AUGUSTA, Maine — Members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee will meet this week to consider bond proposals for dozens of programs and projects costing hundreds of millions of dollars but Gov. Paul LePage says it’s too early to even look at borrowing, given the state’s financial status.
“I want them to do some structural changes that are necessary to improve the cash flow of the state of Maine so that we can pay the debt service on the bonds that we sell,” he said in an interview. “We don’t have any money. We can’t pay our hospitals, we can’t pay our bills, how can we pay debt service on bonds?”
LePage said any bond discussion needs to wait until after the 2013 budget is brought into balance, revenues are reforecast and the state pays its bills.
“We do not have a balanced budget,” he said. “We have an $89 million shortfall in 2013. We have to get that fixed first.”
The state has an estimated Medicaid shortfall of $89 million in 2013 but the exact number is in question because of errors made at the Department of Health and Human Services that allowed at least 24,500 Mainers to continue to receive benefits after they no longer were eligible for the program.
“We will need those accurate numbers and the revenue reforecast before we can make any final decisions,” said Sen. Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, co-chairman of the committee. “What we are doing is starting the process of looking at all of these requests and setting some priorities for what should go to the voters for their approval.”
He said there are always far more requests for borrowing than the state can afford and he sees no difference this year. He expects the panel will set priorities based on a number of criteria, as they have in past years.
“The constraint I think we will confront is what do we expect to see for revenue growth,” Rosen said. “And what can we afford to put into the budgets going forward for debt service.”
Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, the lead Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said it is important to start work on crafting a bond package even though she agrees it cannot be completed until the committee completes work on the 2013 Medicaid budget and gets a new revenue forecast.
“This is a process that takes time and we need to get started on it and not wait or this session will never end,” she said. “We have a lot of different proposals to review and consider.”
Rotundo, former co-chairwoman of the panel, agreed with Rosen that creating a bond proposal to go to the voters is a process that requires comment from the parties, legislative leaders and committee members.
“We do look at giving a high priority to those bonds that come with a match, from the federal government or from other sources,” Rosen said.
There are several bond proposals before the panel that meet those criteria, such as water and sewer bonds that bring in $9 in federal money for every $1 the state invests in the projects.
The panel also has a transportation bond proposal for highway, bridge, airport and port improvements.
“We also need to look at needs we have that do not have a big match,” Rotundo said. “There are investments we should make in our future that will not have a match, but we still should make the investment.”
Rotundo said those needs may include the Land for Maine’s Future program, research and development investments and bonds for higher education facilities and improvements. She said with historically low interest rates it is a good time to borrow, invest in the state’s future and create needed jobs.
“Give me a balanced budget, let’s see how much money we have left, then let’s talk about bonds,” LePage said.
Bonds require a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to be proposed to the voters, who must approve them at referendum.
Lawmakers will reconvene May 15.
Im with Lapage on this one
So am I….but for the record, it’s an anomaly.
On April 15th Mr. Millett told us that we had a revenue surplus of 35 million. He went on to say, “I am more optimistic than I have been in the last two or three months, Things are looking better. We are in pretty good shape at the three-quarters mark.”
But wait! Now on April 22 we hear Mr. LePage tell us that we can’t afford to EVEN look or CONSIDER any bonds even if they are nearly totally subsidized by the Feds and will likely put thousands of Mainers to work while improving our infrastructure. Not much optimisum from Mr. LePage, eh? Of course we’ve come to not expect to hear him say anything positive when it come to Maine or it’s people but it’s really annoying that he’d take this stand when just last year while we were deep into this National recession he decided it would be a GREAT time to give a huge tax break to his fellow Mainers who happen to own multi-million dollar estates in Maine. Cut revenues in the depths of a recession by making life easier on wealthy people…hmm that just don’t pass the stink test Paul. How many jobs did it create?
Now when we have a chance to put regular folks back to work all we get is a flat out, “Oh no we can’t afford to spend a dime on a bond until someone can re-balance the budget that I just threw into chaos.” What’s really strange is that Mr. LePage makes these statements without even a hint of humility relating to the obvious double standard he sets up between those who have everything and those who have nothing. It’s almost as though he really believes that Mainers are too dumb to see what he’s doing to us and our State.
Please look at the bonds and seriously consider them one by one with an eye on how each can be helpful to those of us who have nothing because there are no jobs. Yes Paul, if you look down from your high horse you may actually see that thousands of poor people without anything sometimes are going to need some of that help you’ve thus far only chosen to give to a few. In government ALL people matter, not just your buddies or supporters.
well said. sounds like what i have been saying myself!!!
What world do you live in Still? Do you have the answer for everything because you are the absolute definition of an elitist, answers with no solutions. Keep it up though, you are entertaining.
A conservative’s definition of an “Elitist.” Anyone who doesn’t agree with them. Just another chance to call people names, eh. You represent your “cause” well entitled, humanity and civil discourse not so much.
Look, sorry still that you don’t like him. Do you spend money you don’t have? Hope not. I don’t. I don’t want any part of state or fed. Govt spending money we don’t have. I do want to see jobs. I don’t like Harry Reid tryin to cover up the GSA fiasco. The point is, our governments have been spending(giving away) our money to banks and oil companys instead of creating jobs. We need our infrastructure repaired and replaced. Those trillions would have created millions of jobs there. Mr. LePage wants us responsible not irrational. What do you want? More hand outs.
Actually yes I do. Recently because interest rates are so amazingly low I spent 25 k to build a very large garage. It was expensive but as I do still have a job that looks secure it seemed like the best time to invest in my future. I also have never paid cash for a “new” car or a home. Believe it or not, interest rates are low for everyone right now including the State. It’s a great time to buy or build if you haven’t given all your/taxpayer’s money away to your close friends and political supporters.
I assume that you have health insurance, a sufficient retirement savings, money socked away for a rainy day and money set aside for college for your kids (if applicable) before you went out and spent $25,000 for your new garage. If so, congratulations on your new garage.
