AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Friday sent an angry letter to U.S. Labor Commissioner Hilda Solis complaining that a letter addressed to him from Assistant Labor Secretary Jane Oates went to the executive director of a Local Workforce Investment Board before he received it.
The letter, dated Nov. 16, “acknowledges” Maine’s request to withdraw a plan to revamp workforce training oversight. However, Maine did not ask to withdraw its plan and request for a U.S. Department of Labor waiver, according to Adrienne Bennett, the governor’s press secretary. Instead, the state sought a formal rejection of its request so it would have grounds for an appeal.
“The governor made the decision to request a denial with the reasons for a denial so that the state could address the reasons and/or appeal,” Julie Rabinowitz, communications director for the Maine Department of Labor wrote in an email.
The governor received that denial on Nov. 27, Rabinowitz said.
In a separate three-page letter dated Nov. 14, Oates listed reasons why the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration chose to deny the state’s request to replace four regional workforce boards with a single statewide panel. The governor’s plan also would assign local and regional chambers of commerce to regularly call together businesses in their areas to hear from them about what they need from workers.
Oates’ Nov. 14 letter, provided to the Bangor Daily News by Ryan Pelletier, executive director of the Aroostook and Washington Counties Workforce Investment Board, lays out the federal agency’s objections to the state’s plan for a new way to oversee workforce training. The state submitted its plan on Sept.12. The letter cites “inconsistency about the extent to which state officials consulted chief local officials about the decision … The state should provide additional documentation that consultations occurred or consider restarting the consultation process.”
In a release issued Friday afternoon, the LePage administration accused the U.S. Department of Labor of “inappropriate backchannel communication” with the local workforce investment boards, “revealing the overreach of the federal government into state decision making.”
LePage expressed his displeasure with the situation Friday in a letter to Solis.
“I recently reviewed a copy of a letter from your Assistant Secretary Jane Oates addressed to me dated Nov. 16, 2012,” LePage wrote. “Unfortunately, that letter came to me from the Maine commissioner of labor, who received it second-hand from the executive director of a Local Workforce Investment Board. To date, I have not received this letter through official or unofficial channels between my office and yours and, in fact, Ms. Oates’ letter falsely assumes Maine’s course of action.”
LePage appointed the State Workforce Investment Board last December after learning that, in recent years, about 20 percent of federal job training funds for Maine was spent on actual job training while much of the remainder was spent on administration. He said a single, statewide board would offer closer oversight of the spending of those federal workforce dollars.
Members of the regional boards have argued that the current boards are better suited to meet specific worker training needs in the areas they serve. They also claimed they were not allowed adequate input into the formation of the revamping plan submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor.
The four regions for local workforce investment boards were formed in 1998 under the federal Workforce Investment Act. Before a new board could officially take on the responsibility of overseeing Maine’s workforce training programs, the LePage administration needs special permission from the U.S. Department of Labor, because federal law currently assigns that responsibility in Maine to the four regional workforce boards.
“It appears to me that either a significant error was made or your department is seeking to subvert the policy decisions of the state of Maine by working through back channels with Local Workforce Investment boards,” LePage wrote to Solis. “ I sincerely hope it is not the case that this was direct subversion — the states maintain a strong, independent and important role in our federal system.”
In the release, LePage accused the U.S. Department of Labor of being, “at best, disingenuous and, at worst, collaborated to conspire against the best interests of the people of Maine.”
Alleging a conflict of interest in his release, LePage said, “The U.S. Department of Labor and the local workforce investment boards have vested, although different, interests in maintaining the status quo to the extent possible. It is now obvious that they have been working together to deny the people of Maine the accountability they deserve and the flexibility we need to maximize job training dollars.”
Pelletier told the BDN he’s the executive director to whom LePage refers.
“ I can assure him that no one is in collusion with anyone,” Pelletier wrote in an email. “As I explained to the commissioner of labor [Friday] morning, I believe U.S. Department of Labor simply made a mistake and originally sent out a letter that had been drafted” [and sent out in error].
