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• Anonymous

  yawn………………

• Anonymous

  Listen up state workers, vaseline is on sale at your local Rite-Aid. You’re gonna need it.

• Anonymous

  Spend a little more now……….and save a whole lot later because of it, makes sense to me!

• Anonymous

  “Portland labor lawyer Howard Reben tells the Kennebec Journal LePage is “squandering money” when LePage says the state has to save money.”

  Of course had “he” been hired, it would be money well spent…Good Grief! You go with who you feel will best represent your interests…in state or out.

• Anonymous

  $295 an hour? This out of state lawyer will milk this to death, and wind up with so much of the money, that the state needs, to finance all it’s programs. Somewhere in the state of Maine, there must be a good lawyer, to do the negotiating on the contract for a more reasonable fee. Another one of Mr. Lepage brilliant ideas to s### the state workers.

• Anonymous

  Thank goodness…..I was worried when I didn’t see the daily bash LePage article in the BDN

• Anonymous

  Im beginning to think, LePage just doesn’t like Mainers.

• Anonymous

  Yep… Maine is open for business… Canadian, Mexican and out of state business. If it is good for business it is good for you… you may just as well learn to enjoy it.

• Anonymous

  This guy is really our leader? Really? I have lived in Maine all my life . . . and I have always been proud to say that. Now – I’m embarrassed.

• Anonymous

  “Portland labor lawyer Howard Reben tells the Kennebec Journal LePage is “squandering money”

  Sounds like nothing but a bunch of sour grapes from someone who thought they ought to have been hired instead.

  Isn’t it odd that the hiring of a single out of state expert who might bring a new prespective to the equation is front page news here. What a joke. This newspaper couldn’t be more biased if it tried.

  Before the Lepage bashers point it out, yes I AM aware that it is an AP piece rather than a BDN piece, but it’s BDN who gives it “front” page consideration, just as they do with every other anti-LePage article they publish. I guess I’m too old for this new generation of news reporting, I remember when the news media thought their job was to REPORT the news rather than influence it.

  Need another example? This paper has been very biased in it’s stance on wind power as displayed by it’s constant editorials in favor of grid scale windpower. The most important wind power debate ever in this state happend in Augusta over the last two days when several hundred testimonies were given on 14 wind power bills up before the Energy, Utilities, and Technology committee. Expert witnesses and citizens of Maine from both sides of the issue testified for nearly 20 hours in two days – yet I’ve seen not a single mention of that here in the BDN.

  The news print media wonders why they’re losing readership to the internet. I’m sure there’s several reasons for that. Maybe they should acknowledge that you have to go to the internet these days to be able to get both sides of any issue as the major papers in this state don;t have a quibble with exposing their biases on an almost daily basis.

• Anonymous

  So what? The state bureau of purchases in augusta buys millions of dollars of items from out of state companies every yr with no consideration for maine business. From envelopes & computer software to trinkets and stickers Every tax dollar spent out of state stays out of state, forever, never to return. we have seen it first hand for over 25 years. Augusta puts little value on a maine business and their employee they will sell out a maine business for a nickle. Then they ask why sales taxes are down and people move out of maine. hopefully this will change when they run out of business and taxes

• Anonymous

  Let us hope they get it just as hard and deep as they have been giving it to the taxpayers all these decades.

• Anonymous

  You’re late to the party coach, I was embarassed the night they announced the election results.

• Karen

  Heck, I know of lawyers right in Maine that want 25 grand just upfront to do cases, and you’re all crying over 295 bucks an hour.. Don’t believe me, look in the yellow pages and call and ask how much they want to help you in a case such as this.. I dare you too. he’s lucky to have found a lawyer to take on a case for that amount per hour. BUT I do know about business, and one thing you should never do is hire anyone for a job by the hour, but in this case- it didn’t mention any retainer fee- if there is one BDN, what is it…?

• Anonymous

  This law firm is one of the biggest firms in the country and often represents Wal-Mart as well as other companies in labor litigation. They are well-known for successfully defending corporations against employee lawsuits. I believe that there is somebody somewhere outside of Maine with a LOT of money who is leading this governor in a direction that can’t possibly be good for the long-term future of the state.

• Anonymous

  Oh I was too . . . I was just trying to give the guy a chance. But, now – I’m just really embarrassed.

• Anonymous

  Another liberal BS smear. You people are pathetic. Friggin’ Portland lawyer probably a damned yellow liberal with sour grapes, just the right kind of quote to wrap up a nice little hit piece. Puke…

• Anonymous

  This is a great sign for the people of Maine!!!

  Louis DiLorenzo In 2008 was named the top labor lawyer in New York State by “Super Lawyers Magazine.”

  “Corporate Legal Times” described him in 2003 as the “Great Negotiator.”
  Source: Portland Press Herald.

  Those union thugs should be feeling a warm tingle running down their legs.

• Anonymous

  He probably wanted the job. ;-)

• Anonymous

  How true…$295/hour. Not really that bad. I’ve had need for a lawyer years ago. The cost was pretty much close to that. He turned out to be quite a bozo. He should have lost his law license. If this lawyer does the job and does it right, it’s worth every penny.

• Anonymous

  LOL, I hope you all are beginning to get the picture. Nothing this guy does is about Maine.

  Relax and sit back and watch as he rolls out the same nonsense as we’re seeing in the other states that have Governors of his ilk.

  Unless you’re a CEO of a major corporation there is nothing here for you. Open for business does not mean it has anything to do with “your business.”

• Anonymous

  Good Point. My run of the mill Bangor Lawyer gets $150 per hour from me. A high powered NY attorney at $295 is a steal.

• dadoje

  Who’s paying all his expenses to come and stay in Maine during that time. I don’t believe that he is paying his own expenses out of the $295 he’s getting. Does he have some of his staff coming also and if so who is paying that.

• http://profiles.google.com/ttrull Todd Trull

  Okay, i thought LePage was going to work on keeping Mainers IN Maine; i had to leave the state to find a good paying job. Now we hire people from out of state when there are plenty of good labor lawyers in Maine? This does not make any sense and Lepage is getting messy.

• Anonymous

  LePage is a Floridian.

• Anonymous

  Gov. LaPorc showing his true colors again – this guy’s term can’t be over soon enough!

• Anonymous

  The Governor is supposed to represent the interests of the taxpayer as well as state employees.

• Anonymous

  Portland labor lawyer Howard Reben tells the Kennebec Journal LePage is “squandering money” when LePage says the state has to save money.”

  Sounds like this lawyer is pissed he didn’t get the job.

  I think it is wise Gov Lepage is getting an out of state perspective on this situation. It seems for too long it’s been you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours and this is why we’re in the mess we’re in.

  Unions hire out of state lawyers to help with negotiations, the EMMC nurses are being represented by the California Nurses Assoc., who bring in their out of state reps, so what’s the difference?

• Anonymous

  Another PR gaffe for LePage. He possesses an amazing knack for being undiplomatic and brazenly in the service of the wealthy, as opposed to the people of our State.

• Anonymous

  To all you LePage appologists, would it be appropriate for BDN to not report this?
  Answer, yes. He’s the governor. We should know what he is doing. Hello!!!

• Anonymous

  I wouldn’t call Mr. Reben’s complaint about the state hiring DiLorenzo sour grapes. However, I question his credibility when he claims the Governor is squadering money by hiring outside counsel. Reben is a small- firm Maine lawyer. Most of his practice is representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases and employees in employment matters. That’s from his firm’s website. He’s also counsel for several Maine local unions. So I assume he know a lot about labor law, and he may be very good at what he does, but he doesn’t represent employers. He’s definitely a small fry compared to DiLorenzo and is not likely to have been considered as counsel for the state in labor union negotiations.

  DiLorenzo, on the other hand, appears to be a top-drawer labor lawyer who represents management and employers in all areas of labor law, including collective bargaining. The fact that he’s an outsider, too, may be an advantage. So I would say that the Governor has made a thoughtful and smart decision here, unlike his apparently impulsive act regarding those Labor Dept. murals, and I’m glad to see it. The money spent for DiLorenzo will be a drop in the bucket compared to the potential saving realized from hiring a really good lawyer.

• Anonymous

  If the reason for hiring an out-of-state lawyer was due to unique qualifications that aren’t available through a Maine law firm then this would be justified, but when the “bring jobs to Maine” governor does the exact opposite, particularly at what will be relatively premium rates by the time travel & administrative expenses are added in, then that is news, not bias.

• Anonymous

  Exactly. $295 in today’s legal environment is charity. Senior law partners in major firms are getting $1,000.00 an hour. My son-in-law recently consutled an attorney on a fairly straightforward personal legal matter and the billing rate was $500.00 an hour.

• Anonymous

  Way to help local business…

• Anonymous

  It’s not the lawyers jobs that we have to worry about.

• Anonymous

  One wonders is there’s a Burt’s Bees version of astroglide at the rate this is going….