With the U.S. credit card fiasco, I’d say there are alot of Americans who spend more than they earn. It’s the American way.
If you don’t spend money you don’t have then you probably don’t have a car or a home. And if you do, then you most certainly do spend money you do not have.
I have both 2 cars and home with no loans. I am very financially conservative, it can be done. Government has a spending problem. I am with LePage on this one…actually you never do own these things since property tax and excise tax are innevitable, we have to provide the revenue in order for the government to continue to spend.
What happened to “effete, intellectual snobs”? That was my favorite.
These elitists educadetd types shouldnt be runnin this state or this country. The country shouyld be bein runnin by those with GED’s the lowest common demonimater. Thats what our fourfathers built this country on. Plus they will be cheaper than the educated ones and thats less taxes and less taxes is tea party love. Go Paul lets get em in there with GEDS we dont need these elitists people and we dont need stupidd bonds and stuff just the jobs nd the guns. Dont TTRREAD ON NOBODY!!
Poe’s Law. Well done.
Your apparent distaste for GEDs shows your elitist attitude. You should be ashamed of yourself for posting such a disgusting comment about people less fortunate or unable to further their education. How you think making fun of a class of people will further any discussion is beyond all rational thought.
Entitled for life?? What are you ? A United States Senator?
Where does the Feds get its money for these bonds? I agree with entitled4life, whaat world do you live in, or is it you hated defeat?
I never vote yes on bonds.
when the feds give the states money isnt that stll money taken from a country that cant afford to give it . then we have to help pay back that money also im confused hows that going to help.
Agreed. I just wish he had held his ground on MPBN. Read this…http://wot7.com/?p=14.
Following LePage’s logic, future tax cuts are out too. And I look forward to seeing LePage threaten to veto LD849, the Jon Courtney’s TABOR bill.
It will be interesting to read the comments in opposition to the Governor´s idea relating to bonds.
Yeah, who needs roads anyway; there’s no business.
I have no problem with a balanced budget ! My problem is with the Governor ! LePage hasn’t given the citizens of Maine one single idea that doesn’t just shift the onus from the State onto the backs of cities and towns. Show me some real solutions Gov ! November 2014 is comming fast !
not voting for lepge then that for sure
Maine’s budgets have all been balanced for all of the years since it became a state constitutional requirement decades ago.
The only reason it is temporarily unbalanced right now is the incompetent budgeting and managemnt pf the current administration.
The legislature is working to correct LePage’s errors and it will be balanced by them in a few weeks.
hmm, obviously a liberal. Shifting responsibility from the government on to us is exactly what is needed…people need to realize that the responsibility IS on US anyway. The government was never intended to take care of you. Reduce the size of government, get the damn government out of my pocket just to give to somebody who chooses to not work, have a kid, stay on the system, have another kid…round and round the cycle goes. He is showing you real solutions, they HAVE to balance the budget. With all the issues revolving around DHHS for the past ten years regarding fiscal irresponsibility…and suddenly its Gov. LePage’s fault that there are problems in the Department. Sure, I buy that one. You are soo right tho…November 2014 is coming; however, November 2012 will be here sooner!
Balanced budgets are fine if the government can provide the services that we as a modern civilized society demand of it. When coupled with the arbitrary tax cuts that the governor seems to feel compelled to demand, balanced budgets will serve only to bring about the death by starvation of our government that his plutocratic handlers desire. We should be wise enough to see through his machinations.
I believe a majority will in the next election if he can get past a republican primary, which I doubt. It is disingenous to say we have no money on the one hand, and spend it hand over fist with the other. That is exactly what he is doing. What he needs to say is that he refuses to allocate monies for things he doesn’t believe in. He is just a typical trickle down ideolog trying to implement the tired policies that have failed the American people nationwide, and most certainly here in Maine.
LePage will not seek another term.
He’ll be lucky to finish out this term. 11-6-2012
Maybe he’ll abdicate to Jamaica. After all, if Sarah Palin can quit being governor, our guy can do it too. Go, Paul. I’m rooting for ya! That’s Rooting, not Voting.
Then why does he have LePage 2014 website up then. He is not stepping down, so Liberals can stop with the nonsense that he will be stepping down. He is raising money for his re-election campaign.
He has the website to collect from his corporate buddies.
“bring about the death by starvation of our government”. Hmm,not too far off.
You mean to pay for deadbeats that won’t work. A “modern civilized society” means liberalism.
No, actually I was thinking of public roads and bridges, education, police and fire, public spaces like parks and boat launches etc…
LePage represents ALEC and the corporate myth of the private sector always being better than government. I hope you are ready to pay tolls every time you drive, pay for police and fire protection as you need it and forego all public services because that is the direction LePage and his handlers are taking us in.
1. Don’t rely on police protection; that’s what the Glock is for.
2. By the time the volunteer fire dept. reaches my house the only thing left would be the cellar hence the name “cellar savers”.
3. Don’t have any public services available in the town I live in.
How would I end up paying tolls every time I drive?
This always gets me when I hear or read, Oh, but if we spend $1 the Federal Government will give us $9, do they think that Israel or Iraq or some other foreign Country is going to give us money …………… NO, it comes from the AMERICAN taxpayers and if OUR Federal Government doesn’t have the money “THEY” BORROW. Which means that not only do we have our own State debt to repay, plus interest, we also have the Federal Debt to repay, plus interest.
Thank You………………..finally someone gets it!
its simply amazing how many there are that do not see it that way
yup, amazing and scary
People cannot grasp this concept. They can understand that the money will be borrowed from China and that they will be paying it back and that the 9 dollars from Uncle Sam is not free money.
Yes, the two most onerous terms are “block grant” and “matching Federal funds”.
I agree 100%, wish I had read your post before posting mine a few mins ago…
Very very true… BUT….