Regardless of whether the Nov. 16 letter went out in error, LePage believes the fact that it went to a leader of one of the local boards warrants investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bennett said.
A call to the U.S. Department of Labor was not immediately returned.
Get over it Paul, they want the mural returned!
The only way LePage receives anything through any channels directly to him is if it is sent in anonymously.
(cough cough)
Can we say labor mural..
Looks like you know how to say it
And one letter at a time that agrees with him.
Gov LePage always seems so defensive. He sees adversaries when there are none.
Martyr complex.
Well yeah, after all it’s never his fault and he never lies. It’s either someone else’s fault or a misunderstanding on someone else’s part. Less than two more years and we can send this clown to his retirement home in Florida.
“Well yeah, after all it’s never his fault and he never lies. It’s either someone else’s fault or a misunderstanding on someone else’s part”
Sounds like our current president.
This is a LePage story, not an Obama story. Try to stay on subject.
Lepage is your man right?
Then own what he does and be proud.
No it doesn’t.
“Never his fault, never lies, someone else’s fault, misunderstanding”.Sounds like the entire Obama administration
What does this comment have to do with the story?
you question should be , when is the BDN going to start doing a daily “hit piece” on obama
You can read that sort of stuff elsewhere like at Faux news and the rest of the wing nut websites that do nothing but slam him daily.
Brilliant deduction…and an admission the BDN is in the tank for the left.
According to tea trolls all liberals collect welfare.
If this is the case how on earth could all the media be controlled by the evil left?
SO? A lot of papers lean one way or another.
LePage does it all on his own.
Quoting LePage = a “hit piece”.
.
Yeah he is one self destructive inebriate isn’t he?
,,or the mural?
Yes, and pay him a hefty retirement for his four years. Probably more than a teacher gets for 30 years of service. Disgusting.
LePage who?????
The very lame mallard occupying the Blaine House for 2 more years at most.
It’s a common affliction with the Grand Old Paranoids. He sees adversaries. Charlie Webster sees black people. There’s medication for it and I believe Obamacare will cover it.
Paulie lives by the sword, but cries like a baby when he gets a paper cut !
I’m beginning to wonder if Mr. LePage ever has a happy moment in his life. When was the last time we heard him say anything positive about anyone that he wasn’t nominating to some government (this to exclude his family members) position? I don’t know if I’ve ever heard him say something positive about Maine or Mainers. He’s certainly not much of a salesmen.
well i don’t know about “positive” . But he certainly was “gleeful ” when he proclaimed he was going to have a speciai session and the unrevealed topic “was REALLY going to make the D’s mad “.
Yah, that glee lasted for what a week? Then he slunk back into the shadows and did nothing. Guess his headquarters at ALEC told him to hold back on whatever that was all about. Man was we mad! HA!
If he didn’t rant once a week, we wouldn’t know he was still around.
When was the last time we heard him say ANYTHING? Seems like Ms. Bennett is the only voice emanating from Disgusta these days …
You know, you’re right. When it comes to speaking in public Paulie seems to be taking a backseat to his translator Ms. Bennett. Of course we could always find out what Mr. LePage meant to say if we took the time to read his papers…oh wait, he won’t let us see his writings. No matter we’d probably learn more from reading the Sunday funnies.
Remaining silent is how he got elected – LePage didn’t say a word in public for a month before the election…..it was thought that people wouldn’t remember what an idiot he can be when he is silent. NOW he wants another term, and muzzling him is how his handlers plan to get him re-elected.
Members of the regional boards have argued that current boards are better suited to meet specific worker training needs in the areas they serve.”
It’s time to peacefully secede from this ridiculous central government and return to our republican, federational roots as the state of Maine….the state that SECEDED from Massachusetts
You want one of Maine’s largest employers to go out of business? How many contracts for US Navy ships do you think BIW would get if Maine wasn’t part of the US? Why should Maine “cut off its nose to spite it’s face”? Mr. Lepage fired off an angry letter without thinking through the consequences (no surprise there). Your “secession” comment displays a similar lack of forethought.
If you feel that our federal government is that bad, please exercise your right to travel and move to a country that more closely matches your ideals.
