North of the Mason-Dixon Line, it’s hard to find a state that has given more of a cold shoulder to President Barack Obama’s health law than Maine.
It was one of 27 states that joined the suit to overturn the law, which was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court.
This year the state not only showed no interest in expanding Medicaid as the law requires, it took steps to shrink the rolls of the state-federal health insurance program for the poor, leaving thousands without coverage. In September, the state sued the federal government to reduce the program further, arguing a provision in the law barring states from making it harder for people to qualify was invalid.
But Maine’s voters may have short-circuited further resistance Tuesday by initiating a Democratic sweep that flipped control of both houses of the State Legislature, and is now poised to challenge Gov. Paul LePage, a tea party Republican opposed to the law.
“A new direction is likely to prevail,” Terry Hayes, Assistant Democratic Leader in the Maine House, said in an interview. “We will look to fully implement the Affordable Care Act.”
LePage congratulated the victorious lawmakers, but his spokeswoman had no comment on how the political switch might affect implementation of the health law.
“It certainly changes the dynamics,” said Maine Sen. Roger Katz, a Republican member of the appropriations committee. But he noted that LePage could veto Democratic efforts to restore Medicaid cuts, or to expand the program. “Hopefully we can work together,”said the Augusta lawmaker.
Maine is one of five states — Minnesota, Colorado, New York and Oregon — in which Democrats won control of the legislature Tuesday. But the shifts in Maine and Minnesota – where a Democratic governor supportive of the law had previously battled with Republicans — are likely to have the greatest impact on the health law’s implementation.
Hayes, whose district is in rural northwest Maine, said Democrats will work to implement the law’s key provisions. That means they will look to expand Medicaid to cover everyone under 133 percent of the federal poverty level, currently $31,000 for a family of four. They also support creating a state-based insurance exchange.
LePage, who was elected during the 2010 GOP wave, has vehemently opposed setting up an exchange, going so far as to return a $5.8 million federal grant for that purpose last April.
The Maine Legislature’s power shift also means Democrats will get to appoint a new state attorney general in January and thwart threatened lawsuits against the Obama administration related to the law, Hayes said. “We will not be suing the federal government any more to impede the Affordable Care Act,” Hayes said.
About 44,000 people could be eligible for Medicaid if the state expands the program under the law in 2014. The federal government will pay the full costs through 2016, after which Maine would have to pay up to 10 percent.
Sara Gagne Holmes, executive director of Maine Equal Justice Partners, a consumer group that represents the poor, said Democrats’ takeover of the Legislature is good news for the uninsured. “We are certainly more optimistic of having an expansion taking place,” Holmes said.
Maine earlier this year cut more than 14,000 parents from Medicaid when it lowered the threshold to qualify from 200 percent of poverty level ($46,100 for a family of four) to 133 percent ($31,000 for a family of four).
This summer, the state submitted plans to the federal government to cut another 36,000 people, including childless adults with incomes above the poverty level ($23,050 for a family of four), as well as 19-and 20-year olds who had been covered up to 150 percent of the poverty level ($34,575 for a family of four). When the Obama administration did not respond quickly enough, the state filed suit in federal court requiring an “expedited review,” but a court tossed the case saying it lacked merit.
The LePage administration had been counting on the cuts to balance the state budget.
Joseph Ditre, executive director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care, an advocacy group, said Democratic lawmakers are more likely to favor a more aggressive exchange model, which negotiates with insurers to keep rates down for consumers. The federal health law gives states flexibility to establish different types of exchanges. He said the state doesn’t have enough time to establish its own exchange by 2014, but it could start one in 2015.
oh i bet. when that day comes you’ll see small business’ drop like flies, layoff’s and huge price increases. jmo
I’ve been looking for a reason to raise my rates! Thanks Obama!
Stick to your guns Gov. The recipient class thinks everything will stay for free forever.
they’re not free now and they will die as slaves…..hopefully at the hand of liberty
Ah, yes, “the recipient class.” Grandparents trying to live on Social Security. Veterans and their veterans’ benefits (my husband is a Vietnam vet who retired from the military and collects a pension). Disabled people like one of our adult daughters, who decided to be afflicted with a genetic deletion syndrome for the thrill of trying to live on SSI and SSDI [sarcasm alert].
I suspect that a lot of people who went along with Romney in despising “the 47%” who are too poor to pay taxes don’t recognize how close they, themselves are to joining that group.
Are you absolutely certain that you, yourself will never grow old? Are you positive that you could never have a disabled child or grandchild? Are you 100% confident that you will never have a disabling illness or injury? If and when any of those things happen, YOU will become part of the “recipient” class you deride.
Guess what–MY tax dollars are going toward programs that will benefit you if and when that happens. And I don’t mind. We’re all in this together. We’re Americans.
Very well said! I salute you. Personally I’m weary of trying to get through to these Limbaugh/Rove parrots. What these fools don’t realize is that the GOP doesn’t give a #2 about them either.
Your soooo right. Imagine…..Your so called recipient class wanting and needing…..HEALTH! The nerve of THOSE people. Hmmm,well,come to think of it, I would like affordable health care!
let the giveaways begin.bye-bye jobs the dems are back to add to their 30 year anti-job crusade.
These old, tired and inaccurate talking points from an old, tired and cranky conservative movement will get you nowhere. So, please, keep it up. It will make sure that nights like this Tuesday keep happening.
Gawsh, and the TeaPubli-can’ts did such a bang-up job in Maine, losing a NET 5000 jobs during the two years they held sway. Spending all of your time passing regressive social legislation made you out to be fools and the election merely proved it.
Ok, blame LePage for his 2 years…..will you now blame Obama for his FOUR years?
I love your comments TJ. You have done more for the democratic ascension to power than Pelosi has. Thank you!
You mean the ex-speaker Nancy Pelosi? The same NancyPelosi that will not be elected Minority Leader? The same Nancy Pelosi that will in all likelyhood resign her seat in January? That Nancy Pelosi?
Your ‘voice’ is rising in pitch there……
Actually its a smirk. I don’t use my “voice” when I type or move my lips when I read.
You have no inner voice?
As a conservative it has been pointed out to me on these pages that I am soulless. An inner voice would be considered a luxury under those circumstances.
Yup, that very one.
The reason Nancy Pelosi’s name comes up so much is that you Conservatives fear her power. She’s got more intestinal fortitude than any clown you guys have ever put in office and you can’t stand it. She may step down of her own accord but she’s to powerful to be forced to step down.
She’s gone.
