AUGUSTA, Maine — Two powerful moderate Republicans in the Maine Legislature are calling on Gov. Paul LePage to apologize for comments he made last week alleging corruption by midlevel managers in state government.
Sen. Roger Katz of Augusta and Rep. Patrick Flood of Winthrop — the co-chairmen of the Appropriations Committee — each released statements on Monday in response to remarks LePage made last week at a town hall forum in Newport. The comments referred to middle management as being “about as corrupt as you can be.”
“For our governor to question their integrity, to essentially call them morally depraved — look it up — is demeaning and inexcusable,” Katz wrote on Monday. “I respectfully suggest that those comments are not worthy of the chief executive. To date, he has resisted calls from many of us to apologize for what he said, and we hope he will change his mind.
“But in the meantime we can certainly speak for ourselves and suggest this kind of wholesale attack on good Maine people is wrong and has no place in this building.”
Katz said that a large percentage of state workers live within his district and he considered many of them to be his neighbors and friends. He pointed out that some make less than they could in the private sector and stay because they believe in public service.
Flood’s statement was not immediately available but his colleagues on the Appropriations Committee said its message was similar.
The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
After LePage’s remarks drew criticism late last week, the governor did draft a letter Friday to members of the Maine State Employees Association in which he attempted to clarify his comments.
But the letter did not include an apology.
“When my administration came into office, we promised Maine people we would not settle for the status quo,” he wrote. “The culture of state government needed to change from ‘no’ to ‘can do!’ Many of you have taken this to heart and are doing great things for the people of Maine.
“However, for whatever reason, some employees have not come on board. Roadblocks have been put up, hurdles have been thrown in the way, and information has not been passed up to senior management. Those employees want to keep doing the same thing because it was always done that way. Quite frankly, that attitude is unacceptable. In my opinion, it shows that they have been corrupted by the bureaucracy.”
LePage then accused union bosses of telling employees to “ride it out.”
The comments were the latest in a bitter battle between the LePage administration and the MSEA, the state’s largest union. A protracted fight over a new collective bargaining agreement has persisted for months and is likely to be settled through court proceedings.
The MSEA was the first group to take exception to LePage’s latest comments.
“All Mainers can take great pride in the men and women who work for the state of Maine,” Ginette Rivard, the union’s president, said in a statement Friday. “These public workers do important work for all Maine people. For Gov. LePage to call them ‘corrupt’ is baseless and insulting to every public worker who has dedicated their lives to making Maine a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
In addition to the MSEA, some Democrats last week called the governor’s rhetoric out of line. Sen. Dawn Hill, D-Cape Neddick, said Mainers deserve leaders who work for them, not against them.
“The governor’s negative name calling is unacceptable and unprofessional,” Hill said. “He is making unfounded accusations against hardworking Mainers. His divisive rhetoric must end and the conversation must return to a place of civility.”
The Democratic response was predictable, but Republicans calling out their governor has been relatively rare since LePage took office.
It was about one year ago that a group of eight Senate Republicans called out LePage in an OpEd that ran in several daily newspapers.
That response came on the heels of a string of controversial comments made by LePage during the first part of his tenure in office.
“We feel compelled to express our discomfort and dismay with the tone and spirit of some of the remarks coming from him,” the piece read. “Were this an isolated incident and not a pattern, we would bite our collective tongues, because we are all human. But, unfortunately, such is not the case. We feel we must speak out.
“By demeaning others, the governor also discourages people from taking part in debating the issues of the day — worrying if not only their ideas, but they themselves as people, will be the subject of scorn.”
Katz was one of the primary authors of that OpEd, but it was signed by Sens. Nichi Farnham of Bangor, Brian Langley of Ellsworth, Tom Saviello of Wilton, Chris Rector of Thomaston, Thomas Martin of Benton, Earle McCormick of West Gardiner and Roger Sherman of Houlton.
LePage did soften his tone somewhat after the OpEd was published.
It is sad what Republican extremists are doing, using hate language to attack teachers, government worker and anyone else that is a politically advantageous target.
I never thought I’d see the day that people would follow hate-mongers and bullies like LePage, who are tearing down the middle class, driving us all deeper into poverty (except the rich), and making us fight each other bitterly.
Sad and also monstrous.
I have had some very positive feed back from a couple republicans . We need to start looking at what Reps. Do not represent the people of Maine and only thier party of choice . Get those ones out of office . Most DEMs and Republicans both seem to play the same game. Take a long look at voting records on real issues and you can see some are just yes men to there Party
you are right about yes men and from lepages comments he only wants yes men.
Yes pressure is put on are Reps. Some are decent people on both sides. I do not hate Lepage or anyone else for that matter I respect that he thinks what he is doing is right. But not letting the people of Maine decide what we want will be his downfall. Some people mean well but just do not have a clue what they are talking about on some things. The ones loyal to Lepage to no end will be voted out and Lepage will lose power. To bad he dose not want to listen to the people he could make great changes if he was not so pig headed.
LePage has a lot of supporters who have not forgotten the liberal
policies of the past 40 years that put this state in debt, rob it of
jobs and its economy, and supported abortion on demand policies.
Yes replace any decent paying jobs with low wage ones. I am not saying the liberals are right. I am just sayng bringing a home depot or walmart is not keeping money in this state. If people needed hard ware we would have gone to a local store . The onwer would live in this state more the most part. Still same amount of workers(more part time) . Just profits leave the state.
Bob, I appreciate your apparent effort to appease the left-wingers in this venue. I can tell you however that you are wasting your breathe mostly. I’ve learned to direct my comment to more open-minded readers who might take the time to read the comments, not so much to those who are merely reacting to the news of the day. The latter will always find a way to negate your input no matter how up-to-the-point it might be. Therefore, after Day Two of posting I think whatever I post has little if any favorable impact.
Its most radical on Eric Russel’s opinion hit pieces that attempt disguise as reporting. Especially ones with the most negative headlines.
An obvious post that uses Tea Party (and variants) or Fox News (and variants), I found not worthy of response.
LePage considers any one that disagrees with him as the enemy.
The latest example? Disbanding the Maine Advisory Council on the
Education of Children with Disabilities, after they questioned some of his policies. Of course, he did it under the guise of following
federal guidelines. If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.
Tea Party Paul is a one man wrecking crew dismantling the Republican party of Maine. I could tolerate that, however at the rate he’s going it looks like he’s actually attempting to bring down every person in Maine along with our reputation as hard working and honest New Englanders as well. I’m certainly at least being embarrassed by this man on a weekly basis. How bout you folks?
To bad I know my state rep(R) personally she listens to what I have to say . We will not agree on everything . But will listen and take any issues seriously. Its is not as simple as DEM =good REP=bad . They are good people in a tough position . Before we just vote ever republican out lets see what ones seriously consider issues. The who partison fighting will only divide us people great people and take away from the real issues. We need someone that can bring us together. Even people I do not like I can find things we agree on in the real world.
Of course you have a point about the good/bad thing. However it’s also a fact that Mr. LePage would be powerless if he didn’t have House and Senate majorities right now. This man needs to go or be made powerless as soon as possible. Your/our first chance to do that is in November. I strongly encourage people who are a bit/or a lot frightened by LePage’s actions, inactions, and absurd comments to consider voting as many Republican and Tea Party members out of office. That may not be fair to some good people but we simply can’t risk giving Mr. LePage more power over us for the next two years. He needs a reality check! We need new leaders and a new Governor. One that represents us well here and on the national level rather than constantly tearing us down.
You told Bob he has “a good point about the good/bad thing”. But then everything else about your comment negates that belief when you continue to put down the governor! Isn’t there a contradiction here?
I’ve known hundreds of state reps “personally”………and they always seem to make sure that you are informed and that they care about your interest……..right?
I worked at the state house for many years…….they come and go. Each and every one of them have an agenda, they all want to “do what I was elected to do”…..but it doesn’t work that way….It’s about compromise, not about altercation and adversity.
I’ll put it like this, if you come into the Legislature thinking you are gonna hit a home run….you are LUCKY if you even get a double. And if you do get an extra base hit, the leadership will take credit for getting the proposal through. The Legislature is no different than anything else, you have to earn your way. The Governor is the same….get it?
An example: Jerome Emerson, a republican asked me to give him a ride downtown to get his car. I respected Senator Emerson very much. I gave him a ride to go fetch his car. I respected him; later that night and according to Senate rules, he made the motion for Sine die. Which is the closure of a session……..latin for “another day”. During my drive with him, we talked about kids, family….parents and history. It doesn’t have to be the way that it is…….hate, and discontent yields, ….hate and discontent. I still respect Senator Emerson, irregardless if I’m a Dem, and he was a Rep……he was a very honorable man.
I am not saying we can make them change a vote . Or should be mad if they do not vote for what we want. I am saying if we the people let them see on human terms how these things directly affect people of there district . Not the propaganda from both parties . They might be better informed . LD 1833 Has some good points to it. The point I have made if it will serve to put more people from Maine out of work. Only requiring one lic to 2 helpers. When an out of state company build say a Walmart like building they will not have to hire as much help from this state. Because they will need fewer lic. and will further drive down wages in this state. It will not in any way make jobs. You can like and respect people as people . It dose not mean you have to vote for even your best friends.
LD 1833 is a good bill, and I agree that it provides training and opportunities. However, it is not a jobs bill. I welcome any progress towards job training and education, I also respect your passiveness and willingness to work with others.
A jobs bill is not in this governor’s forecast, he can’t seem to get it through his head that he needs to do many things in different angles towards the same goal, jobs…. Kissing business butt is not going to provide jobs. While I write this, I’m thinking of a jobs bill; why doesn’t Maine just say to those selling gas at the pumps, no more self serve. It’s a cost to small (not really small, considering Dysarts and Irving), but it’s a jobs proposal!
It may be a good bill for kids looking to get into a lower paying trade . If you are a licensed electrician looking for work it is not a good bill. It may also be good for bigger businesses but will do nothing to make more jobs just .
Sorry for my lack of understanding, but the example you gave about Sen. Emerson was unclear to me. You gave him a ride in your car, he made a motion to close the session, and you still respect him. Huh? Did I miss something?
You would miss it. It’s a story about people being people, It’s about respect and cooperation, not everything is tied into politics nor should it be. The eldest senator always gives sine die, that’s the senate’s way of demonstrating respect. One of the keys to success in a political environment is the ability to respect your opponent’s abilities and position, and realize that the opposition is just as human as you are.
We now have a governor that respects…………………absolutely no one. I’m not very proud of that, nor am I satisfied or content with it. He is not a statesman, he’s not effective nor is he leading.
Thanks — I guess I was trying to make a connection betweeen those apparently unconnected events, such as “I gave him a ride in my car, he closed the session, and I still respect him.” Yes, I agree with you that mutual respect is necessary, and it seems to be going out of style. I also agree with you that it appears that Gov. LePage has no respect for anyone. Many of his followers get their opinions from hate-talk radio, where respect and compassion are not words that are used, nor are they understood.
