works out.
November 6, 2012
Senator Schneider and her fellow D’s seem not to remember that the DHHS was in the red before Governor LePage was inaugurated in January 2011, and after the November 2010 election this department was not forthcoming with the facts and figures for the new administration to work with.
Ah, me thinks senility doth prevail among the Democrats, after losing the power and control they had for so long!
And youknow this how? My sources say he knew the problem before he was inaugurated.
EXACTLY. He’s both incompent and an abuser of power.
Because it was told to me in confidence and I would not want that person’s job to be in jeopardy. LePage has a way of firing people who don’t do what he says or tell the truth. But you can be sure the info is a lot more accurate than anything the Maine Wire provides!!!
Why don’t you share these unimpeachable sources with us.
The whole thing sound like a con game going on.
I having been accusing Democrats of a ¨breach of trust¨for years. And to be fair there are a few Republicans that I can accuse too. But really, why doesnt BDN just change the name of the paper to the ¨LePage Critiquer¨and run everything it can negative about him in every issue.
BDN has been reduced to nothing but a Rump swab rag for liberals
So you’re saying the paper should stop reporting on the governor’s critics and should only report what the governor’s supporters say?
When is there anything good to say?
Let him start to do something positive. He begin by giving the retirement benefits I earned back to me.
You were handed a bad bill of goods. Not the taxpayers’ fault, but the legislature that was fiscally irresponsible to begin with, and then never learned from past mistakes. Remember that one cannot earn a right, only a privilege.
What a cop out. You didn’t even use the money to fix what’s wrong- you gave it to the wealthiest people. Sickening.
Are you saying that a worker doesn’t have a right to his/her paycheck?
Not at all. But, when it becomes quite clear that what was promised will not materialize, one should adjust their expectations. People forget what politics are all about and then cry foul when newly elected officials come in with a whole new set of favors to repay to a new batch of people. Moral of the story is the same as it has been since civilization began; don’t count on your leaders to back up their empty promises. Heck, even so-called legal documents written in B&W don’t count for anything nowadays.
LePage makes it easy everyday.
I expect this from the Pingree Press Herald but BDN?
Bring back John Day… your editorial staff needs a kick in the seat.
Nothing there left to kick.
I don’t get it. LePage is keeping his promises……….to his family…….to ALEC………and to anyone he thinks will pay him off later. Doesn’t that mean we can trust him?
Not 1 poster in 50 knows what ALEC is, or cares. They care about the multigeneraltional entitlement society that DHHS has fostered.
someday you will wish you cared what ALEC does….
No different than the multitude of Lib/progressive/Union/ socialist lobbyist and “community organizers” we have been forced to deal with for years. ALEC just dose not have the benefit of all the bureaucrats buying votes with welfare promises, They are just promoting Ideas and funding like minded folks willing to stand up and protect what is theirs, and their children’s.
“there are none so deaf as those who don’t want to hear”…you have a very closed mind and it’s your way or no way so there’s no point in responding to any of your ridiculous misinformation…..another famous quote–“you reap what you sow”….you’ll know the gods are mad at you when, God forbid, they give you what you seem to want
Unlike the right, I am not going to assume I have to talk down to people. If someone is on this site, they are using a computer and will know how to use Google. The multigenerational entitlement society is made up of millionaires that won’t pay taxes, and want to build an everlasting empire whether their family or their undead corporations.
Wasn’t Schneider saying that Paul Violette was a witch hunt victim?
Brilliant point!
The computer system did not work. The Dems knew it and had people picking up the data and entering in the other computer. Lousy fix but it worked. LePage fired the employees doing the job, fired the employees who knew about the fix, and then Mayhew lied to the legislature promising solid figures.
She knew, she lied. She fits with LiePage.
Have I mentioned yet how rewarding it is to witness liberals blowing gaskets?
Go Paul!
Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat.
feeding them you neighbor’s cheese is a good way to get an abundance of fat and lazy rat’s
being jealous that someone may be getting a few pennies of your tax dollars is foolhardy. Grow up we live in a community, not a dog eat dog compound.
Generational welfare adds up to more than just pennies.
Only pennies of YOUR taxes goes to welfare. Selfish greedy people are the reason America’s economy was in the toilet.
The second biggest state expenditure is this dept.,more than pennies. An over reaching Government is why America’s economy IS in the toilet.
Can you even read or do you guys intentionally read things the way you want them to read as part of the GOP brainwashing program? Only pennies out of most taxpayers taxes go to welfare. We all contribute a little for the betterment of the whole state, but you guys only care about yourselves so it doesn’t matter whether it’s pennies or a few dollars, you want to keep it all. GOP = selfish greedy only care about themselves liars club
Yes, I can read,the numbers are just junk. Funny how the numbers fall when looking at charitable donations. Does not really fit into your narrative.