The problem lies not with the State of Maine but with the Federal Government. The feds pass out money like it’s candy and they’re going to continue to do so. The real reason for this of course is so our Senators and Representatives can continue to tell us how “they” got $XXXX for our state, but that’s another story.
There is a mentality – which I find hard to dispute – that if that matching Federal money doesn’t go to Maine it’ll go to some other state so we may as well get it if we can.
IMO the whole thing is a sad and sorry commentary on what government has become. Unfortunately government has become so big and so powerful that people like those who post here have no control over it any more. It’s taken on a life of its own and will steamroll over anyone who tries to get in it’s way. The “Occupy” people tried to make a nationwide stand against big money, big business, and big government and found out the hard way that money talks, just like everyone knew deep down inside that they would.
I am surprised Mel Leary hasn’t more fully explained the Bond situation. Maine has been reducing it’s bond indebtedness for quite some time. Money is “cheap” for infrastructural construction right now and will be much more expensive if the economy improves as all Americans hopes it will. The question is to be ahead of the curve on its path to improvement.
What are potential projects? How many people would be hired for those projects?What Bonds have been retired and what impact did they have on Maine’s economy?To stop improving, or keeping our infrastructure in reasonable condition is like a retail business letting its building and parking lot go to the point no one is willing to go to the business anymore – then complain the economy is bad because no one comes to your business anymore. Mel, where’s the rest of the story – so we can have an informed electorate?
It is really sad that we have a chief executive who just plain does not understand governmental finance in the least.
Like you have an understanding of government financing with the exception of taking money from people who work and giving it to people who would not work.
Borrowing at low interest rates to finance infrastructure projects serving the general public that will be useful for longer than the life of the bond is a responsible and conservative approach to governmental finance.
If you do not understand that very basic and very well known and accepted fact, then perhaps you should not be commenting on how little others know.
Fine. Let’s stop doling out welfare to people who do not want to work then perhaps we can afford to take out bonds.
Do you grow strawmen in a field somewhere to be able to post them so much?
If we stopped illegal invasions of other countries by oilmen presidents and vice presidents to line their own pockets (Halliburton still pays millions to Mr. Cheney) we’d have saved more than we spend on welfare.
Really? The State of Maine is invading other countries? I never knew.
Time for you to put away the Allen’s, don’t you think?
Here are a few of the bond bills that are still active, the amount and party of sponsor:
LD359 An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Wastewater and Drinking Water Revolving Loan Funds, $15.5M (R)
LD399 An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Fund LifeFlight $0.6M (R)
LD829 An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Invest in Transportation, Broadband Infrastructure, Downtown Revitalization, Land for Maine’s Future and Training Facilities in Labor Market Areas with Higher than Average Unemployment for Tourism-related Training, $100M (D)
LD852 An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Support Maine’s Natural Resource-based Economy, $36M (R)
LD874 An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Educational Opportunities for Underserved Regions of the State, $27.1 (D)
LD894 An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Invest in Highway and Bridge Infrastructure To Meet the Needs of the Business Sector and To Create Jobs, $62M (D)
These are all important, but should only be considered with a balanced budget! Governor, stang your ground.
Only the aged and very ill should be eligible for Mainecare. Welfare is breaking this state’s back and preventing us from the necessary improvements we must have to prosper.
I dont see anything on there that shouldnt be cash flowed from the state budget.
What people dont realize is the Dems have pillaged the state budget and instead of cash flowing these things, they spend on other waste and then use these bonds to cover the shortfall.
I say no more, let the people tell the Peggy Rotundos if she wants 15 mill for waste water, cut 15 mil from somewhere else. I wonder if she can balance a check book??
All should be voted down. The Private Sector should be coming in and fixing up our infrastructure. Just as they are doing with looking at the possibility with the East-West Highway. Under Democrats everytime we borrowed all the money ended up being diverted to DHHS to expand that failing department , with Welfare Progams expanding. No More Bonds. It is time to get the private sector involved with Infrastructure , also leasing the Maine Turnpike for X number of years for X billion dollars. Then use the that money with the gas tax money to rebuild our roads and bridges. It has worked in other states it can work here in Maine.
“The Private Sector should be coming in and fixing up our infrastructure.”
That’s delicious. What planet do you live on?
By the way, the Maine Turnpike money goes to the Maine Turnpike. There’s nothing extra to divert someplace else.
The private sector? Are you bleeding mad? The private sector aka “the job creators” can’t even get people working after stockpiling record profits for the past half decade, and you expect them to invest in the infrastructure out of the kindness of their hearts?
You sir, are way, way….way out there.
Sensibility = Governor LePage
Agreed. I just wish he had held his ground on MPBN. Read this…http://wot7.com/?p=14.
Frank would’ve probably called you a fool.
Should of balanced the budget before even talking about tax cuts.
Do you mean “should have”?
My mistake, just so used to saying it that way, that’s how I type it.
I like getting some of my money back in a tax cut, it was my money I earnted you Know.
Kudos to LePage for keeping his promises!
and just how much a tax cut have you seen ? Mr LePage’s budget is the largest ever so I doubt you see much a tax cut . That is unless you are in a much higher tax bracket then I am.
Is that you Mr DeCoster
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That’s how we finance public infrastructure.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
The Lepage 5% proposed tax is only going to screw the working poor. When you put half your paycheck into gas you already pay more than 5% Income in taxes. Where the well to do will end paying a lot lower percentage of income into state taxes.
Yes, and who shut down the drilling for oil in the gulf? Who has prevented drilling in the ANWR? Who has prevented Americans from not only drilling for their own oil but even their own natural gas, a clean fuel?
And of course, well to do people dont pay the same tax that everyone else does when they buy gas do they?