I appreciate your non partisan message. It’s good for our State, good for our Country.
LOL…the hyperbole hath spilleth over!!!
Well, don’t let the rest of the TeaRadicals off the hook. They are mostly going right along with all of it. Most of them vote with LePage and his agenda most of the time. Show no quarter. We will vote MANY of these TeaRadical disasters out of office in a big way come November.
I don’t think the Republican Party exists in it’s old form. It has been drained of life by the parasite Tea Party with the added help of Heritage Center and ALEC.
If he manages to upset people like yourself as much as he does, then he must be doing something right.
Relax, you’ve got nearly 3 more years of his administration. He is doing what he was elected to do, and most people realize that. If you wish to run a campaign against him don’t waste your breath until before the next election. Right now what concerns Maine people are the real issues of jobs and the economy. The only people who are giving you “likes” are the ones that will never vote for him.
Is it fair, in your opinion for us to ask for a jobs bill? Or is that coming at the end of this “nearly 3 more years of his administration”?
What’s the fixation with you being concerned about “likes”? How do you know that the only people who agree are what you describe?…………You don’t. Grow up.
Here is one of their biggest problems. These legislators are on the
record voting fin favor or some very good bills, that were vetoed by the
governor , then flip flopping and voting against their own original
vote and helping to sustain LePage’s veto.
They are enablers of the governor and have suddenly realized that their
opponents have all the ammunition they need to run their campaigns
against LePage.
It is all too easy to point out that the legislators who were serial
enablers of LePage’s poor management and attacks on Maine values will
continue their anti Maine behavior if reelected.
Speaking out against the latest LePage rude outburst is good, but
probably too little too late. It certainly looks like they are jut
reacting to voter sentiments and did not display enough courage when it
counted most – with their votes.
Those very same flip floppers didn’t have the courage to face their voters and tell them how they responded to the annonymous poll.
The only logical thing to do in the Nov. elections is to assume that all the Republican representatives were polled and responded that they didn’t wish to reconvene and deal with the veto.
Spruce You need to look at who is wrighting all these laws . It is big Business . I am all for jobs and small local business . I am totally against the Walmarts and Home depots Driving the small local ones out of town. ALEC bills by are great republican leaders are the ones running this state.
WHEW! Thought we weren’t going to hear about ALEC on this one, too!
Apparently everyone else isn’t or else no one would shop there and Wal-Mart would go out of business. Why should small businesses be given all of the special circumstances while everyone else is restricted, regulated, and controlled? That doesn’t really seem fair.
You can pass all the laws you want, but you cannot mandate where people want to shop.
If 55 bd Gain rabbit ears they sold for digital TV is not the same as selling corn syrup saying it is maple syrup what is.? Selling fake maple syrup is punishable by 5 years in jail and is a felony. 55DB is almost What SEII can do . Amplifies the signal by roughly 650,000 times . We should get TV station at light years away . Fraud is Fraud and should be treated the same. Just saying when Walmart dose things they get away with it. If I started a small business and tried to pawn stuff off that is not what it says it is I would go to Jail.
YOU ALL VOTED HIM GREAT JOB MAINE DO IT AGAIN
Who is you all? He won by a split vote, by no means a man with a mandate.
Ya he dose not even want men who date to get married .
You like deregulation? Just not marriage deregulation. Got it.
We need regulation . Laws that are fair to workers and employers alike . Not laws that help big business while do nothing to help small business an hurt workers.
I will vote for him again!
So! You’re the one.
Yes, I was responsible!
Part of the EVIL 39%!!!!
Hurray for you. Helping the good state of Maine have a BUFFOON for a governor. You must be so proud.
I will vote for him as long as he keeps up grinding that edge and cutting the fat for taxpayers, I don’t want a feel good kind of governor or a weak governor, I want a GOVERNOR for maine, and LePage is governing and shaking things up.
There is a difference between stirring turds and action that is effective. If he’d put his mouth on a 30-second delay, his effectiveness would increase.
He can speak the truth without making 90% of us embarrassed for him.
I am part of the 10% who was not embarassed for him or for the state of Maine. The other 90% would rather have someone pussyfoot around, ignore the obvious for the sake of being nicey-nice & continue to let these crooks steal the taxpayers money.
Then you and the other ten percent can vote for him. I suspect that you will find the election to be a disappointment.
Obviously, there are only two possibilities here: be a mealy mouth, or be a complete jerk. It isn’t possible to be honest, straightforward, and courteous.
Exactly! Someone with a good set to bring all these “little indiscretions” by
these self proclaimed holier than & better than, more deserving than the hard working taxpayers of Maine to a screeching halt. I too will vote for him again.
The thing that I find strange is that it was only two republicans who asked for LePage to apologize for his slanderous remarks. I would have thought that any fair minded republican would have joined Mr. Katz and Mr. Flood. I guess they must still blindly support LePage and his childish behavior. I wonder how long it will take before some aggressive attorney starts bringing lawsuits against Mr. LePage? It would be interesting to watch him prove his accusations in court.
YOU THINK THERE IS NO CORRUPTION IN STATE GOV!? hahahahahahahahhaaha…..lol……hahaha
Where did I say that?
I think we all know where the corruption is in state Government. If you need any clarification just ask the Governor’s daughter and brother in law.
Ya. LeBUFFOON and the TeaRadicals are corrupt.
Only through the Democrats.
Drinking the governor’s cool aid are we?
Dream on, pal.
This is just more of the same. Voter fraud! Make a general accusation about a group they want to target as being against them .When they had to find specific they couldn’t. He’s using the tar brush on all of these people. Give specific examples of what and who and then proceed to prove it. This is a group he doesn’t like and it’s his way of getting at the union again. If he has proof, produce it. I would think corruption would be a firing offense. If he feels they are corrupt , give them a chance to defend themselves. That’s not his way, by not specifying what and who, they don’t have a chance to prove him wrong. They are being tried in the court of public opinion without the benefit of proving him wrong.
it’s not that there isn’t corruption, there is all over the place, it’s that he’s making these allegations against a large group of people, just because they don’t agree with him.
You are right and LePage is living proof
If you have even one tiny bit of actual evidence of corruption, bring it out and that person will be out of work and in jail tomorrow. If you don’t have any evidence, then you owe all the state workers an apology. Put up or shut up.
How about state offices sending out checks to vendors for nothing, just so they could keep there budgets for the next fiscal year. Then the vendors send the money back. That is documented under Baldy’s admin. NOTHING HAPPENED!
Yes! It begins with LePage’s Administration!
the rest of them are mealy mouthed chickens who are afraid to speak up/out against the governor.
And do you collect your welfare check monthly.
Given your user name, we can tell you collect your welfare check monthly.
I almost didn’t dignify your question with a response, but no, I have worked all my life. As a retiree, you are probably now living off the contributions of the younger workers. It doesnt take too many years of collecting social security to get your investment back.
@schmidlap Umm lets see…when I was working I made on average $2200.oo per week..now receiving only $698.00 per month in SS…how do you figure anyone is getting their investment back!!?? Just under a third of my weekly pay checks, monthly!! Hmpff….it’s going to be a very long time before I see my investment of time and hard labor returned. Might not live that long…do the math!!
its not your wages i am talking of, its your contribution to FICA. now you do the math.
you have to admit i have a valid point…i didnt work all those years to be in the poorhouse now. in one year i payed about $102142 .00 in FICA x14 years at aprox 12.4% ..now I get back only $8376 annually in ss….still going to take a very long time.
Your math is drastically off. For one thing, FICA is 6.25% or less (depends on the year). It is also only assessed on the first 100k of income or less. You clearly are either inventing numbers or have no real concept of how much you paid in and how much you are getting back.
How many weeks did you average that rate of pay? In one year you exceeded SS contributions. You also need a number of years working to max out your SS payment. Your statement of receiving 698/month is misleading.
Not to mention the fact that what he claims he made in a year is 105k and he has no savings to speak from? You either are lying or never saved any money and therefore it’s you’re own fault. By the way my mother is on SS and she makes 800 a month and made FAR LESS than you did a week…So I think we know what the answer here is.
the answer here is that while MOST of the trucking companies I worked for, reported…there were also quite a few that did not….in all those years many of the companies that did not report are no longer in business ….it would take a good lawyer too many years of research to find all those who did not and get the info needed…..there to fore I am NOT receiving for a lot of what I actually payed out. :( But it’s neither here nor there, as this news article is about LiePage and his name calling and finger pointing tactics. And I believe he owes some people an apology.
If they did not report, it is your duty to report. Just because you tried to skip out on paying taxes does not give you the right to whine about your small SS now.
Peacetalker your point is completely invalid in several different ways. If you made that much where was your savings? What happened to all of that money? That’s almost 9,000 a month, that’s 105k per year. It’s your own damn fault you have no money because you wasted it.
What you paid into SS is what you get period, you’re not entitled to anything else.
If you were making 2200 a week dont you kind of think you should be taking care of your own retirement needs and let the govt help the less fortunate out. Redistribution is what its all about right??
As a retiree, I am collecting some of the $224,000 that I have paid in social security in the 46 years I worked. With a life expectancy of 66.5 years, the system will keep about half of the money that I paid in. Too many of you guys listen to Fox, and the other idiots. Social security was paying 6% interest, unto about 2009, it dropped to 4% then.
It is an entitlement. I am entitled to the money that I and my employer paid into the system. I only regret that I won’t get more of it back. Those figures are based on a lifetime salary of 30K, using the SSI index for calculation of benefits.
If the government had not robbed SS and replaced the cash with IOU’s, the system would be fine.
By the way schmid, it would take over 25 years for me to get the whole $224,000 that I paid in, not counting the interest that was paid. It’s pretty obvious you just repeat what you hear like a parrot, and don’t go to the trouble to actually figure out what has happened.
By the way, when we baby boomers die out, the system will become solvent again. It is a big glitch that was originally covered until the govt. raided the cookie jar….
So, us older guys are not on the backs of the younger people, we will be dead at least 20 years before they are eligible to draw benefits.
Have never been on welfare and am not a state worker, but Gov put his foot and his mouth and maybe one of these times he won.’;t be able to get it out and we will not have to listen to anymore of his insults on the poor, disabled, elderly or al lthe hard workers in the State of Maine – not ony state employees.
I assume that means you refuse to accept medicare or medicaid, and you never use your senior citizen’s discount while shopping, and you tear up all your social security checks, right?
The rest of ’em are his enablers, and the quickest way to curb his foolishness is to replace them with legislators who will do it.
Mr Flood, like Mr Katz, has a lot of state workers living in his district.They both would like to get re-elected.
Not true. Mr. Flood is not running for re-election. Nice try though.
It’s getting difficult finding Republicans who are not card carrying members of the hard right. There are only a handful of Republians in Congress who haven’t signed the Grover Norquist pledge.
It’s a sad day when people are elected to represent theire constituents and then they have to check with their handlers before they can make any decisions.