I guess that’s why Lib’s are loose with other peoples money, gives them a sense of having dug deep ,awful caring,giving bunch, Eh?
I for one enjoy in seeing their liberal society being dismantled. More self-reliance and freedom. Not tyranny and oppression.
Great list, excellent research. Thank you.
Since it’s now “flagged for review” I’m guessing someone was upset over it.
Being such a long and arduous read, shouldn’t this be in the opinion section?
It is long because the antics are a daily event. It couldn’t be in the Opinion sections because it’s all facts. Brace yourself because the list will get really long as we get closer to the end of the legislative session. When that happens it will be a mini-series….
Well, these antics are just more of the same, and are not unique to this administration nor any other, especially the last. I do find it a bit offensive that the hysterical hyperbole being used in reaction to the current administration seems to be devoid of perspective, and fails to take into account the inherited problems. It makes me feel like I’m being lied to yet again.
I’m sorry, but the first thing that came to mind when I read your first sentence was my 2 grandchildren doing something they shouldn’t and one says, “he did it first”…it seems that we get caught in that line of thinking. The usual response is–that doesn’t make it right.
Some people feel that the “antics” of today (which is all we can deal with now) set the stage for some perilous directions. I can only speak for myself. I believe knowledge is power. The more a person can learn the better life is. When what I learn leads me in certain directions and to have certain beliefs, choices are made. I don’t put labels on my beliefs I just go with what feels right. Unfortunately, in today’s political climate, the labels start flying and some people can’t see beyond them. Then the attacks. When people attack, it’s hard not to attack back. What’s gained?
In my opinion what Wildbeau posted was not hysterical hyperbole, nor was my reaction to it but review the responses to both of those posts alone!
We can’t change the past but I think we should really pay attention to what’s happening today because it will drastically affect our future. I can’t remember who said “We better all hang together because we’ll surely all hang separately””.
Even though our politicians can’t seem to be civil, why can’t we still be. Your last post wasn’t uncivil but your prior one was “a bit offensive” and poking the cage a little. Sadly, many of the other posters are addicted to attacking anyone who they perceive to be any one of many labels. If the internet is the information superhighway, these people have some serious road rage!
You’re assuming that I’m defending these “antics.” I’m not. Neither did I attack anyone in the prior post. I simply asked what I believed to be an appropriate question, and also questioned the appropriateness of the sermon in this forum. I may have been a bit histrionic though, I do tend toward the dramatic at times. It was Benjamin Franklin you quoted.
I apologize for misinterpreting. There are some here who like to bait the hook, or sometimes bait and switch and it does not apply to you.
Oh, I do that at times. But, hopefully I am prodding people to think about things from a perspsective they may not have otherwise. I hope to see something new when I read others’ comments. I love to argue too, I think everyone who posts here does, otherwise we wouldn’t be posting right? I have learned to be more fair in my arguments, and better able to more clearly express my ideas, which is a good thing. What bothers me the most about some posts is that the authors seem to outright refuse to look at an issue from the other side, and this is frustrating for one who wishes to debate rather than proselytize.
I agree Jonny!
This is why I can’t understand why Wildbeau’s post was flagged. There are so many crazed coyotes on here and I didn’t think that post went against any of the 3 guidelines either, in fact I think it would “prod people to think about things from a perspective they might not have otherwise”
Maybe it was flagged because it was so long. My understanding is is that this is a forum for discussion. Maybe it would have been more appropriate if Wildbeau had offered a link to their essay instead of taking up so much space here.
Well said!
The trouble with practical jokes is that very often they get elected.
Schneider is a liar and showing herself. These were problems long before the election. Democrats have a lot to answer for.
GO LEPAGE AND MAYHEW! You have my full support, and the support of many hardworking citizens for trying to clean up this 40 year old mess.
Yes please GO LePage …Your incompetence, catering to rich special interests and abuses of power are fully supported by the guys paying for your next election campaign
How can you support them when they lie and withhold valuable information from the Budget Appropriations committee and the Legislature? They tried for two months to push through a budget they knew was built on faulty numbers. If they withheld this, maybe they’re withholding more. The cat’s out of the bag and they’ve both shown they can’t be trusted. She should be fired and he should be impeached.
democrat or republican , who cares, your all a bunch of sheep.
Thank you Wildbeau, there are so many events and so many players that it’s hard to keep up and you gave a very good history.
In spite of all the people that are so quick to shoot poison arrows, are so quick to whine about what they claim is grand standing by Dems they can’t seem to stop long enough to realize that FACTS ARE FACTS and most reasonable Republicans would not like what’s been going on. Too many people are so blinded by labels that they can’t use common sense.
Thank you for your informative and helpful post and for pointing out that you are Republican. Maybe they will listen to you…..
Magic … cast you spell… and turn him into a frog… oh I forgot only bad witches do that… are you good or bad?
