AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine House and Senate voted overwhelmingly late Thursday to approve a supplemental budget package for the current biennial budget.
The budget contains a total of $31 million in new spending for 2012 and 2013, which is offset by $41.8 million in general fund savings. Much of the document involves shifting savings from one area to fund a shortfall somewhere else.
Still, it contained many items that kept the Legislature’s budget-writing committee busy for weeks.
It also looked a lot different on Thursday then when Gov. Paul LePage first proposed the package last month, prompting the governor to lash out at lawmakers before they voted.
“I cannot put my signature on a bill that largely ignores welfare reform,” he said in a statement late Thursday afternoon. “I have major concerns about the overspending in the General Assistance welfare program. Spending in this welfare program has grown from nearly $7 million in 2008 to a projected $14.3 million in 2013. I am looking at a way to sustain our welfare programs. This budget keeps Maine on the same path it’s been on for 40 years and I will not be held hostage and forced to sign a budget that is irresponsible.”
A number of amendments were offered Thursday by two conservative House members, Rep. Dale Crafts, R-Lisbon, and Rep. Jeff Timberlake, R-Turner, that sought to restore cuts proposed by the governor, including to general assistance.
They weren’t even taken up for debate.
The initial House vote was 120-26. The Senate then voted unanimously, 35-0, late Thursday evening with minimal debate. Both totals were well above the two-thirds majority needed to have the budget go into effect immediately, although the bill still needs final enactment votes in each chamber on Friday.
“It’s disappointing to see the governor digging in his heels just because he didn’t get his way,” said Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono, the House Democratic leader. “I urge him to sign this reasonable budget that has received overwhelming bipartisan support.”
The general assistance portion of the budget caused the most heartburn among members of the Appropriations Committee, but members reached a unanimous compromise.
The compromise addresses a $4 million general assistance shortfall for the 2012 fiscal year and funds all but $1.7 million of an estimated $8 million shortfall in 2013.
In order to fund general assistance at the lower total for 2013, the budget reduces from 90 percent to 85 percent the maximum reimbursement to service center communities that distribute the most assistance, reduces the maximum individual benefit amount by 10 percent and by caps housing assistance at nine months, with some exceptions.
Additionally, a task force made up of DHHS members and stakeholders was created to find ways to make the program more efficient.
The governor, however, said the general assistance compromise does not do enough. He was upset that lawmakers removed his proposals to limit housing to 90 days with no exceptions, to reduce general assistance reimbursement to 50 percent across the board and to prohibit general assistance to any individuals who are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits.
“We must be forward thinking and look to how we can afford these types of programs in the future. Kicking the can down the road accomplishes nothing,” LePage said.
Most of the House Republicans who voted against the budget, like Timberlake, agreed with the governor that it didn’t include enough structural changes to general assistance.
Although he said he couldn’t sign the bill, LePage did not use the word “veto” anywhere in his statement. The budget can become law without his signature after 10 days.
He threatened to veto the biennial budget that passed last year after lawmakers altered it but ultimately signed it.
And although it drew LePage’s ire, the general assistance piece was not the only change to the supplemental budget package he offered.
Stripped from the governor’s original proposal were tax exemptions on wood harvesting equipment, exemptions on certain pensions and an income tax exemption for active military members who are stationed outside Maine. Those items had no fiscal impact on the 2012 or 2013 budgets.
A proposed cut of $4.2 million from the Fund for a Healthy Maine and nearly all of the $2.4 million in cuts proposed to the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy were restored as well.
The budget put back a proposed cut of $1.7 million to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network but included language to move the state to a fee-for-service model of funding for MPBN over the next five years.
House Democrats were pleased with the compromise.
“The best parts of the budget are the items that are no longer in it,” said Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston. “We rejected short-sighted cuts to public education, irresponsible and unfunded tax cuts, and cuts to General Assistance that would have shifted costs to property taxpayers.”
Sen. Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, said late Thursday that despite the governor’s disappointment, the general assistance compromise was crucial.
Added Sen. Dawn Hill, D-York: “Budgets aren’t about making people happy.”
