AUGUSTA, Maine — A Democratic legislative leader said Friday morning that Gov. Paul LePage told her during a phone call he’s no longer planning to call lawmakers back to the capitol this fall for a special legislative session.
But a spokeswoman for LePage insists the governor hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a special session and that he’s “keeping all options on the table.”
The divergent interpretations of a phone call between Rep. Emily Cain, the House Democratic leader, and LePage came two days after the governor told a gathering of Bangor-area Republicans that he’s considering a special session of the Legislature this fall to propose an initiative that he promised would “push the envelope” and further polarize Democrats against him.
Cain indicated in an email to reporters Friday morning that she spoke briefly with LePage. While the governor didn’t divulge the details of his proposal, Cain said LePage did tell her he wouldn’t call the Legislature back to Augusta for a special session. Instead, the governor said he would wait until January, when a newly elected Legislature is in session, to propose legislation.
But LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said the governor continues to consider holding a special legislative session this fall. It’s premature, she said, to say definitively whether a special session will take place and to discuss what issue the governor wants to take up.
“There are multiple options,” she said. “Every one of them is being taken into consideration at this point.”
Bennett also criticized Cain for telling reporters about a private conversation.
“It’s very unfortunate that Rep. Cain would use this conversation to score political points,” she said.
Jodi Quintero, a spokeswoman for Cain, said the governor made it clear in his conversation with the House Democratic leader that he planned to wait until January to deliver his proposal to lawmakers. Cain “urged the governor to clarify his intentions to the public,” Quintero said.
Friday marked the second day speculation swirled around the State House regarding the governor’s plans for a special legislative session in advance of November’s elections. The governor said Wednesday, in a recording obtained by Bangor Daily News blogger Mike Tipping, he couldn’t divulge much about his plans because he’s still consulting with the state attorney general’s office to determine whether his proposal is legal.
Republican legislative leaders on Friday said they had received some information about the proposal from the governor’s office. LePage’s deputy chief of staff, Kathleen Newman, briefed House Speaker Robert Nutting and his staff, but asked them not to share details, Nutting’s spokesman Jim Cyr said.
Senate Majority Leader Jon Courtney said he knew “a little bit” from conversations with LePage staff members but not enough to make a comment.
Article V of the Maine Constitution allows a governor to call a special legislative session “on extraordinary occasions.” Bennett said the governor’s proposal “is something that we feel would warrant a special session and would adhere to the statute.”
Ahhh..the BDN..relying on bloggers and hit pieces to stay solvent. Pretty soon it will be a weekly in the supermarket you can pick up for the latest sales at Job Lots.
I notice you’re still reading it!
If you don’t like it, don’t read it. I don’t like banging my head against a wall, so I don’t do it.
Hee haw hee haw. That’s goober funny. Are you self-taught perchance?
Looks like Cain made a mistake…..trusting the words that came out of LePages mouth.
Think she may want to clean her ears out, then maybe she would of heard correctly..
Hee haw hee haw. That’s goober funny. Are you self-taught perchance?
maybe, doesn’t mean yes… or no.
Emily Cain should have taped the call . Adrienne would really have to spin on her merry- go- round then.
Paul LePage has got to be the biggest wing nut that has ever occupied the Blaine House! Does the man know if he’s coming or going? Sure seems to look as though he don’t know his “un-kissable” from his elbow. I’ve seen a whole lot of em come and go over the years but nothing compares to the shear mind numbing mismanagement and garble mouthed foolishness we’ve seen from this fellow. November 6th can’t come soon enough. Goodbye GOP/Tea Party, and hello foul mouthed lame ducky irrelevant LePage. Let me help you out Paul, “you’re” not going in November but your GOP/Tea Party support structure is. We’ll have to put up with your bumbling until 2014. Then you, your daughter and your brother-in-law will be nothing but a dark chapter in Maine politics.
Emily Cain just shows that she doesn’t know what she is talking about…..
You know what though? I am going to give her just the tiniest bit of the benefit of the doubt. Because I am certain that if we didn’t have the recording we do have, that LePage would have had a “different recollection” of what he said in Bangor too. I have not heard of Emily Cain being caught in a lie, have you? If so, I’d like to know what it was.