You may not be happy with her replacement, should she step down from her leadership position… be careful what you wish for… there isn’t any reason to think that the Dems are going to elect someone less committed to the party platform than Pelosi…
The word is out. She’s gone. Besides Dems are a minority now and by historical example are likely to lose seats in 2014. It will be 2016 before the Dems mount a serious attack on Congress.
Whoever the Dems elect to be minority leader will be a non-player like Pelosi was the last two years. Which high power Dem wants to be the next sacrificial lamb?
Do you own a fireworks store? How’s that doing for ya? Another seasonal job.
Blame Obama for what? He is to be applauded for what he has accomplished dispite you no nothings opposing him at every turn. Osama Bin Laden is dead and GM is alive, No thanks to the all hat and no cattle Republicans.
Are you talking about the GM that is creating jobs in China?
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500173_162-20110006.html
Our tax dollars did that.
http://truth-out.org/progressivepicks/item/12273-romney-company-shipped-every-single-delphi-uaw-job-to-china
“Romney & Company Shipped Every Single Delphi UAW Job to
China. in the two weeks immediately following the announcement of the Delphi
jobs-saving plan, Paul Singer, Romney’s partner, secretly bought up over a
billion dollars of old Delphi bonds for pennies on the dollar.
Singer and partners now controlled the company – and killed
the return of Delphi to GM.
These facts were revealed in a sworn deposition of Delphi’s
Chief Financial Officer John Sheehan, confidential, but now released on the
Web.
Sheehan said, under oath, that these speculators threatened
to withhold key parts (steering columns), from GM. This would have brought the
auto maker to its knees, immediately forcing GM’s permanent closure.
The extortion worked. The government money that was supposed
to go to save jobs went to Singer’s hedge fund, Elliott Management Corporation
and its partners, including the Romneys.
Once Singer’s crew took control of Delphi, they rapidly
completed the move to China, sticking the US taxpayers with the bill for the
pensions of the Delphi workers cut loose.”
It does not change the fact that US taxpayers “saved” GM and then they now announce they are moving jobs to China.
There is quite a difference between a private corporation making that decision and a partly publicly owned GM doing it with taxpayer dollars.
anything like the what is it 700,000 or is that million they are taking out of Medicare.
stop listening to right wing talking points and actually look what was taken out of medicare
It was $700 billion … over 10 years.
And can you provide a reasonable link to prove your point?
http://www.heritage.org/research/factsheets/2012/01/obamacare-obama-ends-medicare-as-we-know-it reasonable link is subjective. some say 500 million some say 700 million. It can be confusing anyway you look at it.
Heritage.org. Hmmm I asked for a reasonable and will add, coherent link to truth. Why did I bother?
Get your facts straight. Obama has cut that amount out of Medicare waste and put the savings back into Medicare.There has actually been an increase in Medicare benefits because of it. I know because I’m on Medicare. Paul Ryans plan also takes that same amount from Medicare but distributes it to the wealthly.
Proven fact that when Democrats are in control there are more jobs and the Dow performs better. If you want less jobs and an under-performing Dow Jones, vote Republican.
let’s see obama got another 4 years squatting rights to play president two days ago.The dow drops the third largest drop in one day.And today the dow drops 150.Got any other jokes to tell
The Dow dropped because of fears the R’s kept the House and Wall Street fears more “lets block everything to make Obama look bad so our next guy will look good” tactics when the required cuts come about. It is the R’s grandstanding during that caused the automatic cuts to happen. If you are going to fear monger, at least get it right.
you got to get off those obama salts.Your guy got reelected and the economy is going to tank pretty simple.Do not have to fear monger the stock market and obama winning proved the point. comrade chris is that you.two full years of the dums control and still it is the repubs fault riiiight.
sour grapes
Need a crying towel?
Your guy lost– GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Dow would have dropped no matter who won (but probably more given the bad investments by big business betting on the wrong horse). Investers are worried about the fiscal cliff which is imminent even if Romney had won. Only the Rs deciding to govern for a change will moderate it.
And your buddy Bush took more vacations that anyone. Got anything new or interesting, better yet, anything with some truth in it to add? As for the DOW whether you like it or not the stock market is speculation. And yes the world is a community that affects the market. We are not the only country on the planet. Get away from Fox and open your mind to other stuff you can learn from.
The Dow Jones may have had a temporary drop but still remains much better off than it was under Bush. Get a grip loser.
The Dow is up not because profits are up… they aren’t. The Dow is up because we are in what you call an “equity bubble” because of the liquidity the Fed has pumped into the system. The problem with bubbles is that they burst. It won’t be for a while yet as the Fed has promised an unending supply of money. $40 billion per month for the foreseeable future. Buy stocks on the dips… like now. Get ready to dump if the fed shows any signs of stopping the money flow.
Do you remember what the Dow was when Obama took office? Let me remind you- 7949., that makes approximately a 60% increase.
I suggest you pay attention to facts.
A little more respect for the President.
The DOW is dropping because the House is still controlled by the GOP and they are leaderless in a time when a true GOP leader needs to rise and work with Obama and the Democrats to work on the Financial issues facing the country.
That is why the DOW is falling, they know that the GOP is unwilling to work for the betterment of the country. The GOP is still the lap dog of the rich and corporations.
When the squatter starts showing the people of this country and the office he is playing in some respect.Then and only then will i return the favor.Respect goes both way. Show the republicans some respect and quit covering for a failed admin with no leader.The man got elected by the media and the democtatic party covering up the truth about him.As far as lap dogs go hows that relationship between soros and barry working out.Put down the obama salts and open your eyes to the truth.The mans a fraud now he is using jarrett as the next cover the wimp.
The Dow is dropping because that is what it does. That’s how money is made.
What happened to the DOW on Tuesday? Look it up.
Veto any measures to make accessing health care easy and the public shall veto the governor when they vote again.
The tea party is over!
keep dreaming we will return.
No you won’t…. Angry white males voting block is getting smaller and smaller
Wait until you have to start paying tax on your workplace insurance benefits. How will you like it then?
wAIT UNTIL YOUR EMPLOYER CANNOT AFFORD to pay their share. The insurance companies don’t care. We will loose health insurance coverage. Obama should have pushed for single payer.
Where do you think they are going to get the money for single-payer? Employers of course.
No, don’t you get it, everything is free, the money just appears. The libs like “free” things.
“LIBS”? How about people who GET IT?…… Your labels do NOTHING for America. Instead of labelking why don’t you come up with an adult comment with some info.
