Maine Speaker Robert Nutting’s recent column, “Leadership Change
Paying Off” (BDN, June 24) hit the nail on the head. After decades of one-
party rule, Maine’s change of direction under Republican leadership is paying dividends. Taxes are lower, regulations have been trimmed, spending has been tamed, health insurance costs are receding and unemployment is going down.
These are just a few of the accomplishments that fresh, Republican ideas have made possible. But we can’t stop now.
We have a long way to go, and that is why I am running for the State
Senate in District 30, which encompasses towns from Veazie and Orono to
Mattawamkeag and Springfield. I am running against the old guard Democratic establishment that presided over an unprecedented growth in state spending and taxation.
These policies of the past have driven jobs and people out of Maine
because they do not place economic growth as their No. 1 priority.
My vision is inspired by my experience as a businessman and my
concern for my son, daughter-in-law and grandchild. The people I speak with all agree: their children want to stay in Maine — it is the best place in the country in which to raise children and live a happy, safe life — but they invariably move to greener economic pastures.
That is why it is so important to put Maine on a stronger footing for job growth and opportunity for all. What we need is common sense solutions for the working people of Maine.
When Maine had the ninth highest income tax rate in the country and
Republicans trimmed it back modestly from 8.5 to 7.95 percent, my opponent, Rep. Emily Cain, said, “My caucus hates these tax cuts. It hates them.”
Those tax cuts will put hundreds of dollars back into the pockets of the average Maine working family this year alone. That’s money for college textbooks, Christmas presents for the family or a new lawnmower.
In fact, those tax cuts didn’t go far enough. Mainers have been shipping more and more money off to Augusta with worse results year after year, and most Mainers I speak to would like to see our income tax at least approach the national norm in the near future.
We made a big step forward with spending reform as well.
MaineCare, a program that has grown 78 percent in the past 10 years and has been responsible for spending surprises requiring supplemental budgets every year, is finally hearing the word “no.”
Fortunately, Republican reforms to Maine’s health insurance market are yielding lower and lower premiums so people have an affordable alternative to medical welfare while our neighbors most in need have
a more sustainable program to support them.
We need to rein in state spending in this and other programs so that we can further ease our tax burden and debt levels.
Wouldn’t it be nice to pay for infrastructure projects out of our budget
instead of constantly going deeper into debt just to be able to drive on decent roads?
Regulatory reform is also paramount.
I see it all the time in my work — we spend as much time making the government happy as we do making our customers happy. That can’t continue. In order for Maine to be a place where businesses flock to and stay, our state government needs to impose less paperwork, fewer fees, and fewer committees and hearings to keep constant watch on the every move of those of us who are simply trying to turn a profit and keep the paychecks coming to our employees.
Reform alone, however, isn’t always enough. New jobs require bold
new initiatives. The Legislature passed a bill this year to study the feasibility of an east-west highway. Job creators have been espousing this route for years as a way to move goods more quickly between Atlantic Canada and the interior states and provinces.
The privately funded and operated highway would drive economic growth throughout my senate district as construction jobs open up and travelers pass through parts of Maine that haven’t seen new customers in a long
time.
If elected to the Legislature, this project will have my support.
These are just a few of the many reasons why we need to continue our
change of direction in Augusta.
Mainers need a government that implements common sense solutions for working people, not tired old ideas for the politically connected.
Republicans have kept the promises they made in 2010, and they won’t stop now.
Rod Hathaway of Veazie is the Republican candidate for State Senate District 30.
Wow, so this is really just the complete text of one candidate from one party’s stump speech. Unfortunately this mans vision is fraught with false choices and generalization without substance.
An objective look at what is happening to our communities tells another story. What is being sold as tax cuts and reigning in government growth is actually a ploy to reduce service levels for Maine people while handing the benefits of the cost cutting to the very wealthiest. This is not the demographic that needs relief.
Selling short our schools, police departments and wage earners in general cannot and will not improve the macro-economy. If the economy is measured by nothing more than the income levels of the top tier of Maine residents, this is a phenomenal success. If it is measured in terms of positioning the people and the resources in the state so that we might see improvement in the daily lives and circumstances of our residents, it is an abject failure.
I am astonished every day when I think of how gullible many of my neighbors are to the fear mongering blood sacrifices of those who seek to exploit them. If you told me ten years ago nearly half of the people would support politicians and their efforts to drive down their wages and reduce the few protections they have I would not have believed it possible. Today, like nearly every other day, I read this and am filled with a sadness, not that my neighbors have fallen for this exploitation, but that we have so many legislators who lack the decency and compassion to stop the insanity and save our communities and ultimately, our nation.