She got caught claiming she never violated state policy on being a State employee and voting for bills in which she had a private interest, i.e. Rule 104.
Executive Branch rules do not apply to Legislative employees especially not to the legislators themselves.
Unless a legislator has a financial interest that would be directly impacted by a bill there is nothing that forbids them from voting on it. If Cain had done that an ethics complaint would have been filed immediately.
An indirect impact does not count. For example Speaker of the Houser Nutting was allowed to vote on Medicare and Medicaid bills even while the pharmacy he owned was taking in Medicare & Medicaid money.
I was going to respond, but Tyke beat me to it. There are legislators on both sides of the aisle that vote for things that are in their private interest.
Don’t forget the times he said he didn’t say something and it’s on video and tape.
If Cain never speaks in terms of specifics but only generalities, she can never be accused of telling porkies, now, can she?
That can be said of anyone, anywhere.
Ah! You know the saying; “How can you tell when a politician is lying? Her lips are moving!” The governor’s greatest mistake was talking to the liberal/progressive left-wing- nut Cain in the first place.
It is clear from the posts on this thread that the governor could not get a fair shake herein if he had a halo!
Emily Cain? Bwahahahaa.. I heard her on her cellphone once at the statehouse., “Like yeah, we were going to that bar and like it was really cool. Nah, he was like ummm, kinda weird and stuff.”
Not exactly a brain surgeon if you know what I mean.
Sure you did.
Are you going to support Dill?
Yes.
Of course he is!
I bet Gerald will do like all the Liberals will do this election run to King Angus because he is their only hope in this election since Dill has no chance. But Liberals better beware Angus’ poll numbers are now on the decline since now he is polling under 50%.
And yet Summers has not picked up 1 percentage point
So how does that show that she lied? About ANYTHING. And you claiming to be repeating a private conversation is about as immature as one can get and still be walking upright.
He’s lying. Representative Cain does not talk in that manner even in private conversations.
If you can share that I guess I can share that I heard LePage order his 14th drink, Twisted Tea, in less than 2 hours at the Bob-In at Waterville.
This made my day! Governors — they’re just like us! hahahaha (I kind of love the Bob-In.)
“Not exactly a brain surgeon if you know what I mean.”
… as oppose to Paul LePage, do you mean ?
So did you think she was lying, as you ease dropped on her phone call, or not, though ?
Or did you just have trouble understanding the question :
” I have not heard of Emily Cain being caught in a lie, have you? If so, I’d like to know what it was.”
As opposed to…. ?
; 0
Oh, don’t you wish? That statement alone, not counting all your others, only shows that you don’t have a clue!!
Dont get them feathers all riled up…It does no good.
In January of this year, 48 Maine legislators including Emily Cain signed a brief to the U.S. Supreme court in support of Obamacare, throwing their support behind robbing Medicare to help pay for the takeover. Just so the voters know.
Just the facts, ma’m (or sir)
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/dec/12/mitt-romney/romney-says-only-obama-has-cut-medicare/
That is a fact, taking money from medicare to pay towards obamacare.
Please cite the sources of your “fact”.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/14/romneys-right-obamacare-cuts-medicare-by-716-billion-heres-how/
tell us how medicare part c will be modified
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/14/romneys-right-obamacare-cuts-medicare-by-716-billion-heres-how/
I read the entire Washington Post article that you referenced. It describes where the financial reductions in Medicare will be made and how those reductions will be reallocated into Medicare. Perhaps your version of “truth” should include more than a headline.
Here is a summation in the story, “It’s worth noting that there’s one area these cuts don’t touch: Medicare benefits. The Affordable Care Act rolls back payment rates for hospitals and insurers. It does not, however, change the basket of benefits that patients have access to.”