Its sad, this kind of rhetoric is just what keeps things the way they are. Whats wrong with working together to solve a problem we all have. Nothing gets solved on the playground. Problems are solved when snotty talk is left at home and great minds get together from both sides and work for the greater cause. I’m sure that would go a long way to begin new beginnings with both parties.
It’s that sort of toxic sentiments that lost the election for the GOP.
It is coming. Our premiums go up every year and then there are no raises so employers try to help their employees with the difference. Come on. Something drastic needs to change. Why are the people in Sweden or Denmark the happiest people on the planet? Oh no socalism!!!!! We need to get the insurance companies out of deciding our healthcare. The government isn’t any better you say? Well why is Medicare more fiscally responsible? Fraud you say with Medicare? Well if we put it in one place then we all SAVE?. Japan’s model is very interesting. They negotiate what is a reasonable cost. Have you ever researched how they do things? And why is it so HARD for America to look at models for other programs? We do not own the best options in this country. It needs to CHANGE. We ALL are already paying for those who do not have insurance. It CANNOT stay as it is.
I knew that my comment up top would get flagged, because the Tea Party types have trouble with me referring to their guy as Penguin.
My inappropriately flagged comment was: Penguin needs to either get on board with Obamacare or get out of the way, because either way its coming.
You are right. LePage is beholden to his keepers: Norquist, Koch brothers, Adelson et al.
The problem with us trying to model ourselves after Denmark or Sweden is because should we try… we will look like Greece. Outcomes are never what you expect. The changes we need must be organic. They need to come from who we are. We do not look like
Sweden with a Lutheran work ethic and a heterogeneous culture. We need our own solution to a complex problem. Not someone elses.
You are right, we can not replicate a health system after others. We need to make our own plan and it will have to be a single payer system. That’s the only effective way for all to have a health plan that will make us health insurance independent. Now to do this everyone will have to pay in to the plan. The only reasonable way would be a consumer tax. Everyone consumes and everyone would pay. The wealthier one is, the more they consume, the more consumption tax they would pay. The least wealthy of us would pay also. What ever they consume there would be a tax. It could be 1% to maybe 5%. But all would be liable for some money paid to a health system. And all would be covered, all would have the same coverage as his or her peers. If someone that was wealthy or had money and wanted stuff like cosmetic surgery for something other then reconstructive surgery then they would have to pay out of pocket for that.
This would take the cost of health care from the employer and they in turn would not be burdened with health insurance and could put that money in to hiring more people and also build up their businesses.
This can be done but we have to get the noses of the insurance companies and other obstructionist out of the game.
If everyone with an insurance plan stop paying their premiums for 3 to 4 months that would solve one major problem there. The insurance companies would sit up and take notice that Americans are tired of being use in a money scheme to pump up their board of directors to steal millions of dollars from us.
It is coming my friend, something will have to happen, life as usual is not going to go on paying premiums and getting nothing in return. We need to stop being afraid and take a stand.
I am not exactly clear what you mean by a consumption tax. Do you mean like a national sales tax?
There is a little problem with your 1 to 5% tax. It doesn’t raise anywhere near enough money.
The healthcare system in this country is 1/6 of the entire economy. That is about 17%. To raise the needed money through a consumption tax would require at least a 15% tax rate. But you know that they would want certain items exempt and also consumer spending is only 70% of the entire GDP. So in practice you might really need a 20% or even higher tax rate.
Tell me, what would it do to your budget to add a 15% to 20% consumption tax on everything you purchase? Auto, home, food, fuel….
To get that tax rate down you will have to reduce the cost of health care. Good luck with that.
TrickleUpPovertyForAll
You are probably right about some of your blog, but maybe not all of it. In single payer health care there will be control of health cost in a big way. And the scare tactics laid out by some will not hold water. Doctors will not drop out of health care in droves. If they are in this profession for the purpose of taking care of people they will be rewarded. If they are in it for the money they wont want to stay. The big Pharmas will not gouge us with drug cost highly over rated. Medical machinery will not be so out of sight with the huge price tags. The 1 to 5 % tax wont be to far off, do you understand that the consumer spends money like one would get water out of a faucet. Its a steady stream and it can be a stream full of pressure. What ever happens its going to happen soon. In a single payer plan what ever doesn’t come out of the pocket of the taxpayer through a consumption tax then will have to be made somewhere else. It can be worked out. Law makers will have to bite the bullet and work together on one of the most important programs in history. Once health care is OK then there will be other issues that will fall in to place.
Yes i guess you could call a consumption tax a consumer tax. Its a tax on what we consume. There is millions of dollars that’s being spent on stuff, and a 1 to 5 % would not be felt and would go a long ways to fund a health care system that would be fair to all. If a person consumed 200.00 per month then that person would pay any where from $2.00 to $ 10.00 per month. That would be their contribution to the health care program. Most could afford $24.00 to $ 120.00 per year. The people that are very poor would get the help they are getting now. And the ones that could afford to buy more would pay more. This would be a fair way to pay for health care. And you and I and everyone else would get the same kind of health care. Its got to start some where. We need to have the law makers get their collective heads out of their butts and start to work for why they are there in DC, the people that voted them in to office. Not everything will be OK with everyone but there are not many more ways that would bring in the amount of monies needed to do this health care. Now there would be some strict rules on where this money is stored and goes. And it can not go to supplement other programs besides the health care program. I know its another tax but this health care program would be paid for and not borrowed against. Its a doable and easy thing but the people that have been taking care of business are not hurting and so they have an easy time turning a blind eye on the rest of us that needs this very important program. And its time that we drive home this to the ones we have put in office to take care of our business.
America is going to look like Greece in no time flat.
Jeez Louise, where do they get the money for public schools, libraries, police and fire departments? Health care is no less a necessity than those “entitlements.” The wrestling magnate who spent $100 million of her own money in a losing Senate bid can certainly afford to be in a higher tax bracket.
While we’re at it, let’s slap a hefty tax on the fast food joints causing much of the obesity problem and high health care costs, disallow the purchase of soda and ding-dongs with food stamps, and raise the gas tax to encourage people to get out of their cars and walk.
Just a few moderate, centrist proposals. I won’t even get into the money that could be saved and raised by repealing the draconian marijuana laws and taxing it like alcohol.
The poster I responded to implied that without single payer insurance that business will go under because of its high cost. I was merely pointing out that was where the money was coming from (business) in either instance.