• Anonymous

  Typical this is bs what there are no lawyers here in Maine? Give our tax dollars to an out of stater? I bet he is friends with someone at this law firm.. I was watching Rachel Madow last night, and what they are doing in Vermont with health care is outstanding.. This is what Hilliary Clinton was talking about.. Maybe it is a little different but very similar.. Also where the Republicans rule they are all doing the same thing cutting and cutting from the poor and helping the rich get richer.. She said that Ironically they are spending so much money like millions of dollars to tell people that we need to cut spending.. I cant believe they got the house i cant believe LePage was hired either.. And then to hear some people say this is what is needed to help our economy.. Hello look around it is not helping it is digging us deeper..

• Anonymous

  What do you think lawyers cost. $295 is nothing compared to what Obama has done to our country. And I have no loyalty to any party. Do some research and find out what the average lawyer makes. And ask the Labor Lawyer in the article to put fourth his income taxes for 2010 and see what you get. Oh that’s right he doesn’t have to disclose that information.

• Anonymous

  Is it really bashing when it points out that he’s caught with his pants down and a hand in the cookie jar?

• Anonymous

  Why am I getting the feeling that we now have some lawyers on here trying to bid up the acceptable hourly charge for Maine lawyers? Could it be they really ARE a little smarter than the rest of us?

• dadoje

  Also makes me wonder if he is being subsidized by some other means if he’s only getting $295 and hour.

• Anonymous

  Take your meds?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QCC3ABRLTIU3EFA26HUIDQZTSM Chris

  LOL… F.Lee Bailey must have been booked.

• Anonymous

  From the web page of Reben Benjamin & March:

  “Mr. Reben has practiced employment law, ADA, civil rights and personal injury law in Maine since 1970. In recent years he has litigated employment cases throughout Maine. … He serves as General Counsel to Local 340 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Stagehands Union, and Security Guards Union at Bath Iron Works.”

  So, given his practice and client base, exactly what did you think Mr. Reben would sayabout the Governor’s decision to retain counsel outside of the State of Maine??

  In the interest of fairness it would have been appropriate to also have had a reputable attorney involved in labor law representing the employer side also comment on the Governor’s decision.

  I’m not holding my breath waiting for objective journalism.

• Anonymous

  I need more meds every day I wake up to the Left ruining this country.

• Anonymous

  I need more meds every day I wake up to the Left ruining this country.

• Anonymous

  DiLorenzo’s firm has been successful in defending employers against employees. They’re excellent lawyers, and their representation in labor contract negotiations is absolutely consistent with the state’s long-term future. Citizens and taxpayers are benefited when the state has the best legal counsel representing its interests.

• Anonymous

  and a maine lawyer would not milk the job??? what a joke that is…. as far as squandering it is only squandering because its the right attorney for the job and not ruben sandwich.. besides the fact an attorney was needed

• Anonymous

  Cheap enough!!!

• Anonymous

  In the interest of full disclosure I am not now and never have been a lawyer, but I do stay informed and if you are a consumer of legal services you will discover very quickly that lawyers with the appropriate credentials and experience do not come cheap. They don’t need shills bidding up their services – they can simply charge what the market will bear. For high stakes matters the market will bear quite a lot.

• 525_44

  This stupid, give a job to a huge law firm.
  What is wrong with this ‘governor’.
  His antics are beyond words.

• 525_44

  He only likes the wealthy ones.

• Anonymous

  I do appreciate the manner in which you tuck in these bon mots.

• 525_44

  Would that money be coming from the tea party?

• Anonymous

  Right you are!

• 525_44

  You got that right!
  Still the antic’s go on…

• Anonymous

  See ‘PR1492′s comment above.

• http://www.facebook.com/ReZDoG Nathan Sockalexis

  The Wealthy ones don’t live in Maine, they have vacation homes in Maine.

• PabMainer

  Maine open for business?? Except for our own lawyers…..Crazy!

• honey777

  (sarcasm) Way to keep Maine taxpayer money in Maine, governor. Sheesh.

• Anonymous

  What a great idea, a national perspective, something we badly need. That will be short money in the long run. All lawyers are pretty darn expensive.

• Anonymous

  Pinkos are now “yellow liberals?”

  I just can’t keep up.

• Anonymous

  If you or a loved one had cancer of the wazoo, wouldn’t you want the best doctor possible, even if that meant going out of state? Well, it’s not that much different with lawyers. There’s a lot at stake here. For everyone.

• 525_44

  Good point but in reality there are some people in Maine that are among the very wealthy. He panders to them while ignoring the average Mainer.
  However if he is so pro business for Maine he should have hired a Maine firm.
  $295 is cheap, so cheap it is suspicious.

• Anonymous

  K O C H

• Centaurmyst

  There goes LePage again…exporting work from out of Maine.

• Anonymous

  Hiring an outside consultant who is a nationally recognized expert in this field is “being “caught with his pants down …. and his hand in the cookie jar” ??? Didyou forget your meds AGAIN this morning Edward?

• Anonymous

  I have heard that there were a lot of things that were in short supply in Maine. Mostly jobs. This is the first I have heard of an obvious lawyer shortage. A quick look in the Portland or Bangor phone book yellow pages sure wouldn’t lead one to believe that there is a lawyer shortage. “Open for Business ” signs built by an out of state sign company. Now we have to go out of state to find a lawyer.

• Anonymous

  Like the past Democratic adminstrations never hired a single expert from outside Maine. Your argument would be laughable if it weren’t so dumb.

• Tea42

  Glad the BDN is keeping us up to date on this man, his mission, his daily invectives, and his overall distate for the state’s working men and women – oh, and child laborers.

  He has an overall contempt and antagonism towards the people and this state. His latest rebuff, after misplacing one of his slurs – “Dingbat – is to bring in an out-of-state attorney to head up his mounting battle against the working and middle class workers of this state.

  He hires a $295 an hour out-of-state attorney to fight Maine workers – and then takes their tax money to pay him.

• Anonymous

  Great idea, cause there aren’t enough bloodsuckers right here in-state. Sigh.

• Anonymous

  Making a comment like that does prove that they’re smarter than YOU.

• Anonymous

  Excellent point. That rate is way low for a top notch labor attorney. Something is starting to smell not quite right.

• Anonymous

  Then move. The buses go south quite frequently. Sounds like you’d be much happier in Mass. or Ct.

• Anonymous

  Then move. The buses go south quite frequently. Sounds like you’d be much happier in Mass. or Ct.

• Anonymous

  Then move. The buses go south quite frequently. Sounds like you’d be much happier in Mass. or Ct.

• Anonymous

  How so?

• Anonymous

  How so?

• Anonymous

  How so?

• Anonymous

  Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio, New Jersey and Maine Governors are all following the same script. Almost to a tee. Just look at what they are saying and doing.

• Anonymous

  It’s about time.

• Anonymous

  I really hope people now understand that LePage will never create jobs in Maine, because he has absolutely no idea how to do that. He’s just going to continue to enrich himself and those around him while embarrassing every Mainer. It’s just going to get worse and worse until this nighmare ends, and then someone else will have to pick up the pieces and try and get the state on track.

  On a side note, I think it’s time for some creative person to do a Chris Crockeresque defense video of the Governor. “LEAVE PAUL ALONE!” Or maybe some wacky tea partier will come up with an earnest one that we can all have a good laugh at. I guess that would be better than crying about it all, because it’s too late to change anything.

• Anonymous

  By union thugs are you referring to police, firefighters, nurses, telephone workers, electric company linemen, game wardens, snow plow drivers and teachers? All are union workers. If they are the “thugs” you are referring to I will take having those “thugs” in my corner any day.

• Anonymous

  I always thought that when you’re dealing with a very complex, very expensive problem that you seek out the most qualified lawyer/consultant for the job, not the one who happens to live next door. I guess all you LePage bashers would have been much happier if he had hired a much less qualified lawyer with your tax dollars as long as he lived in Maine. Typical of your logic.

• Anonymous

  Yeah, I knew that reply would come up from some drone from the Northwoods who voted for this guy. It doesn’t matter that I have lived here all my life . . . that I actually pay ALL of my taxes . . . but, I am the one who is supposed to move. It wouldn’t change the embarrassment that this guy brings to everyone associated with the state of Maine – even you Northwoods.

• Anonymous

  You’re assuming there is no good lawyer for the job in Maine, right? Or did you research this before posting?

  That would mean you are assuming what you are trying to prove, wouldn’t it?

  Which would undermine your point, right? And make your criticism of me either inept or silly.

• Anonymous

  I believe that, the penguin is a puppet that does what his master tells him. The question is who is pulling the strings?

• Anonymous

  thats about what a good auto mechanic makes isn’t it ?

• Anonymous

  60% of their donations go to republicans… (http://www.followthemoney.org/database/topcontributor.phtml?u=6041&y=0&PHPSESSID=3c5be347827297306bc51612b35c61ec)

  You don’t anticipate he’ll get a kickback when it comes time to re run?

• Anonymous

  geez, for someone who wants to bring business to Maine and keep what we have here, I’m shocked. But not so shocked because LePage is like that horse in the Wizard of Oz……many colors….mostly black, imo.