Move to Texas! I hear they want to secede…
so head down to Kittery with your BB gun and colander hat and defend our border damn it!
——
You would fit in well in Texas. Head down to the southern part of the U.S . It would be much better for you.
Bye!
LePage is like a constantly angry dysfunctional parent. But running a State Government is not like being a parent, let alone a horrible one.
How does your comment relate to the story?
well it appear that in anger, Lepage wanted to change the rules , BUT he did it in violation of the law ( behind the task force’s backsinstead of in consultation WITH them ).AND HE GOT CAUGHT!!! He’s got a crappy “legal ” team and they have a crappy client.. They are giving him bad advise and he is foolishly revealing just how convoluted that advise is.
IN a free and open democracy there are certain procedures that need to be followed: .LIKE consulting and working with others in an OPEN, collaborative and public way it is called transparency.HE didn’t and HE got caught !
His comment very obviously relates because LeBUFFOON is accusing the Dept. of Labor and the regional boards of “conspiring” together and leaving him out of the loop before he even has all his facts straight. To even suggest such a thing before he has all the facts is typical unhinged LeBUFFOON fashion and once again completely irresponsible. Look, ANYONE, regardless of party of ideology, should be able to see and admit that this guy we have at the helm of our state has serious anger management issues, is paranoid, and is, frankly, unhinged as he constantly shoots off his mouth in extreme and ridiculous ways and shoots from the hip so thoughtlessly and without all the facts. It is self evident that he is completely unfit for the office he holds. He is an embarassment. Whether it was Republican John McKernan, or Democrat John Baldacci, or Independent Angus King, we have a proud history of thoughtful and HONORABLE leadership with people in office who conduct themselves with class and dignity. LeBUFFOON is a disgrace and a stain on our proud legacy of Maine leadership. He must GO, and come 2014 he WILL be GONE !
How embarrassing for the state of Maine.
Where are the new jobs you promised LePage what a LOSER!!!!!!!
So he had another tantrum and said things that will endear him further with the federal authorities. Maybe he never heard the expression: “you catch more flies with honey . . . “? Maine has 3 retired and nationally respected US Senators who just might be the best role models for Mr. Lepage. The focus, integrity, cordiality, knowledge and intelligence of Cohen, Mitchell and Snowe made them world-class political leaders. Unfortunately Mr. Lepage seems to be hell-bent on never displaying such positive attributes.
Susan Collins is also hailed as a GOP member of moderate policy and temperament. Margaret Chase Smith, Ed. Muskie, we have much, much to be proud of.
Collins has sunk to a new low with her BS on Ambassador Rice.
Rice should not be made Secretary of State, at least to we find out the Truth of what had happened. No, Democrats want to push here right in there. If it has been a Republican, you would of wanted her head.
Well there was a Republican named Rice who fed false security information, only she fed it directly to Congress in sworn testimony and helped cause an unneeded unprovoked war that cost us the lives of thousands of our finest and over a trillion dollars in new debt.
.
Collins and the other Republican hypocrites bashing the Democrat named Rice supported their Republcian for SOS without reservation.
If you knew better you would know she would make a fine Secretary of State. this is about John Kerry and his friends in the Senate on both sides who want him to be Secretary of State. his friends include John McCain Lindsey Graham and Susan Collins. this is all politics and it’s disgusting.
I don’t want either of them. I want someone that knows what they are doing. I do not think either Rice or Kerry is that person.
okay fine but were not talking about what you want.
tell me what’s wrong with either of them by the way.
or at least tell me what it is you don’t think they know they are doing.
R’s want Kerry’s seat plain and simple
i have found her comments disappointing .
IMHO, Collins not so much. Muskie and Chase-Smith were indeed giants, but it would be very difficult for the governor to call them to ask for advice and direction. He could call Cohen, Mitchell and Snowe, but whether he would heed their advice . . .
Not Collins.
The good ship- State O’Maine- rudderless, has no navigator, the captain is mad, hateful, has no direction to sail, we are aground, Mr, Christian???