Without getting into details you could tax the top 1% all of their income at 100% and still not have enough money to accomplish your goal. The woman who spent a $100 million dollars trying to get elected had a right to do so. It’ her money. Beyond that the $100 million spent was economic activity that in all likelyhood created 100’s of jobs if not more.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/nov/8/picket-companies-plan-massive-layoffs-obamacare-be/
Your story was produced by Freedom Works a political hack machine started and run by Karl Rove. And he is so angry that President Obama won that he is still chewing the fat. All these companies that are crying was going to down size anyways. And most of the down sizing is of a global nature and wont bother the American worker. All that story is about is fear mongering, and turf preservation. The health care system now is so overly engrossed with the need to steal from the public to enhance their share holders and they don’t care that their secret is out. Its time that the money starts flowing back to the ones that’s paying for all of this. How will you feel when you have health care that takes care of your needs. And you know that your neighbor is also being taken care of as well. This is not a hard concept to understand.
No neither, that was all that was available for a non group policy. Non group policies are very limited to what they offer.
Like I said (last year) I experimented with getting anon-group policy. Two of us. $440 with Anthem. Your agent didn’t work very hard for you.
You were very fortunate to find that kind of policy. As of May 2012, I to have been looking and there is nothing that is available to us. There is no agent for this I have to call an 800 # not sure where they are located southern Maine maybe. I have not had the luck you seem to have had.
Enjoy your insurance. In this kind of environment one needs to have a good policy.
When all is said and done our health care system will be single payer. Everyone knows this, its just a matter of time. He was pushing for a single payer plan but the repubs got their finger prints all over what is there now. Be patient, once this system goes in to full effect it will be tweaked and closer to a single payer system. Obama having another term will secure that the health care law will not be reversed. And by the end of 2014, everyone will have coverage. And by the time 2016 no one will be able to take away the health care from millions of citizens.
AGREE!
Single Payer is the way our health care system should be. People who are currently 18 plus years old should pay their own way for health care. At that age they are considered adults and can join the military , etc. Removing them from their parents health ins. is the right thing to do.
Having stated your 2016,” everyone will have coverage’ may sound good but will not happen. Many people will NOT pay due to poverty and Anger or disgust of another law dictating what they have to do. And ONCE all the people have access to health care,,,,,,,,,whoa. the complaining will begin. LONG waits for appts. to see the Dr.
Long waits for appts now is the norm. And complaining is Americas new past time. Nothing new there. In 2009 Obama care was past and no one thought possible. Whoops it happened. Now that President Obama is in for another 4 years that health care law is going no where its here to stay. It will be worked out for the betterment of all, I have faith in that. The ones that cant pay for the health care program will get taken care of. The ones that don’t want it will pay a penalty for not having it. Sooner or later all will have it whether or not they want it. I don’t like paying for auto insurance but i by law have to have it. Once people realize that having health care, affordable health care will help the economy in the biggest way ever imagined they will come around.
If i have an extra $5000.00 in my budget a year to spend on the economy with millions of others doing the same, it wont take long to realize the benefit of having a health care program along with healthier people.
Obama Care is really Americare.
Am not going to argue about Obama care or any other Obama anything. He won. Be happy for yourself. I was not able to vote for a person who wears an Earphone during a Presidential debate and has to rely on a Teleprompter for what to say. Hope your beloved Pelosi will do her job after she said not many had bothered to look at the Proposed Obama Care BUT VOTE IT IN and then they will read it. You voted those people to stay. Let us hope they can do their jobs.
Whether you believe it or not, some day you will see that it will be good for you also that he will be able to finish his job. The republican leaders will need to work with him as well as he with them. Its a two way street and the only out come can be a positive one for all if all work together.
And thank you for your concern for my happiness. Your faux stories about President Obama are a fabricated tale. I’m sorry you are still following that bi line. Nothing good comes of this. And the folks that got voted out and replaced by others found this out the hard way. So many lies, so little truth.
Not sure what you insinuate about my “faux stories about Obama”. What Fabricated tale do you think I listened too? I SAW his Earpiece and saw him listen to Romney with his other ear, BUT I SAW THE EARPIECE. NO FABRICATION THERE. IF you refer to FOX news, Sure I listen to them BUT also many in Europe and Canada. If you want to go there, then tell YOUR alphabet stations to stop showing their Lefty Love. As for PBS, many shows I watch on PBS but am Disgusted that MY TAX dollars fund that network. IF PBS was leaned to the RIGHT, the LEFT would have been demanding it go off the air. SOme things just don’t change. Bottom line, I do not trust or care for your Obama. PERIOD. I can thank the Americans who have fought for my rights to speak Freely. Health Ins. FINES will NOT BE PAID. that is a fallacy of the Left.
Now you can read about alllllllllllllllllllllllll the LAYOFFS. Those people are the ones I feel bad for. Not the Liberal lovin Obama voters.
You saw what you wanted to see. I also was watching and saw nothing of the sort. And even looked at still pics and blown up pics and still see nothing. The lies keep flying. The people that do not want President Obama in office will never stop. But there is four more years and I hope that the Republican leaders will work with the president and the tea party will be voted out by sensible republican lawmakers that are wanting to work and solve our problems. And it needs to start with the lie machine about Obama being put on the back burner. A new day is here.
Bunch of places already laying off employees and slashing staff, bcause of ACA. Coming to Maine, and all over US.
All the more reason for a single-payer system, so having insurance doesn’t depend on what company you work for.
By the way, companies have been laying off staff for a long time, now–it’s in their interest to force fewer people to take on a larger and larger workload, and to slash benefits whenever they can. The ACA didn’t change that.
Hey your budy Boehner just admitted that they will not go after the ACA, it is the law of the land now. How’s that make you feel?
It Is what it is. He understands the politics of it. Too bad you don’t understand the economics of it.
So we do nothing? When is it a good time to tackle health care reform? When is it a good time to change the way insurance and drug companies and stop the bleeding and reign in their robbing us blind? Waiting is not going to help. We knew in the 70’s that energy policies need to be reformed. We learned nothing from them and keep handing the oil companies our hard earned dollars for nothing. Pharmaceutical companies not making drugs that people need because they are not making their 200% profit just to have us buy the new multi million dollar drugs. Thats BS.
There is a saying in some service companies that holds true for many, including healthcare.
You can have your product
1) Cheap
2) of high quality
3) quickly
You get to pick two of the three.