Gas is not as big a percentage of thier income for the most part just getting back and forth to work. Gas tax is more than the 5% sales tax. I am not a fan of either party. Who makes laws? 5 years for selling fake maple syrup. lets change to law to 5 years for selling anything that is not what it says it is. Most big businesses would be shut down. Take a look at walmarts shelves 55db gain rabbit ear antennas .That would rival SETI. Should be able to pick up TV 1000s of miles away by my calculations. Just another way to rip off the poor by deception. Why are they not in prison? When I brought this to the attention of a manager he said he could do nothing about it. So even knowing they are being fraudulent they continued to do it. They do this with 1000s of things.
Drilling for oil is at an 8yr high.
Whoops.
Blaming LePage for 4$ Obama Gas, you Libs are creative!
I do not blame him for the gas price At last check the highest gas I paid was under bush. Both parties are to blame for gas prices. The point I was making is with a flat tax in real dollars working poor would end up paying a much higher percentage for income in taxes than the well to do.
Bush gas 1/13/2009 1.89 per gallon
Obama gas 4/23/2012 4.09 +
Oil futures are bought and sold on the commodities market, the president has nothing to do with the price of gas. What he can do is influence supply and demand by releasing from the strategic reserves like Clinton did, but that only lasts a few days. If you want government regulation of oil in the U.S. then the President will be more able to effect prices. Otherwise the market determines pricing.
DOH, BOB, the working poor pay no taxes. This is an ignorant rant…..
Untrue. Between sales taxes, social security and medicaid taxes the working poor pay a higher % than Mitt Romney does
A flat tax would fix that.. Everyone could pay 15% and mit couldn’t cheat you any more. you would win..
I personally would win because I pay more than 15% in income taxes.
How would a flat Income Tax change the FACT that the working poor already pay an enormously higher % of their income into Social Security, Medicare and sales taxes? A Flat Income tax would just add to their currently higher tax burden.
The vast majority of the working poor receive an Earned Income Credit.
BS. I fill my truck with gas all the time.
Bull What is the sales tax? Tax on gas?
income taxes….. Poor don’t pay income taxes on their income… how is that fair??? That is why we need a flat tax,
Only 53% in the U.S. pay taxes, 47% do not. Here is a link to the stories of these 53%:
http://the53.tumblr.com/
If these people can do it then why can’t the other 47%?
You are implying that the only taxes anyone ever pays is income tax.
Of course that is completely untrue.
The lower one’s income, the higher % of that income is paid in the other taxes they ALL pay. Social Security taxes, Medicaid taxes, sales taxes , gas taxes ….
That “other 47%” you are making stuff up about often pay those at a higher % then Mitt Romney pays on his income.
are you talking %’s or actually money. I’m sure Mitten pays more then both of us in taxes.
Now you are just being ridiculous.
Of course a man making tens of millions of dollars every year for not working will pay more than any middle class American even when he pays a lower % of those tens of millions of dollars.
Are you trying to claim Romney shouldn’t, that he should pay the same dollar amount as you or I even though that would be a tiny fraction of a percent of his income while we pay in the 15- 25 % range?
Bizarre
Mr. Lepage was not smart enough to get into college without the help of Peter Snow. I wonder how well he would have done in life without the help of certain people.
Mr. LePage is doing a heck of a lot better than our last two over educated, under intellgent govs.
In fact, Governor LePage hold higher degrees than does Governor Baldacci.
Never would have gotten them if not from help by Peter Snow. Just saying who you know has a lot more to do with it than hard work.
Yes, Im sure what you must say is true as you are able to predict the future and what may or may not happen.
Trying to get into college and better oneself is just an awful thing isnt it? Having had some difficulty at first, LePage probably should have just quit and let the US taxpayer be responsible for his bad luck and then walk around with a chip on his shoulder while we supported him.
Of course liberal beliefs(im not saying that you are a liberal as I have no clue who you are) are such that we help everyone, anyway that we can in order to propel people into better lives through education, and what was done for Mr. LePage is nothing that wouldnt be done for anyone else with equal opportunity programs. We accept that many come from a different background than us and embrace their diversity and dont hold it against them but help them overcome the challenges of not having English as a first language, or had the benefit of going to school full time as they had to work to support their family as a teenager. Look at a guy like Mike Michaud who didnt even go to college and yet somehow managed to become a brilliant US Congressman. He didnt try to educate himself at all after high school and look at how celebrated a figure he is!
LePages story, how he grew up a poor, french speaking kid who with a little bit of help got into college, went on to get several advanced degrees and then become involved in politics is something that makes liberals wet their
pants in glee. Except they only like the story when the main character ends
up being a democrat.
Hey I am with you on people helping people and not government. Just seems like the conservatives do not do enough to help people. Now out of 16 other brothers and sisters most were in jail welfare or dead . Maybe 3 made it. He had the luck to have the right people on his side. Ya think if anyone wanted to work and had connections with the Snow’s among other’s they would not have a good shot at a good job? Not saying anyone can not make it just saying some need a little help and government dose not do a good job at it. If Conservatives did a bit more maybe we would not need welfare and could lower taxes. Now Take GW. bush for instance an alcoholic till his 40s. If that man had never worked a day in his life he would have much more than many who work hard every day.
I suppose I could spend all day wishing that I had been born into the Kennedy family or perhaps that Jay Rockefeller is my Uncle. However I try not to covet what other people have and take enjoyment out of the life that I am making for myself and my family on my own hard work and self determination.What do you propose we do? Follow Pol Pot’s ideas and kill all the rich people and lower everyone to the lowest common demoninator? That doesnt work and history has shown us so.
Goverment does do some good things for people. However like anything there are problems. The idea that some people have that Government can somehow operate outside the parameters of the real world and the human nature of people and create a perfect world, eliminate all problems, is a pipe dream.
Im not sure what your point is about LePage and his siblings. I dont think we should judge an indvidual on who his siblings were and what they did. A person can be born into the worst bunch of derelicts and come out a saint or be born into a family of saints and become the worst derelict ever.
