BANGOR, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday told the city’s business community that his top priorities in a second term as governor would be lowering energy costs and investing in STEM education.
Both initiatives, LePage said, are crucial to making Maine a better place to do business. Lowering energy costs by investing in natural gas and hydroelectricity makes the state more attractive to companies by lowering their overhead. Increasing the number of students with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and math means a more capable workforce for large companies that require specialized employees, the incumbent Republican governor said.
The subject of business-friendliness was a return to vintage LePage, who in 2010 built his successful gubernatorial bid on his professional career and business management bona fides. Noticeably absent from his speech was any reference to “welfare reform,” a top priority from the Blaine House during the most recent legislative session.
That could be a recognition of his audience; LePage made his comments during a breakfast hosted by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce at the Hilton Garden Inn.
The Republican governor ran down the list of highlights from his first term in office: passing the biggest tax cut in Maine history, paying hundreds of millions of dollars of hospital debt, renegotiating the state’s liquor contract and allocating additional funds for nursing homes.
LePage said that under his watch, the state’s fiscal situation had improved. He then asked for the support of businessmen and women in making sure he wins another four years to keep going.
All three gubernatorial candidates have agreed to speak to local business professionals and government officials at a series of breakfast meetings hosted by the Chamber. Independent candidate Eliot Cutler spoke earlier this month, and Democratic candidate and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud is scheduled to appear on Oct. 14.
The governor said he was hesitant to go into detail about his proposals because he feared his opponents — it was unclear whether he meant Democratic lawmakers or the other gubernatorial contenders — would copy his policy agenda and pass it off as their own.
However, LePage did criticize Michaud for voting against a bill in Congress last week that would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve or deny applications for natural gas pipelines within 12 months. The bill passed in the House with majority Republican support. Michaud opposed the bill, saying it would dismantle the FERC permitting system, creating a rushed process that put public safety at risk and lead to unnecessary denials because of an arbitrary timeline.
LePage has said beefing up natural gas infrastructure into Maine is a crucial piece of the effort to lower energy prices in Maine. Energy costs here, like the rest of New England, are significantly higher than in other parts of the country, especially during the cold winters.
During a question-and-answer session with attendees, LePage said the state also should take advantage of film production companies’ growing interest in Maine. Several states offer big tax rebate programs to entice the sometimes-behemoth movie crews, which all must spend money on food, lodging and other amenities.
LePage said the state lost out on the chance to have Bangor author Stephen King’s most recent film produced in Maine. The movie was made in South Carolina instead, where the tax incentives were larger, he said.
“We could have gotten millions upon millions of dollars,” he said. “‘Empire Falls’ was made in Waterville when I was mayor there. It’s unbelievable, when they made that movie, how much it helped the city of Waterville.”
LePage said the state’s unwillingness to offer big tax rebates to film crews was an example of shortsightedness by Democrats in Augusta who “don’t want to give up a penny” and lose out on business as a result.
“We end up getting 100 percent of zero,” because no one is willing to give up any amount of tax revenue, LePage said. “They only look at the revenue they’d lose if they [passed a tax rebate plan], not looking at that if they don’t do it, they get zero.”
The governor was also asked for his opinion on whether the state should allow any more casinos. Bangor is home to Hollywood Casino, one of the state’s two casinos.
A recent study commissioned by the state found that Maine likely could support additional gaming facilities in southern Maine and one tribal facility either Down East or in The County without cannibalizing the market. However, many in Bangor fear that new gaming facilities would eat into the revenue at Hollywood Casino and harm the city’s economy.
LePage said it should be up to the free market to decide how much gaming the state can support, but that he wasn’t sold that any more casinos would be viable. But, he said, he’s not an expert on gambling.
“The biggest gamble I take in my life is I get up in the morning, have my breakfast, go to the State House and hope I make it back,” he said.
Follow Mario Moretto on Twitter at @riocarmine.