I believe we do understand the economics about Obama Care. And soon the negative ones will also. It will be a good thing for everyone. Including you as well. The health insurance companies have raped the American people long enough. I paid in to a system for 20 years. My deductible was 15,000.00 per person. And could not use it until two people deductibles had been met. That’s 30,ooo.00 per year. My monthly premiums was over 500.00 per month. Never had a claim been made on my policy. And there was an added 150.00 per month if we wanted to have the ability to have physicals. Now you tell me that was not a rip off. Being self employed there is only blue cross and blue shield anthem available to us. I’m so happy about Obama Care that I could do cartwheels.
It sounds like you had a poor agent or poor policy. I have investigated personal policies (last year) and was able to find a policy for $440.00 per month for two. $3k deductable. This included preventive care office visits. Anthem.
I was considering dropping our employer paid coverage. We will revisit that at my company this summer. When 2014 comes around I will consider giving my people a raise and drop coverage entirely. We will see.
He was working towards this the first time around when the dems had control of the House. Unfortunately that (I can’t say what I want here) Senator Lieberman voted with the republicans and the bill failed by one vote. Way to go Lieberman.
thats the ryan tax plan–you know, republican ryan
Again with the disproven disinformation. That tax is only on the best plans, or so-called cadillac plans but you know that.
You are incorrect. Cadillac plans or not. ALL insurance benefits will appear on an employees W-2 as income is a requirement in 2013. It is optional this year.
Disprove it. I have the IRS website on my side.
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Employer-Provided-Health-Coverage-Informational-Reporting-Requirements:-Questions-and-Answers
Like it fine, We WILL have insurance… If the Owner wants to pack it in, so be it… ALL businesses with over 50 employees will have to belly up to insurance… If they do not, competitors will… The business quitters jobs will go elsewhere… We will survive… AND we WILL have insurance if we get laid off…
I can’t see a crabby old white folks movement making many inroads with regular citizens, minorities, young Americans or most women, can you? Historians decades hence may see their rise and fall as one of the death spasms of their demographic element.
“Angry white males”?
Exactly what are you insinuating?
Funny how you think its okay to be racist when talking about whites. Not cool.
There was nothing in my statement that was racist.
The GOP got 60% of the white vote, 27% of the hispanic vote, 25% of the asian vote and less than 10% of the black vote. Oh and less than 50% of women’s vote, of all races.
By 2016 whites will make up less than 70% of the US population. The GOP’s base is shrinking and that is just the facts.
I think you should look at the true demographics of the Tea Party movement. You will find that it is a very well mixed group from top to bottom. Your comment is the same as saying the occupy movement is only made up of young male, unemployed college grads who still live in their parents basements.
Maine republican party = Bible, beer, bullets, no jobs, now thats progress…..#epic fail.
Gee, and some TPers on other strings are saying there’s no such thing as the Tea Party, just individuals. LOL.
So does the flu!
Looking forward to the coming civil war…
perpetuated by your outdated policies.
I highly doubt that.
So is Draft Dodger LePage…
I am hoping for a return to much less stressful times for those who are in need.
Enough of the talk of throwing certain groups under the bus!
Yah we’ll just print more money as we need it, no problem.
The Democratic Party,the New Santa Claus. Quit your job and get in the welfare line.Then they can say they produced more jobs,lol.
Lets hope the President and the feds will still be kind enough to look past all the nasty things Mr. LePage has said about them over the last two years. I know they will but they’ll likely not look upon us with a smile for at least two more years. 2014 elections can’t come soon enough!
Yeah because then maybe a fabulous liberal will get in and they can re-instate lifetime welfare benefits instead of capping it to FIVE years (which is crazy in itself). Yep, some people just need to be on the public dole to “just help them through a tough time………for the rest of their lives.”
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He/she obviously does not have any knowledge of how things really happen. He/She is just repeating whatever they hear from the fanatics.
You tea party people are on your way out. Form your own party and get off the coattails of the Republicans. Aww, can’t make it on your own can ya.
Looking at the above numbers, I don’t see where Gov. LePage is way out of line. There has to be a cut off at some point. As far as Obamacare goes…the people who passed it don’t even know what is in or what the cost are going to be to all involved.
Why does there need to be a cut? Health care prevents illness and reduces the costs by keeping people healthy and productive.
Using tax payers money you need a cut off. Why should, lets say someone making $75,000 a year be getting tax payers dollar for his or her health care?
Because many of those tax dollars will be theirs – “from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.’ Karl Marx wrote that, but one needn’t be a Marxist to see some value in it. The old guy was wrong on many counts, but he got a few right, too.
Holy Crap!! Are you saying that it is ok for the government to take from someone merely because another has little?
Commies, man …. theyre everywhere.
Yes, actually. It’s how a rational society works. You, and I, and indeed anyone, could one day become old and poor, or have a child or grandchild who is born disabled or becomes disabled. You or I or anyone could have a life-changing accident or illness that makes us unable to work. Therefore, everyone who is currently able to work contributes through taxes toward the programs that help those who currently have little or nothing, knowing that when our own time of need comes, a social safety net will be in place that will help us.
Rational countries do not steal.
And how do we pay for it??
or some people smoke 2 packs a day and go to the emergency room for their cold.
None of this is free. Somebody pays for it.
It will cost a lot, and we’re all going to kick something into the kitty in, just like civilized societies everywhere.
Yah, like GREECE? REad the news.
They didn’t even read it before voting on it and passing. They even said so at the time.
When Pelosi urged people to hold off on debating the ACA until it was finalized, she was speaking to the Legislative Conference for the National Association of Counties. It had passed the House in one form, but was going to need adjustments to have a chance of passing the Senate. At the time she spoke, no one yet knew what would be voted on in the Senate.
So Pelosi explained to this association of counties that there was no use their trying to discuss the provisions of the final bill yet–because it hadn’t been finalized.
Republican leaders took her statement out of context and pretended she had been addressing legislators, urging them to pass the ACA without reading it. They lied.
When Pelosi urged people to hold off on debating the ACA until it was finalized, she was speaking to the Legislative Conference for the National Association of Counties. It had passed the House in one form, but was going to need adjustments to have a chance of passing the Senate. At the time she spoke, no one yet knew what would be voted on in the Senate.
So Pelosi explained to this association of counties that there was no use their trying to discuss the provisions of the final bill yet–because it hadn’t been finalized.
Republican leaders took her statement out of context and pretended she had been addressing legislators, urging them to pass the ACA without reading it. They lied.
“urging them to pass the ACA without reading it.” Which is what they did.
Another midnight entitlement for the bum voters.
did you vote?