Yes, LePage had some luck. Probably the same sort of luck a guy that went to Schenk High School and was able to become a US Congressmen got. I know that if I did not know someone in my line of work I had not gotten a certain job that I did at one point in my career. Our own president speaks of the luck and good fortune he had in order to become a politician and end up in the White House.
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Being helped out in life is nothing to be ashamed of..
I agree totally but to expect others to pull themselves out of the life they were born into without some help is just selfish.
Yeah, and he bought both of them at Wal-Mart:)
Im suprised you didnt say Mardens! It seems to me that Baldacci must have found his at the bottom of a cracker jack box.
See? We can both be funny!
Baldacci got an A in Anger Management, LePage got an Incomplete.
Yes, to be fair, you never saw the angst come out on Baldacci’s face. In fact you never saw much of anything. A dead salmon has more facial expression that he does.
Yeah they ruined all the “great’ things that Jock McKernan did for the state of Maine!
I would not say better Maine has the slowest income growth of any state. Yes he dose have backbone for that I respect him. Do I agree with a lot of what he dose? NO. Not all the well to do create jobs. I am definately for cuts in spending. I just do not see how making me pay a higher percentage in taxes than the well to do is going to help me in any way.
He has an MBA. What degrees do you hold?
No one advocated for me to get into college. I did not get in. I graduated in the top 10 of my class in HS. A degree dose not mean much to me seeing that 70% of the people in my field with 2 year degrees Fail the first time on thier state license EXAM .I passed mine my first try without college. Good thing I did not waist the money because odd are I would not have passed. Being a” SLOW LEARNER” and all in school. Maybe my attack on him not being smart enough are on called for. Holding an MBA may prove you are educated . It dose not prove you understand things. Look at Dr. Webb she comes from a privileged family of educators. Bangor high school might have high test scores , But also one of the highest drop out rates in the state of Maine From the a school board member I talked to they do not even know what the drop out rate is. Everything In life has it’s price.
There is no substitute for the school of hard knocks (street smarts). I have a BA in Business/Economics and have yet to prove it gave me any advantage in the job market. Accually, wish I got a BS instead, could have made a hell of a politician…
I would be all for stopping any college funding to all college that spends more on sports than the sports bring in.
…
nobody goes through life alone.
Sure, borrow more…spend more..and hit the ones
already paying the tax burden. Start with the states
being more fiscally responsible and tell the fed govt
to stop robbing those paying taxes is a good place to start.
Gov didn’t anyone tell you balancing a budget is unpatriotic?
You sure aren’t winning any friends in the give me crowd.
The same ones who demand things they feel are owed to them
yet take but don’t contribute. Balance the budget and stop the
crazy spending. Let the leeches whine.
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I’d like to know that this Teabilly administration can do basic arithmetic before King Paulie starts issuing Edicts !
At every election; I always vote “No” on bond issues. A lot of them are special interest projects that really have not benefited the State as a whole.
It sounds as though you don’t do your homework. Since when is upgrading water treatment plants a “special interest” project, or replacing crumbling bridges and highways? Or putting aside land for recreation that ensures our natural resources will be around for future generations to enjoy?
Thank You LePage!!! Bonds are what helped put this state in the poor house to begin with. Just because the feds throw in matching funds doesn’t make it any better. These bonds go on the ballot and are almost always approved by voters who haven’t got a clue of the consequenses of their vote…Higher taxes with interest!!
Peggy Rotundo and her ilk should be sent packing.
Not almost always approved. They have “ALWAYS” been approved. They attached these cute names on them and sent them out for a public vote.
I remember when they did the tire removal bonds in the 80’s year after year for at least 8/10 years. 5 mil, 5mil, 5 mil.. Thats when I stopped voting for any bonds. Durning the JB years here would drain the transportion fund then claim it was a jobs bill to fund transportion projects. This is what happens when you have Professional Politicans running everything.
It is true, just like past administrations, Mr LePage and the legislature must produce a balanced budget. However without real numbers to deal with, this will be next to impossible to achieve. To date providing real numbers seems to have been an almost impossible task for Mr LePage and crew. Case in point — the legislature has asked since last November for the real numbers for DHHS and they still appear to not be forthcoming. Even the republicans are now requesting that Mr LePage and crew supply accurate numbers. So much for proficency in math.
Mr LePage is again calling for structural changes. Which group of the elderly, children, disabled or working poor is he going after next? Or how much more of the expense is he proposing to shift onto the local communities ?
His next claim to fame will be how much he has cut state spending. If that is true where has the money gone ? It has not gone to hiring ( other than his daughter and brother in law ) more state employees or their benefits — he cut that. It has not gone to education — he cut that. It has not gone to MDOT — he cut that. It has not gone to DHHS — he cut that. So Mr LePage where is the money ?
When he first came to Augusta he claimed it was all about the jobs. Where are the jobs and what has he done to promote more jobs ? Bond issues to improve our infrastructure creates jobs. Granted they are temporary construction jobs but they help support our construction industry and get people off unemployment. Money spent on construction gets respent four or five times supporting suppliers, grocery stores, department stores, car deals and helps families with health care. But no Mr LePage let’s not support reasonable bond issues, we do not want any jobs or necessary infrastructure repairs.
Oh yeah and what is one of the items industry looks at before relocating ? The areas infrastructure. Why would we want to make to make infrastructure improvements ? Gee I think that gets back to the new jobs Mr LePage promised to create, but now won’t now support. Which way is it Mr LePage?
These improvements need to be made sooner or later and right now borrowing money is cheap compared to where it is going. Would you rather finance your new home on the low or the high interest rates ?
Lapage is right on.
Agreed. I just wish he had held his ground on MPBN. Read this…http://wot7.com/?p=14.
This is nothing but responsible spending on the Governor’s part. Like 66reader, I must admit it’s a rarity when I agree with Lepage!