What is really funny in a bad sort of way is that they sell out their office and the people who elected them to special interest. I just read an article about the freshmen republicans in congress that ran on stopping bail outs and who are now taking large campaign donations from the very same banks that got bailed out. Then they have the gall to turn around and call other people corrupt. LePage is a lot of things but stupid is not one of them he knows his administration is a total failure so what does he do. Exactly what all tea party republicans do when they run out of excuses for their own incompetence. They blame someone else for their failures. I guess it’s just what the typical tea party politician does.
Perhaps that’s exactly what the state employees should do, take Gov. LaPage to court for his slander. He has made unsubstantiated claims of corruption & should be taken to task for it. Maybe after being forced to payout a substantial sum, for making accusations without factual evidence, the Gov. will learn to put his brain in gear before putting his mouth in motion, a habit he too often fails to do.
he turned tail n ran fast when he came to n.maine
Maybe if the state workers took the gov to court, it might bite them in the butt. Wake up and look around you
Hate language? Please be more specific. Oh, the governor called some state workers “corrupt”, or did he? I thought he stated they had been corrupted by the system. That’s not even name calling, and besides, it looks like he might be right after all. But, it’s politics as usual. His opponents are only too happy to make an exaggerated claim to discredit him (nothing unusual here). Where’s the respect for truth here? Or do his opponents know what “truth” means. This scenario reminds me all too much of Pontius Pilate’s denial of Christ when he asked rhetorically, “And what is truth?”
Yes, “Sad and also monstrous”, to used your phrase, but not for the reason you imply.
With LePage’s callow, ignorant, and undeserved insults to state middle management employees, followed by a very non- credible, shallow letter to all state service employees, he digs himself deeper as someone who should not be taken seriously and that is the shame of the matter. Instead of creating new definitions of ‘corrupt’, he should man-up, admit his error and apologize.
Only two Republicans call him out on his dishonor to Maine and her public state servants, their families, and the people they serve.
The governor explained some state employees are being insubordinate. That’s a form of corruption. The Bangor Daily News needs a new dictionary. I can tell you this is a political ploy used by his detractors like this newspaper organization. If anyone is guilty of name calling, it’s the Democrat Party. This is a classic example of the kettle calling the pot black.
Sorry, that’s BS and you are misinformed or uninformed.
From your reply I wouldn’t be surprise to find out you’ve never been a government employee.
He said what he said quite clearly in Newport. He has no problem expressing what he’s thinking. Read it yourself.
Now comes the standard explanation of ” what I really meant was ( insert spin control here). In this case he wants to redefine the meaning of “as corrupt as can be”. Doing that and avoiding an apology is low, disingenuous, and not honest.
It might even be plausible except for his track record of continuous insults.
Corruption is defined as dishonesty.
Insubordination is not a synonym for the word corruption but low and behold, nepotism is.
Ayuh, now that’s irony.
Can the nepotism BS
Did you forget JFK ? The biggest one in government ever ! Or how about Gov Cuomo? His son now is governor!
I hope you aren’t suggesting that Liberals apply the same solution to Kennedy’s nepotism problem as his opponents took. That was a tragic end, for the entire country.
That being said, if it’s “corrupt” when Kennedy did it, if that’s your complaint, then you’d have to agree it’s no better than LePage did it, wouldn’t you? And if it’s your position that it’s okay when LePage did it, then it would have to be okay when Kennedy did it, and presumably, you have no problem with Kennedy’s actions.
Or, is it somehow different, you know, ’cause you say so…
What don’t you understand about “Can the nepotism BS” ?
What don’t you understand about “No.”?
Yeah, how ‘ bout that John Quincy Adams fella, yeah.
Hiring one’s college graduate daughter to work for peanuts is nepotism? My dictionary defines “nepotism” as: “the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, esp. by giving them jobs.” I hardly think he favored his daughter given the mere $40,000 annual salary offer. More than likely he hired her because she was up to the task as one of his campaign aids, not because of their familial relationship.
Employee insubordination is indeed a form of corruption. Again, my dictionary defines “corrupt” as: “to cause to act dishonestly in return for money or PERSONAL GAIN; also, to cause to become morally depraved.”
Besides, refusal to support an organization’s mission is grounds for firing.
Spin away there.
You can have your own opinion but you cannot have your own facts.
While your at it, check out a Thesaurus for synonyms of “corruption”.
In truth he said middle management was “as corrupt as can be”. It was only in the back-peddling statement by Adrienne Bennett and in his spin letter to state employees that the administration tried to explain his statement away by saying he meant they had been “corrupted” rather than that they were corrupt. There is a world of difference between the two uses of the word. LePage’s opponents have no need to exaggerate about him as the truth is harmful enough.
Is middle management so thin-skinned it can’t take any criticism? Maybe the governor has a valid point after all. As a former government employee I’ve seen plenty of insubordination by disgruntled employees who abused sick leave, dragged their feet, and refused to cooperate. And guess what? The union supported this misbehavior.
Do you like being called corrupt? How do you respond to being called corrupt?
I always welcomed constructive criticism. If I was not performing to the best of my ability and someone pointed this out to me and had a solution, they gained not only my respect but gratitude. If however they just berated me with unfound accusations they received my utmost scorn.
The LePage Administration appears to be accusing some middle management employees of refusing to implement directives coming from above while using the union for cover. If that’s the case there is certainly a serious breach of duty going on. It should not be tolerated. I doubt the governor would make a charge of corruption unless he felt it was warranted. As I stated earlier, corruption – be it a slow down, abuse of sick leave, or lack of cooperativeness – by state or federal employees is nothing new, and in some cases, par for the course.
Incidentally, the administration did not say employees are not performing to the best of their ability. What appears to be going on is worse than fair performance.
Since you seem to have more information than Governor LePage or Ms. Bennet seems to wish to share, maybe you could bring forth the specific incidents that seem to have the Governor so upset that he would make a blanket accusation.
Is the Governor making demands that are clearly not compliant with the contract that the employees are working under? Is he handing down orders that do not comply with work practices and standards? These are questions that come to mind but they are only speculation.
Once again the Governor has made a blanket statement, as is his usual practice, without supplying the specifics that could possibly explain the reason for his statement. He has in the past assumed that he was following a mandate from the citizens by acting on one annonymous e-mail.
Look up the word “completely.” Then use it with “corrupt”.
triangulation… worked for Clinton…it will work for Farnum, Katz, etc.
Using hate language is pretty much a characteristic of everyone with a political opinion. Besides, due to how the system is setup there is a tendency for there to exist a lot of corruption in government, be it politicians or other workers.
its time to recall this so called governor
Unfortunately, he’s right in stigmatizing the workers who have been corrupted by the bureaucracy of the government. Difficult language, and he could have chosen less polarizing words, but he is right.
I may not agree with their politics but I have to admit that Roger Katz of Augusta and Rep. Patrick Flood of Winthrop continue to impress me as LEADERS. They can ask but shouldn’t hold out much hope for a LePage apology. Mr. LePage is the kind of guy that never thinks he’s made a mistake and lacks the self-confidence to be able to admit it even if he ever did eventually come to comprehend that he’s made a clear error. Think of all the nutty things he’s already said in the last year and a half in office. Did he ever apologize for any of it? Nope. They might as well be asking their favorite family pet to use the indoor bathroom facilities. Never going to happen.
Well I think that some republicans will be voted out next election . Rep. Andry Cushing Needs to go along with all his ALEC bills that do nothing to help the people of Maine.
VOTE HIM IN AGAIN
I think it speaks volumes that members of his own party are trying to reign him in twice in a little over a year! And his letter to “clarify” his comments was laughable. It read like a memo to retail store employees. Someone needs to tell him he’s not running a podunk store anymore!
Two Republicans. That’s it.
Sad.
That may be the only true republicans left.
I am Impressed with Gary Knight.
Thank you moderate GOP members. I applaud you.
GREAT MAINE REP WAY TO GO
Yes, all 2 of them.
—–
The gov’s comments are unAmerican…. Period. No Patriotic American from John Hancock to George HW Bush has used language like this on his fellow Americans. Get him the heck out of here!!
The “MAN” speaks the truth, you just can’t handle the truth! Tell it like it is Paul.
Sister Marge? Didn’t the Vatican tell you to spend less time on the poor and more time condemning gay marriage and abortion?
He needs to have proof before making such comments. When he doesn’t it makes him look like what he is, a damn fool.
He along with Mainers have 40+ years of proof of how Democrats have corrupted these folks and State Government in general. He is being nice to these folks if I was him I would have fired these folks a very long time ago. I wouldn’t have taken their BS. LePage should have gone in been confrontational with these losers and do like Regan did with the Unions in 1981 that was on strike fire all of the ones who refuse to do their jobs. All of these Unions in Maine have had their way for decades under Democrats at the expense of the Maine Taxpayer. They still are trying to do it now. It’s time to do what is right for the Maine Working Person and Maine Taxpayers fire these gutless human beings.
Then why not go directly to them and fire them? Why just make claims from the Nokomis High gymnasium?
And why not show some evidence of all these accusations you make? And while you are at it, why not come out from under the cover of your moniker? After all, if we are all going to vote for you so that you can show us how it is done, we are going to need to know who you are.
I can hardly wait – the “darkcat33 administration”, led by the guy/gal who can be even more LePage than LePage.
Buddy, Your beginning to scare me with your post. Maybe you need to be on The Homeland Security watch list. Maybe you already are………………..??
you, I don’t care what you think.
So according to you anyone who belongs to a union and is employed by the State of Maine is a gutless human being? You use an even broader brush then your hero LePage. Oh and the least you could do is spell Ronald Reagan’s name correctly.
You sure don’t talk like a working person.
How do you manage to get away with calling state workers “gutless human beings?”
You and Le Page must share the same tea bag.
So…if the people of the State of Maine – from 1860 into the 1950s solidly Republican – through free elections vote primarily for Democrats the past 3-4 decades that is currupt? I think that is the proper excercise of democracy.
As a former Republican who first volunteered in Barry Goldwater’s Presidential campaign, I know why I left the GOP, and LePage, the Maine Heritage Policy Center and their ALEC-connected funders seem to be driving more moderates out of that party.
example: MAINE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY, MAINE HOUSING, among others..
The guy at the MTA who was corrupt was the very TOP management, not middle management and he could not have belonged to the union if he wanted to.
There is an audit going on at Maine Housing, nothing has been proven and may or may not be when the audit is done.
Most middle managers don’t either.
That’s not what he’s talking about, he’s talking about, mid management, and below, one person, MTA (that was outed by a Democrat by the way.)
I have been a contractor building homes in the private sector, and I have volunteered many hours in support of affordable housing for lower income/working families. I have observed the workings of the MSHA for decades. Both by observation and through an understanding of the many state and federal audits that have been done over the past years, I do not expect to see any evidence of corruption or malfeasance on the part of the former Director.
I have met with this Governor on several occasions and have also broken bread with Bruce Poliquin. There is very little doubt in my mind that the two of them deliberatively set out to malign and attack Dale McCormick, whether for her political affiliation, her gender orientation, or just because they could. And in a small group discussion I was part of last Spring in South Portland, LePage essentially said as much. IMHO, their actions are both malicious and damaging to the integrity of the MSHA, and to its mission.