• Anonymous

  Tell me more about the left ruining the country?

• Anonymous

  You know that is some sort of canard. I was speaking of the union bosses who think they run the state. The workers have always been their political pawns and in times of need their political cover. Using them the same way you just did. Good hardworking people. Its their union bosses that live off their sweat.

• Anonymous

  You sound a bit like Biff from the “Back to the Future” movies.

• Anonymous

  Probably no more than GE contribution to Obama’s last election campaign.

• Anonymous

  sounds like a conflict of interest to me.

• Anonymous

  sounds like a conflict of interest to me.

• Anonymous

  Probably not as much as GE’s contribution to Obama’s last campaign. All those “Green Energy” credits and deductions come in handy at tax time. GE’s tax bill $0

• Anonymous

  Probably not as much as GE’s contribution to Obama’s last campaign. All those “Green Energy” credits and deductions come in handy at tax time. GE’s tax bill $0

• Anonymous

  shhhhhh, the less we know, the more he can bludgeon democracy.

• Anonymous

  OK Enigma. Do you have all day…? I actually thought the Burts Bees Astroglide quip was lol funny. I think the average US citizen does not know what “liberal”, “conservative”, “progressive”, “left”, “right”, “tea party” means. They are all just labels and tags and your average non-Enigma doesn’t even know what they mean or what they imply. The average US citizen formulates his/her opinion based on environment, family and exposure to outside influences, but rarely through a true investigation and understanding of what it means to espouse any of these nebulous ideologies.

• Anonymous

  This has little to do with a hired gun. The question you should all be asking is who is going to get shot in the head?

• Anonymous

  We don’t need anyone to negotiate. Make them an offer,and if they refuse then fire the whole bunch. Government employees should never have an option to negotiate. That’s why we have elected officials to set their salaries and benifits for them.

• Anonymous

  Agreed on the labels. Balance in influences is key ^^ imo

• Anonymous

  Aren’t we already paying for attorneys on the state effing payroll? This one is bought and paid for by the GOP, no doubt. Thanks BDN for publishing this. Will be interested to learn what the final tally for this out-of-state GOP lawyer will be, including all of his expenses, and which taxpayer fund he will be paid out of. Any takers on whether it tops out at more than the $65,000 cost of the labor mural?

• 5thgenme

  That is not true. I know quite a few millionaires in Maine. Many that live very luxurious life styles, as they my well deserve. Many have Inherited their money from family members in the textile, timber and even IT industries before they moved all those jobs off shore. Along with their cash. Many of these folks don’t really have to work like you and I. And they usually pay less taxes then your average union worker. But for some reason they are protected from their responsibilities by Republicans. Instead the tea-baggers and neo-cons aim their vitriol at the workers in this state. And they defend LePage’s decision to hire an out of stater so he can cripple unions even more then they are now. I don’t get it. It’s not the unions that are the problem. They have been scapegoated by they wealthy and so many of you are too blind to see that you are being manipulated by far right propaganda (Fox etc.). Do you think that maybe some day you will be rich? Is that why you protect them from paying their fair share and instead bash the workers? Read up on the history of unions and you will see why they were established, as protection from SOME unscrupulous business owners. And as the rich get richer and the middle class gets poorer the unions will need even more support. Come to Augusta on May first and you will see how many average Mainers support the workers of this state, union as well as non union.

• 5thgenme

  How reliable is this $295 an hour figure?

• 5thgenme

  How reliable is this $295 an hour figure?

• Anonymous

  Top executive officers (yes, even like Obama) often have to deal with seemingly conflict of interest issues, unlike most of the rest of us. The “Buck stops here” syndrome. The counterbalance is the court system.

• Anonymous

  Top executive officers (yes, even like Obama) often have to deal with seemingly conflict of interest issues, unlike most of the rest of us. The “Buck stops here” syndrome. The counterbalance is the court system.

• Anonymous

  Sounds like LePage has learned something from the Bangor City Council, hiring outside analysts when there are qualified people in Maine! And I am a LePage supporter who disagrees with this.

• Diogenes

  Maybe it’s not LePage’s fault. Maybe his daughter hired the NH lawyer.

• Anonymous

  Then leave???

• Anonymous

  Schmuck!

• Anonymous

  What saving realized? From screwing over our state workers who have had frozen wages and loss of income for several years already? When the state workers have had enough disrespect and end up moving out of Maine for better jobs, the state’s tax base just keeps going lower and lower. Meanwhile, let’s give the very rich a few more perks and tax breaks.

  While I am confident that there are law firms right here in Maine that can do a competent job of representing management in contract negotiations, I wonder how many would really want to be affiliated with this current administration. It would kill their reputation for years to come.

• Anonymous

  If I might add to your list …… the mothership …. Arizona

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3X7SFRHODRS2WLWYPQD5G5DEAY bmy

  Remember, Maine is open for business – if you’re an ambulance chaser “from away.”

• Anonymous

  I’m getting tired of shaking my head in disgust. What were voters thinking….

• Anonymous

  $295 is the average hourly fee nationwide for an attorney. These negotiations require attorneys. This article is like saying “Local real estate developer hires architect firm for industry standard fee!”. BDN is getting desperate for smear material on Lepage. And the chorus of lemmings all pile one.

• Anonymous

  You are the one that called the hard working people I listed “union thugs” . Weasel word all you want. It still doesn’t change what you called them.

• 525_44

  He’s like the man behind the curtain.
  Nothing is as it seems with the governor or his good ol boys.

• 525_44

  Have to ask the obvious, where are the funds to pay for this law firm coming from?
  Just asking.

• Anonymous

  The system as it is set up is adversarial. The unions make it so. They have the backing of international organizations with millions of dollars. It is about time that someone from the governors office was looking out for the taxpaying people of Maine. The last time an outside lawyer helped the state in this situation was during the McKernan administration. This is nothing all that new.

• Anonymous

  I’m going to go out on a limb here and take a WAG … The Heritage Foundation?

• 525_44

  Yellow liberals?

• 525_44

  Yellow liberals?

• Anonymous

  You couldn’t really expect objectivity from the BDN could you?

• 525_44

  I think he likes to practice his creative writing skills here.
  ; )

• Anonymous

  You don’t have to move, the rate that this arse clown is going he is never going to make it to the end of his first term. He’s screwing himself over and he can’t stop. I would be lmao if I didn’t live her.

• Anonymous

  You don’t have to move, the rate that this arse clown is going he is never going to make it to the end of his first term. He’s screwing himself over and he can’t stop. I would be lmao if I didn’t live her.

• Anonymous

  You don’t have to move, the rate that this arse clown is going he is never going to make it to the end of his first term. He’s screwing himself over and he can’t stop. I would be lmao if I didn’t live her.

• Anonymous

  I simply love these lefty comments. The fear is palpable. Someone is actually fighting back and its tough for you to take.

• Anonymous

  If the penguin were sacrificing 1st born babies on the lawn of the Blain house, you would be right there making excuses for him. You’re a tool dude

• Anonymous

  I’m glad the governor decided to consult an attorney for once. But I’m disappointed that he gave work to an out of state attorney. Ironic how he campaigned promising jobs, then hires an out of state attorney to help him deprive Maine workers of their hard earned job related benefits. Shame all around, Mr. LePage.

• Anonymous

  Yeah, that makes way to much sense. “no comment”

• Anonymous

  Take heart. You will still be a proud Mainer in 4 years when LePage is no longer our governor.

• Anonymous

  I don’t think too many people use their brains when they bash the state workers union. The people who are part of that union and who will be affecting by any changes are the ones that the people of the state of Maine expect to be there in the middle of the night to help them, to keep them safe, to teach their children so they can get an education and make something of themselves. When you take money out of these hard working peoples pockets to funnel it back into the state so the highest tax rate can be dropped from 35 to 25% it is a slap in the face. Too bad there are no strike clauses because it is incredibly wrong.

• Anonymous

  Yep. One day he’ll do something impeachable and it’s out the door for him. When almost the entire legislature voted to ban BPA, I saw that the Repbulicans were sending him a mighty strong message: don’t count on our vote anymore.

• Anonymous

  OK, I get it. You’re a state worker and unhappy with your lot in life. Well, if you think things are really tough for state workers, come out and try the the private sector. Try for some of those “perks and tax breaks.”

• Anonymous

  I would love for everyone in the state workers union to be fired. Then see how well your quality of life is.

• Anonymous

  Maybe no respectable Maine lawyer would advocate depriving Maine state employees of their benefits package.

• Anonymous

  Wow, seems like a bargain since I just read the Republicans had hired a lawyer (once a political player who has actually now dropped out of being the lawyer for this purpose once faced with threat of protests from gay/lesbian groups) for $595 per hour to keep the “marriage definition” law (marriage is between one man and one woman only) on the books. Lepage actually got this lawyer cheap!

• Anonymous

  Wow, seems like a bargain since I just read the Republicans had hired a lawyer (once a political player who has actually now dropped out of being the lawyer for this purpose once faced with threat of protests from gay/lesbian groups) for $595 per hour to keep the “marriage definition” law (marriage is between one man and one woman only) on the books. Lepage actually got this lawyer cheap!