Agreed. I just wish he had held his ground on MPBN. Read this…http://wot7.com/?p=14.
Your record is stuck. It has repeated the exact same comment over and
over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and
over and over and over and over and over and over …
If i am not wrong the last amount I saw that we pay for debt service was in the vicinity of 150 to 170 million. If people don’t think that is not enough to pay a year for our current debt service then mauybe they should kick in a little more when they pay their taxes. I for one would like to see the debt come down more before we borrow anymore. Our bond debt was about 12 to 14 billion at the same time also.
Maine has one of the best bond ratings in the country because of the conservative and effective bond management practices for the past several decades.
Imagine though if we paid off our bonds and never borrowed anymore? We could give the middle class a tax cut.
We could cut DHHS and use the money saved to pay for infrastructure improvements, kind of like what was done 40 years ago before the liberals shifted the budget to wasteful things and stole the money from the infrastructure programs.
The middle class and everyone else would need that tax cut and more to pay for the car repairs from the poor roads and the lawsuits from people injured on public properties left to disrepair.
Your “logic” would lead to a much worse fiscal situation for taxpayers over the long run.
“There are several bond proposals before the panel that meet those criteria, such as water and sewer bonds that bring in $9 in federal money for every $1 the state invests in the projects.” So the matching money comes from the other side of my wallet (Federal taxes)…makes a lot of sense to me… the Fed’l gov’t can run an extremely high credit line and just keep printing more and more money. I believe all Government now has some major spending issues.
What gets me is some people seem to think federal money is free money. At last check I paid federal taxes too.
You do realize that failing to use this money means we keep paying in to the feds but other states get our money, right?
Yes I do. The problem is most people in this country have the same attitude spend the money it is not mine.
So you are willing to bite off your nsoe to spite your face. Got it.
Little Maine will not change the rest of the states’ behavior. Work to fix the national issue if you want but stop trying to penalize Maine for your zealot’s quest.
Is this so hard for us all to understand? We need to pay what we owe as a state and balance the budget before we borrow any more. Why borrow and do all this stuff at all? It is a fool’s mission. Let’s get real. That is exactly the kind of mentality that got us into this mess. Hang tight governor, you are the only sane voice we are hearing.
How is it you have a problem with borrowing all of a sudden? Were you complaining when Bush was spending TRILLIONS of borrowed money to start 2 wars? Isn’t ironic that billions of that money is going to Cheney’s former business partners? I agree that we should be looking really hard at what we are borrowing/spending on, but I think LePage is way off on his priorities.
No tax increases, and that includes no Bond Issues. Forget the Bond Issues. Bonds are only sneaky tax increases. We have the power to vote them down. You go Guv.
Finally, we have some common sense in office. I mean we pass every bond that is out there and where does everyone think this money comes from???
Agreed. I just wish he had held his ground on MPBN. Read this…http://wot7.com/?p=14.
Your record is stuck. It has repeated the exact same comment over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over …
Edited to add: Holy cow. I just clicked on your profile. 100% of your comments are copy and paste versions of this one.
LePage just doesn’t understand that there is separation of powers — he does not run the Legislature. Plus, when one is running the state, one must think beyond one legislative session. LePage is a short term thinker.
You give him too much credit. He is just a parrot for MHPC/ALEC – government by corporation.
What part of the” state is broke” don’t you understand? When you’re broke short term and have unsustainable programs there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to remain broke!
Typical….Republicans are trying to rein in spending so we can get our financial house in order as it should be…………AND……..liberals just want to spend and spend and spend and spend and spend and spend. Heck they want to spend even when there is nothing to spend…..We can all thanks Baldacci for the last eight years of overspending and bankruptcy that Maine is experiencing………there is no blame to be put anywhere EXCEPT in the Democratic camp. End of story…………………………….
Corporate bond borrowing is called usually investment. Mortgage borrowing is usually called investment, unless it goes sour. But for some, public borrowing is never called investment: it is DEBT, and debt, as we all know, is sinful – an indicator of loose values, profligacy, etc. Such an odd set of standards; but, then, we are humans, the creators of odd standards.
WE DO NOT NEED SEWER OR WATER
WE NEED LESS TAXES AND NO UNIONS.
THIS GOVERNOR IS USING THE SAVINGS HE CREATES TO MAKE LOTS OF JOBS AND ITS WORKING. GREAT JOB GOVERNOR. WE don’t nneed the educated elitists just NO MORE TAXES and NO WELFATRE!!!
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What do you expect from someone who sees imaginary jobs being created?
You know and knmows that theres lots of jobs out there. These people dont want to work and the Governor LePage has brought the jobs and fixed the welfare frraud once and for all. DONT TREAD ONME thats what I say and thats why the goverorn has made the tea party proud amercans again and I also say Lepage should run with Sarah Palin to win this country back from Obama. The liberal dems want to destroy our country and make us energy efficient and take our guns. DONT TREAD ON ME!
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Our unemployment rate went up last month. The jobs Governor needs to give more to JOB CREATORS. Can you help? How about starting drive to support the rich.
TRY SPELL CHECK
You might want to learn proper use of the English language before choosing to use an ID like “Cant (sic) Fix Stupid”.
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I would say that he is a member of the LePage family hired on by LE Governor to work for the State Of Maine who is ignorant as well. Welfare… A case of the pot calling the kettle black…how appropriate a handle “can’t fix stupid”. At least this person is smart enough to know he is unable to be fixed!!!!!!!!!!
No French people are more well educated.
Not everyone can do convincing satire.
Sensible talk. I just wish he had held his ground on MPBN. Read this…http://wot7.com/?p=14.
Lepage thinks the people of Maine are too stupid to decided what bonds are worthwhile and what bonds are not.
Maybe Lepage is right, after all we elected a sadistic, crooked, lying scum bag like him for Governor.
While doing things the right way is harder than doing them the easy way, the people of this state and this country will continue to vote with ignorance and stupidity.
