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• Anonymous

  “It is no coincidence that this increase in employment comes right on the heels of a legislative session that produced a fiscally responsible biennial budget and numerous policy initiatives specifically targeted at creating an environment that allows job creators to thrive.”    WELL it would appear the governor is the all and powerful OZ..economic growth does not happen over night as the author of this article would suggest.. and the list of businesses poised to expand and  add jobs?? the article implies these businessmen have been sitting on the sidelines not knowing how to move forward or what direction to take..Whats really going on is our country on a NATIONAL level has turned the corner and the economic engines are starting to come to life in every state..OUR governor merely rides on the coattails of this fact..GEORGE GERVAIS YOU MAKE A GOOD CHEERLEADER..

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YAJZRSHZOYGTLTZOUREIQ7PRFY Mmmm

  coincidence is not causality.  

  Georgie:  Name one specific change in regulations that fostered one person being hired.  You can’t do itNo surprise  that an administration that has lied to us about all manner of things takes credit for something they did not create.Can we also assume Georgie gives Obama credit for the reduced unemployment numbers?  Same logic prevails…

• Anonymous

  thank you gov lepage you are doing an incredible job cant wait to see what u have in store for us this year as a evil capitalist i will be ready to take advantage of whatever business comes my way thanks again and keep up the good work

• kcjonez

  “Gov. LePage has said on several occasions that he will continue to promote any energy source that achieves one goal: lowering the cost for commercial and residential ratepayers.”  

  This commitment apparently doesn’t extend to energy conservation that achieves the same stated goal.  Otherwise he would not be planning on raiding a long term cure solution to our consumption by applying funds to insulation so as to put a band-aid patch on the LIHEAP problem.

• Anonymous

  Nice article, for a change someone saying something good about our Governor. BDN must be gnawing away.

• Anonymous

  Note that the columnist is not on on the BDN staff.  Gee, the BDN does publish material supporting the Governor.  Go ahead and gnaw.

• Anonymous

  BDN published it. They can publish or not any material. Have a nice day.

• Anonymous

  Kudos to Governor LePage!  He not only saved Maine from pending bankruptcy, his policies have unleashed our job creators and the jobs are finally coming to Maine.  Let’s continue moving Maine forward and give our Governor the support he needs in the next legislative session.

• Anonymous

  “job creators” seriously? Come on.

• Anonymous

  Not an iota of original thought form this administration. They do as they are told which is why lepage puppets the policies of govs from Florida and Wisconsin.

  Not only has he accomplished nothing he will continue to be incompetent and servile to
  Those above him… Yeah, thanks, you are full of integrity mr. Gov.

• http://profiles.google.com/sdemetri Stephen Demetriou

  I fail to see many facts in what this LePage admin official patting himself on the back writes here. Other than citing the unemployment rate drop of 0.4% and 3000 individuals finding work (somewhere, who knows where) there isn’t much to grab onto here that gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

  I’m sure the list of businesses “poised” to make new hires is probably longer than the list mentioned here, but that isn’t a “fact,” that is simply a statement. If federal stimulus spending had been in the range that would have actually made a significant difference in economic activity rather than just staunch the flow of layoffs to public sector workers, and fund a few very worthy infrastructure projects maybe rather than listing a few businesses “poised” to make new hires our economic development director could have actually cited figures actual showing progress on this front and how that progress relates to LePage policy initiatives.

  I don’t see ANY connection between what this admin has done to date and the “progress” cited here, try as I might. How many of the potential jobs the list of businesses here may produce are the result of LePage’s policies? That would be a fact I’d like to see.

  A LePage admin official saying what a good job they are doing is about as convincing as Mr. Bush telling FEMA director Brown what a good job he did fumbling Katrina relief.

• http://profiles.google.com/sdemetri Stephen Demetriou

  “Unleashed our job creators” sounds remarkably similar to Mr. Burns’ “Smithers, release the hounds…”

  Not sure how you get “majority” out of 38%. Is this one of those republican “we make our own reality” things?

  Not sure either how you think “our job creators” were unleashed… A 0.4% drop in the unemployment rate is welcome, but hardly points to an “unleashing.” More like a “rustling,” or a “stirring,” or a “ok, ok, I’ll get up now if I have to” sort of thing from of our sacred “job creators.”