If LePage tries to stop Mainers from getting affordable healthcare from the insurance marketplace that Obamacare sets up, he will completely undermine the tea party and Republican status for a very long time.
Just like with the mural, he will have the opposite of his intended effect, making his opponents stronger.
As the election shows, saying the rich will take care of us–someday, somehow–no longer works.
no one should have to take care of you or anyone else. the entitlement money has and will run out then maybe the bumocrats will use a little common sense
As for healthcare you have been and always will pay for those who can’t whether we have an ACA or not.
Yes, indeed, and it’s not a bad thing, right? Any social contract worth having requires application of the golden rule across the board.
Preventitive care says it all. If people have some type of coverage they do not wait.
ENTITLEMENT? Don’t you EVER get Medicare when you retire. Ever.
There is a difference between entitlement (someone who expects something without contributing) and Medicare….something that WORKING people pay into out of each of their paychecks.
I am tired of hearing “entitlement”. We working people have been paying for this already. What is the problem with making a change in this country. The excuse of “it is the way we do things” needs to change. this is not the 50’s anymore. The WORLD has changed and we are behind everyone else. In order to restore this “AMerican ” label, we may need to look at other models that work and take care of our citizens. And I do believe that the fear of changing will bring about American ingenuity to do something even better than anyone else. But we need to do something. NOW.
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Well Timmy, you can always renounce your Medicare and SS Retirement benefit. That way your pittance can be distributed to others who could use it. If anyone noticed, the majority of recipients of government health care and monies reside in those very Red States (and Piscataquis Cty) who voted for Romney. Voted for the very crew that planned all along to rip that benefit out from underneath you and your children. And, and you voted for a tax dodging, draft dodging empty suit who believes he has magic underwear and that when he dies he’ll get his own planet.
Unbelievable really. But in the meantime, march right down to the SSI office in Bangor and tell them you don’t want yours because you’re moving to Somalia where there is no government.
the republiscum never did
Demorats will never, ever be afflicted with Common Sense.
The notion that “the rich will take care of us” originated in Republican efforts to convince America that if we just give the ultra rich more and more tax breaks, after a while they would somehow gain “confidence” and jobs would start to trickle down upon us all.
Speaking of “the mural” why would a state struggling to pay its bills spend $65,000 for something that many artist would have done for minimal or no cost?
Democrat way, spend money on a picture.
Agreed, Look at portland.
Because the money was granted for that. Please don’t denigrate the artist who created this very moving history of the labor movement in Maine by saying any artist would have done it for minimal or no cost. Apparently you don’t know what you are talking about. This artist spent a year of her life researching and creating this mural. Did you even SEE it? Do you think because it is considered “art” it should be free???? You are well-named!!!!
Granted is still tax payers money. I not denigrate the artist. I didn’t say any artist, I said many could have done if for minimal or no cost. I still stand by that statement. You have decided I don’t know what I’m talking about…why? “This artist spent a year of her life” I would say $65,000 she was well paid for that year. No I did have not seen it and that has to do with what? I did not say art should be free. I question why a state struggling to pay its bill would spend $65,000 on a piece of art it could have gotten for many thousand less. Yes…I’m well named. I have earned it.
The money came from the Unemployment fund.
Because the Democrats were running things back then.
Let me state the tenth amendment since apparently not many people have heard of it, it reads: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”
So aside from the fact that this applies to a lot of things that the Federal government does including, but not limited to: DOMA, drug laws, laws restricting or controlling any goods or services that are created and sold within the same state. So you may know, Gay Marriage and the legalization of recreational marijuana usage have just been legalized in a few states. Of course this doesn’t really matter for two primary reasons, first, there are Federal laws that make those two things illegal, now this would normally not be a problem because of the idea of state nullification of laws deemed unconstitutional by the state in question, but this leads to the second problem. Both states and the residents of the states apparently have no desire whatsoever to acknowledge or even accept that over the past 100 years the Federal government has slowly been stripping our rights away.
So what is my point? My point is that you are for some reason completely alright with the Federal government forcing people to purchase health insurance or else face a fine, and if you don’t pay the fine, you go to jail. How in the hell does any reasonable person find that acceptable? Now understand that I am not necessarily opposed to health care laws such as this, but I will only accept them at the state level in which they are legal, i.e. Massachusetts.
And lastly, how have people been able to conclude that the Affordable Health Care act lowers health care costs? It imposes new rules and regulations, many of which have already existed in this state and others for a very long time, and what do new rules and regulations mean for insurance companies? It means increased costs, and increased costs does not equal lower costs for individuals. I am not arguing for or against the profitability of insurance companies, I am simply pointing out the fact that when their costs go up, they are passed on to us.
So what should we do? Well, we should start by nullifying the law. If it so happens, maybe implement similar state level laws. Of course we shouldn’t stop there, we need to also nullify DOMA. We need to take our rights back as a state and as Americans, and we need to push back at our increasingly powerful Federal Government. We need to stop expecting so much out of our Federal government and it’s politicians, we need to focus on our local governments, our towns, communities, and lastly our state. We need to read the constitution as we have lost total understanding of this country and how its governments are structured.
the makers will be forced again in maine to carry the takers
blah, blah, blah… rightwingers, time to move on, off to some other land that agrees with your backward thinking… like maybe Texas?
If Democratic states are run by takers please explain why blue states are wealthier, better educated, better places to live, etc?
Yes, California with over half a trillion budget deficit makes your case.
care to comment why the deep south red states are at the bottom of every list?
Especially schooling. Hmm…. ignorance at its best.
And yet those deep south red states have more jobs and a growing economy while Maine talks about education and can’t attract investment. let’s put dems back in control to add more regulation and raise taxes to pay for more giveaways. That will help. not!!!
States receiving the most federal funding per tax dollar paid:
1. New Mexico: $2.632. West Virginia: $2.573. Mississippi: $2.474. District of Colombia: $2.415. Hawaii: $2.386. Alabama: $2.037. Alaska: $1.938. Montana: $1.929. South Carolina: $1.9210. Maine: $1.78
Contrary to popular belief, those who make the most noise noise complaining about Federal spending and the programs said spending support, are in fact the same people who collect those Federal dollars and who coincidentally don’t want to give up the programs.
And who say this is a true statement? Have you been in some of “our” large eastern cities? I wouldn’t say wealthier, nor or a better places to live. And guess how these areas vote.
Just look at Maine, county by county. The poorer the county the more conservative it is. You would think after awhile, they would realize that things just weren’t working out and possibly look at things a little differently.