Furthermore, here is the first paragraph in a Washington Post companion article that is linked (Paul Ryan’s budget keeps Obama’s Medicare cuts. Full stop. – http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/14/ryans-budget-keeps-obamas-medicare-cuts-full-stop/) to the story that you cited:
“Since the Romney campaign wants to run against President Obama’s cuts to
Medicare, it’s something of a problem for them that Paul Ryan’s budget includes those very same cuts to Medicare. And so they’ve come up with a somewhat confused and confusing argument to distinguish the two plans.”
You may want to read both Washington Post news analyses in their entirety.
Since the Obamacare cuts are already part of the law of course Ryan has to deal with them in his budget. It would be faulty math otherwise.
You should apply for a job on the Republican “Spin Team”.
First, you did not comment at all on the Washington Post article that you referenced that ended with, “It’s worth noting that there’s one area these cuts don’t touch: Medicare benefits. The Affordable Care Act rolls back payment rates for hospitals and insurers. It does not, however, change the basket of benefits that patients have access to.”
Second, it is farcial and ludicrous for you to claim, “Since the Obamacare cuts are already part of the law of course Ryan has to deal with them in his budget. It would be faulty math otherwise.”
Paul Ryan’s plan for anything, or any politician’s for that matter, can be and often is independent of current policy or law. A plan is just that, “a detailed formulation of action”. It may take into account current conditions, but its purpose is to outline what is intended. As you well know, Ryan has pledged to repeal the entire Affordable Care Act, which includes many provisions that have widespread support among Americans.
Ryan’s plan, like any plan, includes what he wants in it, Period.
Your defense is faulty.
It seems that you have been hoisted by your own petard.
Only if you call a lie a fact.
In case you don’t bother to read the Politifact link from Millicent of the facts of Romney’s false claim that President Obama is reducing Medicare for recipients to pay for The Affordable Care Act, that you perpetrate (“…robbing Medicare…”), here is a brief excerpt from the link that sums up its findings:
“PolitiFact has explored this before:
The Affordable Care Act does reduce Medicare spending by $500 billion over the next 10 years. But here’s the catch: Those dollars aren’t taken out of the current budget, they are not actual cuts, and nowhere does the bill actually eliminate any current benefits,” we wrote last month.
Which brings us to the next point. We note that, in the debate, Romney specified that Obama cut Medicare “for seniors.” That sounds like he meant that Obama cut Medicare benefits.
That notion falls flat too. The health care law does not reduce benefits — in fact, it enhances them.
“The Affordable Care Act improves the benefits in Medicare, in terms of prevention, in terms of filling in the donut hole in Medicare Part D for prescription drugs,” said Jonathan Oberlander, a health policy professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.”
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), used as a source by both political parties, has debunked Romney’s bogus claim: “On Medicare, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that reforms to the program under Obama’s 2010 health care law resulted in hundreds of billions of dollars in savings, rather than spending cuts that reduced benefits, as alleged by the Romney campaign.” (CNN Politics – http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/17/politics/attack-the-strength/index.html)
The truth has been reported throughout the media, with the expected exception of the neo-conservative propagandists.
There you go trying to mess up the rights talking points with facts, you know they don’t accept facts only BS from their leaders. Cut it out!
Your posts are well done, concise and fact-based. I tried that for a while but got worn out by the responses that were usually (not always, just too, too often) blather. Thank you. Illegetimi non corborundum.
“It’s very unfortunate that Rep. Cain would use this conversation to score political points,” she said.
HA and what do you think LePage is up to? The points he is trying to score are not brownie points or the kind his wife would give him, that leaves polictical points.
Yeah, it is so unfair to politicians like Paul LePage when other politicians , especially his opposition, act just like he does.
I love how the Neo-Know Nothing conservatives say so plainly that they not only expect, but need, liberals to act better than they or or their own leadership do.
If you are undecided on how to vote, what would that suggest is the better bet ?
you certainly have that correct
Preparing popcorn. Comments should get interesting on this one. ;)
Buy it while you can afford it!
“It’s very unfortunate that Rep. Cain would use this conversation to score political points,” she said.
Bennett always manages to squeeze in some stupid and clearly hypocritical jab, now doesn’t she?
A reflection of her boss, perhaps?