Lower a lifeboat, sextant, and tea. Let what fools wish to follow him go along for the ride and cast them off into the high seas to find an island of their own. Good luck Captain LePage! May I suggest you set a straight course for Texas.
He’s going to feel right at home w/ Ted Cruz and Rick Perry all calling for a return to the 1850’s. Now all they need to do is come out of the closet with their bedsheet’s, rope and flag and they’ll make it complete.
Rick Perry. He and LePage put the goober in gubernatorial.
You would have to have some background information gathered over years in order to realize just how conniving most of these Workforce Board hack executives like Pelletier are, and to fully understand what the Big Government lefties are up to in this situation.
and you do?
They know he not just a lame duck, but dead one, given the results of the last election.
RE:”Unfortunately, that letter came to me from the Maine commissioner of labor, who received it second-hand from the executive director of a Local Workforce Investment Board. To date, I have not received this letter through official or unofficial channels between my office and yours and, in fact, Ms. Oates’ letter falsely assumes Maine’s course of action.” .
What point is there in dealing with the Governors office ?
How come it is still open for business ?
Here we go again!! The various departments in DC that Mr. Le Page has had contact with, must wonder if Maine voters are crazy to have elected him governor.
well some Mainers wonder the same thing !!! It was pretty darned foolish !!
The result of a three way race…as you probably remember. Point is – this time a two-way race starting now.
Gov you just got to keep fighting these socialists. If you aren’t giving them something for nothing they will keep coming after you. Give them NOTHING and keep up the good work.
Nice. How wonderful to know that there are still people advocating the US vs. THEM syndrome. Please tell me who you are referring to when you write, “Give them nothing”?
Sounds like Mr Lepage, in an attempt to spend worker training funds on actual worker training, is running up against roadblocks from democrats, the party that claims to represent labor but apparently does not.
sound like Mr. lepage tried to do an end run around the work task force and got caught.
Sounds like he was attempting to make his own rules.
Paul have you been victimized again.? Maybe you should ask Justin alfond for some tissues and a shoulder to cry on. You know the guy you referred to as a “spoiled brat”
LePage appointed the State Workforce Investment Board last December after learning that, in recent years, about 20 percent of federal job training funds for Maine was spent on actual job training while much of the remainder was spent on administration. What a terrible thing..trying to get the money spent on the people that need it instead of the Administration. I would think on this one you would be supporting him and not attacking. I don’t think it was an accident the letter ended up where it did. I guess instead of writing a angry letter, he should do as they have in the pass, form a committee and study this situation for six months to a year.
If the ends are just then the means to the end need to be just also…
The only source for the 20% estimate comes from the governor’s office and it has been widely criticized as misleading and incorrectly calculated.
It sounds like most people commenting on this article have a lot in common with LePage.
You can HEAR these comments?
yup
” Instead, the state sought a formal rejection of its request so it would have grounds for an appeal….
“The governor made the decision to request a denial with the reasons
for a denial so that the state could address the reasons and/or appeal,”
Julie Rabinowitz, communications director for the Maine Department of
Labor wrote in an email.”
HOW twisted is that. A pretend “request ‘ so he can take it to court .
“The governor received that denial on Nov. 27, Rabinowitz said.”
And then let’s make it even more “twisted.” :
“In a release issued Friday afternoon, the LePage administration accused
the U.S. Department of Labor of “inappropriate backchannel
communication” with the local workforce investment boards, “revealing
the overreach of the federal government into state decision making.”
It appears it was LePage and team who was engaging in “back channel communication” and was over stepping HIS charge BY going BEHIND the backs of the work task forces, in violation of requirement that he consult WITH them on any changes.”. You are BUSTED BUDDY!!
So much for “transparency ” Dirty poltical tricks is more like it. .Aren’t we getting closer to an “impeachable offense” here ?? Is violating Labor laws “criminal”?
One can only wish. Unfortunately Maine has no provisions for impeachment. Cynthia Dill submitted a petition for implementation of impeachment and the Repubs tabled it indeffinately
yes it does —for criminal activity
Sooner or later, he’s going to slip up royally. He gets closer every day.