The politics of greed are alive and well. The only ammunition we retain against this powerful and immoral force is the ability to vote change. Change, away from the radicalism expressed by this gentleman and towards rethinking our shared commitments to one another is the order of the day and I remain hopeful that these values that once served us well will win the day.
Well Said!
Profound campaign speech, not so great commmnetary. And you got this spot for free? Who says the BDN desn’t cater to all?
And worse, it starts with “Maine Speaker Robert Nutting’s…” That alone makes me change the channel.
In addition, this commenter/candidate doesn’t mention if he’s a member of the Tea party or has their support. Oh wait, the Tea Partty seems to be fading in it’s kingmaker role. Even if he does have TP support, it might be best not to mention that in this district.
Mr. Hathaway seems to be taking literary license with facts in this article. For example he states that republican reforms to health insurance rates are causing premiums to go lower and lower. Really Mr. Hathaway? If that is true how do you explain that according to a May 31, 2012 article in the Portland Press Herald in regards to a ruling of the Maine Supreme Court it was stated that “The state’s highest court ruled in February that state regulators were justified last year in cutting a rate-increase request by Anthem. The insurer originally sought a 9.2 percent increase, but that was cut by the Bureau of Insurance to 5.2 percent. Anthem appealed, and lost.The new requested rates, covering about 17,000 customers, would take effect July 1. The maximum increase in the filing is 18.2 percent, for people older than 60 with a $15,000 deductible. An 18.2 percent increase doesn’t sound like premiums are going lower and lower. Of course perhaps there probably aren’t very many people over 60 in the district in which you are a candidate for Senate. You go on to say that unemployment is going down. If you were talking about the New England Region you would be correct. However in Maine the rate, according to the US Department of Labor, has actually been going up. In December of 2011 Maine’s unemployment rate stood at 7 percent. In May of 2012 it was at 7.4 percent. That could hardly be seen as going down now could it Mr. Hathaway? You also claim, ”
Those tax cuts will put hundreds of dollars back into the pockets of the average Maine working family this year alone. That’s money for college textbooks, Christmas presents for the family or a new lawnmower.” Statistics show that for those earning less then $34,000 per year the average tax decrease would amount to approximately $43 maybe enough for one used college textbook, or a single Christmas present but where can you get a lawnmower for that amount of money? You go on to say that, ”
I see it all the time in my work — we spend as much time making the government happy as we do making our customers happy”. Really Mr. Hathaway? Do you really want us to believe that Maine Trailer in Hampden spends as much time on keeping the State of Maine happy as it does on customer service?
{These policies of the past have driven jobs and people out of Maine}
Hardly!
Corporate Greed for lower Wages in foriegn Countries is what has driven out jobs!
Attacking what is left ( Government Jobs) will only put the final nails in the coffin of America!
Mr. Hathaway, Emily Cain is going to beat you and beat you handily, and your TeaRadical Party is going to be shown the door in a big way. First, enough of the LIE about “one-party rule over the last several decades”. One-party rule in Augusta is what we have now, and it has been a disaster. Over the decades there was time that control of the legislature was split, and we’ve had Democratic, Republican, and Independent governors. Remember, the branches of government make laws TOGETHER. LeBUFFOON and your party have been an affront to Maine values as you have worked overtime not to deliver thoughtful “reform” but rather the corporate agenda of ALEC and the Heritage Foundation which are your puppet masters. You have worked to take this state BACKWARDS by attacking voting rights, attacking workers’ rights, attacking womens’ rights, and attacking the environment.
You have done plenty for upper income people and precious little for the middle class. Maine, in fact, has LOST JOBS on your watch. Your buddy LeBUFFOON refuses to implement the Affordable Care Act even though it is modeled very much on the ROMNEYCARE law of Massachusetts and is full of provisions that were all originally REPUBLICAN ideas. Your corporate Maine health insurance bill RAISED TAXES on all of us and RAISED RATES for people in rural areas while forcing them to drive long distances for care. Many in your caucus never even read the bill before they blindly voted for it. The east/west highway idea is HIGHLY UNPOPULAR as it will mainly help Canadian truckers and do very little for Maine businesses. Your buddy LeBUFFOON refuses to enact real job creation through infrastructure and R&D bonds which are a great deal right now with matching funds, very low interest rates, and even, per LeBUFFOON himself, we have an excellent bond-repayment record. And Mainers will not forget LeBUFFOON’s BUFFOONERY over the removing the labor murals for STUPID reasons, telling people to kiss his you-know-what, and how he said “women may grow little beards” because he wants to allow higher levels of toxics in our food and products. How LOW CLASS AND DISGUSTING!
We will remember come November, and you can say bye bye to your TeaRadical agenda in Augusta.