Yes, because we certainly all know that the Ocean is rising and will swallow us all up unless Obama keeps his promise to lower the seas.
Facts, pfft.
If you truly believe that he’s a registered Republican…I’ve got a bridge that you may be interested in buying.
my family has been Republican as far back as I can remember and I’m old enough to remember what Republican used to mean–before today’s so called Republicans who are Republican in name only, and that’s only because they hate everyone else. ..
You guys can’t face the truth that you are supporting a Party that cares nothing about you except to fool you into voting for them. Cmon, your smarter than that. Stop watching the liars news, FOX.
Can’t you see the same is true for the left as well? If not, then we’re all in trouble!
NOT true, If it weren’t for the Dems, EVERYTHING would be controlled by rich special interests, not just Republican Congressmen. The Dems are standing in the way of a Republican agenda of a free for all dog eat dog world where there are no regulations and the rich pay no taxes and everyone else does.
So, if you were king for a day, everything would be cool right?
Nope his comment was flagged by a Republican that just couldn’t stand hearing the truth so sought to censor so noone else can read the truth also.
There are many ways to hide and cover but it only works so long and eventually comes out .. I am afraid the bean counters game is coming to an end with DHHS. Take a look at how many supervisors they have compared to workers. Then lets look at numbers , numbers of clients that are kept high to justify their existence. The list goes on . Lets hope the whole rats nest falls in and true light is shed on what is really needed and whats not!!!!
How does withholding the information help? What will help will come in November.
LePage, his corporate cronies, and the GOPTeaNuts in the legislature are a disaster. A pure disaster. Everything they touch from the budget, to voting rights, to tax policy, to their crazy education bills, to agreements with individual towns, turns to you-know-what. Well good Mainers, we will place a serious check and balance on LeBUFFOON come November when we throw the TeaNuts right out of office and back to private life where they belong. They say they hate government. Good. Then let’s kick them right out of it.
It would be much easier to get away with what has been gotten away with thus far, wouldn’t it.
Excellent post.
Retaliation for Dale McCormick.
Only the beginning of the assaults.
*facepalm*
I sure hear a lot of ” insider “talk being posted on here all hours of the day. Maybe we need to block BDN from being access by State computers.
I find it interesting that the article was printed at 6:12. And you had time to research and type this comment @ 6:27. Almost appears you had inside information about this article before it was posted…BDN’s you’re slipping
No inside info. Just paying attention.
copy paste magic going on from this pre prepared garbage.
Just put your head in the sand and keep telling yourself that the GOP never lies, the GOP never lies, the GOP never lies to complete your brainwashing.
How can you sheep defend this bunch of crooks who are running our state? We had the liberals living a bit high on the hog, and now we have the conservatives cheating, stealing, and lying. Put LePage and his cabinet in jail with Violette. Don’t defend wrong!!
This was a screwed up computer system, not of this admin’s doing .Instead of dealing with all the issues of who bought it, had it installed, dragged their feet in addressing it’s many problems and then downplayed it’s severity and walked away,you make the leap that the person who dug into this disaster and got a handle on the scope of the problem some how purposefully delayed the results. That is the only thing you can come up with, not the problem, but how long it took to diagnose it fully. The Dem’s own this Nightmare 100% so they have there sheep out playing the deflection game.
“We had the liberals living a bit high on the hog” I think we will find this to be the understatement of the decade.
Knowing about it for 15 months and doing nothing, then misleading the legislature and the citizenry, yes the GOP NEVER does ANYTHING wrong now do they ?
lol. We have known this Computer program was mess for a lot longer than 15 months,long before Lepage was elected. There is no evidence that Mayhew knew about this specific issue,and/or it’s scope, for 15 months let alone that she “misled” The legislators.Just a bunch of noise from the party who created this nightmare,the Lib’s own this 100%.
When you know something, and you keep it a secret during the hearings and deliberations by the people who are charged with running things until you get your way, THEN disclose it…. yes, that is purposely delaying. That’s exactly what I am saying, whether or not it is a leap.
So with no evidence or facts, just loud mouths distracting ,you choose to believe that the info was hidden an/or delayed rather than it was released once it was complete.
Everyone knew this Computer system was a nightmare and the numbers were a mess, The Lib’s cried foul that the problem was over blown and they didn’t want to act until they got “solid numbers”. Now that the data shows that the mess was even bigger than what was initially presented, The problem that wasnt a problem is a problem now because the non problem problem, is a bigger problem then it wasn’t before. I see now. Makes sense.
She told us it was. Is she lying about that?
They have stolen from Maine’s retirees.
See “Lawsuit against pension changes could benefit from court rulings in other states” at http://www.sunjournal.com/news/state/1156059
Believe me, I have seen it. But thank you for posting it here.