There is a reason why Democrats and Republicans worked together to establish a range of quasi-independent agencies, and that was to remove them from exactly this sort of politicization…
And this is an example of why more and more reasonable people are doing as I have done, and are leaving the Republican Party.
Have you ever looked up the definition of ‘corrupt’?
the man is dead on….there is a lack of integrity in state government middle management
Prove it, that’s all he need to do before opened his mouth.
Buh-bye Teabillies.
Corruption is what the Governor sees in those who disagree with him because corruption is how he operates. After all successful CEO’s learn how to slip around laws and skate around rules to generate profits. He assumes that everyone else is as corrupt as he is, but believes he is better at it than everyone.
This is not a movie … this is real life and he has been caught is so many questionable statements I don’t believe he would know the trust if it came up and bit him ..
Are you joking? Rhetoric from both sides of the aisle has been over the top for the last 20 years. Using the word corrupt is hardly new. I’d like to see both sides show some manners, but save the faux rage until you hold everyone accountable.
Nice to see some politicians with manners…but they are wasting their breath if they think Mr. LePage even has a clue that he said something out of line.
if the shoe fits.. call it what it is. the governer is what we need to fix the fiscal mess we are in.
keep it up mr. governor
ummm – how succesful has he been, so far? And how successful is he going to be in the future now that his own party members smell his stink and are moving away?
Finely his own party is seeing lepenguin for what he is or else they can see the writeing on the wall as to whats gonna happen in november. PLEASE MR. LABOOF KEEP UP THE INSULTS YOU WILL GET RID OF YOURSELF.
Thank you,Senator, for standing up for state employees.
I’ve never felt as distant from the GOP as I have over the last 12 years or so. Not even through the Nixon fiasco. Their hate mongering has actually caused me to feel the same about them. Thus the polarization continues to escalate. Sadly this is happening at the expense of the United States of America. I think it started with Gingrich/Bohner and their contract with America in 1994.
You gotta give LePage credit. He doesn’t apologize for his extreme comments. He is a lousy politician and I doubt he will see a second term but the positive effects he will have on this state may stil prove notable. He is a wrecking ball.
IN MAINE HE WILL GET RELECTED
Well I will write but no doubt this Biased Democratic Nuisance media source will not let it stand.
I did not vote for the current Governor, Paul LePage, but I wished I had now.
After 4 decades of a ‘hand-out’ mentality and we’ll let the next person worry about governing style it is very refreshing to read, hear, and view someone with balls enough to call it like it has been for so long.
No longer is our state one of entitlement just because you can fill out a form get all the state aid you want. Or you have a cushy job working for the State. Separate the emotions and look at the facts. It is way past time for people to wake up and open their eyes, clean the ‘mud dobbers’ from their ear lobes that nested all winter and face the facts. The sooner the better for all of us.
No need for me to write anymore as it undoubtedly will end up in the delete pile.
Go Governor LePage!!! 2014, 4 more years.
Not a chance. You think all state workers are corrupt? Give some examples. And not the guy from the MTA, either – he was a gubernatorial appointee. LePage was talking about the workers, the people in the trenches. His adversarial positions and confrontational style might be effective in a dictatorship, but the last time I checked, this was not how things work around here. He can’t be gone fast enough to suit me, and a significant majority of the rest of the voters in the state feel the same way. Goodbye, Paulie.
the governor never said “all state workers are corrupt”…did not say that at all……as a matter of fact he actually said most were good, hard workers…….only that some were corrupt (or corrupted by the system)……..how about listening to the real facts not what you might be told was said?
The “real facts” are that Paulie claimed that some undefined segment of state workers are corrupt. He gave no evidence for any corruption, and did not point out any particular agency or division or group or individual among state workers, thereby smearing all state workers with the same stroke of his pen. The “real facts” are that not a single one of his Commissioners backs him up on this. The “real facts” are that if he had ANY evidence of ANY state worker being corrupt, that person would be out on the street faster than you can say Jack Robinson. The “real facts” are that Paulie is, as usual, talking without thinking (thinking is something he really is not well equipped to do) and making stuff up out of thin air. He cannot be gone soon enough to suit me, and about two million of my friends across the state. Come on, 2014, and goodbye Paulie.
two million friends across the state……..interesting……..they must all be voters as well, right?
GREAT MAINE KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK
22 “likes.” That’s about what he can expect for votes, next time around.
Go LePage brown-nosers!
MA-NE.net: Lawmaker rebukes, apology demand, (so far) of LePage “corrupt” comment geographically politically expedient…
Keep up the good work Gov. With an attitude like this you won’t stand a prayer of getting re-elected. It will be a great day for the State of Maine when this anti-worker slob is gone.
NOT IN MAINE
What he should do what Democrats do and that is get down on their knees and act like cowards to these folks. Say yes Unions we will give you every freebie you want. That is what has been going on for Maine for years. Until we tell the Unions to take a hike Maine will be at the bottom of the standings economically. Unions contribute nothing positive for Maine’s economy if they did Maine would be at the top. It is time for LePage to continue the crackdown on these folks and everyone who is living off Government.
Unions don’t get “Freebies”, these are just a figment of the less informed imaginations. Any rights or benefits union members get are all negotiated with and approved by their employers and the idea that unions somehow force their employers into accepting a deal they don’t want is another bunch of bulls–t. Please tell us how they would be able to do such a thing. If you look at our country’s history you will find that as union membership increases so does the economic health of our nation because there is a much greater influx of middle class income supporting our tax system. Only 7% of the workers in this country are unionized at this time and thats part of the reason our economy is faltering and that is why we have such a huge income gap between the rich and the poor. The fact that 45% of the working people in this country don’t make enough money to pay income taxes is a national shame and a huge drag on our economy.
The LePage bashers must not be aware that their hero FDR was against unionization of government workers. Even he saw where it would eventually lead.
Drivel.
Well, when only a third of the states populations does not receive any sort of government benefits, then it is pretty hard to elect or re-elect someone such as LePage. In turn, we will end up with someone like Libby Mitchell, and the great welfare state of ours will continue to get more and more out of control just like every other state in the union until we all collapse. There is nothing wrong with providing a hand up to those who need it, but when this many are receiving benefits you have a much more serious issue that needs to be addressed.
It is incredible how politically correct leftists and cloak-in-dagger RINOS will resort to any euphemism in a storm to avoid grappling with the truth. Governor LePage’s comments are dead on and accurate! Anyone who has had to deal with the State over the years can attest to the fact that the Bureaucracy is a political sanctuary for indolent hacks, and long overdue for an overhaul. And while there may be a dearth of professionally honest employees still remaining, we can yet be hopeful that they will come forth when given the opportunity to make things right with the people of Maine.
The Governor complemented most Maine State employees
but the liberals missed that part because each time he speaks they begin to whine.
So what you’re saying is that you don’t know what “euphemism” means. Give some examples of these corrupt workers you know so much about, and tell us why you haven’t reported their criminal acts. LePage can’t either, and none of his precious Commissioners will back him up on this latest round of BS. Typical RW process – get steamed about something you don’t like, make up “facts” to support your untenable position, and blame someone you don’t know the first thing about for causing a nonexistant problem. Goodbye, Paulie.
The fact that you use the term RINO shows me that you prefer politicians that support parties, not people. The voters put people in office, not the GOP. If you are telling all Mainers that they should vote a party not a person, you may find no Republicans in office.
I wonder how many libs posting here have ever voted for a Republican.
Oh Oh, Out of State money has spoken, sounds like Grover Norquist type response. Make sense:)
I’d be a conservative by any litmus test you wish to give me……assuming one can think cogently at least once every decade, and still be considered conservative.
And I cringe every time the erudite Governor LePage begins to speak.
When his cheerleaders realize that LePage is working 24/7/365 to bring you Hannah Pingree in 2014, I hope they’ll remember that they were warned.
Honestly, I think sometimes that LePage is in the pay of Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton. I cannot think of a better way to discredit the GOP than having the Tasmanian Devil we know as Paul LePage, as Governor.
I’d say Queeg is a great moniker for you. Have you found out who ate the strawberries yet?
Sometimes you get what you ask for. I don’t believe any democrat handed him the republican primary. That was you folks. You own him, not us.
Agree, Tom. I didn’t vote for him in the primary, because, unfortunately, my instinct was correct – he is a demagogue and an angry one. Nor did I vote for him in the general election. But he convinced enough of the angry mob, I guess. I think a couple other conservatives could have expressed many of his same ideas, but perhaps without causing an uproar every other day.
He did the best job of tapping into the voter anger, but has not gotten past the “getting elected” stage. Now he needs to govern. Making everyone an enemy is not my idea of a good plan for getting his agenda implemented.
No doubt some anonymous loudmouth will label me a RINO, and you know what? Maybe they are right. Once the 2014 election is past, and I have cast my primary vote in an attempt to make sure that Paul LeMouth is not re-nominated, then perhaps I will disenroll.
If my choice is between staying Republican, and making sense once in a while, I think I’d rather make sense.
You are certainly making sense here. I would say stay in your party and be true to what it traditionally stands for. It is not too late to purge the party and reset it’s course. Just as it did in the times of McCarthy and Nixon. I believe Senator Snowe has good plans for you folks. She will need your help.
Snowe and LePage are pals.
She will not need our help, she has made it clear she is not running for re-election.
Don’t be so sure. She wouldn’t be the first U.S. Senator to become Governor of their home state. She is very motivated to not only turn Maine’s republican establishment around but to also move the state as a whole to the sensible middle. She has always worked well with all factions and has vast support within her own party, within the democratic party, and certainly with independents. She is a shoe in if she is convinced to run.
Then you will have no problem revealing your name and providing us with specific acts of corruption and the corroborating evidence of that corruption.
The problem is that the governor is of course not sorry. Nor will he ever be sorry for any insult he blurts out before thinking. The man has the I.Q. of a Labrador Retriever. Does anyone expect anything different? Sorry if I offended any Lab owners.
My daughter’s Golden Retriever is somewhat like our Governor; he bares his teeth and barks without thinking about it for 1 second. Afterward he’s sorry-our Governor is not.
I disagree, I think the actions of the last two year prove that the governor is sorry. In fact, he is about the sorriest excuse for a human being and politician I have ever seen. Of course he will never realize it.
So funny . It is not his fault he is not smart enough to see his own bias. Perhaps anger towards his father that was a poor alcoholic ? When he got into the world of the elite and made it with help of the elite it turned towards contempt of the poor. What he dose not understand is a good part of the reason he is where he is today is Luck and help from a few along the way. Not everyone will get that lucky. The man should be in some serious counciling to deal with his issues . 3rd time married ? Makes you kind of feel bad for him with his mental heath issues.
I was unaware he has been married 3 times. Isn’t he a Catholic? I pity his wife and bet his previous two are glad to be rid of him!
GREAT MAINE
You’re giving Paulie way too much credit here.