I believe you have confused recall with impeachment. Maine has no mechanism for a recall but impeachment is defined in the state constitution.
A ‘pretend request’ from our ‘pretend’ Governor……does anyone REALLY think LeNitWit knows what he’s doing in Disgusta ?? Enjoy your next 2 lame duck years Governor because post your departure in 2014 the labor mural will go back up and the names of all the labor rooms you had to change will go back to their original names and Maine will stop being known for it’s ridiculous and inane governor. Oy.
Whether you are a democrat, republican or independent the following quote sums up the problem we have in this country with government.
“LePage appointed the State Workforce Investment Board last December after learning that, in recent years, about 20 percent of federal job training funds for Maine was spent on actual job training while much of the remainder was spent on administration.”
While this federal money had good intentions when spent, it is not getting to the root of the problem. For example, when a state is given $100 million to help train workers and only $20 million goes to those getting training while $80 million goes to those running the program(s), we have a serious problem. Why is there so much waste in our government and why do we continue to put up with this? Just another great example of why we need a serious overhaul in our government. The system is broken and needs major overhauling. I don’t think we should abandon the constitution but we need some major updates, since our society does not even remotely resemble what it was when our Constitution was drafted.
It seems that when most liberal readers see the name Lepage they go off on a tirade without reading the story. Mr. Lepage is fighting for the people of Maine to thwart government waste and to put federal funds to best use. Keep up the fight Mr. Lepage , some of us do appreciate what you are doing !
But he is doing it the wrong way .
1) The numbers are no where near your example.
.
2) the 20% number is one that comes only from the governor’s office and it has been widely discredited.
“LePage expressed his displeasure with the situation Friday in a letter to Solis.”
I have an idea all future correspondence will go to the A: MHPC B: the Koch brothers C: AFP D: ALEC or E: all of the above and then they can tell you what “you” should think. That would, in effect go right to the governors puppetmasters and avoid these types of conflicts
Well, here goes Governor LeBuffoon shooting from the hip once again, going off the beam accusing people of “colluding and conspiring” before he has all the facts. The man is a paranoid, angry, bully of a thing and completely unhinged and unfit for his office, and he needs to GO bigtime come 2014.
Oh yes LePage everyone is out to get poor you…..maybe if you didn’t come across as a complete and utter rectum every time you open your mouth people would be more inclined to want to work with you. Interpersonal skills Governor…..get some.
Same thing happened to Putin…….he was mad too
It’s called delusional paranoia. I say we call in John McCain. He’ll get to the bottom of all these who said what cases.
By the way, how are all those LePage budget cuts helping out the current state economy?
I bet McCain will discover it’s related to Benghazi.
This is the style of a man who is in way over his head. He fumes and fulminates, blaming everyone but himself for everything. He doesn’t know how to get things done so he is always on the defensive accusing people of “going behind his back”. Two more years. Two more years. Can we survive it?
“Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad” – anonymous ancient proverb.
….
Oh? ….. another angry letter, didn’t the anger start with the President? And he wonders why the Assistant Labor Secretary doesn’t directly address him. Paul … read the writing on the wall, you’ve been labeled a malcontent.
Governor if you are having mail problems why don’t you blame the post office?
He needs to give it up, pack it in, move to Florida and take an early retirement. Never to return to Maine and cause such discourse again. Take a page from the Palin handbook and resign.
If he resigned, the Senate President would become governor until a special election could be schedule and held. In just a few days that will be Justin Alfond. If LePage wants to avoid a Governor Alfond he could resign NOW and let Kevin Raye take over.
—
Kevin Raye is light years better than LePage in every way imaginable.
—
Lepage says: “To date, I have not received this letter through official or unofficial
channels between my office and yours . . . .” Did the mailroom lose it? Did one of assistants have a moment of incompetence and put his copy in the circular file? Or is he just lying about not receiving it? Given the numerous potential explanations for his “non-receipt” his accusations seem to be a little premature and ill-advised.