A number of new spending items sought by the governor were approved through the budget including: $630,000 for court security, $750,000 for indigent legal services, $360,000 for the Maine State Police’s Computer Crime Lab, $950,000 to the Gambling Control Board.
The bill also included an initiative to abolish the State Planning Office, create a new Office of Policy and Management and transfers a number of the State Planning Office’s functions to other agencies within state government.
Although the concept of a creating a new office was approved, a number of specifics were changed after some lawmakers expressed concerns that the new office would have too much power.
Follow BDN writer Eric Russell on Twitter at @BDNPolitics.
Gov. OutRage, sign it or veto it, don’t just ignore it.
If he ignores it the bill automatically becomes law.
If he refuses to sign or veto it, then why am I PAYING for his salary if he’s not willing to do his job?
Paul’s big plan was to cut off the poor, mentally and physically ill and eventually pass all the cost of government (Including jobs only for HIS family) onto cities and towns via local property taxes. What does he do when he doesn’t get everything he wants? “Wha-wha I won’t sign it!” Time to put the baby talk aside Paul. Please put on your big boy pants and go to work to do just one day of honest and respectful labor for the people of Maine.
He never had the democrats or independents on his side. Now he is losing the republicans as well. Less then 15 months as Maine’s Governor and Paul Richard LePage has or is losing all support with the exception of a few die hard tea party republicans. Less then a year and a half into a 4 year term and he is already showing the signs of a lame duck.
That is so funny that you used the term “lame duck”. I had that exact thought when I heard the legislature rejected his cuts to Maine Public Broadcasting: it’s as if the legislature is now prepared to go about the business of legislating with or without Governor 31%.
The only welfare program that LePage has a problem with is the Maine Maritime Academy. $9,000,0000 per year for what?
Perhaps you should know that the US Merchant Marine Academy gets 61 million or so a year from federal taxpayers with no tuiton fees for any cadets. Maybe that puts things in perspective.
In Maine, that means USMMA’s $61 million divided by 300 million people, cost per person is 20 cents. On the other hand, Maine Maritime’s $9 million divided by roughly 1 million people-cost to Mainers $9 each or 45 times as much. Which do you think is the better deal? Put that in your perspective.
And how many Maine students benefit from USMMA? Maybe 2-4? Meanwhile as a MMA graduate the state gets 5 figures + taxes every year from money I earn elsewhere. You can multiply that by many MMA grads scattered all over.
Yawn. One note performance.
I’m just wondering how he is going to bury this little problem in the Revisor’s office. Welfare fraud?……and all the while he is continually in areas where the beaches are white, the water is warm…..and people are running around singing the “Banana Song” with drinks that have umbrellas in them. I wonder how much welfare fraud he thinks about when he is where he is often at ……singing Jimmy Buffet.
You just helped me come up with a new diet: picturing Paul LePage in a bathing suit.
lol, dam I wish I’d thought of that!
You know, I know and everyday more and more Mainers are coming to know just exactly the kind of person we have currently living in OUR, The Blaine House. Within the past couple of weeks we have seen the tea party republican controlled legislature attempt to distance themselves from him. He is obsessed with poor, injured, old or disabled people and is trying to blame all of the State’s problems on them. Personally I think the man has some extremely dangerous psychological issues.
I understand your concerns. You would think, providing his plight as he was growing up, he would not want others to endure what he supposedly endured. And it’s got to cause you to wonder, why he isn’t a bit more of a soldier for those who are going through similar things that he went through. There’s no doubt about it, he has some serious personality issues that just are not going to serve him well, and suspect, never have.
No one detest smokers more then a former smoker. No one is more critical of alcoholics then a former alcoholic. It is not unusual to hear formerly over weight people condemning fat people. It reminds them of what they were. LePage seemingly is waging a war on the poor. Could it be because it reminds him of what he used to be as well?
It’s disgusting to see a lot of the “poor” people today that have more than I do, go more than I do, and still want more!!