• Anonymous

  Yes, well, just wanted to let you intellectually superior lefties know that some of us conservatives can elocute with the best of you anyday, anytime, any topic. Drrr… where’s my Tea???? And here is some creative writing skill for you 525-44…;)

• Anonymous

  Northwoods, sounds like you represent the fearless 38%. So why don’t YOU move?

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1079593918 Cris Edward Johnson

  Louis DiLorenzo is no lightweight. My shock is that he’s agreed to $275/hr.

  He is a pre-eminent management side attorney with over 30 years of experience and the managing partner of a very large firm with offices in 11 different American cities, none of which is in Maine.

  As a 30 year attorney myself, I have no doubt that his personal involvement on behalf of the firm will be minimal; however, the engagement of this firm is a clear signal to me that there will be a bloody fight in the next go-around of negotiations with the MSEA. Bond, Schoeneck & King is not about meaningful discussions, they’re gun-slingers and we’re the OK Corral.

• Anonymous

  Actually Northwoods, it sounds like you’d be much better of living in New Hampshire. Live free or die! Take your useless “governor” with you!

• Anonymous

  I did not. The union and the people are not the same. Really they aren’t.

• Anonymous

  Yes, but is he a marionette or a sock puppet? If he is the latter, then someone’s hand is working his mouth, and the mechanics of that are obvious.

• Anonymous

  Yes, but is he a marionette or a sock puppet? If he is the latter, then someone’s hand is working his mouth, and the mechanics of that are obvious.

• Anonymous

  Well, I’m just a redneck with a chainsaw and don’t know all that much stuff. But what I’ve observed is that conservatives seem to be the exact opposite of what the word really means.

• Anonymous

  A couple things. When I called for the police to come because some druggie busted into my car the union didn’t come with him. When my son goes to school in the morning there better not be a union boss in that classroom. As a taxpayer I pay for public services. I do NOT pay for unions.
  They better come do their jobs and leave that union crap at the union hall. If you can’t see the difference then I am not the word hoser in this conversation.

• Anonymous

  If he HAS to pay $295 an hour, why not hire a Maine lawyer, this would probably put a few recent grads from Maine to work too!! Maine does have some really good lawyers – c’mon LePage – use your head and stop bringing in outside help – if you ARE the Gov of Maine – show it!!!

• Anonymous

  LOL

• Anonymous

  I see then you are merely a troll looking for a reaction. Never mind.

• 525_44

  Was I talking to you?
  My elocution is excellent thanks.I can thank my prize speaking class for that…
  I wasn’t speaking of you as superior. It actually was a round about compliment on your writing.
  Didn’t think that would upset you. ;)

• Anonymous

  So i guess the state dose not have the best lawyers ?? So he hires out side thugs

• Anonymous

  Actually I did goggle Mr. DiLorenzo and the firm he works in. I also emailed a relative who works for a firm in NYC that specializes in representing unions – he agreed that Mr. DiLorenzo was very respected and a very formidable opponent in large scale labor matters.

  Now you (and the 13 peopel who “liked” your response) please tell me what vast amount of research you did before posting your smart alec comments … I’m waiting …

• Anonymous

  LePage now has us taxpayers paying a full time staff that is responsible for negotiations plus a very expensive lawyer. The really ridiculous part of this is that McKernan’s hired gun increased wages so much and negotiated a unheard of three year contract which the state couldn’t afford to support. When one does not know the history, like LePage, one continues to make the same mistakes. I am beginning to think that us Mainers cannot afford a full four year term of LePage.

• Anonymous

  My initial comments here were related to the subject matter in the article, I wasn’t trying to consider what might happen three years down the road. However, now that you got me to thinking about that, I do relish the thought that you libs will be squirming and crying about the cutback in welfare and entitlments for the next 3 years.

• Anonymous

  I’m surprised it took you this long to start the name calling. Typical.

• Anonymous

  Yeah, the Tea Party!!!

• Anonymous

  Tea Party!!

• Anonymous

  A Tea Party move drom a Tea Party governor, LePage. If you read what other Tea Party shoo-ins from other states are doing, he is mirroring those very same.

• Anonymous

  A Tea Party move drom a Tea Party governor, LePage. If you read what other Tea Party shoo-ins from other states are doing, he is mirroring those very same.

• Anonymous

  No, I won’t leave. I’m going to stay and fight the fight. I have never involved myself in any political crap, but I’m not going to run away from this. This guy is an embarrassment to our state, and I’m not going to sit back and just watch him do this. I hope everyone continues to question his every move. And no, I’m not a liberal either – I don’t feel the need to label everyone in the same political terms that you feel the need to. I base my opinions on whatever I am feeling on whatever the issue is. I know good people when I see them, no matter their political beliefs. I don’t see a good person leading our state.

• Anonymous

  This LePage fella surrounds himself with henchmen and now is depleting state funds to chase his fancy. This guy is bad news with bad behavior and bad judgement. He is a negitve icon representing our fine state that he is incapable of managing.

• Anonymous

  “I would love for everyone in the state workers union to be fired. Then see how well your quality of life is.”

  This is exactly the type of comment that shows what the underlying motive is. Divide the people and turn them on one another. God. Wake up.

• Anonymous

  “I would love for everyone in the state workers union to be fired. Then see how well your quality of life is.”

  This is exactly the type of comment that shows what the underlying motive is. Divide the people and turn them on one another. God. Wake up.

• Anonymous

  “I would love for everyone in the state workers union to be fired. Then see how well your quality of life is.”

  This is exactly the type of comment that shows what the underlying motive is. Divide the people and turn them on one another. God. Wake up.

• Anonymous

  You did “goggle”? But you didn’t see if anyone in Maine is qualified, did you? That was my question, not whether the NYC guy is qualified.

  You’re evading. You didn’t check Maine at all. You just showed us the extent of your research.

  That’s for cementing my point.

• Anonymous

  You did “goggle”? But you didn’t see if anyone in Maine is qualified, did you? That was my question, not whether the NYC guy is qualified.

  You’re evading. You didn’t check Maine at all. You just showed us the extent of your research.

  That’s for cementing my point.

• Anonymous

  I would hope you are right on that.

• Anonymous

  I would hope you are right on that.

• Anonymous

  I would hope you are right on that.

• Anonymous

  Joyce Oreskovich of the Bureau of Human Resources says LePage believes an outside expert will bring a national perspective to the negotiations.

  The nation has social security. Maine has a pension fund. Would someone please check to see if there is any money left in it?

• Anonymous

  It is ok to like LePage…but since the consensus is that he is in over his head as governor…

  Everybody can’t move. It would be better for him to go back to Mardens.

• Anonymous

  Lot of Libertarians in NH.

• Anonymous

  Bingo. Awesome.

• Anonymous

  Audit the pension fund.

  That would be cost effective.

  Just in case somebody wants to stick their hand in the cookie jar.

• Anonymous

  Koch brothers?

  US Chamber of Commerce?

  Not Mainers.

• Anonymous

  If you want them to do their jobs then don’t treat them poorly. We could always go back to the days of privately owned and operated police and fire services where you have to pay to have your situations dealt with.

  I have never seen an officer bring any “union crap” with them to a scene. They do their jobs diligently and often without praise. Same goes for the rest of the state workers. Why should they continually be punished because they work for the state? Why should they get paid less and less and lose benefits because the state is their employer and not a private entity? Should there be no wage equality between public and private sector? How about LePages young daughter and her 40k+ a year job, is nepotism allowable but people who work their whole lives serving the state through whatever job they possess terrible?

• Anonymous

  If you want them to do their jobs then don’t treat them poorly. We could always go back to the days of privately owned and operated police and fire services where you have to pay to have your situations dealt with.

  I have never seen an officer bring any “union crap” with them to a scene. They do their jobs diligently and often without praise. Same goes for the rest of the state workers. Why should they continually be punished because they work for the state? Why should they get paid less and less and lose benefits because the state is their employer and not a private entity? Should there be no wage equality between public and private sector? How about LePages young daughter and her 40k+ a year job, is nepotism allowable but people who work their whole lives serving the state through whatever job they possess terrible?

• Anonymous

  If you want them to do their jobs then don’t treat them poorly. We could always go back to the days of privately owned and operated police and fire services where you have to pay to have your situations dealt with.

  I have never seen an officer bring any “union crap” with them to a scene. They do their jobs diligently and often without praise. Same goes for the rest of the state workers. Why should they continually be punished because they work for the state? Why should they get paid less and less and lose benefits because the state is their employer and not a private entity? Should there be no wage equality between public and private sector? How about LePages young daughter and her 40k+ a year job, is nepotism allowable but people who work their whole lives serving the state through whatever job they possess terrible?

• Anonymous

  If you want them to do their jobs then don’t treat them poorly. We could always go back to the days of privately owned and operated police and fire services where you have to pay to have your situations dealt with.