My Labrador is POed at your comment. She has watched the gov. on TV as she has almost as hard a time as the gov. reading the paper.
I’m not sure he didn’t think.
Hold on there; Labrador retrievers are amicable, friendly dogs with a lot of intelligence.
NO WAY! My lab is far, far smarter than Lepgae. In fact, what my lab leaves on my lawn each morning is smarter than LePage. What a blowfish.
The halls in Augusta must be tense. I hope some Republicans can explain things to the Governor.
He hates them too! He’s a teapartier after all. Their whole existence is based on the fact they were dissatisfied with republicans and worked to hijack the party. The “rinos” just happen to be pushing back. After all they do constitute the vast majority of republicans. Personally I don’t feel sorry for them. They coddled and cajoled these jokers.
I love it when someone tells it like it is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you saying middle managers take bribes and are favored in getting what they want. . Money comes into politics by outside and outof state sources.
Hardly. My statement speaks for itself. Are you saying that lobbyists who pay our politicians are bribing them and are being favored in getting what THEY want? Do you favor “clean” elections and taking the lobby and pac money out of them?
The yes men need to go. I will fully support people who vote what they believe . But the ones that just go with the flow need to go. It is the Maine people that they are working for. Not ALEC and big business. Mr. Whip Andry Cushing Rep. Hamden I hope you get whipped in the next election. The Dems lost big last time . Now we will have a chance for a real balance.
Great poll question. How about this one tomorrow–
Can the leopard change his spots?
If there’s one branch of Maine government that can claim zero corruption in the past 10 years let them be the first to impeach the Governor for Libel/Slander. Which ever applies. {period}
What a nutty thing to say.
Dear Governor LePage:
The smartest thing you could do would be to go on television and say, “I was wrong. I do not promise that I will never make another mistake, but I will try and learn from this one, and will do my best not to repeat it.”
Your many cheerleaders will be dismayed, thinking that you will be showing weakness, but they are wrong. You will be displaying true strength.
Sending that letter made you appear weak and a blame-shifter.
Respectfully,
A Dismayed Conservative
Buddy you are not a Conservative, just dismayed. Hay, that could a tag line for another of your letters to the KJ , and those are VERY boring:)
Not very interested in impressing you, J. So hopefully the KJ stuff puts you right to sleep. Funny that you have read enough to be bored, though…..
Maybe when you wake up, you will realize that you’ve been had.
If I have to be a cheerleader for the Benito Mussolini wannabe, then I guess I would just as soon not be a conservative. It seems that some of you would like to make “conservative” a synonym for “brain dead.”
BuddySpaulding,
You are right, but he is not smart enough to do it. As a believer in democracy that serves everyone I would be truly scared if he developed that many smarts. Of course if he did, they would have to erase the strings controlling his actions.
Your must be certainly joking Buddy!
Most certainly, just like Senator Snowe is.
“Sending that letter made you appear weak and a blame-shifter.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Actually it proved it.
Agree, Tom, but trying to give the benefit of the doubt.
You are absolutely dreaming. This is never, ever going to happen. You’re gonna be dismayed forever. Next time try vetting someone rather than just lockstep voting for someone because they allegedly are “conservative.” Think beyond the labels for once.
I didn’t vote for him. So I don’t know what you are talking about. Sounds like that makes two of us.
Nor did I say anywhere that I vote based on a label, but the views that I have would be considered conservative by anyone objective.
I’m sorry I voted for the Tea Party, it won’t happen again.
Sadly many in Maine have forgot one true fact. Democrats are the ones who have destroyed our state for years. Gov. LePage is correct when calling out the massive corruption from both sides. The 2 year attack on LaPage by the ones now screaming again is par for the coarse. If the very thing that is hurting every Mainer is not stopped, where does it end? So before you insult our Governor for telling it like it is, one must ask themselves, has the past 40 years been good for all, or just the few? Keep fighting Gov Lepage for all of Maine, not just the few who are never happy.
We are now the slowest income growth of any state .The Dems were far from perfect . But the Dems are not owned by ALEC big business groups . The dems have ideas that that have intentions on helping the working class people . The republicans have ideas that are made to screw over workers but sound like they are for helping people.
Sorry Bob but you are only repeating the propaganda that has been going on for years in Maine. I have watched Democrats destroy our state for years. Standing with big labor unions, other countries and those who feel they deserve what others make. So now I ask you, what does insulting the GOP have to do with the corruption in our state? Nothing!!! You have your opinion and I have mine. Just remember this, Maine is in trouble because of the past 40 years of self-serving and yes corrupt people in our state gov’t
http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
I know all about ALEC. I’ll take them over the tides foundation, move on, Media Matters. Heck any left wing group that backs socialism and unions. See!!! Two can play this game. And again, that kind of propaganda has nothing to do with the massive corruption in Maine gov’t.
Here’s some one sided conservative websites you might like:
http://www.themainewire.com/
http://www.asmainegoes.com/
I think most working people or want to be working people would take socialism over what we have here. No rich but no poverty . Education for you kids , health care. Best schools in the world,lower crime . Take a look at FINLAND. Income about the same but have to work less hours for it. Socialism is far from perfect. That being said It is a whole lot better than having kids go hungry . Most get a fair education .
Planes leave daily, feel free to move there and let us have our constitutional republic that built this country in the first place. That way we can all work and help the ones that really need the help and not go broke giving to the ones who feel entitled.
When laws are written to benefit the rich . I have an issue with that . Laws should be fair . 5 years in jail for selling fake maple syrup . Then the owners of Walmart should be in Jail for life for all the stuff that is not what it says it is. Nothing against people making money. Just would like to see people on a level paying field. Believe me I know all too well the dems are far from perfect. How would a flat tax be fair to a man who drives 30 miles to work for $8 an hour? He would end up play a much higher percentage of his income into State taxes. The real problem is jobs . We have different Ideas about how to make them. Yes we need to cut spending . Tax breaks for the wealthy is not going to do much to make Jobs. Not all wealthy employ people.
Don’t forget the Progressive States Network, another clone.
Pot, meet Kettle. Kettle, meet Pot. Talk about repeating propoganda!
I borrowed the comment “Paul Pot”.
Educate yourselves on ALEC:
http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
I exchanged emails with rep. Andry Cushing of Hamden (The republican whip) He sent me a copy of his bill And told me to read it. Pretty much trying to tell me it did not say what I thought it said. I think he needs lessons in reading comprehension . They think Maine people are stupid toss in a few things that sound nice to hide what they are really doing. It may not even be his fault he may just be stupid and Is handed bills by ALEC . I am taking close note of the few republicans that think before they vote . Please people do the same. The democrats are far from perfect. When the republicans get voted out we will need to keep the ones that stand for what they believe is right to keep a healthy balance and work for the PEOPLE of the fine STATE . Cushing needs to go with his ALEC bills .
You got that right. Just look what jock mckernan did to workers compensation laws . They were far from fair to employers. But instead of evening things he turned it into a nightmare for those who get injured on the job. Unless you want workers rights stripped completely get rid of these people. At least the dems try to share a small piece of the pie.
No the Dems have ideas that will buy votes to keep them in office. They will do everything they can to give more handouts, freebies and other subsidies to anyone with their hand out to buy their vote. It has been that way when they controlled Augusta it will be that way again if they get back into power. They don’t care about working people take their economic proposals where are the jobs. The Dems tax proposals are sure good for working Mainers huh that is why they are leaving in droves. When you get folks making $18,000 a year being taxed at the highest rate 8.5% down from the 10% rate that it was when it started something is wrong. Democrats need to start doing what is best for business and working people not working to hurt them until that happens they will not vote for them. If Democrats win back control it will be interesting how much of these votes are from folks living off of Goverment (Welfare, Enviros, Special Interest Groups, Ex-Politicians). That will prove once and for all who Democrats are really for.
I think if we had jobs that were decent paying ones we would not have so many on welfare. Education that is fair for everyone not this NCLB that leaves more behind. Yes I agree dems do mess things up . Republicans believe in people helping people and not government . That is a great Idea . If more did that we would not need social services. No other group of people gives more as a percentage of income than the working poor. Just saying as a percentage of income. Yes republicans do tend to help more than liberals . I will be honest about that. Not all Dems are evil or stupid or republicans . We need to stop the party exstreams and all work together . This is not happening under Lepage. He wants to work with know one he thinks he has all the answers . The truth is Know one has all the answers.
Is it possible that those who vote Democrats back into office are just citizens of Maine from all walks of life? Not in your warped way of thinking,but I forgot,you are the only hard working taxpayer in the state.
Piffle.
Dave don’t be angry. Jock started this whole mess, you have not forgotten have you:) Check your facts and don’t ask Adrienne to get help from the Buffoon, he only speaks after dark:)
No anger here. But the fact is, Democrats have run the State House and Senate for how long? So those are the facts I look at. A states Governor like POTUS is just the one blamed when things go wrong, and take credit if things go right.
Almost every budget over that last decade was a bipartisan 2/3 budget.
Democrats have held the governor’s office for less than half of the last two decades.
What has come out of the legislature (until this session) and been more from both parties than from any one party.
I don’t mind at all if he ‘tells it like it is’…I just want to see the proof that he has seen taht represents his opinion. sadly, he never seems to have any. just devisive rhetoric.
I took your challenge and asked myself the question. The answer is yes! Maine still is a great place to live and work. I am very proud to be from Maine. Proud to live here. It was not our fault that GW Bush and his cronies on Wall Street continued the republican fallacy of corporate welfare and trickle down, voodoo economics and took us down with them. More of the same from LePage? I don’t think so. Enjoy him for the next two years.
Yup, all 12 of you.
We were SO much better off with Baldacci and King. They could talk out of both sides of their mouth at the same time, thereby appeasing the majority who like a nice quiet hole in the sand to bury their heads.
If he’s going to accuse folks of being corrupt, he should at least be prepared to present evidence to back-up the accusation. It is a rather serious accusation. I’ve come to like LePage’s off-the-cuff style, but he has to realize when to reel it in a little.
If I were in Katz’s or Flood’s district, I’d be extremely ashamed.
Keep up the good fight governor. This train wreck of a state may be salvagable after all !
They are spoiled period..
Imagine one day, being able to register a car on a Saturday or Sunday. Impossible you say? Yes, as long as state middle and upper managers block any attempt to privatize bloated state employee positions. Wonders how many state vehicles are driven home each night by employees and what tax payers are paying for their gas? This is what the Governor was trying to say…obstruction and refusal to open up to streamlining/reducing the state payroll.
Another ignorant comment with no information. State employees in the past have offered to work schedules that would allow motor vehicle offices and other offices to be opened late and on weekends. The answer is always no.
That would be headline news..when, where and who offered to open the offices to register cars, get permits and any other State papers on weekends? Who stopped it? Proof and not ethereal statements! I know I can’t do most busines with the State on a weekend!
WHY don’t you register your car at the town office where you live?
What kind of “permits” and “State papers” are you trying to get on weekends?