“He never had the democrats or independents on his side”. Well explain then how Lepage and Republicans got elected because it was Independents, our votes that put both of them in power. So don’t say he doesn’t have us on his side because Independents we voted the Dems out of office for a reason we think their policies economic and social both STINK!!!. You are incorrect because most Independents are tired of the Democrat agenda the last 40 years. We want something different. Even the Far Left Wing Green Party was fed up with Democrats. Because they help lead the repeal on the Bogus Tax Reform and was involved with repealing the controversial Dirigo/Soda Tax. They became outspoken of late about Wind Turbines as well. If the Greens are also angry with Democrats you know something is wrong.
As usual, you are making it up as you go!!!! I know lots of Independents who did not vote for LePage nor do they support him now. I also believe it was because independents and democrats split their votes between 2 candidates that LePage won, not because independents voted for him. If your statement is correct,he would have won by a much larger percentage than 39%. Now his party is realizing what a problem he is and they are rebeling!!! Keep it up, Paul. The end is near for you
Wrong again. The reason why Democrats lost the legislature is alot of folks including Democrats, Greens, Republicans and Independents all voted against Democrats. Republicans and Independents are the reason why LePage won. You can spin it your way but the majority wanted something else . That is why 81% of those who voted , voted against the Democrat choice Libby Mitchell. Also most of the 81% who voted against Libby Mitchell also voted to put Republicans in control. So to say We want Democrats , You are 100% Wrong. We want a moderate, independent , conservative agenda to get us out of this mess. Spin it the way you want you had 1 Socialist and 4 folks running as Conservatives in the General Election. The conservative agenda won. Maine has been moving to the right as of late especially on economic issues and on Gay Marriage. If you don’t think so just take the Soda/Dirigo Tax and Bogus Tax Reform Referendums that gives you a huge clue on how Mainers feel about Socialism and Democrats.
He’s right again. Libby Mitchell only received 18% of Democrat votes.
If you say so darkcat.
” If you say so darkcat”. No Liberals just don’t get it. They think we want the Liberal Democrat agenda. We don’t. We voted to get rid of the Dems because they are out of touch. We are tired of them taxing us to death, tired of having our pockets picked to redistribute the money to Mooching Welfare Cases, Environmentalists, Special Interest Groups (MMA, MCEP, Equality Maine, Casinos No), Ex Politicians (Angus King, Dennis Bailey, Kurt Adams etc). We are tired of Liberals like Dennis Bailey, The Gormans/LL Bean, Roxanne Quimby having so much power over our state slowing economic growth here in Maine. We want jobs, lower taxes, more businesses, more freedom, new highways including east-west highways, more entertaimnent choices including more Casinos/Horsetrack Casinos. What we don’t want is the Democrats ramming their failed socialist economic policies that haven’t worked for 40 years and won’t work now. We also said No to Gay Marriage as well we don’t want that either. We just want to have the same opportunities that other states have, we want to be free and prosperous as well. Not having people on Welfare, and other Subsidies doing better than folks who work everyday. As I stated above when you even have Green Party leaders saying the Democrats are out of touch you know something is wrong. The Greens are farther to the left than Democrats are.
Can I ask you DK, are all republicans, Tea Party republicans? You rant and rave about “liberals” and socialist and I don’t understand why?
You know damned well that not all republicans are Tea Party members, and you know equally as well, that the vast majority of democrats are not liberals.
You make yourself look so uninformed and ridiculously non negotiable when it comes to your politics. Which is exactly the problem this Governor has, and is going to continue to have because he refuses to negotiate honestly. The spirit of compromise is not within you or this governor. I feel bad for you,……not the governor however.