  I have never seen an officer bring any “union crap” with them to a scene. They do their jobs diligently and often without praise. Same goes for the rest of the state workers. Why should they continually be punished because they work for the state? Why should they get paid less and less and lose benefits because the state is their employer and not a private entity? Should there be no wage equality between public and private sector? How about LePages young daughter and her 40k+ a year job, is nepotism allowable but people who work their whole lives serving the state through whatever job they possess terrible?

• Anonymous

  If you want them to do their jobs then don’t treat them poorly. We could always go back to the days of privately owned and operated police and fire services where you have to pay to have your situations dealt with.

  I have never seen an officer bring any “union crap” with them to a scene. They do their jobs diligently and often without praise. Same goes for the rest of the state workers. Why should they continually be punished because they work for the state? Why should they get paid less and less and lose benefits because the state is their employer and not a private entity? Should there be no wage equality between public and private sector? How about LePages young daughter and her 40k+ a year job, is nepotism allowable but people who work their whole lives serving the state through whatever job they possess terrible?

• Anonymous

  Trickle down economics, so popular with the tea party people , has been proven not to work.

  Before trickle down became all the rage with politicians…A man could work and support his family. Take vacations. Send his children to college. And that was with a mill job. 70s.

  We are not progressing, we are going backwards as a country. ….when the party that owns the media tries to malign workers and teachers (and think people will respect them). Family values are so yesterday. Now it is hate a union, worker or teacher. And they expect us to line up behind that?

  ….how do they get dressed in the mornings?

• Anonymous

  And the same things are going on in other countries too. Canada trying to cut back on their universal health care. England too. All of them and US going up on education expenses.

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Bodman/1799393161 Charles Bodman

  We have to remember that this man ran Mardens junk store, so let there be no doubt he is fully capable of running the state of Maine. A whole 38% of the people believed in him so we should too. We have to remember that he is a foul mouthed, fat piece of cow waste because he had such a hard life, just ask him. I myself emailed him the night he won the primary and said as a hard core Republican he still would have to convince me that he was right for the job; guess what HE DID NOT get my vote nor that demo believed them to both be lairs. Well we the people of Maine spoke and voted this person that believes himself to be God into Augusta.

• Anonymous

  I guess this will be another Wisconsin

• Anonymous

  But Paul wants to make ME business friendly and he has to hire a lawyer from out of state?

  What do you think he means by business friendly…$3.00 an hour and no benefits?

  Or more Wal Marts and private prisons?

• Anonymous

  Excuse me while I go flush the toilet with a few hundred bucks in it….

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Bodman/1799393161 Charles Bodman

  Well said coach, I am a proud Republican who has NO USE for the person that is the governor. Like we do not have capable lawyers in Maine,

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Bodman/1799393161 Charles Bodman

  Can we all agree that the only good lawyer is the one under the log truck tires, it is common knowledge that ALL lawyers milk the system, why do you think we pay soo much for insurence

• Anonymous

  Common sense , well stated , can be tough.

• Anonymous

  Common sense , well stated , can be tough.

• Anonymous

  Common sense , well stated , can be tough.

• Anonymous

  Common sense , well stated , can be tough.

• Anonymous

  Save money later by raising retirement age on state workers. Cutting their benefits while keeping your own salary , along with the judges, exorbitantly high. That goes over so well.

• Anonymous

  Let’s move on. Obama didn’t prosecute your people for war crimes. We are even.

• Anonymous

  Those union thugs should be feeling a warm tingle running down their legs.

  And state workers.

  Got a feeling Mainers are going Wisconsin on Paul.

• Anonymous

  May, 1933, Hitler abolished all unions.

• Anonymous

  Trolling is a verb. It is what it is.

  Hillary Clinton says “We are losing the information wars.”

  Reporters slapped in jail or killed. Popular website that covers election fraud censored by AOL. Read bradblog.

• Anonymous

  May, 1933, Hitler abolished unions. Let the fun begin.

• Anonymous

  Only problem, with trickle down economics, NAFTA etc. ..the market is no longer present.

• Anonymous

  Libs and tea partiers need to come together and realize we are all getting screwed for the corporations.

• Anonymous

  As someone who is gainfully employed, welfare and entitlements aren’t my concern. Although its funny, I didn’t quite mention welfare or entitlements in my posts on this story.

• Anonymous

  China was the #1 lender to keep the wars afloat under the illustrious George Bush.

  China is communist. They also have most favored trade status. And supply us with lots of junk sold at Wal Mart. Be careful with the name calling. If China wants to call in our notes, what do you think would happen?

• Anonymous

  So true. Under the popular George Bush, the constitution was shredded, the treasury was depleted and unemployment went through the roof. But, the good old family friend , Bill Clinton, set the stage.

• Anonymous

  Watch / read news somewhere beside False Noise for a reality check.

• Anonymous

  Regardless of political bend, $295 an hour is cheap for a labor lawyer to assist in labor negotiations…..perhaps the author to the above article has not paid for professional legal help recently. In addition, having someone from ‘away’ conduct and participate in this activity is sometimes the best way to get it done for all parties concerned -been there, done that. Would you want to be the local lawyer that did this task and then had to hopefully make a living by representing potential clients from either side of the negotiations table in other matters in the years to come? not I.

  I’d say the same thing if Libby Mitchell were Gov….it’s reality..we live in a big, complex world. We all use resources outside the State of Maine daily that don’t contribute to the financial health of our State’s kitty. Can you say “Amazon.com”?

• Anonymous

  You are right. Under the stimulus bill , First Wind got a multi million dollar grant to build Stetson II windfarm when there was no room on the grid for Stetson I. May as well call a spade a spade.

  Obama’s right hand man at the time , Larry Summers, got a little piece of that action.It is the system.

• Anonymous

  Recall Paul. Recall Paul. Recall Paul.

• Anonymous

  Good for you. Objectivity is the only way WE can survive. I was a LePage supporter initially myself.

• Anonymous

  The cancer is in Augusta. Paul cried broke broke after reducing property taxes. So he could cut back state workers benefits. That is going on all over the world. Bankrupt the state, initiate draconian cuts to workers.

• Anonymous

  I appreciate your post but the point I was addressing was posted above to 4mermainers initial reply.
  That said I do not believe that public workers should be unionized. I am of a split mind about nurses. Of course the private sector work force has a right to be unionized and the market will deal (and has dealt) with the folly inherent in that relationship.
  The problem with government unions is both the conflict it creates and the potential for corruption and abuse depending on which political party is in power. With a Republican governor that owes nothing to the union bosses it only makes sense for the Governor to get professional help. Because the public unions exist and therefore the relationship is adversarial it only makes sense for to hire a good attorney to protect the interests of the taxpayers. That is his job. The unions have their big guns and be sure they will put them to use. When the Democrats are in power you have a situation where those that the government is negotiating with are for the most part their major campaign contributors. The only person capable of losing then in that situation is the taxpayer.

• Anonymous

  OK! THAT is a real BOOST to business in Maine. I am glad he sees the need to keep Maine business in Maine. I do believe you do have the talent to talk out of the other side of your mouth, man!

• Anonymous

  The credentials have to show love the corporation/ hate the worker in order to be on Paul’s approved list of trustworthy people. The man from the Heritage Foundation who just moved to Fl. looked to be all of 25. He was cute as pie but did not look like a mental heavy weight.

• Anonymous

  They lost in Wisconsin.

• Anonymous

  Northwoods, what you’ve got to understand is all these peoples welfare money is being directly affected. You get a good govenor that doesn’t believe in redistributing your wealth to all these lazy hacks… and all heck is going to break lose. Being up North we know how to take care of ourselves… the further you go south, they need the government to take care of them.

• Anonymous

  He had to go all the way to New York to find a lawyer that didn’t think he was crazy.Can’t wait to see what that contract will look like!!!!

• Anonymous

  Apparently a lot of you guys get state appointed lawyers and don’t even know the going rate for a quality attorney….maybe some one from the great “state” of Portland would do this pro-bono and help out this poor state….NOT likely… oh, yeah…

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BE5K4BY6CK2TFMMTWIM5B22ZOE David

  This state is broken and getting brokener. If that wasn’t a word, it is now.

• Anonymous

  As if we, in Maine, need anything else to get ramped up about, last night Rachel Maddow did a piece on something that’s been happening recently in Florida ie making it difficult/nearly impossible to register first time voters at the typical local Voter Registration drive and for people who’ve recently changed their name (ie newly married/divorced) and/or there voter district
  (ie new home residence).

• Anonymous

  slightly off topic…

  As if we, in Maine, need anything else to get ramped up about, last night Rachel Maddow did a piece on something that’s been happening recently in Florida ie making it difficult/nearly impossible to register first time voters at the typical local Voter Registration drive and for already registered voters who’ve recently changed their name (ie newly married/divorced) and/or their voter district
  (ie new home residence address).

  ‘Remember the 2000 Selection’ is my new battle cry!

• Harry H Snyder III

  Pardon me while I go9 puke! Your rationalization for dumping taxpayer money out-of-state doesn’t hold water.

  many “in State” lawyers take on unpopular political cases and continue to make a good living here. Both Joe Brennan and John McKernan were controversial governors who went on to the legal profession and did quite well.