  And about that “job creators” thing, jobs don’t just happen without workers. It ain’t a one sided arrangement as much as exaggerators such as yourself, imply. Even Adam Smith, you know, of The Wealth of Nations, and The Theory of Moral Sentiments, fame knew that much about capitalism.

  “What improves the circumstances of the greater part can never be regarded as an inconveniency to the whole. No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.”
  The Wealth Of Nations, Book I Chapter VIII, p.96, para. 36.

  “Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production; and the interest of the producer ought to be attended to, only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the consumer.”
  The Wealth Of Nations, Book IV Chapter VIII, v. ii, p. 660, para. 49.

• Anonymous

  It’s simple.  Only 19% voted to maintain the status quo and voted for Libby Mitchell.  I was one of the 81% who voted for positive change, hence mainemajority came into existence.  I couldn’t be happier with Maine’s new forward direction.

  The jobs were unleashed by the simple words, “red tape reduction.”  You are correct, the job creators do indeed need workers, but without job creators, there are no workers.  This is why our government needs to get out of the way and our businesses and workers need to  work hand in hand for mutual success.  We can no longer pit one group against the other.  Detroit did that and they now have a 15% unemployment rate.  Let’s learn from their mistakes and realize that the job creators and workers are on the same team.  When one succeeds, they both succeed.  LePage’s policies reflect this philosophy and our latest unemployment stats back this up.

• Steve Anderson

  Put down the Kool-Aid, buddy.

• http://profiles.google.com/sdemetri Stephen Demetriou

  Interesting formulation of the 81%. I’m not sure it is accurate to claim that those that didn’t vote for Mitchell represent a majority that like the change made by LePage garnering 38%. Seems a bit presumptuous. Yes, a majority didn’t vote for Mitchell, but a majority didn’t vote for LePage either. A majority voted for change but LePage, or LePage admin policies, cannot honestly lay claim to that majority. The formulation is entirely partisan and premised on what Mitchell was thought to represent. It seems to rely on some special knowledge of what was in voters’ minds which is a bit of a stretch.

  Your contention that jobs were unleashed by “red tape reduction” is a stretch also. That “fact” is about as empirically supported as Mr. Gervais’ “facts.” In other words, I don’t see that as a fact. A contention, but not a fact.

  Regarding pitting business against worker, a fair, livable wage or the right to collective bargaining, are not policy initiatives I see coming out of this admin. Higher education is a good thing, and I think at least statements made in this direction are hopeful. But the research that indicates that such pre-school programs as Headstart are phenomenally successful in helping young children ready for schools, or childcare programs, or programs that support families with children seems to be left out of the long view when it comes to what needs to be done to supply business with workers.

• Anonymous

  “Job creators” complaining about the lack of a skilled work force yet they don’t have an apprentice program.  My electricity bill isn’t any cheaper. I don’t look at improving Maine’s business climate as a marathon or a sprint.  I look at it as a relay race and its time for LaPage to hand off the baton.  

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T3YNF6MG3FPEAVTFIJC44VQUI Dlbrt

  By, 

   George Gervais, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

  Appointed by,

  You Guessed it,

   Paul Lepage

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T3YNF6MG3FPEAVTFIJC44VQUI Dlbrt

  I can only feel sorry for people that believe that The Rich Buisnessmen are Job Creators.

  It reminds me of Slaves on the Plantation who thought that the whole world revolves around the Master!

  Put down your cotton bag and just walk away!

  There is a better life!

• Anonymous

  Where do they find work?  The work is part time temporary jobs at retail locations for just over minimum wage. Before Christmas, or just after, these folks will all be back in the employment line, assuming they qualify after taking one of these jobs. Meanwhile they will have earned enough to pay for a tank of oil and thats it.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T3YNF6MG3FPEAVTFIJC44VQUI Dlbrt

  Cutting red tape and regulatory reform through LD 1 was a terrific start. Government can no longer get in the way of job creation. The business community now has a willing partner in Augusta. Gone are the days where state government will be viewed as an obstacle to prosperity

  This is the biggest Farce that ever came down the pike!

  Red Tape is a (Job Creator) it takes jobs to oversee regulations.