Refuses to negoiate . No he is smart not to cave into the Radical Socialist Welfare Agenda of the Democrats. He is smart not to put the state on a path to total Welfare and Bankruptcy. I am sick of hearing Democrats complain saying he is hurting the poor. No he is helping Maine Working people giving us a break we are tired of paying for blood sucking mooching welfare leeches. Folks who are to lazy to move off of the couch. It’s very sad and outrageous when you have folks who live on Welfare, and Special Interest collecting subsidies making more than someone who works 9 t0 5 and does everything honest and straight foward. Something is wrong with that picture. You Libs think we want your agenda WRONG!!!. You folks still refuse to see why Democrats got booted they have been the ones while in control who did everything their way. They are the ones who angered Republicans, Tea Partiers, Independents, Greens etc.. Not listening to their ideas and alternative plans on issues. As I stated when you have Greens are working with Republicans , Tea Partiers and Independents on repealing the Democrats policies on Taxes, Gay Marriage, while also complaining on tv about them being lied and screwed by Democrats in Augusta by Democrats and Baldy. You know when the Dems have hit rock bottom. Dems and Greens always stood side by side on issues. But not anymore. Mainers have said they like where Maine is headed in recent polls. So to say Mainers want Democrats back is very questionable to say the least. The only reason folks want Democrats back in is so they can collect handouts.
Whatever you say Darkcat.
Actually he’s right. The “I’s” elected the current legislature.
Also a number of Democrats did as well bucking their own party. Democrats have hit rock bottom. Bringing back the same issues that people have turned off voters is not going to bring these folks back into their camp. They need to bring in new ideas fresh ideas that actually create jobs, lower taxes, lessens the use of welfare , that gives people alot of their freedoms. Which most want back they felt their freedoms were taken away under the Nanny State under Democrats. Mainers want Good paying Jobs, More Businesses and Freedom . Not fighting against businesses that want to move in Casinos, LNG terminals, Manufacturing plants, East-West Highways/Transportation, Tribes Business ideas is what will also put them back into power. But if they continue as they are talking about now its going to be just more of the same. No accoutability, more Spending, Tax Hikes , Borrowing and Welfare for everyone then they will stay in the minority. Because Mainers are fed up about the economy not wanting more of the same from the previous 36 years.
Here’s to another reality check for the governor! While I agree in principle that the long term budget needs a good overhaul, it’s just not practical to do it all at once, especially with so many unknowns in DHHS accounting. This is no place for petulance.
Sounds like you are comparing our governor to Obama…………..Shame
Republican legislature . . .
It is disappointing to see the Emily Cain continues to support unsustainable policies in an effort to garner support from liberal hotbeds like home territory Orono.
You seem to expect it, so why be disappointed.
good strategy, change subject when pain appears to close to the trash can:)
Those on the state’s (my) dime want it to pass, those who have to give away their dimes, don’t. Must be an election year, all those dime collectors make up a large voting block.
It would be cool if we had a Governor that could produce a single independent idea, instead of talking his talking points and marching orders from the National Tea Party.
I am a tea party person and don’t approve of all that Our Great Governor Paul LePage does… Imagine the borrowing Libby would have done if she won… We can’t take from the DOT to fund other things then bond for the DOT. John did That and look at the mess we are in today…
I will vote for our Governor Paul Lepage for re-election… He is the most Honorable Governor we have had in 40 years.. Go Paul..
looks like 2 people are with you,but i dont think thats enough for reelection. Thank God!!
David This man is the “Worst” Governor in the history of Maine. just take your medication and it should help your mental capacities to understand how bad a clown this man really projects
The worst governor in Maine history? Worse than Alonzo Garcelon? Worse than Edwin C. Burleigh? How about Burton M. Cross?How many Maine Governors have you studied?
While all of those Govenors were the worst in their history, This one is the worst of all time. I lived under Burt Cross, I don’t remember the other two.
You would have to be 159 to remember both the “other two” You will also remember than John McKernan was a less than splendid governor.
2 out of the 3 you mentioned were Republicans. Garcelon, was a republican, but got fed up with them shortly after the Civil War. Garcelon, strangely enough, was from Lewiston and was elected Mayor twice. His claim to infamy, was….you guessed it, investigating voter fraud, which odd enough, didn’t go his way. Sound familiar? Not much of a point there Harry.
If you think I am advocating for Republicans (or Democrats) you haven’t been reading my posts (to which you respond quite often) I can’t stand most politicians. Guess what? I don’t even like Paul LePage… My point was that calling him the worst governor ever discounts quite a few less than spectacular governors in Maine’ s history
Big deal, so you know how to use Google.
I NEVER use Google….for anything.