• mangosmum

  Hey, I thought Maine was broke?? Are there no lawyers left in the entire State of Maine??

• StillRelaxin

  Interesting to see that the last time this was done by a Maine governor (Mckernan/Mr. Snowe) was to successfully put the screws to teachers. Kinda tells you why educated people vote Democratic. Their always getting the shaft by conservatives. It also tells you how things will go in the 2012 and 2014 election cycles. The GOP/Tea Party might as well start packing their bags right now.

• StillRelaxin

  Interesting to see that the last time this was done by a Maine governor (Mckernan/Mr. Snowe) was to successfully put the screws to teachers. Kinda tells you why educated people vote Democratic. Their always getting the shaft by conservatives. It also tells you how things will go in the 2012 and 2014 election cycles. The GOP/Tea Party might as well start packing their bags right now.

• StillRelaxin

  Interesting to see that the last time this was done by a Maine governor (Mckernan/Mr. Snowe) was to successfully put the screws to teachers. Kinda tells you why educated people vote Democratic. Their always getting the shaft by conservatives. It also tells you how things will go in the 2012 and 2014 election cycles. The GOP/Tea Party might as well start packing their bags right now.

• StillRelaxin

  Interesting to see that the last time this was done by a Maine governor (Mckernan/Mr. Snowe) was to successfully put the screws to teachers. Kinda tells you why educated people vote Democratic. Their always getting the shaft by conservatives. It also tells you how things will go in the 2012 and 2014 election cycles. The GOP/Tea Party might as well start packing their bags right now.

• 525_44

  His true colors get more visible all the time…

• 525_44

  That’s very autocratic of you.

• Anonymous

  You said, “I have lived in Maine all my life . . . and I have always been proud to say that. Now – I’m embarrassed. ”

  Sure sounds like someone who’s dissatisfied and embarassed to live here in Maine, so I though you might be more comfortable in a state with a more liberal administration attitude, so I named a couple.

• Anonymous

  On many issues that concern me, you’re absolutely right, NH would be a better fit. Lower taxes. no sales tax, smaller percentage of lifelong welfare recipients, fewer people scamming the programs liivng off the bvacks of those who actually work for a living – you’re right, you make a convincing argument. But I love this state, and choose to call it home. When you love something you stand and fight to correct the wrongs, not sit on your thumbs and complain about everything the government’s not doing for you.

• Anonymous

  Oh yeah, way to creat Maine jobs (NOT).

• Anonymous

  Impeachable? !!! Goggle Baldacci and Kurt Adams if you want to talk impeachable.

• Anonymous

  I hear you loud and clear. It gets very personal to a significant portion of the libs when you start affecting their “entitlements”. Some people think that just because your a state government or a federal government that you can just keep spending unabatedly, regardless of how little money there is in the checkbook. Look at the financial poisiiton Maine is in right now. LePage wouldn’t have to be the ‘bad guy’ if the democrats who ran both the governor’s office and the legislature for the last upteen years had shown just a little bit of fiscal responsibility, but no doubt that’s Bush’s fault too.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GBHAWY2DGMGS5W3VHFYLBPN7AU Jay C

  what is goggle?

• Anonymous

  The lawyers not that bad, the state just bought his daughter a new car.

• Anonymous

  I’m quite sure we have a lot of qualified lawyers in Maine, just none nearly as qualified on this particular issue as the person that was hired.

• Anonymous

  Actually you’re right I didn’t goggle labor lawyers in Maine. Whne you have a nationally recognized expert in the field under contract I saw no need to think there was someone more qualifed in Maine. But taking your advice, I just did goggle it. Why don;t you try it yourself. You’ll be assaulated by a bunch of adds touting things like “free conference” , I’ve been voted the best in my area for 6 years, etc. Pretty much cements MY point.

• Anonymous

  Good to see our tax dollars so wisely spent to hurt Mainers.Who’s the bag man?

• Anonymous

  Just what I was thinking. What a slap in the face to all the talented lawyers in the State of Maine – unless he couldn’t find one that saw things his way that is! Insulting at the very least. Not that he seems to be worried about insulting anyone.

• Anonymous

  That poster says that to other posters as well; that seems to be all he’s got. He was telling Bangorian the same thing yesterday. Who does he think he is to determine who should live here or not?

• Anonymous

  I could tell you which Party makes it harder for certain groups of people to vote. But, I think you can find out for yourself.

• Anonymous

  Hey, I thought he wanted to save money. His most ardent supporters are supporting his move to pay this lawyer that much? Tells you something….

• Anonymous

  Never doubt it.

• Anonymous

  Creating jobs! People first! Well, at least he’s creating jobs out of state, hopefully this will continue with the grand opening of Marden’s in FLA. He could get it up and going by July if he hurries.

• Anonymous

  Very good guess!!

• Anonymous

  I never considered them a party of “family values.”

• Anonymous

  Oh darn….

• Anonymous

  Please don’t stay on our account. You will soon learn to love the hills of New Hampshire. Let us know if there’s anything you need like gas money or a recommendation to the SSDI office in Rochester. Don’t hesitate to ask.

• Anonymous

  They like certain union workers, but others, not so much!!

• Anonymous

  I know. It is very contradictory.

• Anonymous

  You really have to get a new line. No one is afraid, as much as you want to think so. Some of us might be laughing at some of it, but “afraid.”? Only in your delusions.

• Anonymous

  Basing decisions on feelings is always a mistake. Base opinions on facts, not conjecture, innuendo, propaganda, talk radio, or your neighbor, just facts.

• Anonymous

  Maybe you should figure out who really is doing the dividing.

• Anonymous

  How do you know who’s qualified Mr. Lepageophile? You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, none, zippo, zilch, nada. Grasping at straws as is the love of your life Boss Hogg.

• Anonymous

  Very good point. There is no logic to this, but then…..

• Anonymous

  What’s this “friend’s” name. We need corroboration that you even know the area code for NYC. Not that I don’t believe you, I just don’t believe you.

• Anonymous

  Best what?

• Anonymous

  Don’t forget the wife and kids so they can enjoy the coastal pleasures whilst hubby is tallying up the day’s receipts. Of course he’s not paying his own expenses. This would make for interesting reading if we could find out where this guy is going to stay and who’s coming with him. Someone from this paper or another paper, get on this immediately!

• Anonymous

  Come on; he couldn’t find an ‘honest lawyer’ in the whole state!
  Good for the’ Govna’…

• Anonymous

  Educated people vote democratic?? Guess again, I hold two degrees and am convervative to the core. the real fact is that most of your called educated voters who vote liberal do so, because they dont want to lose their welfare check.

• Anonymous

  Does $295 an hour include drive time from the out of state office? What happen to keeping Maine people working? On the bright side New York state workers wages are much higher than Maine, so maybe the workers will benefit from a New York attorney.

• Anonymous

  Clearly, your degrees are not in Logic.

• StillRelaxin

  Looks like you must have received your two degrees at some expensive private school that gives sheep skins to anyone who can afford to buy one. You certainly didn‘t get them for your grammar or spelling. Yikes! This could be why you’re attracted to someone as unbelievably ignorant as Mayor LePage.

• Anonymous

  The welfare/entitlements comment wasn’t aimed directly at you personally but as a general statement about many of the ultra libs on here. I’ll do a better job of delineating that in future remarks.

• Anonymous

  Hmmm – well now, you have me curious which party you think I’m talking about…

  I thought it was obvious…

• Anonymous

  Like I said………………….

• Anonymous

  Me either. But a lot of people did. I am glad they gave that meme up. The one they have now is, at least, more honest. Hate unions, workers, teachers and the gays.

• Anonymous

  I call it ‘the reckless courage of the non-combatant…’

• Anonymous

  A simple 250 word article about the state hiring a consultant genrates 236 (and counting) comments. 90% of which are LePage bashers. Don’t any of these people work for a living? Or are they working and spending all their time on line while on the clock. On etrend I’ve noticed on here is that the comments made during working hours are about 80-20% liberal Lepage bashers. Around 5:30 that changes more towards the conservatives. That tells a story it itself.

  I know I’ll get jumped on because I comment quite often some days during the day so let me say right now that I’m self employed and work in my own office so I’m only cheating myself if I take time away from work to comment here.

• StillRelaxin

  Or english.

• Anonymous

  GOD BLESS LEPAGE….someone below called Lepage a Mayor…lol ok what about the freak of a president we have, the useless community organizer junior senator… useless poor excuse for a man…he represents what democrats all stand for? I HOPE NOT.

• Anonymous

  Oh my god. Just when I though I’ve seen it all. The BDN is doing nothing here but trying to fire up a bunch of negativity towards LePage. This is so pathetic, and really shows how dumb the BDN thinks it’s primary audience is.

• Anonymous

  Thanks for graciously conceding to the point I made above–that you jumped to conclusions and criticized me without proper evidence.

