AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Gov. Paul LePage will discuss new initiatives while plugging accomplishments including lower unemployment and workers’ compensation premiums in his first State of the State address.
Job creation, education, energy and domestic violence awareness are among the topics LePage will discuss during his speech at 7 p.m. Tuesday to a joint session of the Legislature and to a statewide audience by electronic media.
Spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett says LePage will take a few moments to reflect on accomplishments, many of which she says came despite interference from special interests.
She says the governor reduced government red tape, boosted the education budget and eliminated income taxes on nearly 70,000 working low-income Mainers. Unemployment and workers’ compensation rates also have dropped since he took office a year ago.
Getting a little tired of talk – just do something already.
We’ve already heard the democrat response from Emily Cain, typical of democrats who can respond before they have even heard the address.
Sort of like demanding a speedy vote on an extreme bill without a proper explaination of how the numbers got the we they are, and all the while threatening to cut Education if it doesn’t go the way he wants. He doesn’t deserve the courtesy of patience when he shows none himself.
No it’s not sorta like that at all. How do you respond to what you have not heard?
They are responding to his demeanor, his past actions and his lack of leadership. What makes you think that they aren’t responding to simply the press hype of the address. If Bennett can give an interview as to what may or may not be said, then I guess it’s alright and fair to interview a democrat with a pre-address statement.
It was more of a cautionary note to Le Page, rather than a response to something that has yet to be heard.
Republicans and Democrats alike, would all appreciate seeing this man drop his mallet and reach out.
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LePage needs a huge mob of Mainers following him around all over Augusta chanting “Step Down,” until he gets on a plane to Florida.
Organize it. I’ll be there.
You must be one of these people that want everyone else to pay, your a take and you never give. LePage must cut programs and especially Maine care which is way out of control. Baldarcci created MaineCare thinking he would encourage business to join and they didn’t since they already knew the cost shifting that was going on.
Wow…take a history lesson. “Mainecare” is medicaid, which is a FEDERAL program that is part of the Social Security Amendments of 1965 and was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson, NOT Baldacci.
No Baldacci changed the name to Maine Care in hopes that he could convince small business to join and purchase their health insurance through Maine Care thus shifting the cost from the State to small business. You should take a history lesson. I work in healthcare and have been watching this for years. Sorry you weren’t around.
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MaineCare is NOT a program for small business, it’s for individuals and families. I’m awfully glad you aren’t my health care provider if you don’t know the difference!!! I worked in MaineCare for 31 years and I know no business could ever apply!!!
I don’t get your whole “you must be one of the people that want everyone else to pay [for entitlement programs]. Did you miss the part where Medicare/Medicaid/and Social Security are TAXPAYER FUNDED programs? They are considered “entitlements” because anyone who has ever worked a job has been contributing to these systems from day one.
And before you try to pull out the whole “the majority of these people don’t pay ANY income tax” argument, be certain you know how the systems really work. Even those who claim enough exemptions to not have to pay into the income tax system STILL PAY FOR SS & MED EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY GET A PAYCHECK.
If you’re going to drool-out the luke warm rhetoric you hear on Fox News and The Free Republic, at least make certain it actually makes some sort of sense!
Maine Care (Medicare) was created by Baldacci in hopes that small business would purchase their health insurance through Maine Care thus sharing in the cost. Small business nearly did join Main care but when small business realized how expensive it was they opted not to join Main care. Baldacci wanted small business to join Maine care because the goal was to have small business pick up the cost via premiums thus reducing the states portion and it didn’t work because of the high cost. Now we have a program costing us 35 million lost last year in this program.I realize how difficult it is for you to absorb what is being done to our State buy Baldacci but facts are facts. Check it out then apologize.
You obviously have no idea what you are saying. Mainecare (MEDICAID not Medicare) has been around a lot longer than Baldacci. Medicaid is funded by the federal gov and state gov (meaning our tax $’s).
MaineCare was not created by Baldacci, it is a federal program that has been around much longer than he was. I think you may be talking about Dirigo, which those who use it think is wonderful since they can’t afford insurance otherwise. It’s only the Republicans andthe Guv who hate it. People on dirigo pay a premium for their insurance, it’s not free.
I think F.D.R. and others started this program, maybe you delusional or maybe you are Paul Lepage.
Do you mean Dirigo health care?
Are you from this planet?
He said tonight that Welfare could be and should be re-adjusted. Quite a change from the cut and slash and close the schools – or else. He actually appeared to understand that there are people who need assistance, and, naturally, there are many – far too many, he says, who overload the system unnecessarily.
Whomever televises the governor’s State of the State address , could perhaps advise him to follow the Bangor Daily News’s Guidelines for commenting as used on their web site:
1 Keep it civil and stay on topic.
2.No vulgarity, racial slurs, name-calling or personal attacks.
3. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be (blocked) taken off the air
For the past year and starting anew this year, all three of these Guidelines have been broken by Le Page.
However, it was good to see Emily Cain lead Democrats with a cautionary note to the man who has overstepped his position as governor. His Flack, Ms Bennett does an exemplary job in attempting to do damage control after he speaks. We will watch, listen and writhe uncomfortably, as he evokes fear in the shivering discomfort of winter.
Hope never dies. Will tonight be the time when this man, who pledged to work for the people of Maine, tell all of us that has decided to do just that?
Very well said. Let’s hope he keeps the bully talk out of it.
GO GET EM’ PAUL
They should call it the Invention Speech, because that’s what this state desperatly needs
MaineCare is in trouble and cuts must take place. Have you donated to Mainecare yet? Or are you just one of the people who take but never give?
The only jobs the Guvnah will give Maine taxpayers involves a hand.
Amazing. A little on the gruff side, and not much, if any, polish. But thankfully no more threats. Cautionary notes on Welfare and attempts to get Maine more energy conscious, as well as e-focusing goals for schools. One excellent move: To have a law which would prohibit domestic violence offenders from securing bail before appearing in front of a judge – long overdue.