Who buys a house with cash? Or a new car?
We bought our house with cash after selling our old house. We don’t have a car payment. We’re driving an older car and saving to buy, with cash, a newer used car. If we put something on our credit card, it’s paid off to zero each month so we don’t get charged interest. Cash is great!
Did you buy the old house with cash or a mortgage?
I paid my house off 4 years ago because I dont go out an borrow tons of money. I own all my cars.
Some of us have physcal discipline, while people like Rotundo dont. I wonder if she can balance a check book??
Kudos to the Governor, living up to his promises unlike Baldi who buried us in debt!
Again, Peggy put the damn credit card away, The state is broke. Also calling these stupid bonds packages Job bills is an insult to the working men and women in Maine. Thes bonds are just sneaky tax increases!
If you want these, cash flow them, think cutting DHHS and MSHA.
I wish I could push the “like button” more than once on this one…
And HE want’s this committee, which worked so hard and honorably; a committee that was diligent throughout all of his DHHS crap, who legislated and listened and offered a workable and obviously bi partisan budget, they knew that they would revisit much of this next month…….and he does what?
Paul LePage is not a governor. He is a pompous manager who utilized Marden’s and thinks he’s going to do the same to the State of Maine. If anyone who post here has ever heard of a Governor who refuses to agree with his own party’s legislative offering….let me know. He won’t even negotiate with his own party………how on earth can he claim that the democrats are stone walling him? They, the Dems, control nothing!!
He can’t line up his own party’s votes,……but it’s the democrats fault???? I’ve never, ever heard that the party that is in the minority, in both houses and the executive, having so much impact that the majority party can’t get along with it’s ownself!
That’s pathetic.
This is why we need a recall option, and this is why we need a Lt. Governor who also serves on the Governor’s cabinet, both to b elected, and both accountable to our scrutiny. Our Lt. Governor should serve as Secretary of State or, perhaps, AG…..but be elected. We need a recall amendment, we need options. The constitution guarantees our rights.
It must be you..
Interesting concept, the State can’t pay it’s bills now so the Gov. doesn’t want to take on anymore debt until we get our fisical house in order.
Kinda like we do it at our house.
If we don’t have any money we should cut taxes on our middle class and pass bills that make it easier and better for them to survive.
As much as I hate to do this I do agree with Paulie on his overall statement about ‘bonding’ until the State’s budget is balanced. Maine needs to get it’s financial’s in order before any actual borrowing or ‘bonding’ occurs. Short of that, if Maine goes out now and try’s to get any of the bond market’s to put up any money then Maine had better get ready for another round of B-O-H-I-C-A ’cause I for one can see it coming, the State Treasurer’s ‘glowing’ $ 35 MILLION dollar press release notwithstanding !
That said, Peggy Rotundo is also more than right in saying that the entire process takes time and needs to be started now so that when the budget is brought into balance, then, and only then, can the Bond issues be brought up, voted on in both House’s, voted on in referendum and, if approved, put into effect. In the mean time it might not be such a bad idea if the Dem’s, the Moderate GOP’rs and whatever Inde’s are out there come together and work on a proposed priority list for the bond’s use whenever Paulie and the Radical Right’s finally get their collective too-too’s working as opposed to using them for seat’s. And nowhere in here, by either side, do I see any mention of other funding sources that don’t require bond’s or other commercial paper. This is where Maine’s Senator’s and Congressman, and women, need to step up and push for us to recieve what grant, development or investment money’s there are that are coming outta’ DC.
As far as overseas investment, one would be well advised to check out the WHOLE COST of that money before jumping into bed with it. In case anyone has forgotten Bald Mountain is being developed, courtesy of Eagle Lake Martin, with Canadian, not U.S. money. That means that whatever profit’s Irving makes are gonna go back to Canada, not stay here. And you can bet that Irving’s gonna shave every penny of revenue they can to keep their profit’s going back over the border. The same can be said of the E-W Highway ‘clusterhump’. If there was ever a ‘Black Hole’ of a project that was looking to swallow money by the truckload, this is it. And what everyone’s seemingly in such a hurry to ignore is who’s gonna pay for it and how. Now why does that term ‘State Bond money’ keep coming back, over and over, when the study and costs are supposed to reimbursed ? And isin’t it interesting that no where to be seen or heard from about this is Paulie. Even he knows a loser deal when he see’s one.
I doubt very much that you pay with cash. Do you have car payments? A house payment? Did you have a student loan? How about a credit card payment?
Dont have a mortgage anymore, paid off 4 years ago and never took a car loan. I paid my own way thru college, worked 30 hrs a week during high school(didnt expect some Fed program to pay my way) and 70 hrs a week working two jobs summers, folks paid for about 1/3 myself 2/3 thank you! That was 30 years ago, now the libs have indocrinated the kids to expect someone else to pay for everything.
Thanks god we now have a Governor who wants “pay as you go” instead of the liberal mantra of borrow borrow borrow!
So you had a mortgage. You enjoyed the benefits of something you couldn’t pay for at the time. Is your house worth more now than it was when you borrowed the money to buy it? That would make it a good investment, one made with borrowed money.
Do you think Mitt Romney made his millions using only his own money? Check out how Bain Capital made millions using borrowed money to buy KB Toys. Of course, they then drove KB Toys out of business and pocketed the proceeds. I wonder if Mickey Marden borrowed any money to get Marden’s where it is today. I bet he did.
I don’t know, I’m pretty sure Mickey Marden was more the “cash and carry” type…
I bet Paul LePage signed more than a few notes on behalf of Marden’s.
He might have, but I bet Mickey didn’t
Yes
The only money I ever borrowed was for the house I built. Had the mortgage for 11 years and paid it off early.