You can register online for most municipalities, vehicles, boats, ATV’s and purchase hunting and fishing licenses, burn permits, etc. at any time. Besides, do you work on weekends?
It has been offered in contracts for years. The ability to let employees do it now is in the contract but the Gov. won’t allow it. In case you missed that, it is in the current contract to offer it now.
Please post a link.
Disagreeing with you doesn’t make them corrupt. It makes them wrong.
don’t you think if the govenor was ‘trying to say’ that then it would have been the basis of his letter to ‘clarify’?
“Imagine one day, being able to register a car on a Saturday or Sunday. Impossible you say?”
Um, no, it’s not impossible. If your city or town is part of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ Rapid Renewal system, you can register your vehicle any day and any time you want, right in your living room, bedroom, or bathroom. Just go online.
State employees may not be corrupt , but a lot of them are just inept. We need to remove them but we have a very hard time doing that because of the UNIONS. There in lies the problem.
Prove it or be silent.
I worked got State Gov. For 43years and I do know. INEPT
Sent from David’s IPad
Inept but honest and / or passive aggressive was my evaluation.
Most state (and federal) employees are hard working people who are trying to feed their families and pay their bills – including taxes. We need to stop generalizing them as lazy and unnecessary ….
Anyone who has ever belonged to a union knows that when its time to negotiate management can use pay and benefits to get what it wants, and yes they can get rid of the slackers it’s called writeing them up for a violation of the contract. As a past president of a local ,we gave up lots of things that were concidered “past practice” in order to solidefie a contract during negotiations includeing makeing sure everyone pulled thier weight. you are going to have those who learn to work the rule , but most people pull thier weight. Don’t kill the chicken because of one bad egg.
I worked for State Gov for 43 + years dealing with discipline and unions. I know of what I speak.
Sent from David’s IPad
Did he clarify or reiterate?
It didn’t sound like a clarification to me. It sounded like a continuation of the same name calling, the language being just a tad more polite. This man is just plain dumb.
Oh My, those Teabillies will be getting out their birch paddles for these two. They are practically commies !
Goverment and politicians are all greedy. Greedy =Corrupt. I can only name a couple in Goverment that actually care about the State of Maine. If they did they would tax the rich. and get this state back on track.
greedy is not a synonym for corrupt.
I couldn’t stand LePage and thought he was going to be trouble right from the get-go. Certainly I did not vote for him! I am not a disrespectful person and I try to conduct myself in an adult manner….. Just once I want to look this joker in the face and say; will you SHUT-UP!!! We need to get rid of the guy, he is dangerous.
Don’t back down Gov. just because those two don’t have the fortitude to call as seen. We need to get people like that out of office.
He’s calling my mother — the most honest person I know — corrupt! Even harder to have an open mind now, even when his ideas have merit. He makes it too personal.
I would like the union to be done away with then the workers would work and do the job they are paid to do.
People who join unions do so of their own free will. It is their right as Americans. You know, the right of assembly and free association? You would take us back to the dark days before the great depression? How could you.
Then you’re for right to work legislation?
No, not in the form it is being proposed by the republicans. It is also the right of a business owner to allow unionization in thier work place. It is also the right of anyone who disagrees not to work there. If a majority of the workforce decides unionization is for them and others disagree, they are free to go elsewhere. We don’t need to legislate that.
I am so tired of these supposedly smart people who hate unions. rather you realize it or not you probably would not have the pay or benefits you have without the unions. These companies pay just enough to keep the unions out . So move to a right to work state like florida where you can’t find a decent paying job . look at thier unemployment rate its atrocious. everyone hates the unions but without them you would be working for minimum wage !!!!!!!!!! Maybe thats why his daughter and brother in law came to work for maine. THINK.
And most likely not a retiree…
Mike, the sad fact is that with or without labor unions eventually everyone who is a member of a union will be working for almost minimum wages. Think about it…a company gets sold…the new owners immediately reopen the labor contracts for renegotiation…they tell all the hourly people that “gee, you’ve done a great job for the past __ years, and we’ed love to have you stay on, but we really can’t afford to pay you what your previous company did”. Sound familiar? Ask anyone who worked for two or three owners of paper mills over the years(Millinocket comes to mind).
the DAMAGE has been done and it is PERMANENT:
maine state employees are all crooks
maine state employees can not be trusted
maine state employees are liars
does not matter if is true or not, image is everything.
the image is they are all corrupt,dishonest,untrustworthy,liars
Have you ever noticed that there seems to be people who run around accusing others of wrong doing. Condemning people as sinners in a general manner. Only to be found out to be twice as corrupt and evil as the people they were accusing. Makes one wonder what Governor LePage is hiding.
Several hundred more well placed Wind Turbines and a few more years of these outrageous remarks from our Governor will result in a steep decline in our Tourism business. People have always come to Maine to leave behind ugly landscapes and nasty politics. It’s a shame, as much of what the Governor is trying to do is needed.
“All Mainers can take great pride in the men and women who work for the state of Maine,” Ginette Rivard, the union’s president, said in a statement Friday. “These public workers do important work for all Maine people. For Gov. LePage to call them ‘corrupt’ is baseless and insulting to every public worker who has dedicated their lives to making Maine a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
And more:
“The governor’s negative name calling is unacceptable and unprofessional,” Hill said. “He is making unfounded accusations against hardworking Mainers. His divisive rhetoric must end and the conversation must return to a place of civility.”
This, to me, is completely taken out of context from what was written to what was responded to…
The Governor was clearly writing about the politicians, not the good People of Maine.. Why is it that this must be misread, and if it isn’t, then how can they respond to the letter from a completely different perspective? I may be biased towards our Gov., but even so, the language is clear as to how it was intended.. I’m not impressed with how this argument is turning out..
Can THEY respond to the correct subject, the corruption of the politicians..?? Because there is.. And maybe the truth is too close for silence..
I just want to know the reason for the deviation from the original intention of the statement??
So you can’t read? LePage said middle management. Politicians don’t manage employees except a small staff.
There was no deviation from the original intention of the statement as you claim. You are really reaching to forgive when only a sincere apology could start that process.
He also said union workers too so it was not just middle management he was talking about. To find that what he said was taking out of contest is really reaching.
“When my administration came into office, we promised Maine people we would not settle for the status quo,” he wrote. “The culture of state government needed to change from ‘no’ to ‘can do!’ Many of you have taken this to heart and are doing great things for the people of Maine.
“However, for whatever reason, some employees have not come on board. Roadblocks have been put up, hurdles have been thrown in the way, and information has not been passed up to senior management. Those employees want to keep doing the same thing because it was always done that way. Quite frankly, that attitude is unacceptable. In my opinion, it shows that they have been corrupted by the bureaucracy.”
If this is the statement that WE are ALL replying to, then yes, in my opinion, the reply from the unions and pols alike are missing the mark. This is calling out the people at fault, not railing against the unions as stated BY the unions…
I guess we all read things in different ways…
He said middle management and union workers when he said they were corupt.
“Offering no apologies, LePage had a blunt message for those workers who’ve been “corrupted” by a bureaucratic mindset that’s intent on “doing the same thing because it was always done that way” and for the “union bosses” who he said have urged workers to resist the administration’s changes.”
The union is making a statement supporting it’s members so the union has a right to get involved.
What statement from the Governor were you reading? Certainly not his comments last week at Nokomis High School about how all state middle-managers are as corrupt as can be.
====
I am from Maine. I love Maine. God blessed Maine. Some people are trying to change Maine. Make it a place of spite, hate, and greed. They bring a river of change. But Maine has an ocean of history. A good history of kindness, love, and generosity. We have always taken care of our own. We always will. We choose to. While always poor, we have never been poor in spirit. The river flows to the ocean, and then the river is no more.
It’s really not up to someone else to tell a person to apologize. The person should see that he/she is wrong and apologize on his/her own. An apology from LePage would ring pretty hollow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did he hurt someones feelings, awwwwww…….
Mr. Lepage tells it like it is…
Yes well let’s consider a couple of things…. hiring your daughter as assistant to your chief of staff—an entry-level position with an annual salary of approximately $41,000—and employee benefits estimated to be worth an additional $15,000 and let’s not forget while residing in the governor’s mansion, she also receives a housing benefit with an estimated value of $10,000 per year….. hmmmmmmm…… and then hiring your brother-in-law as director of administrative services for the State Planning Office with an annual salary of $68,577……well CLEARLY it’s all the Maine state employees who are the corrupt and self serving ones……REALLY LEPAGE????
He will never apologize for anything because LePage thinks he is right in everything and anything he does. He is justified under his own opinion and thats the only opinion that matter. How many of you that voted for this “person” is going to vote for him again???
I would be shocked if he runs again. If he does, he’ll never make it out of the primary. There is no way Maine republicans will go this route again. LePage has swept the Maine teaparty completely under the rug.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he resigns.
Like Sarah Palin, when things got tough in Alaska, she got going.
You want an apology from LePage? A certain place will freeze over for sure before he apologizes and trust me, some people have lost bets on waiting for that place to freeze, this is one bet you can’t loose now.
The problem is that the GOP has adopted a policy that does not allow for any variance…much like when “W” made his famous ” you’re either with us, or against us !” statement. Sounds a lot like McCarthyism to me, and when you consider that the Koch brother’s father was a John Birch Society founder, it starts to make sense. You are now either an ” American” or a “Socialist”. It’s disgusting,… Margaret Chase Smith makes Snowe and Collins look like pikers.
More ironic is they are actually the socialists. They have just clothed the wolf in sheep skin. Anywhere else in the world where governments are allowed to take tax dollars, subsidize corportions with them, and then bail them out with more tax dollars when they fail is called socialism. That is the very definition of socialism. Under a true capitalism they would operate on their own merits and be allowed to fall when they fail. But that’s just their “business” side. If hey keep it up on the socio-political side the way they are going, they will be bordering on fascism. Some argue that they are already there.
Agreed, but for them it is just greed!!!!!
Someone who wants to get cooperation from people does not get it from heavy handed methods. Someone who truly wants to attract good paying jobs to the state is not going to achieve that result by disparaging its residents and workers in a public forum. If he thinks he can continue trying to run this state like it was a surplus and salvage store, he’ll get his come-uppance in November when the electorate ties his hands and hopefully his tongue as well, although I don’t think he is savvy enough to do that. He is the epitome of the adage: It is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.
I have said it before and I will say it again, this guy is the most ignorant junk dealer that has ever lived in the Blaine house.
I’ll say this, Bangor Daily News needs to add one part to their terms of posting. If you hate the GOP, LePage or our CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC Smear, attack, insult and belittle anybody who does not follow our radical views of life.
Smears are not only to be expected but fought. Honor is to be earned, not bought. – Margaret Chase Smith (Republican Congressman & Senator from Maine)
“Top EPA official resigns over ‘crucify’
comment
Published – Apr 30 2012 04:11PM EST
DINA CAPPIELLO, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama
administration’s top environmental official in the oil-rich South
Central region has resigned after Republicans targeted him over
remarks made two years ago when he used the word “crucify”
to describe how he would go after companies violating environmental
laws.