  So
  You have to follow some rules and the government has oversight on some things to keep you from exploiting others, but the bottom line is,        so do your competitors!

  Tell the Truth that you just want free reign to exploit at will and want to be able to pocket the expense paid to conform to some rules to maximise your profits!

  You also don’t care about creating  jobs because those cost you money that can also go to your bottom line!

  Most of us do understand the Big Lie that you are for Job Creation!

  The truth is that you JUST want to Maximise Profits!

• Guest

  And I bet the writer would tell you that you should vote against Obama!

• Anonymous

  LOL! How convenient. When something good happens, let the Republican take credit. When something bad happens, let the Democrat take the blame. The entire country has seen unemployment rates drop. Was it all reverb from LePage’s agenda? 

• Anonymous

  39% voted for a conservative. The rest didn’t.

• Anonymous

  You can spin this hundreds of ways and apparently, I got my point across with you.  39% is a large number when you had 5 candidates running for governor, not to mention the Republicans taking over the House and Senate.  Yes, change is what Mainers wanted because Baldacci ran this state into the ground with his budget deficits and creative accounting.  Baldacci was Maine’s worse governor because he did not govern and the taxpayer had no representation.  The voters finally realized this and this why the liberal Democratic policies were refudiated by 81% of the voters.  The fact of the matter is Governor LePage won the election fair and square and according to Maine’s Constitution, is now Maine’s Governor.  You and the so called 61% crowd can cry all you want, but it does not change the will of the people. 

• Anonymous

  You make no point though. Mitchell wasn’t Baldacci. And if you want to consider her so, you’d have to consider Cutler to be as well, since they were both largely liberals. Cutler is pro-choice, for marriage equality, progressive taxation, against off shore drilling, etc. Your point about 5 running is also weak. LePage only won by 10,000 votes. You are certainly the one spinning this hardcore. 

  Nobody said Lepage didn’t win though. I certainly didn’t. I wouldn’t get arrogant either about “the will of the people” as, again, a mere 39% voted for him. It’ll be hard to get lucky with that kind of split vote again, especially if he runs policies that are counter to the TRUE will of the people. Maine is not a conservative state. Please take note of those we have sent to the US legislature.

• Anonymous

  Physically, Mitchell and Baldacci both had different DNA makeup.  However, on policy, they are two peas in a pod.  Policy is what matters.  Mitchell had been in state government for over 35 years and she supported Baldacci’s failed policies every step of the way.  Mainers wanted change and she was no change. 

  Yes, Cutler was a liberal and if you notice, he did not win the governorship.  I will admit that he did fool a lot of people by running as a fiscal conservative.  I wonder why he did that?  Fortunately, most people saw through his spin and voted for the real fiscal conservative, which was LePage.  Interesting that Cutler had to run as a fiscal conservative, isn’t it?  Could it be that Mainers are now more conservative than liberal?  After all, the latest poll numbers show that LePage’s approval ratings went up by 16 points since April.  Pretty remarkable that he’s polling much higher than Baldacci, who was only at 35 % in Oct, 2010.  LePage is even polling higher than Obama, but no surprise there. 

  The people voted for change and we’re getting it.  Balanced budgets without gimmicks, lowered taxes, fixing the state pension crisis, abolishing the fraud in the MTA, welfare reform, drug testing for welfare recipients which will help stop funding the drug lords in South America with our taxpayer money, not to mention help stop welfare fraud.  The latest item is LePage wants to better manage the MSHA’s budget so more poor people can have  homes.  314K for a 1,000 square foot apartment is a bit much don’t you think?  Especially when you could go out to bid and build a same sized unit for half the cost, According to Poliquin. 

  In 3 years LePage is going to win by a landslide and I will be on his side.

• Anonymous

  LOL, whatever. You’re clearly forcing yourself to believe something other than reality, so this isn’t really a discussion. 

• Anonymous

  Interesting that you didn’t use facts to back up your statement.

• Anonymous

  It’s funny you say that because that was my exact thought when I read your earlier comment. 

• Anonymous

  That’s right, facts do not matter to the far left.  That’s where the personal attacks and personal defamation come into play.

• Anonymous

  What are you even talking about? I’m just operating in reality. That’s not a personal attack and it certainly doesn’t constitute defamation. Cool it with the hyperbole.