The real comparable scenario would be, if you had a shakey job, poor economy, were mortgaged to the huilt, you owed more than your house is worth, would you go out and take yet another home equity loan to go on a vacation or buy something stupid? That is what liberals want to do. BTW, go visit Dave Ramsey, he will explain it for you.
Per Romney, the question I ask is how many jobs did he create versus fail to maintain.
I bet he saved more jobs with his firm and the unions cost their workers their jobs by being inflexiable.
If you want to talk policy failure go look at Bubba Clinton, the lib who pushed NAFTA thru and cost millions of american working in Manufacturing their jobs!
Negotiations on NAFTA began in 1986 during the administration of Ronald Reagan. George H. W. Bush signed ceremonially in December, 1992 before Bill Clinton signed the final version. 166 Republican congressmen voted for the final version along with 129 Democratic congressmen. NAFTA was a truly bi-partisan effort.
Why didnt Bill veto it, and your full of dung, you dont ceremonially sign a Bill. Rememeber Perrot lambasting CLinton on the Job Sucking Sound during the debates, that was priceless when he exposed Bubba for his liberal lies!
Go to http://familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/George_Herbert_Walker_Bush_%281924%29/Biography for a picture of George Bush, Brian Mulroney of Canada, and Carlos Salinas of Mexico at the signing. (President Bush is smiling.) I remember H. Ross Perot describing the sucking sound in the 1992 debates. The Republican candidate at the debates was George Herbert Walker Bush under whose administration NAFTA negotiations were taking place.
Does it bother you that Republicans were party to NAFTA? Is that why the reference to dung?
Here is a picture of George Bush, Bill Clinton, and Ross Perot at the 1992 debates. They’re all smiling. President Bush actually looks like he’s giving a good horse laugh. He was probably saying, “Good one, Ross!”
http://www.history.com/photos/george-bush/photo18
Bain Capital put up $18 million to buy KB Toy, borrowing $287 million. Sixteen months later, Bain Capital paid itself a dividend of $85 million. Two years later KB Toy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in part because of debt. Maybe KB Toy wouldn’t have survived anyway, but that $85 million Bain Capital paid itself couldn’t have helped. I like the term often applied to companies like Bain Capital, vulture capitalism.
I understand Dave Ramsey’s advice. It isn’t exactly rocket science. But timely investment also brings rewards. Take poor highway maintenance for example. Do you save money by not doing it? Of course not. We all pay more in the long run, and not really that long. Car repair, extra cost of moving goods around, lost revenue opportunity, maybe even paying for road rage add up quickly. A well-ordered society, while seemingly expensive, is cheaper to operate than the alternative.
Bonds are awesome for people who don’t pay taxes anyway (aka: freeloaders). For those of us who pay taxes, we understand that voting for a bond is the exact same as voting for a tax increase.
Thank you Governor Paul LePage!!!
Maybe just maybe if John Baldacci didn’t bond 500 millon dollars a year there would be money around to do some projects. We will be paying Back JB’s bonds for the next 20 years…
P.S. Where are all the jobs “today” that were created by John Baldacci jobs bonds yesterday. Gone because these bonds create temp. jobs. When JB got into office we 2.2 billon in debt when he left office we were 14 billon in the hole..
From 2003 to 2011, John Baldacci’s terms as governor, state and local spending increased from $9.2 billion to $11.7 billion. That works out to be a 3% increase per year, not much different than inflation during those years. From 2011 to 2012, state and local spending has gone up to $12.2 billion, a 4% increase. That one should go to Paul LePage.
Thanks for thinking of us Gov. I’m with you all the way!
So dose that mean no bonds for roads ??
The CEO of the State of Maine is behaving like a CEO. Thank you Governor LePage for making the hard choices your predecessors have not been willing to make for fear of political fallout. You are not a politician. You are a businessman and leader and that is precisely why you garnered my vote. Keep it up!
A couple things wrong with that. 1. The State of Maine and her citizens are not a business. The State isn’t Mardens, and the people aren’t goods on a shelf. 2. The downside of being an unpopular governor is when you lose re-election you lose to someone who is too far in the opposite direction. Pandering to the 1% is going to cost LePage, and the 99% are going to go too far the other way in the next election cycle if LePage doesn’t moderate himself.
A good CEO needs to make good investments. To delay critical infrastructure investments now is not good leadership.
At first glance not spending money we don’t have sounds great. But part of the reason we have no money is because of tax cuts for the wealthy or in Repub speak JOB CREATORS.
Bonding road and infrastructure projects now means getting money at a cheap rate. We need to get going on improving our roads and bridges. The longer we wait the more expensive it will be. We also suffer daily because of the poor condition of roads and bridges.
Infrastructure jobs put real money into the pockets of workers. The multiplier effect is around 40%. That means that money is spent locally and benefits the entire local economy. We need better roads and we need jobs. Spend now when money is cheap to borrow and create jobs now when they are needed.
YES ! YES ! YES !!!!!!
The problem I see is with his blanket statements. Some bonds are good, some bonds are bad. If we are using bonds to deal with our crumbling infrastructure that is a good thing. With the state of our infrastructure we are passing on debt to our children either way. If we do not fix them someone will have to pay later. If we can borrow cash and fix those roads today for a much cheeper interest rate today then we are saving our selves future money.
It is all about what these bonds are for and blanket statements obscure the truth of the debate.
When are some Mainers going to realize there is no “money printing” machine in Augusta? That’s Washington,DC.
Stop spending.
Stop borrowing.
Pay off the outstanding debts.
No bonds until there is adequate surplus revenue to pay the debt service.
Let’s see. He wants to take away revenue by giving tax cuts to the wealthiest, then complains that investments that benefit everyone – in roads, wastewater treatment plants, etc. – must wait until the budget is balanced. Are regular taxpayers missing the sleight of hand here? He is taking from the middle class and giving to the rich – and then holding all of us hostage until we give him more of what he wants. This is not governing, it’s bullying, and it’s bad public policy.