Well, good point, Jock will also be a flash in that area based on his current legal issues at hand – remember now:)
Put Joe Brennan, Ken Curtis, Ed Muskie , Baldy and King into that category as well.
Um…I thought you were suppose to drink/sip the tea, not roll it and smoke it.
“Imagine the borrowing Libby would have done if she won”
Talk about a straw man argument. Since it NEVER HAPPENED, there’s no way you can LEGITIMATELY use it to make a comparison. Then again, you’re just demonstrating Republican “principles.”
He is going on what Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell did in the Legislature, if she would have won heaven forbid she would have bankrupted this state. She would have had constant borrowing, increased taxes to really unsustainable levels. If folks including myself think welfare is out of control now imagine what it would have been like under Libby. Libby is a nice lady but she isn’t qualifed to be dog catcher.
Can I have some of that stuff you are smoking? It must be good because you are hallucinating!!!
Name one issue in this person’s post that is not accurate because everything this person said is FACT.
He called LePage “honorable”!!! That’s definitely not accurate.
What has he done that is not honorable because in recent polls Mainers like where he is taking our economy and how he is handling Welfare.
Honorable???……How many of the non-honorables in the past 40 years: lied to a group of citizens regarding the outcome of a major national magazine’s rating of the state? ; threatened to cut another department’s budget in order to force the Legislature to go along with his plan? Misled, and misinformed on two occasions the Appropriations Committee on a DHHS budget? and interrupted that committee’s own proceedings by plopping his but in a chair during a legislative, not executive (that’s a different branch) work session. He’s so honor less that he removed a painting from a department, that he had never seen!! And all of this in a little more than a year in office!!
If that’s “honorable”, then I’ll take my chances with the others thank you very much.
Do you think Baldacci, King or Brennan ever told the truth?. All politicians lie even our current unintelligent President has lied to us on most issues that has been talked about. Not one politician ever tells the truth all they care about is getting into office and buying votes to get re-elected. It’s all about power.
Wrong. The current person acting as the Governor will go down in the history of Maine as the “WORST” Governor ever. Finally he will have a footd note in history instead of his foot in his Mouth:)
“I cannot put my signature on a bill that largely ignores welfare reform,”
So Guvenah, is that a veto, then, or just Middle School drama ?
What!? ……It’s not even…sophomoric!?….
Everyone Likes them, there professional Politicans who are still to this day have full intent to ruin this country and State for thier own personal gain.. Governor Paul LePage is a breath of fresh air…
He might not be loved by anyone by the time he is done in another 6 years. But I didn’t vote for him to be my friend…
Ahh, Dave, your math is wrong. He, when he announced his candidacy, said that he would only serve 1 term…..(thank god!)
I hope he doesn’t tell Charlie Webster’s type of truths….
So did Susan Collins and look how that turned out.
Actually, I think she had promised two terms. Too bad she broke that promise when she ran for and won term three.
And he’s a politician and you believe him?
How can you tell if a politician is lying? A: Their lips are moving.
Well that’s a good summary of who Emily Cain, Cynthia Dill, Justin Alfond, Phil Bartlett II, Peggy Rotundo and John Martin is then. Because you can’t believe anything that comes of out of the mouths of these Liberals.
Another counter attack DC, that means dusting and cleaning right:)
One word people impeach ,dont know what it means, it means get rid of this lame duck before he ruins the state of maine??
Unfortunately, we have little recourse for that unless we catch him actually breaking the law or can get him declared insane.
Breath of fresh air? More like the paper mill “aroma”.
David that is so funny. why you could write material for Nutting:)
Dont worry gov…you’ll be in Jamaica again soon.
……”Day light come and me wanna go home…..Day Oh,”
The immense one will be doing more pouting in the days to come. This Tea Party faction is just throwing as much crap against the wall as they can to see how much will stick. They don’t seem to be able to accept that there is another point of view other than their own – actually many other points of view. The only thing they see is what the HPC dictates. Those republicans who have not sold their souls to the devil seem to realize how dangerous Paulie’s initiatives are for the people of this state.