This is the kind of stuff they make movies out of the right hand does not know what the left is doing.this would make a great mystery or fairy tale depends on how you look at it i guess.The people should take this latest episode into consideration when headed to the polls this year.Go gov.and all your cronies
He was just expressing his inner five-year-old. “I’ve got a secret, nyah nyah nyah.”
Ah-yup, I thought that and that his plan was coming from the same place that made him a young bully, only now trying to steal the candidates Halloween candy, leaving them holding the bag.
But once you let anyone know that you are organizing a snipe hunt, people have the opportunity to find out what it is, and that snipe hunts are just a mean bullying tactic.
I’m thinking, now, his handlers have haul him in.
May-be even put him back on meds for his narcissistic personality disorder.
Anyone know what drugs it is treated with, so we know what side effects
to look out for ?
Lepage seems to be displaying Theory of mind deficits possibly caused by alcohol abuse.
Lepage and many of his followers don’t seem to be able to comprehend the idea that other people exist.
We all know that the conservatives love to spend money liberally, so now, Paul LaPudge wants to spend $35,000.00 to bring the Legislature back for a special session, to prove some political point, at the expense of the tax payers. If he was as thrifty as he says he is, he’d get his foolishness over during the scheduled session in September.
Let’s see,, he has already insulted the President, Woman, labor union, kids ( looked down upon) so he has to wait until he thinks about who he’s going to insult next. Should be a goody can’t wait to hear this.
Sources: LePage Hopes To Pay Down Hospital Debt With Liquor Money In Special Session
http://www.wabi.tv/news/32640/sources-lepage-hopes-to-pay-down-hospital-debt-with-liquor-money-in-special-session
Interesting clip from that link:
According to sources, the state debt to hospitals was $125-million in January, but is much higher now. The debt comes from hospitals continuing to serve Medicaid patients without being fully reimbursed by the state.
And people still wonder why the Governor wants out of an expanded Medicaid (Mainecare) program?
He needs to get out to pay for those tax cuts for the wealthy.
That’s not the reason why it’s because the program is bankrupting our state .
These program is not sustainable at the levels Democrats expanded them too . We have too many folks on government programs with most folks able enough to hold a job. I think its time for folks to at least work if they want their assistance but its time to start slowing the growth of these programs. When folks are on stable ground from holding a job and are able to take care of themselves they should start losing some of these benefits. The state can’t pay for these programs anymore. It doesn’t have the population and the income levels that are need to keep these programs at the levels Liberals want them to be at.
I question that there is a large percentage of those receiving Maine Care are able to work. I know there is abuse within the system, however taking an ax to it will not solve the problem.
Those that work more than likely will not have health insurance nor will they be able to afford it. The state and federal government will end up paying for some of the health care to the hospitals anyway. It is a big problem no question and the ACA does some things to solve that as has happened in Mass. with Romneycare, it’s not perfect but at least it is a start. Our Gov. doesn’t seem to want to do anything to get ready for the ACA so we are left in limbo for the time being.
Thanks for the link to the WABI news report that you posted. It is notable that LePage has a condition to pay the hospitals what they are owed by the State.
Here is an excerpt from WABI,
“According to highly placed sources in the State House, if the governor had decided and was able to call lawmakers back for a special session, he’s hoping to use the money from the state’s liquor contract to help pay down the debt owed by the state to Maine’s hospitals.Sources tell TV-5 the deal is contingent on hospitals agreeing to drop a provision in the law requiring state approval for certain hospital expansion projects…”
Do you suppose that putting conditions on the State before we citizens will pay our debts to it will be acceptible?