In a letter to Environmental
Protection Agency Administrator Lisa
Jackson sent Sunday, Al Armendariz says he regrets his words and
stresses that they do not reflect his work as administrator of the
five-state region
including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
The environmental engineer apologized last week for his remarks. A
senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity
because of the sensitivity of the subject, told The Associated Press
that Armendariz has since received death threats. His resignation was
effective Monday. Sam Coleman, a career official who led the agency’s
response to Hurricane Katrina and served as Armendariz’ deputy, took
over as acting regional administrator.
The agency, perhaps more than any other, has found itself in the
GOP’s crosshairs.
Republicans — including presidential contender Mitt
Romney, who has called for Jackson herself to be fired — have
blamed the agency for high gasoline prices and clamping down on
American energy. “…””He was flat wrong,” wrote more
than two dozen lawmakers in a letter to Jackson sent Friday, calling
for Armendariz’ firing.” (I want to know who these lawmakers are
and have it published to all America.)
I call for Romney’s dismissal from office and investigation into
his part in the death threats. Romney has the corruptive mind of a
beaten kid with a box of matches. Al Armendariz gives me a choice
to write in as president.
Mommy! Mommy!
Paul LePage called me a name.
Bunch of Wheenies in this state.
That is how bullies get away with it.. an attitude like this!!!
LePage is a great motivational speaker. State employees will want to work even harder for this boorish burgermeister.
—–
Was an unfair comment. He needs to get specific or apologize.
Lawmaker rebukes, apology demand, (so far) of LePage “corrupt” comment geographically politically expedient…
Hey Paul! Keep it up!!! Your truth-telling and honest-to-you comments are bound to win the Blaine House (for the Democrats.) Such a *deleted*
Than why dose he not do something about it let him put his money were his mouth is ??
He’s in the pay of Hannah Pingree and John Martin. Gotta be. It is incredible.
Is it true are there some corrupt workers?
Try the name Nutting.
I guess it’s good news there are still moderate Republicans, the bad news is …… your party doesn’t want you anymore.
MA-NE.net: Lawmaker rebukes, apology demands, (so far) of LePage “corrupt” comment geographically politically expedient…
How many mid and upper management would need to be charged
with crimes or asked to step down before Mr Katzs (and his ilk) would apologize
to the governor? Forget the apology, how about a simple thank you or a modicum
of loyalty? *sigh, cowards*
He did not say “state
employees are corrupt” he said that some of the management is corrupt. Actually
he was spot on.
I have many very close friends that work as state employees
and all agree the indeed much of management is “corrupt”. When you move your
focus specifically to the DOT or Maine Housing, the examples are well known. If you consider the shafting of the rate
payers at the hands of CMP with the tacit approval of the PUC you start to get
into the serious money.
I’ll admit that the governor it a bit rough around the edges
but he’s a vast improvement over the Baldacci/King calamity. Does anyone think
for 1 second that if Libby had won the election that Violette and McCormick wouldn’t
still be bilking the tax payers of Maine? Remember, the Dems shut down OPEGA!
Then if it’s management thats corupt why is everyone craping on the unions . thats my problem because working people in the union useually are not responsible for mismanagement by thier superiors.
What have the 2010 Republicans done that improve anyones’ lot in life ???
Honestly–the two R leaders are not moderates–they are wimps who do not want conservatives to be in office.
I believe where these two legislators took offense is not the conservatism but rather the stupidity of the individual. To claim corruption without providing a shred of evidence which supports that claim in a public forum is irresponsible, at best. Then to make the argument that this statement reflects these employees are not willing to push the governor’s agenda, with which most of the residents of this state neither agree nor benefit, seems childish.
This is LePage’s second censure from his own party. I think the writing is on the wall (where the mural should be). It says: Time for this guy to get a new gig.
Gov. LePage is one of those “whose ambition has throttled his morality.” He will say anything to secure advantages for his wealthy friends and their agenda. He does not care how many people are harmed in the name of profit.
What’s the old saying? “Give him enough rope and he’ll hang himself”. Paul has measured off a couple of fathoms, and he shows no sign of stopping.
If you look at places like the DEP and MPUC, I believe the Governor is definitely on to something.
Kind of like the X-Files, right?
I wonder how often these “moderate” Republicans vote with LePage? There are precious few “moderate” Republicans left. They are a dead breed. Most are now vicious ultra hypocrite TeaRadicals brainwashed by that horrid rotten lying crud they listen to night and day on FAKE-News and Rush Limpmind. These “moderate” guys are just trying to save their hides because they know their hides are on the chopping block bigtime, along with all Republicans, come November when we toss these walking disasters out on their keesters.
The “apology” letter his office emailed to state employees was far from sincere, it continued to bash state employees for not “following his initiatives” or having the same beliefs as he does. If he got out and met some of his overworked and underpaid employees he’d see what it is like working in the front lines in a state of Maine Dept of Health & Human Service office and how much the entirely underpaid state employees really do and the massive amounts of work that are expected of them. I know in my office everyone works hard for the people of Maine.
Do NOT apologize, Paul. Get Al Armendariz on board. He’s a viable write in for president. Not that you’re not. I just can’t fathom voting for anti-life pro-wind Romney or Obama.
Paul LeAss is at it again! He continues to insult every mainer with his name calling. But when the Millinocket town manager called LeAss “a liar” his spokesperson Ms. Bennett was quoted as saying “there is no reason to name call”. Now if that is not having your cake and eating it to I don’t know what is. Am i gulity of name calling? I think not, as LeAss has earned the nic name by his own repeated moronic actions.
OK i’ll be blunt like your favorite guvnah . shut up all you gop extremists enough allready!!!! Now do you get the point that maybe were both out of line?
this LePage liked to tell of the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father,so he left.I think that he has adopted an abusive manner to the human race especially his own state.
He has some good ideas but he has a poor way to win others over.
Please Mr. Lepage you may burn so many bridges you cannot get back.
Still room in LiarPage’s mouth for another foot, so let him keep talking.
Get over yourselves………there is not one union in the country that does not suffer from some level of corruption somewhere within in’s structure. Unions are truly a blight on this country and rarely does something good come of their existence. Many times they only serve to provide their members with over-inflated incomes and benefits. The gov’ner is just calling it the way it is. No room for bleeding hearts if we are to get Maine’s economy back into the black and running prosperously.
Thank you for that Fox News update on unions. Try to think for yourself, you won’t be such a grumpy republican.
As your hero Naran would say let me fix that for you.
Get over yourselves ………. there is not one GOP caucus or individual in the country that does not suffer from some level of corruption somewhere within it’s (I even fixed this spelling) structure. Republicans are truly a blight on this country and rarely does something good come out of their existence. Many times they only serve to provide their wealthy benefactors such extreme tax breaks they sometimes owe no taxes and get a refund. The Guber is floundering and flopping around looking to blame anyone but himself. No room for right wing extremist T’bagger types if we are to get Maine’s economy back into the black and running progressively.
There fixed, you don’t have to thank me.
Katz said that a large percentage of state workers live within his district and he considered many of them to be his neighbors and friends. He pointed out that some make less than they could in the private sector and stay because they believe in public service.
RIGHT
LePage is acting like he is at Marden’s again. When will he realize the election is over and he represents all Maine people now. To attack teackers, police, and all state workers is simple minded. He needs to work to fix problems in a thoughtful deliberate manner. He is part of the new “radical conservatives” that are killing the Republican party.
The guv should stick to his guns. If that’s what he believes, that’s what he should be known for believing. I’m surprised Katz and Flood haven’t been drummed out of the party by now. They’re entirely too considerate.
The corruption is in the War on Drugs. The precedent is set as a standard. The courts, cops and corrections have all been corrupted, the state workers have been corrupted by the lure of money.
The war is a total failure and a total fraud. A headline in todays BDN reads that children born addicted to drugs has tripled. Is this what we want? This is corruption of the society. End the war, end the madness, stop the corruption.
I have been very outspoken about Governor LePage and his my way or no way tactics but for once we are in total agreement that most State workers in management positions are corrupt and abuse their authority! Not only in Maine but in every State! I don’t believe he should apologize for making an accurate assumption!
—–
Isn’t he just wonderful! Unafraid, unabashed and committed to righting the Ship of State from decades of socially untenable policies wielded by scoundrels and scalawags. The bilge pumps have not been cycled for a long time, and already the dregs are squealing bloody murder as their new commander demands accountability and order.
People are going to hate the truth.
My mini-dachshund is unafraid, unabashed, and totally committed, too. Going after the Doberman in an all out attack also shows her to be unintelligent about some things.
Look the fool is a one term Governor. Does he think that Mainers would allow him to be voted in again after all the black eyes he has given Maine. 39% of the people are to blame for the state maine is in also not just Lepuke.
YAWN….The boy will be out come next election. I wonder if anyone is taking bets. The odds are short.
Why does he have to apologize for stating facts!!!! Maybe he should have worded it differently,
but the truth is the truth!
He didn’t back up his insults with a single fact or example. What facts are you privy to?
Maybe he didn’t think he needed to back up his facts with what has been blatent obvious corruption. But since you asked– Let’s start with: MAINE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY, MAINE HOUSING, among others..
Your display of low information is disturbing.
Neither of those organizations contained state employees and it is state employees who Maine Governor LePage insulted
The Maine Turnpike Authority is a quasi-private organization. It is not a state agency.
Don’t apologize; keep them on their toes!
This would be a great time for those Republicans with a conscience and some guts to stand up and join Flood and Katz. I’m not holding my breath though…
I find it funny you all bash Lepage for his comments, but when we have cases like the former MDOT director stealing money then you claim it as the governor’s lack of oversight. I’d personally rather have a brutally honest man as a leader than a sneeky criminal.
Are you talking about the Turnpike Authority director? The MDOT has no connection with the Turnpike Authority. They are completely separate organizations.
Anyone love LaPage other than (maybe) his wife???? What about the bill that the folks in Augusta were going to introduce that you had to have 50%+1 vote to win office???? Like everthing else—that seems to have been “DEAD BEFORE IT CAME TO BE!” Wake up and start thinking about who you all sent to Augusta—maybe big changes are needed, November is not far away.Time for “BIG ” changes in the RULING PARTIES!”
I have to agree with the Gov. and the can’t be done attitude among certain state depts. Here in Bucksport there have been two road projects done with the town “taking the lead” with state supplying the money. In both cases, the jobs got done with less money and better quality then when the state did similar projects. When I askedour former town manager how come his comment was” the Dept. of Trans. has a certain was of doing road projects, and they are not about to do them differently.” This is what the Gov. is talking about. It is the attitude not of “can do”, but “it can’t be done that way”. In the minds of certain state depts. and employees they will be around for a long time, while the politicians come and go. “Ride it out.”
Have you considered that the Department of Transportation “has a certain way of doing road projects” because there are engineering specifications and legal requirements for doing it the right way so roads are built safely and to last more than one winter and must season?