…’official nor unofficial channels? From now on, his mail should be sent with a return receipt. The Tea Party crowd are always advancing conspiracy theories because they are conspirators themselves! It’s called ‘projection’. Just ask Charlie Webster.
///o\
That is mr. LePage to you.
Pull the plug on these clowns; consolidate the workforce training into a state wide body, integrate it with planning for the Community colleges and technical high schools; and convert the money into real training, not sinecures for partisan political leftovers.
I’m with LePage on this particular issue.
Well said and an excellent idea. Those “local boards” have been sucking off 80% of the training funds for purposes not intended. It appears the governor is absolutely correct in this!
What do you know? The boards are operating within federal compliance and there is no way they could meet performance standards and suck 80% of the funds for purposes not intended.
I agree with LePage that the administrative costs were outrageous. I am actually surprised that there was not a percentage limitation for administration built into the federal money contract. However, the fact that LePage wants everything handled by the Maine Chamber is just inconsistent with the purpose of this money. For LePage there is a disconnect between business and employees. He believes in businesses and not workers. It is wrong to believe in one and not the other. This division cannot continue. It is bad for the entire State of Maine.
The 20% number is a made up piece of silliness. The costs they rolled into “administration” included direct services to people seeking jobs.
By “direct services” do you mean some of the training funds were used as “welfare” or some other non-training activity?
Testing, consulting, coaching for writing resumes and in interviewing, etc.
The Workforce Boards are actually limited to 10% administration by federal law. 90% of funds go to training and employment services.
Poor Paulie LaPudge, mis understood yet another time. The one term disaster is a lame duck, so all he can do is quack.
LePage, you win some. You lose some. You won that mural fight. And you’ll lose the next election. It’s because of the way you push everyone around that’s going to cost you at the polls. I doubt anyone in the entire Department of Labor is going to vote for you after that last quote.
That is why this Governor won the rating as the “Worst” Governor ever elected in the history of Maine politics. This man is a Shame to the Office of Governor. Plus, we want our Mural back from this Clown!
You wont be getting that mural back, it has been located at trash mountian….It is in bad shape….
Do you spend a lot of time at “trash mountain“?
Yes I do, its awsome..
Someone please clear this up. Maine want’s it’s own plan, that Maine worked on and paid for, REJECTED just so it can file an appeal of the rejection ? And people wonder why Maine has such a hard time attracting business. Now we know why the DECD hasn’t said anything about the Bombardier Project and Brunswick in so long. And when you come down to it, you really can’t blame ‘Bomby’. Imagine having to deal with LePage and not knowing who, or what, is going to show up when Bombardier is ready to sit down and try to make something work.
this administration is “sue” happy .Someone wants to make a name for themselves.Here they are trying to create condiations were they CAN sue
Salute the leader of Maine you peasants.
He is Mr. LePage, your Governor, better get use to it for another 6 yrs.
First of all, the argument that Mr. LePage makes against the federal government can just as easily be made against he and his administration. Classic GOP flip-the-blame-routine and just as tired as the rest of Mr. LePage’s reactionary party-line dogma.
Second, if this is Mr. LePage’s way of telling our two-term president to “go to H*ll”, I don’t think I want my hard-earned tax dollars spent on that. In fact, if our governor-of-the-moment and his colleagues in Washington can’t find enough backbone to quit stalling and work productively with the president, then they should either step down or be impeached, but for c**p-sake, get out of the way so that people in government who posses a combination of motivation and functional grey-matter can get to work! Still can’t figure out what we’re paying this guy for. He appears to be about as useful as a Hostess executive.
My,my, how bitter the right wingers are…your pouting is rather entertaining.
At least LePage seems to have a skill to fall back on. There MUST be a need for a professional backpeddler someplace.
unicycle circus?
I wish we had a governor that would work with he Federal Government not one that was always trying to give it a black eye. Most people learn whey they are young that you can get more done and more benefits from being professional and polite. I guess being a bull in a china shop is all he can do though. He asks tough but comes off as a whiner.
See what happens, Paulie, when those “corrupt middle management” people are considered more intelligent and reasonable than you?