  This doesn’t speak well to your reliability. In fact, I googled (not “goggled”) the following phrase: “law firms in maine” — and ALL kinds of good-looking professional firms showed up.

  Here’s just one that I got within 15 seconds:

  Drummond, Woodsum & MacMahon (and yes they do municipal and employment and other kinds of relevant law practice)

  http://www.dwmlaw.com/

  There are at least several others.

  You’re blowing smoke. There is a reason that it has been 20 years since any governor went outside of Maine to get a lawyer for the people of Maine.

• melibusa

  And remember,,,,,,no expense is to great for the taxpayer. Unless of course they are able to gain some benefit for the expense.

• Anonymous

  Fighting back against what?

  On one side is LePage and his lawyer who makes more in a year than you or I do in 10. (And yeah, the $295.00 per hour is being supplemented by someone, somewhere, I’m pretty sure. Maybe some of those special interests who contributed to LePage’s campaign). On the other side is my daughter’s teacher who is a professional herself (and has a master’s degree) and makes $20.00 an hour. (Maine teacher pay ranks 47th in the nation if you factor in cost of living). Also on that side is a retired teacher who taught for 30 years and now lives on the $19,000 per year she receives in retirement. 2.85%. That’s the portion of the Maine state budget that goes into pension contributions in a given year. I posted that fact yesterday.

  So all things considered, you are gonna stand with LePage and that out of state lawyer? Maybe when he is done, Maine will rank 50th in teacher pay, the lawyer will go home with his paycheck, and some people who have been living with a vague sense of disillusionment and rage will feel vindicated somehow? Good luck with that.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T6SIHWKU2RKGLEAFYACM6SFC2Q Dennis

  Not very difficult to figure this out.
  Probably next to impossible to find a lawyer in Maine not attached at the waist to the Democratic party, First Wind, labor or some other left wing organization in Maine. Baldacci has been supporting and feeding them for years, so what are the chances a Republican governor could find a competent one in-state that he could trust?

• StillRelaxin

  Or could the ratios be as they are because that’s simply what most people think? Have you also noticed that when the polls on various stories are taken they show very much the same ratios even after days and days of polling. LePage’s views lose by huge margins every time.

  Makes predicting the results of the 2012 and 2014 elections pretty easy. Conservatives 20-35%, Liberals 80-65%. It’s no wonder why people in LePage’s cabinet are bowing out so soon and republicans in his own party felt it necessary to write an article pleading with him to act just a tad more sane.

• Anonymous

  You hold 2 degrees?! No capitals, no apostrophes,etc. Wow.
  And your analysis is also erroneous.

• Anonymous

  I don’t really know which you might have been referring to. I do know that one party in particular has, in recent elections, tried to make it nearly impossible for certain groups of people to vote (the very poor,etc.), by not having enough voting machines in certain areas,etc.

• Anonymous

  It just goes to show how uninformed you are. $295/hr is pretty cheap for an experienced Lawyer. You get billed $90 dollars an hour just for paralegal time these days.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SCNJPPZDX7GEYELESV2YGQFLN4 Pat T. Riot

  Who pays the $295 per hour? This is an out-of-state law firm with no ties to Maine. If I was collecting money from someone or place that I had no allegiance to, I might be tempted to run up the clock. Could this happen here?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SCNJPPZDX7GEYELESV2YGQFLN4 Pat T. Riot

  $295 an hour might be cheap for a law firm, but spending lots and lots of time to do anything would certainly make up for a low dollar per hour fee. Wonder if that will happen?

• kkmousse

  I guess that the lawyers from Maine are not qualified enough to serve his highness LePage. And we are paying for it, oh yah are we ever!

• kkmousse

  I do not know about that. I live in and interesting area of under educated people. They seem to believe the conservative line. If this State provided a better education system they would think differently. I’ll give them their ignorance because they do not know better.

• kkmousse

  No I guess that they are like me RETIRED, that is the only AGE group in Maine that counts. We have the majority

• Anonymous

  “I wasn’t trying to consider what might happen three years down the road.”

  Neither is LePage.

• Moose

  Great one

• Anonymous

  Lol where were you and the editors of this rag when baldy sold our state liquor business to out of staters? That cost millions but he was democrat so its fine with you whiners!

• Anonymous

  I see now that you’re a person of superior inteligence (at least YOU think you are) you picked out one of my typos! See, I actually work for a living so I tend to type fast with these comments so I can then go back to being a productive member of society. As they used to say in the Smith Barney commercials said in the old commercials … “by earning” it”, not waiting for the government to provide one for me.

• Anonymous

  Let’s see…

  What does my original post’s closing sentence ie ” ‘Remember the 2000 Selection’
  - as ‘my new battle cry’ !” suggest to you?

  That’s what I meant by I think it’s obvious.
  Wow-maybe not!

  Here’s a hint – look up which party increased it’s new voter registrations (by 600%?) in the 2008 Presidential election – in Florida…

• Anonymous

  You said, “when the party that owns the media tries to malign workers and teachers …”

  Are you that out of touch with reality to not recognize that liberals own most allo fthe main stream media? Geeze, I thought even the ultra libs agreed to that. Where you getting your facts MaryBelle. If the BDN was a liberal oriented newspaper the “front page” story here wouldn’t have been this one.

• Anonymous

  Mostly we hate ignorance and those who fee load off the government their whole adult lives.

• Anonymous

  Not sure what your point is.
  Obama took Florida, as you know. But there was an increase in white Republican voters.
  I really don’t get your point . Obama won in Fla, but the GOP increased their voter registration. Is that what you are trying to say?

• Anonymous

  Yes, I know which election you refer to with “2000 selection.”

• Anonymous

  “Obama didn’t prosecute your people for war crimes. ” Who are MY PEOPLE MaryBelle? That remark sounds remarkably like a racist comment. I don’t belong to your club MaryBelle, but don’t libs consider racism bad?

• Anonymous

  The way I see it…..LePage is trying to balance a budget that hasn’t been balanced for years….and he’s trying to save the pension fund so it will be sustainable…… he also has the b***s to step up to the plate and say, “We have problems here”…..the past administrations just passed the buck…..and that’s something to be very proud off!

• Anonymous

  … AND Obama isn’t an American …

• Anonymous

  Sorry, but that is ridiculous. Lawyers are people whose profession is to defend positions they do not themselves necessarily believe in. That is what they do. Many of them including many Maine lawyers do it quite well.

• Anonymous

  You’re absolutely right, we should never have hired an acknowledged expert in the field to help mediate a solution to at least one of the state’s financial problems. We’d all be much better off having hired some over the hill before his time drunkard who works alone and operates out of an office on the third bar stool from the left.

• Anonymous

  10,000 hours @ $295. per hour… one for the lawyer, one for Lepage.???

• Anonymous

  Doesn’t seem like he has much faith in our state…

• Anonymous

  About as much as we have in him, I’d say.

• Anonymous

  Jeez – I started an interesting dialogue and the BDN pulled my original post. Ha ha ha ha. She/He’s probably 22 years old straight out of some liberal arts bastion…(the moderator that is)…found a good home with the libbers at the BDN! Your freaky big boss will love you forever.

• Anonymous

  from 2008…

  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/05/AR2008100502524.html

  ….In Florida, Democratic registration gains this year are more than double those made by Republicans; in Colorado and Nevada the ratio is 4 to 1, and in North Carolina it is 6 to 1. Even in states with nonpartisan registration, the trend is clear — of the 310,000 new voters in Virginia, a disproportionate share live in Democratic strongholds…

• Anonymous

  Ok then…thanks.

• Anonymous

  Who the heck put up the billboard – Open for Business?

• Anonymous

  How the heck did the republicans ever choose a clown like this to be a gov.? The bully showed his obvious way so many times prior to running for gov. Every business has someone like him so there easy to pick out. I bet most republicans know they screwed up but just don’t want to admit it.

• Anonymous

  What is the objective of the Lawyer. Is there really a savings that will off-set the cost of all this?
  Have you ever thought of sensible ways to save or make money without hurting people. Some of the issues need to be addressed and corrected but this to me is a case of counting your pennys while the dollars fly over your head.

• Anonymous

  Maine is open for business

  I guess this means : Come on in all you out-of-staters, we have jobs available anywhere from janitors to lawyers. I think our state janitors make too much money, our school teachers are too expensive, the rest of the state employees are too stupid and lazy.
  Is this what your saying gov? Why don’t you just fire all state employees and replace them with people from Mass, Conn etc. OH, I know why they all make more in Mass, Conn, etc. Why would they come here for a loss.

• Anonymous

  Wait until we see the “add on” cost. Opps, bet this will never be disclosed.

• Anonymous

  I’m neither a state worker, nor unhappy with my lot in life. That old saying about making an ass of u and me when you assume is half right here… and it’s not about me.

• Centaurmyst

  Apparently he has to find people out of state that aren’t familiar with him to accept a job with him. People he appointed are dropping off like flies.

• Tyke

  Wow. You have just seriously maligned a significant portion of Republican party leadership — all of the LAWYERS in those roles!

  You actually believe they are all in Democrats pockets?