“The poorer the county the more conservative it is.” Maybe the reason they are still poor is because the “rich” lib. county keep carrying the vote.
Look at staunch GOP strongholds like Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana. They are not exactly wealthy, very well educated or nice places to live.
Same old lies from the same old folks. It didn’t work, so give it up.
Unfortunately, the majority of those receiving MaineCare are the working poor, i.e. people who work at Walmart and other places that pay no benefits. If the Waltons and others took some of their billions and provided health care for their employees, they would not need Medicaid.
Then the littleyellow ball would be let go and the cost of your goods would go up….get it??””
Watch Fox much? Makers & takers direct from Fox.
LePage can veto whatever he wants but looks like the legislature will have a veto-proof majority.
Not if all the Democrats are that foolish.
Obamcare is a farce. The premiums are still expensive and any rebates in the amount of $40 t0 $100 from the insurance companies is chump change to them. The med device companies are laying off in droves because of the new excess tax. R&D budgets are being slashed in these same companies. The preventive care is also misleading, the pharm companies did not get hit with the tax and will continue to push pills to the patients instead of curing them. This tax money would be wisely used by helping the needy pay for their healthcare, instead it will be used to hire 15000 IRS agents to oversee the new tax/insurance coverage plan. The gov grows, unemployment continues and it is business as usual at the Oval office.
You contradict what you say. Don’t you see the INSURANCE and PHARMACEUTICAL companies rule here?
Wow..your ignorant !
It’s YOU”RE. Talk about ignorant.
I’m so sorry your Right Wing radio host chose not to tell you that whole 15,000 IRS agent thing is a falsehood But, it is… http://factcheck.org/2010/03/irs-expansion/ Stop watching Fox News and listening to Beck/Rush/Howie and the rest of them. They dont care if you look lost on an internet forum.
Interestingly enough, 2 accountants I know just went to Kansas City, to work as IRS agents for the new enforcement. I know that is 14998 less than I quoted. And the 15K is 1500 less than your website. And the other thing though is med devices are laying off way more than 15000 employees, so I would have a much wamer fuzzy if you could have refute that fact. But thanks for trying.
Oh joy now we can completely dismantle the social security and medicare programs. For a “good cause” best thing Lepage can do is keep that virus out of our state.
Could you explain this a little more clearly? Are you saying that social security and medicare are viruses which need to be kept out of our state? Medicare and social security presently exist in Maine, though. Ah, I give up.
Two years we will have to clean up ben and emilys credit card again.
“We will look to fully implement the Affordable Care Act.” AKA “Its time for a free handout” Nothing in life is free, especially healthcare.
What’s with this baloney about ‘free’? Who wants a free ride? Why are you hung up on the tiny minority of absolutely poor folks who need a hand up? Turn Fox off and join the real world.
In 2009 62.5 million people were enrolled in Medicaid. Healthcare for the poor. That is hardly what I would call a “tiny minority”. Nationally that is about 1 person in 5.
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=198&cat=4
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=199&cat=4
Although there are probably more since then, I could not find any figures.
So what. Poor people are on Medicaid. Poor people need healthcare.
I was countering posters point that medicaid recipients were a “tiny minority”. Obviously he was incorrect.
LMFAO!!
It will make a mess out of this country. Obama care
If I was you, I would leave and move elsewhere. Say Pakistan or maybe Russia. That way, you can enjoy the system you would like to bring here without having to do a thing. Maybe N. Korea?
Ummmm.. That system is your wish. Everyone in North Korea has exactly the same thing. They are all equal. All have free healthcare. They are also all starving.
This country’s healthcare is a mess already. Affordable Care Act had nothing to do with that. The “professionals” that manage the for profit health industry had more to do with making the mess than the right-wing based whitewash job you call Obama-care ever will.
Huh ..the opposite of profit is??? oh ya bankrupt! dunce
Funny how they would post a picture of Paul LePage when the article is about Mainers warming to the ACA! lol. There is one Mainer who never will.
Typical Democratic crap. Great Ideas with no way to pay for them. Lets implement them any way and make our grand kids pay for all the excessive debt. Do you know what a balanced budget is? I am aware congress does not. However the State has to have one. Show me how you plan on paying for all this FREE stuff. You don’t have any idea do you? Blame Bush, blame whoever you want. It matters little. You still cant answer the question of how to pay for all the FREE entitlements you want to give out can you.
Speaking of paying for stuff. I am pretty pleased that we won’t have to pay the Attorney General to sue the Federal Government. Or the Secretary of State to investigate “voter fraud”.
The three stooges Summer Poliquin and Schneider will soon be banished to make a living in the dreaded private sector.
Eliminating expensive fool’s errands by well paid state officials should save lots of money and allow the work of the people to get done as well.
I can’t wait until Poloquin, Summers and Schneider are GONE!
On the topic of “great ideas with no way to pay for them”, it was GW Bush who started 2 extraordinarily expensive wars while slashing revenues via tax cuts for millionaires, turning a surplus into a massive deficit.
I think I lost my healthcare. So far, I haven’t been told that I have to sign up for open enrollment. I work for a foreign company and live in the Portland area. We have over 50,000 employees working in the States. This will happen to you too.
A foreign company from where?
Never mind. Mis read.
Liberals working in them small boutiques selling flowers or green foods will soon be out of work. If their employers are forced to insure them. LOL!!!
At one time it was you had to work 40 hrs a week to be concidered full time, then it went to 36 hrs per week, Obama made it 32 hrs per week in order to force employers to pay for health insurance.
What do you think happened?? employers cut employees hours down to 30 hrs per week.. so now the employee has to work 2 jobs to make up the hours Obama in essence took away from them.. and for the liberals who think it’s the employers who are greedy, you try opening a business and hiring employees with all the friggen liberal laws..
“Small boutiques” and other small businesses won’t be affected by the ACA, since they don’t employ more than 50 people…
You are way wrong. The cost will be shifted to the smaller companies plans.
kinda like the liar lepage insurance plan shifted cost to the elderly and rural?
The Maine plan will now likely go away. Stay focused on Obamacare. That’s where the real widespread damage is being done.
Mr LePage give them what they want.. Bond a billion to be repaid in 15 years then sit back and watch their heads spin.. Give them every subsidy they want and more and borrow more money to do it. The people in Maine didn’t want Maine fixed, Thanks for trying.. Drop it in their laps an leave in 2 years.. Stick it to the people of Maine that don’t realize what they just did. Free money for all!!!!! OOPS!!! don’t forget to raise taxes on everyone 10% sales, 12% income tax, 99% death tax from zero. Give them what they want.. The school of hard knocks is sometimes the best medicine.