Yea, we have to exempt skiing & golf from tax while every gets to pay more tax for their car repairs or it will be vetoed. Oh, wrong Governor, nevermind.
Sniff, sniff…….I smell another overriding veto vote……. I think Paul should start a fireworks business, I bet some are going to fly soon!
11 / 6 / 2012
“Added Sen. Dawn Hill, D-York: “Budgets aren’t about making people happy.” It is quite clear that its not about making the taxpayers happy. It is clear however that it is all about making the voters happy so people like Sen. Hill can get re-elected.
So, in your world taxpayers and voters are not one in the same?
Interesting.
It appears that our legislators, contrary to Mr LePage, realize that they work for the citizens of Maine not just certain factions. We the citizens expect a certain level of state government including caring for our poor, the children, the elderly and the disabled.
I think that both parties worked hard to come up with a budget they both could accept. Neither got all they wanted but that is government at work. Compromise is how it works. I do not personally like all of the budget decisions but overall it is acceptable.
Mr LePage needs to accept the fact his my way or the highway works in the private sector — it does not work when governing the state. He is not the boss– we the citizens are.
For those of you who would cast me as some liberal welfare recipient please know that I registered as an independent over 40 years ago because in the 60’s and still today I have issues with both sides of the isle. I have a 6 figure salary and cringe every time I look at my state and federal taxes. But you know when I sit down and look at what I get for my pain I pretty much satisfied. Would I like to see some cahnges ? You bet but that is called progress and that should and needs to go on every day.
Thank you legislators for working diligently to come up with a compromise budget.
Well said.
Wonderful piece! I think you speak for a great many of us- why not run for office and let us vote for such common sense? Think about it, please!
We the people are the intangible assets ( business) and are the most important commodity in the state. The common good or welfare ( general term) should be the first priority of our leaders
Thank you for something well said.
Paul LePage is a great governor …. for Mississippi.
Maine IS Mississippi….with snow.
Don’t send him down my way! I’m in Florida, and Mississippi is a little too close for comfort. And anyhow, we’ve already got the wonderful Rick Scott (another Tea Party “reformer”) to contend with.
That’s why LePage belongs there.Nutting is a small time Medicare thief compared to Scotty.LePage might as well learn from the best.
Only in Maine would you believe that someone with Nuttings background in Medicare his party elects him as Speaker of the House, see what happens when someone leaves the house door unlocked. Did he taking his training from Poliquin who knows how to – well – you know by know what i mean:)
Lock the doors if you see him leaving after work:)
It’s not just ME.Look at Boehner and Newt.
Send him up here Bird, we will give him an old fashioned Maine butt kicking and he will end up as LePage, with a limp due to damaged nerves in the butt.
Paulie is a textbook example of a narcissist .
He won’t understand that big word unless Adrienne explains the definition to him, please use simple five letter words like -LEAVE:)
“Emily Cain–bipartisanship–Democrats pleased with the budget”–shows the R’s as spineless and concerned more about re-election than doing the right thing for the people of Maine. When the D’s are in control again, they will be decrying this very budget as the R’s fault, since they were in control at the time. The R’s still do not know how to be in leadership!
“When the D’s are in control again”Sooner than you hoped!Sad that ME had two reasonable R women(a rarity these days)in power and now only has one.TPers are done-they just don’t know it yet-like the chicken running around-all flapping and noise,no brain.
Don’t mistake people’s lack of support for the T-party as being support for a return to the free-spending legislators of yore.
I want most of the cuts LePage proposed. I think most people would like to see their taxes reduced. I am not smart enough to see the benefit of paying drug addicts to go to clinics to get more drugs, or pay perfectly healthy individuals to stay home and watch TV.
Maybe the next legislature can explain State policy better.
Nobody wants to see those things like the druggies living for free that you mention,myself included.BUT that misses the point-LePage’s admin has been a disaster from Day One.I’d love to see a flow chart of his starting appointees and changes/resignations/probes since then.It’s a LONG list.