Only because the promise was simply unsustainable. People knew this at the time, but selfishly backed it up anyway.
So like lying everyday, Republicans think it’s OK to break promises too. What a moral stand up bunch!
Well, keeping a policy in place that is well known to be a source of trouble without taking care of it is exactly like lying every day.
When you make a promise, you either negotiate a new solution with the other side or you bite the bullet and do what you agreed to….you DON’T just ignore your promises and shove a new solution down their throats. “exactly like a lie” wow now I see why your side lies every single day, you don’t know what a lie is.
Do you even know what “my side” is? I don’t recal stating what it is. Maybe I’m simply interested in politics in general. But, I understand how you could easily assume that I’m on the side you’re not. It is unfortunate that you feel the need to attack my understanding and intellect.
They also used the retirement promise to hold my pay down. Things are a lot more complicated than just slamming your neighbor’s fingers in your door.
“Democrats accuse LePage administration of ‘breach of trust’ on DHHS errors”
Of course they do. Gov LePage is fixing the disaster, 30+ years of Dem rule in this state has created. In 15 months he has exposed corruption, mismanagement, and fraud in State Depts all over Maine. If he keeps it up, the Dems will see a cold day in …. before they ever see control of this state again.
ok so the last two or three times this happened when the demoncrats were in power it was different? This schnider creature is a loser
Mayhew and Lepage have not told us why they hid the computer problems from the Republican controlled legislature until after the Feds started their audit.
These problems have been know at DHHS since September of 2010 and yet Lepage continued to give the people of Maine fake budget numbers. So what else are they not telling us? We know Lepage is a lair and a sadist. It is a reasonable question.
Perfectly reasonable assumption since Landslide LePage is prejudiced against “welfare” programs and would go to the extent of withholding information to get his way. Its called lying by omission.
How do you accuse someone who has no morals or ethics with breach of trust?
Trust? Only a fool would ever trust LePage. He has no morals.
If Governor Paul LePage is going to change something, he will put the issue right up in front of you to see.. When a Dem deals with an issue they scurry around behind you and sneak amendments in behind everyones back. . Morals are in the soul, dems use makeup to hide their true intentions.
He has no murals.
As i have stated before this whole agency is broke and needs to be torn down and rebuilt. So instead of pointing fingers roll your sleves up and fix it. This all we have heard about of the last few years dhhs dhhs dhhs dhhs fix it already.
Remove LePlague……….!!!!!!!!!!
Why?? The boat has been taking on water for a long time and Our Great Governor Paul LePage is the Life Boat
Breach of trust? “say it’s not so,Joe.”In this “transparent” administration, there will never be a breach of trust.
Pondlady: Re-read my post, and you will find that I included, “and after the November 2010 election, this department was not forthcoming with facts and figures.” Believe it was reported in various papers, or maybe it was from the conservative news articles that I read. When one knows the “real,” one does not have to study the counterfeit.
I know someone that has worked for the state and complained to her supervisors about redundancy and waste in the computer systems and alot of potential for errors and double payments, her concerns were on deaf ears. Doesn’t matter if it was Democrat or Republican, no one wanted to look at the issues and finally she was told to shut up and put up or get out. Guess which she HAD to do? So, this has been an ongoing problem and “secret” and “coverup” for many years. The budget should be looked at as a whole and not bits and pieces….this is where “mistakes” and errors can occur. Common sense isn’t so common.
Another Democrats Accuse headline. How about both sides STOP accusing and START fixing things. I get that people want to be re-elected. I get that people want their party in power. Sorry elected officials, but I don’t care what you want. You chose to run to serve your constituents – Dems and Repubs. The people NEED you to do your jobs – not jocky for sound-bites, party control and power. Here’s an idea BDN – give time and articles to people getting things accomplished – reward action and working together with media face time. Maybe then the focus will shift from outrage and accusations to accomplishment. I don’t care who is to blame for x,y,and z….move on instead of looking back and FIX it.
Read my mind….
I wonder if Senator Schnieder would consider the term’ breach of trust” in reference to the Baldacci Administration when Commissioner Concannon, after a Federal audit, was alerted that due to inadequate accounting practices and ineptitude by his department was the reason for losing track of $150,000,000?
Whoa, hold the horses. These problems started during the Baldacci Era and he did NOTHING to fix them. The democrats should be the ones taking the heat on this mess.
Seems when all of this started back around the start of the year the Lib’s cried foul that the problem was over blown and they didn’t
want to act until they got “solid numbers”. Now that the data shows
that the mess was even bigger than what was initially presented, The
problem that wasn’t a problem is a problem now because the non problem
problem, is a bigger problem then it wasn’t before. I see now. Makes sense.
How long can Liberals/progressives bank on the Electorate being a bunch of idiot’s?
Activist, the uniformed, idiots and the dependent, this is the Democratic demographic.