Good idea. Kind of like sending O back to Washington where he will spend us into poverty.
why sure, at least he didn’t lie us into 2 wars on the credit card
Lets say bush did what you said. I don’t think the wars are right either.. Does that make it OK for Obama to take us down the lose, lose socialistic path spending trillions on his personal pet projects…
pet projects? socialism? better look up plutocracy and try to understand what this country is–you conservatives all worry about “socialism) most don’t understand the term, this country started being on the downward slope when business got more and more influence over the government and when the conservative court said corporations were people, you have no one to blame but yourselves
I would say you have a short term memory if that is the point you figured things started to go down hill. In the insurance field I would say for Maine about 1995.
No he didn’t lie did he..like dam near everyone in congress who voted for it..they got the same Intel ..unlike o ba ma who without any votes sent planes intoLibya ..
Lepage gave the Koch brothers what they want. The 36% who voted for him were in the minority. The majority wanted intelligent policy to deal with the changes in the national recession. Most of the economic hardship in Maine is the result of the recession, not poor policy by Maine leaders. Lepage tried to use the hardship to push the starve the beast agenda on Maine.
Maine people do not want a handout, they want jobs so they can make their own way, but neither do they want to starve or die from easily treated illnesses so the Koch brothers can become trillionares.
Jung said the there are two human motivations; fear and desire. You people on the right seem to be consumed with your own fears and your trying to make everyone afraid that if we do anything different we’ll all go to hell. Some of us are not afraid. Those guys who met in taverns committed treason to give us a chance a self-determination risked everything and all you people can talk about is paying a few dollars more in taxes until we get this sorted out.
Some of us are not afraid because we have seen thousands of difficult situations turned around by bold leaders who took risks and produced success. Our current situation is not even close to what FDR had to deal with and what did he say about fear?
There is no reason to believe that smart people cannot deal with this situation. We are smarter today and have better technology and amazing global markets opening up to us. You should get out more, there are billions of people around the world who respect America and want to have what we have.
President Obama said it best in his acceptance speech. “… the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams,
we are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation
and as one people.”
If we’re not going to do it together as American’s and as Mainer’s than what’s the point? What’s the point of money without community?
Seeing all these comments on the blog is a prime example why nothing will ever get done to make things better. People are too concerned about their own ideals and agenda to do the right thing. I fear we’re in for some dark times unless people really put all that crap behind them and do the right thing.
Skyforlife, Everyone has a different opinion of what is right.. Is it right to make people dependant on the governement by regulation that creates a terribile enviroment for businesses so they leave Maine making people need services. I’m truly sad to say this country has to go into a depression to teach the people a lesson.. social issues dictating the future of the country is wrong and bad.. Good Luck on finding people from all walks of life to agree on anything. The country is going bankrupt and all hell will break loose.. Enjoy your comfort level while it last.
Good post
be careful what you social and economic darwinists ask for, you may just get it
After you…
Wow, must be pretty dark in your black and white world. I wonder if it has anything to do with listening to the rights fear driven agenda.
People from all points of view present their ideas as best they can and leadership forms them into workable solutions. That’s the way it works. We had a perfectly good system before the right gave into to demands to produce profit over excellence. It is a simple matter of poor leadership.
The US economy is a powerhouse and there is only one problem with it. We are kicking up too much to the top and draining the middle class. People at the middle and bottom don’t have excess money to buy things and the economy stalls; basic macroeconomic theory.
The only thing keeping it afloat at the moment is government spending, but that is not the fault of the people effected by it. The US is not going bankrupt. The right tried to sell that nonsense back when Clinton was president, but he balanced the budget in spite of them by applying smart macroeconomic policy. The US is a mature economy so growth is going to have to come from getting smarter. We can’t afford to be the worlds police anymore and the trillion dollars a year we spend on defense is a huge cost that is not being evaluated objectively with regard to risk.
The only thing this proves is that the GOP driven starve the beast policies starve the economy, but some of us already knew that.
Applying smart macroeconomic adjustments can bring it back. I think president Obama knows this and knows what to do. Getting a grip on healthcare costs is a top priority and weather it is public or private it needs everyone to be in as a start. We need to move past repeal and find a way to perfect it.
Where have you been the past 4 years??????????????????????????
You seem to like Bill Clintons policies. Then you should not mind if we get rid of the Bush Tax Cuts and revert back to Clintons Tax policies.. Call Obama and ask him to let the Bush tax cuts expire today.
YEP……..
You have a dim view of life and the future. Sad. Living in fear is also.
The new AG selected by the Democratic legislature will not aid and abet LePage’s ridiculous attempts to subvert the law.
Combine that with the nearly inevitable decision from the feds to deny the request for a waiver and LePage will have the choice of working with the legislature or getting a new budget that he will just have to live with.
It’s time for Lepage to get over it… No more business as usual!
It’s time for the Democrat Party of Maine to start looking for a Good Candidate for GOVERNOR. It’s only 2 years away and “Frenchie” needs to go…the tea party is OVER…
LOL…Good luck with that…Who will bother to try when the democrats will just toss him/her under the bus for Cutler ?? There will be no democrat governor..It will be Cutler or LePage…
Hey liberals……..stay healthy…gotta cut cost
You too.
LePage is going to have to get real on this issue. No more foot-dragging.
I don’t like how the Bangor Daily implies that Mainers were against the law, when it was the Governor. The reason for the Democratic wins is that Mainers do support the law and the Governor is working his own agenda instead of the voters. His turn to get ousted is coming!
Like James Longley, Jr. in 1992, Paul LePage took his ride on the bike for two years and then the training wheels fell off and so did he. With a Legislative majority which does not much agree with his policy of ‘the beatings will continue until morale improves’ he is going to have a hard time building a constituency around unalloyed bitterness, occasional tantrums and serial responsibility-avoidance.
PauLIE broke the law with all his changes to Mainecare and said while thumbing his nose who cares Ill just wait for the election blah blah blah……guess what ? The health care laws arent going anywhere and those fools in Agusta have opened this great state of ours to class action lawsuits. Both Lepage and that chuckel head A.G. should be tared and feathered and run OUT of Maine !!!
“Maine may warm to Obama Care after democratic sweep” So is the state going to warm to it or the democrats. This is not the states position it is the democrats and a poor product that was not thought out to the point the old quote cames back to me “pass and then we will read it”
Keep an eye on unemployment numbers