Maybe LePage will learn a lesson and understand that he cannot threaten, cajole, mislead and create chaos in order to get a few thing he is seeking from the next Legislature. This one has pretty much had enough of him. Oh, and Harry, he reduced taxes…..for a certain few businesses, and all the while knew that DHHS was going to implode, now you want him to reduce your taxes?
Why not? John Martin and Charlie Pray did it for years.
And rightly so, since they are in power, it is their budget.
>>>>
Of course he won’t sign.ALEC won’t let him.I see the strings dancing and the wooden mouth flapping. The combined vote was 155-26.What more do you need to know?
LePage better get used to being handed bills he doesn’t like that the legislature will pass over his veto, especially after November. So far the teapublicans, who ran on a platform of cutting spending and creating jobs, have done little of either. They seem to have post-election amnesia, forgetting that this is a small state, and with fewer people to share costs, they are going to be more expensive. LePage want’s to attack welfare but has done N-O-T-H-I-N-G to help create jobs. He was in charge during the net loss of 4200 jobs since he took office, just this morning it was announced another 64 jobs are going away. You want to reduce unemployment and welfare spending? The LePage and the alleged “Job Creators” need to stop wallowing around on their piles of money and ACTUALLY CREATE SOME REAL JOBS.
Hay, he did create two jobs – one for his Daughter and the other for his spouse relative who owns a hammer:)
Veto proof. Cutting off his nose to spite his face?
We should just get it over with.Lets put in a bill for the working 30 to 40 % to send in all they make so government can give it to the legislative extortion couch crowd.As i write the check on the 15TH i have to think it should be a national holiday.We could call it redistribution day.Anyone that actually worked for their money must hand it over to the couch crowd wallet and all.After all some one has to keep them in their generational life style.
No Tim, we all don’t have to do that. Since you are the only person who pays taxes and works hard, we have you to fall back on, thanks, keep up the good work.
Meanwhile, we won’t sit back and $&iss and moan about it, rather, we will try to work out what’s in the best interest of the state, and our kids future. We will try to create jobs and treat people as fair and as equitable as possible. I have two jobs, but I get to keep my money because I have you to depend upon, since you are the only one that pays taxes and works hard.
Go get ’em Governor! We love the way you stand up to the Status Quo in Augusta.
Oh Bart, you forgot to take your medication again, Why Bart:)
Mabe if the lawmakers cut out free eats and twinkies we could actually cut the budget a lot instead of a little.31 million in new spending doesnt add up to savings, why not keep the budget the same as last year without new spending and then we would be on our way to a balenced budget.
This “Bulley” is not following the constitution. Under the state constitution, he is the administrator and not the lawmaker. He has to do exactly what the legislature tells him to do. If he doesn’t sign this budget, he should tender his resignation.
Kool aid Kool aid…..LePage does not “have to do” way out there…..
Veto it!
He should continue to push the cuts…
He wouldn’t sign he didn’t get his way..
The Governor has no clothes.
that fit:)
That’a very scary picture!!!!
This Right Wingah is such a bully…….He seems to be hurting some feelings lately….
None of these responses even mention his 4% flat tax agenda. Impossible! I’ll save about $40 a year on my pension (the one I faithfully paid into under contract with the State of Maine, now broken under the LePage administration) while 4% of $250,000 is a lot of money. I am my brother’s keeper. Take my money and help those who don’t have enough. House the homeless. Feed the poor. Help the mentally ill (drug abuse/alcohol abuse are mental illnesses). Help our youngest citizens prepare for school.Who can deny that this is the message of being human; having a heart and brain to bring reason and compromise back to our society.
VETO VETO VETO
RECALL,RECALL,RECALL
He’s a loose cannon and is an absolute embarrassment. I so wish Olympia would run against him as an independent. Think about the contrast. I applaud his effort to expose ‘welfare fraud’ and his support regarding domestic violence but that’s pretty much it! Otherwise, he doesn’t have a friggin clue. He’s a narcissistic punk/bully. Cutting funding for MPBN is ludicrous. As a child raised in rural Maine, MPBN was (and still is) a primary source of information and education. There are so many other examples of his ineptitude…. Wake up people.
We will truly see what the people want this November, and then we will recall him.