• Tyke

  The only reason this story would “fire up a bunch of negativity towards LePage” is because it is an asinine move and a slap in the face to Maine workers.

  I can see why, as a Lepage fan-boy, you would prefer to keep that hidden.

• Tyke

  Your pocket.

• Tyke

  I believe you have found the answer!

• Tyke

  I notice you couldn’t find an out of state lawyer working for the Public Employees Union so you have to go fish for someone in the private sector and pretend that was relevant.

  Nice try – but the general council for the state workers union is a native Mainer.

• Tyke

  You mean the one where he brings in totally unrelated information and pretends it means something here?

• Tyke

  The union uses their own full time Maine based team in all negotiations.

• Tyke

  It is money from the Koch brothers laundered through the Heritage Foundation and other groups.

• Tyke

  “no consideration for Maine business” is completely untrue.

  Purchases buys from the company with the best bid as is required by law, otherwise government would cost MORE. Maine businesses have every right to submit bids and are considered (and often awarded contracts) like all other companies.

• Tyke

  Most Republicans I know admit it freely and want Lepage to resign.

• Tyke

  There is significant circumstantial evidence that Lepage may never have been eligible to be governor in the first place and if hard evidence can be found impeachment proceedings may begin (or a lawsuit to declare him ineligible).

• Tyke

  A pair of diploma mill degrees maybe?

• Tyke

  Yup – me too!

• Tyke

  “family values.” is just code for “rights only for white heterosexual Christians”.

• Anonymous

  10,000 hours? Where do you see that in the article? It says 10,000 State workers. Noce way to start spreading a lie

• Anonymous

  You need to read my post a little more carefully.

• Anonymous

  Well, hopefully she only got a 4 year loan on it — don’t see Lepage extending his stay in Augusta and I’m thinking she’ll go when he does.

• Anonymous

  typical Liberal, since you can’t beat a conservative argument with facts, you resort to insults. FYI I hold degrees from Husson College and the University of Maine and am proud of that fact. While I was a student, I tended to be a bit more Liberal in my thinking. After graduating into the working world, It didnt take long to realize that as someone who works for a living, I subsidize a whole class of people who live off my tax dollars. Those same people are the ones who cry like little babies every time the Governor tries to clean up the mess that this state is in.

• Anonymous

  I’ve a feeling those who receive a welfare check pretty much don’t vote at all. What a crass assumption on your part, by the way. Just goes to show that holding a degree is not necessarily a sign of intelligence.

• Anonymous

  Listen to fox much?

• acadiashores

  May I ask what your degrees are?

• Anonymous

  If Obama was white, would you make that statement?

• Anonymous

  Mr. Spell Check: ? lol

• Anonymous

  I was unaware that LePage has a law degree, but you just described the beloved governor perfectly.

• Anonymous

  That’s actually kind of cheap for a lawyer, particulary a corporate type lawyer and more so for a firm with NY offices. You know what they say “you get what you pay for”. You have to wonder if this lawyer is any good? If he was, he’d be getting $400 or $500/hour.

  Surely, Maine lawyers could do this work. This will turn out badly and the question is: is this a political favor?

• Anonymous

  Well he did say that he would create jobs. I suppose this out of state attorney counts. And $295 an hour is definitely a living wage.

• Anonymous

  You just don’t get it simpleton. Keep the money rotating within this state. You have not a clue… the state has made many mistakes buying what they thought was better out of state. substandard products and costing more. Purchases made within this state keep people employed, rotate into more sales, gas, cig, realestate, taxes permits, fees etc. Do you have any idea how much it cost to support and unemployed person? you and your ideas to just keep shipping money out of state and out of country. real smart. go play on your tricycle tyki

• Anonymous

  Who’s consensus?

• Anonymous

  Maddow? You were one of the two people watching her…lol

• Anonymous

  This article was published in Portland paper before Bangor. Further this is letting the Fox guard the hen house. This is all part of the war against the working class that is being waged against all workers in the country.

• Anonymous

  Yours is a most intelligent comment. You must be proud.

• Anonymous

  Counties do it all the time. Washington County spent a ton of money on a lawyer from out of the county. His main purpose at the county commisioners behest was to rewrite the contract to the countys advantage, disregarding long standing language that protects workers. Never did get to see the final bill but he did manage to milk it for over a year. I believ his rate was in excess of $250 per hour.
  I hope the Unions have equal fire power in their arsenal. Governor LePage seems to still be focused on destroying unions and their hard fought rights.

• 525_44

  Thanks!

• 525_44

  What post? I don’t know who the moderators are here, but they do vary in their ideas of what to remove and what not to.

• Anonymous

  You sure fooled me

• dan

  Ripping off Mainers everywhere. Who voted for this guy! And they say government is working for the people???/

• Anonymous

  Out of state lawyer? Can we have an out of state governor please….

• Anonymous

  Explain please. Non argumentative…just curious for the sake of genuine discussion…

• Anonymous

  Well then I guess the previous argument could also take the side that conservatives are mean-spirited folks who like to stereotype.

• Anonymous

  Awwwwww…name calling…you just verified my suspicions about you…I was just labeling like you…whatsa matta’ ? Can’t stand the heat?

• Anonymous

  Let me guess… White Christian male? You’re so proud of yourself. You’ve had it easy. Get over yourself.

• Anonymous

  Mine.

• 525_44

  What are you talking about.
  You sound childish now.
  I don’t name call and I didn’t call you anything. I made a remark about posts and why they are often removed.

  Grow up.

• Anonymous

  …..

• Anonymous

  …..

• Anonymous

  In the BDN Trump article – He flies to Maine gets out of his private chopper and says — “I think I’m quite conservative as a Republican,” I don’t get how that is being conservative?

  Thats the point I’m trying to make about the exact opposite meaning.

  I call it the up is down symdrone

• Anonymous

  DiLorenzo is certainly has a lot of carbon dust under his shoes in arbitrating for the Corporate America EMPLOYERS, wow I think now there’s a guy who knows how to lock and freeze and merge and he coming to my little state to frame out a way in which Maine can put its private pension fund into its general fund and he comes so cheaply ……

  This announcement story reminds me of the tactics CIGNA used when Clinton was giving it a go on his national healthcare reform “Any Willing Provider” considered in legislation in 1994. When deliberations came, we the non-unionized 3,000 employees in one branch office were promptly solicited to attend a grassroot assembly and given a company handout titled “Any willing provider” proposal threatens Connecticut managed care business unless you take action now.” I quote from the pamphlet: “Any willing provider will destroy the incentive to build and maintain managed care networks. In recent years, CIGNA has spent more that $1 billion to develop these networks across the country. This investment and jobs that go with it would be at risk if any willing provider passes.”…….

  Of course we 3,000 employees, like the other billions of non-unionized employees in the top 10 insurance industries, voted for our jobs, and against Clinton’s reform. Non-unionized companies…say like the non-unionized 500 Fortune insurance companies that Obama is now giving bonuses (“to help ease the pain of my increased $ premiums and less coverage).

  DiLoreno is big muscle arm for mandatory arbitration for EMPLOYERS …..and so far there is not one law on the books that can gives an INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE, (even with a sanctioned equal rights opportunity complaint), the right to appeal an incorrect decision. …

  Private pension fund to State to manage is going to happen and yes Maine will be billed that separate invoice for all of DiLoreno’s administrative supplies from people to paper clips, (that when you’ll find out he doesn’t come cheap).

  Eliminating unions is not about budgets, it is about Corporate America destroying the middle class.

• Anonymous

  Wow you have all the answers there Mr. Opinionated…

• Anonymous

  Why shouldn’t they raise the retirement age of state workers and teachers all the rest of us that work got our retirement age raised and we also have had to take benefit cuts especially in our health care! What makes them so special? You people are so one sided, you don’t mind us that work for company’s having our retirement age raised and our benefits cut but don’t do it to a state worker or a teacher! You must be one of them…..

• Anonymous

  First of all there is nothing wrong with being White, Christian or Male despite what the liberal media would have us all believe. Second all for you to suggest that because of these factors I somehow had it “easy” only goes to illustrate your extreme level of arrogance and bigotry. Frankly Icould care less if a person is white, black or striped as long as they get out there and work for a living and not live off the public dole. It sounds to me like you are far more concerned with matters of race and religion than I am. The next time you or one of your Liberal weenie friends plays the race card, maybe you should step back and take a look in the mirror.

• Anonymous

  I hold degrees in Broadcast Communication and Secondary Education.

• acadiashores

  Interesting. Thanks for answering. Have a great evening :)

• Anonymous

  That’s what happens when you are in a hurry to get to work

• Anonymous

  The criminality of our banking system in the US has affected retirement accounts as they have lost quite a bit of value.

  The tea party governors are using this as an excuse to punish the worker instead of demanding prosecution of Wall Street and banking.

  It is their justification for punishing the worker and helping the rich. ..which is the new republican way. With plenty of help from the democratic administration now in office in DC.

  I don’t know that it is even legal since state workers can’t use the social security system, but instead have to have a retirement through the state of Maine.