My info came from Bucksport’s former Town Manager, Roger Raymond, and my own experiene of traveling over this road (Central Street) every day. The section that the DOT did themselves didn’t last 2 years, while the section that the town did has lasted way beyond that. The method that Bucksport and other towns have used and has proven well is called “mill and fill”. Roger said that the state DOT doesn’t believe in using that method. They told him that they have a better way. Their better way is to simply spend money. What the Gov. is complaining about is an attitude within state gov’t. that the system of current employee and mid-level management will out last the current crop of politicians. It is an entrenched bureauacy. Bob Briggs
____________________________________________________________
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The thing is he was not just referring to the DOT. Also where is the proof of the riding it out comment that he said the union told the employees to do? If it was said could it have been about Lepage not negotiating in good faith on the union contract?
It seems like he can say or do anything he wants too. Would this be right or wrong??? Should he have to follow the laws just like the rest of us do or face the law when you are doing wrong and called on the carpet for it.. It seems like he can say or do whatever he feels like and never be accountable for it.
I’ve said it before. This man is just not smart. Smart people don’t insult the very workers, commissions, media, unions, legislators and voters they need to work with them to make progress. “Stupid” may run a small retail establishment but it takes” smart” to govern
LePage is incapable of offering an apology, his over-sized ego would never allow it.
Someone who wants to get cooperation from people does not get it from heavy handed methods. Someone who truly wants to attract good paying jobs to the state is not going to achieve that result by disparaging its residents and workers in a public forum. If he thinks he can continue trying to run this state like it was a surplus and salvage store, he’ll get his come-uppance in November when the electorate ties his hands and hopefully his tongue as well, although I don’t think he is savvy enough to do that. He is the epitome of the adage: It is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.
These legislators are only doing this because so many state workers live in their district. If they don’t fault the governor, they have no chance of being re-elected.
The only people who have reason to be concerned about the Governor’s comments are those who are acting as he has stated: the Can’t Do, Ride it Out crowd. They know who they are.
So you think the legislators are without manners, a sense of propriety or ethics and are asking for an apology, not because the statement was unsubstantiated and extremely rude, but simply for political purposes. Well, I think you are wrong. I think Mr Katz and Mr. Flood have risked the possibility of considerable political retaliation from a governor, known for his bullying, to speak out against Mr. LePage’s totally unreasonable and uncalled for rudeness.
Apologize? What? And upset Charlie and Dave Koch? Their tea party manifesto is religiously followed in states like Wisconsin and Indiana, and other states including Maine.
These governors, who got elected on a promise to serve the people, now call the same people “corrupt.” Read, listen, and watch. Each of these governors follow the tea party edict to the letter. Le Page constantly attacks state workers and their union. As part of the national goal he is pledged to destroy the unions and worker’s rights to bargain for fair wages.
All of the TP governors claim their state is on a verge of collapse. They say – almost in unison – the state is being dragged down through the collective bargaining of state employees. These tools of the tea party wrap up their frustrations noting that the people elected them to do just what they are doing.
It’s laughable for anyone to think that Paul Le Page is about to say he’s sorry, anymore than Scott Walker and Mitch Daniels of Wisconsin and Indiana, respectively.
The quicker Mainers recognize this man for what he is, the easier it will be for them to contend with his tea party outbursts for the next two and a half years. He is not a servant of the state or of its people. He is merely carrying out the policies of the tea party as created by multi -billionaires, Charles and David Koch.
balony
Believe Capt. Edward Smith uttered the same response.
bologna
I guess people get edgy when the truth starts coming out.
get lost,you guys , why not help Le page get things together,we have to clean house
I’m glad LePage said what he did. State government is organized crime if you ask me! He’s been trying to change that and thats all I can wish for.
Buh-bye lying Teabullies.
Would you care to give some documentation for you statement?
Well the terms of service here don’t allow me to post external information but I can offer you a few subjects you can look up for yourself…
Baldacci and DHHS
Baldacci and Paul Violette (Turnpike Authority)
Angus King and First Wind
Welfare Fraud
False claims the MDE made to the Feds involving Migrant Education.
Let’s start with that. Let me know if you’d like more for review!
Petition for the apparatus of
Recalling the Governor of Maine Paul LePage
We the undersigned respectfully request the Maine legislator
draft and pass a bill putting in place an apparatus for recalling the Governor
of the Great state of Maine. At this time the State of Maine does not have a
provision in place for a recall of the Governor.
Like is you would
like our legislator’s to draft this bill.
Petition for the apparatus of
Recalling the Governor of Maine Paul LePage
We the undersigned respectfully request the Maine legislator
draft and pass a bill putting in place an apparatus for recalling the Governor
of the Great state of Maine. At this time the State of Maine does not have a
provision in place for a recall of the Governor.
Like is you would
like our legislator’s to draft this bill.
EVERYONE ALL TOGETHER, LOUD AND CLEAR
CAN WE SAY ONE AND DONE!!!!
Maine will be better off without LePage than we have been with him. LePage has been an utter and complete embarrassment for Maine. Every time we turn around he is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Please Mr. LePage please refrain from the public forums and keep you trash comments to yourself. I realize this may be hard but please STOP embarrassing us!
Is there corruption in government or not?
There’s corruption everywhere,
Then Lepage should not apologize.
But maybe his daughter and brother-in law should.
Why?
Paulie needs to listen to the arch-conservative Archie Bunker’s advice to Edith, “Stifle.”
I guess that is a little strong but consider how many are on the state payrol and what is accomplished compared to a decade past!!
Then look ten years down the road…what road..
One-term waste of sperm
Alot of what the governor is true. Waste is eay to see in every department. People stay at their state jobs because they are not paid on performance. These state workers are spoiled and cannot be effective in for other employers. A good example is the DOT. They show up to work in the winter months on days with no snow. If they are called back in after hours they get overtime. They ride around and actually put in 3 hrs per 8 hr shift. If you dont believe me do the math. They start at 7 arrive on the jobsite in time for morning break, work an hour and its time for lunch. They work 2 hours after lunch and its time to drive to the garage. Its high time to clean house
Yeah, lets get rid of the DOT. They never do anything other than go on breaks.
Are you fricken crazy??????? Have you ever driven in other states in the snow and ice? I have, and I know we have the very best road clearing and deicing in the US. Try northern Oregon in a snow storm. . A two inch snow grinds everything to a halt on the main Interstate out of Portland. going west.
We have a beautiful smooth Interstate. Have you driven PA’s interstates? Try it. Maybe then you’ll appreciate how the DOT performs on I95. We have decent secondary roads, most of them built on soils almost impossible for road building. Yes, we have pot holes in the spring. Every northern state does. Ours get fixed. Sure, sure, you’re going to tell me about the really big pot hole on your road. But I can guarantee that within the next two weeks it will get fixed.
The Maine DOT works hard, they do a good job and they are not overpaid.
Disclaimer: Neither I nor any relative works for the DOT. The above is based on driving in many many other states.
Do you know why they work that way ?? ile tell you it’s so they don’t get over time the DOT dose not want them leaving the shed till 7 am an they want them back before 3:30 or 4 pm which time they get out of work. No i do not work for the State or the DOT
The only thing you said that is right is that state employees are not paid for performance. There is law that allows employees to be rewarded with bonuses or higher pay for performance. To the best of my knowledge no employee under Dem or Rep has ever gotten a raise of that type.
The rest of your rant displays your ignorance to the best of you ability. The DOT does not only plow snow, but if you were interested in facts you wouldn’t be leaving talking point all over the comment pages. A lot of DOT employees are subject to reporting to the job site to start their day for a ten mile commute one week and a thirty five mile commute the next. Get there at 7 take a half hour for lunch and leave at 3:30. Please learn some facts. For eight to nine months of they year a DOT employee is subject to immediate recall meaning that 24×7 they have to stay sober, be in reach of a phone, and be able to report to work immediately. If they don’t show up, they can be fired. Does your boss demand that of you?
Since you do not know what you are babbling about, please leave and go back to Glen Beck.
ONE AND DONE! SAYS IT ALL
Out the door, in 20-1-4
MA-NE.net: Lawmaker rebukes, apology demands, (so far) of LePage “corrupt” comment geographically politically expedient…
In other words, the only ones who have said anything are the two whose districts are loaded with state workers. Hardly heartfelt.
I don’t recall the Governor saying any names when he made the statement…what he said was that because of so called powerful union bosses SOME have become more than complacent in performing their duties…and you all know that is what he meant….and also you know full well that that stuff does go on whether you want to admit it or not….that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it……..
So you misquote the governor, then state something you have no proof of and you feel self satisfied? Why?
Wait, spamming the forum is OK ? Every post from that account has a link to the same link aggregator site.
They already caught the comissioner of the maine turnpike authority, whose next?
I voted for him. I’d do it again in a heartbeat! He isn’t a namby pamby politically correct politician. He tells it like it is and lets the chips fall where they may! Yeah, Gov!!
Hey dude, since you are the CEO of this state, the buck stops with you and only you. If there’s corruption, YOU are to blame and YOU should take a back seat. Sorry turkey, you can’t have it both ways. Either you is,– or you isn’t–the head of these agencies.
So, how’s that jobs program doing Mr. LePage?
I’ll bet there’s just hundreds of companies marching resolutely up I-95, contracts in hand, eagerly looking forward to working with corrupt officials and hiring lazy workers.Corporations just can’t resist attractions like that.
You’re doin’ a heck of a job, Paulie!
HE IS A BULLY! If he doesn’t get his own way, he begins name calling and throwing tantrums!
Sum it up! Paulie had no proof, gave no examples, and lied about what Union leadership has said to the members. Look forward to some middle management being fired for trumped up charges that will grab headlines. If you claim corruption and you do nothing about it you are lying, incompetent or both. I vote for both in the case of the governor.
The right wing, crying and pounding their fists, because it is unfair to ask for proof. Employees should be able to be fired because they joined a Union. Classic hate speech. The (Union) (Jew) (Muslim) (Gay) (fill in the blank) has something you don’t have, so they must have taken it from you.
Poloquin’s fake tree farm, Nutting’s Million in Medicare (Oopsie!), Mayhew lying about the DHHS budget. NO!! That clerk over there has health care for her daughter, blame her, not the Republican Saints.
He is stain on Maine.
Nailed!!!
Paul LePage insults everyone with absolute ease… he isn’t able to recognize when inappropriate comments come out of his mouth and isn’t man enough to admit when he’s wrong. There will never be an apology coming from him – ever, about anything. He always behaves in a grandiose manner and seems genuinely to believe that he is incapable of making a mistake, he shows no empathy for anyone, no ability to listen to others (he’s not listening to you people who support him either) or even consider that anyone other than himself has anything intelligent to contribute, he thinks he is smarter than scientists, doctors and has insulted just about every person in Maine and in fact, some outside of Maine. It seems to be virtually impossible for him to even begin to comprehend that so many of his actions and behaviors are completely inappropriate… interestingly enough people with antisocial personality disorder behave and think like he does.