It is like a TV soap opera. Yesterday someone leaked a recording of our hero, Governor Paul Richard LePage, at a Bangor bar entertaining his republican buddies by telling them about his “secret plan”. He implied that it would really be something that would PO democrats. But first his (emphasis on his and not Maine’s) Attorney General was trying to figure out away around Maine’s pesky Constitution to allow our hero to call a special session of the legislature to enact this “secret plan”. No one knows for sure if there is a “secret plan” or if it was just typical bar talk by a loudmouth looking for attention from his adoring drinking buds. Now enter the leader of the Democrats, Emily Cain, who claims to have been told by our hero in a brief phone conversation that he had changed his mind on calling a special session to enact his “secret plan” that would change Maine for 10 years. Emily does what every good politician does, run to the media to tell them LePage has changed his mind and will wait until January to reveal his “secret plan” to the legislature. Along comes the reviser of all things said by LePage, his Director of Communications played by former WABI television personality
Adrienne Bennett who has an entirely different story then the one told by Cain. This soap opera has everything, drama (way too much) intrigue, “secret plans”, the only thing lacking is a body and a butler. When in the name of all that is holy will this insanity end. The people of the State of Maine deserve better from our elected representatives. We actually need adults running our State and not this cast of characters from a soap opera which is apparently what we have today.
Well said — I think it was Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Candlestick, myself!
A secret plan? I wish I could find my magic decoder ring.
…
Keep up the great work Mr. Lepage… Keep the busy bodies a wondering…
When they actually have the need to know then you can tell them..
Yeah, he will have to be the one to tell the general public, b/c you can bet your sweet tush that there will be body checks for recording devices for any further meetings … whether in a bar or not! A request will be made to leave all cell phones in the basket by the door.
The word is out. Maine is officially in the Flubber business!
Busy bodies? Need to know? This is our lives he’s playing with, our futures.
Remember in September 2010 when Paul LePage told Howie Carr that he never said “bull*&%@” at a press conference despite that there was video tape of him doing so?
Governor, call the special session. Don’t back down like a coward. Get your giant mug in front of the cameras and do your stuff. I can no longer afford cable and you are my only true comedy entertainment. Thank you.
The person who selects the pictures for these articles has the best sense of humor in the world. I absolutely love this one – he looks confused, indecisive, scared and out-of-his-league. My all time favorite is the one they ran a few days ago that shows him with that dreamy eyed, dopey look. He’s beginning to remind me of an angry Homer Simpson.
It really is the best fun to read the comments on Paul LePage stories — always good for a laugh! (Glad it’ll be over in two years, though.)
That should explain why he is ranked as the “Worst” Governor ever to be elected in Maine history. He is a shame to the office.
The BDN staff has a habit of selecting photos for a particular slant. Almost like political cartoonists . . .
They don’t have a multitude of material to choose from, given the subject matter.
‘Tis true . . .
This whole business about an extra legislative session is clothed in mystery. I thought the Republicans, including Governor LePage, advocated an open government and less pervasive government. Calling for a secretive extra government session sounds contradictory to promises the Republicans made in the last election.
Loving the comments, keep them coming.
Lepage’s flag tie is being displayed inncorrectly. The Union stars must always be displayed at the head of or on top of the 13 stripes.
I guess Lepage is more used to his beloved Maple leaf flag
I do believe that is a State Of Maine shaped pin. Not a traditional American Flag pin.
I was pointing out that Lepage’s flag tie improperly has the stripes above the Union stars.
It isn’t a huge deal but it clearly shows how little Paul Lepage cares about the flag we veterians fought for.
Sounds to me like all those folks in Augusta have been participating in a Maine Beverage Company sponsored wine and cheese party without the cheese. In vino mendacium.
While both the Democrats and the Republicans participate in precisely the same sort of behavior by having these sort of meetings (which renders all criticism null), one has to wonder about the legalities of secretely taping conversations of individual citizens in a private meeting. Federal law may have a thing or two to say about that…..
You’re shooting from the hip regarding legality…then again that’s LePage’s style, too.
Oh? Stay tuned. Remember what Bill Clinton’s Justice Department did when Monica Lewinsky’s private conversations were recoreded? Democrats seem to have a short memory on the fact that they reap what they sow…..
The General Counsel for the RNC will be taking a very close look at how the privacy of private citizens in a non-public meeting was breached by an undisclosed wire tap….
So now it’s called wire tapping if you turn on your cell phone’s recorder during a party in a bar.
Thats just sad.
I’m going to believe anyone over LePage, any day.