AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage, in his strongest words to date, criticized lawmakers Monday for drastically altering his initial budget proposal to cut $220 million from the Department of Health and Human Services and for putting forward a new plan “full of gimmicks and built on false savings.”
“Quite frankly, I believe this represents an abdication of their responsibility to the Maine people,” LePage said in a Monday afternoon press conference, his second in less than a week. “This is the exact same approach the Legislature has taken for the past 40 years and it hasn’t worked yet.”
Members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee have been meeting well into the evening and worked over the weekend to come up with an alternative budget that Democrats and Republicans can agree upon.
The latest proposal is still a moving target but it differs considerably from what LePage proposed in December and, the governor said, is different than what he saw last week.
Instead of dealing with a $220 million shortfall for 2012 and 2013, lawmakers are addressing $140 million in MaineCare cuts to pay the state’s bills through June.
The biggest sticking point with the governor seemed to be the proposal to eliminate noncategoricals, or childless adults, from MaineCare eligibility. That is not included in the latest plan, although lawmakers said there is an idea to remove some of the noncategoricals but not all.
Without structural changes, LePage said, the problem cannot be solved and he said the most recent plan “continues to cannibalize state government to support an out-of-control welfare program.”
House Minority Leader Emily Cain, D-Orono, said the governor is wrong to keep meddling in the legislative process.
“The Appropriations Committee has been trying to clean up the governor’s mess in this budget and offer a real solution, not one that is purely ideological,” she said shortly after the governor’s press conference. “The governor’s idea of fixing the safety net is to give people a Band-Aid and a toothbrush and throw them out on the street.”
Senate Minority Leader Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, said the governor is wrong to keep calling MaineCare “welfare” instead of what it is: “income- and eligibility-based health care.”
Last week, the governor singled out Democrats for criticism, saying they have been “stalling since Day One.” On Monday, he targeted the entire budget-writing committee.
House Speaker Robert Nutting, R-Oakland, said he believes the Appropriations Committee has been working hard on a budget that it can send to the floor of the House and called it “unfortunate” that they can’t do their work.
“The governor has staked out his position that without the elimination of noncategoricals, which amounts to about $22 million, that he will veto the bill,” Nutting said. “I think it’s unfortunate to have that position now because we haven’t seen the rest of the budget … there may be things in the final product he likes, things that are a trade-off that he’s willing to accept.”
Ironically, the governor said, the committee’s latest proposal to remove some but not all of the noncategoricals would require a federal waiver.
“My plan has been criticized for the exact same thing,” he said, referring to the fact that a portion of his proposed cuts would require federal waivers that Democrats and the federal Department of Health and Human Services have said likely would not be granted.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said the governor’s sharp words Monday likely would delay the process.
“I hoped that they would be done [Monday],” Nutting said of the Appropriations Committee. “I’m guessing now there may be some heartburn.”
Last week, lawmakers created a hybrid budget bill that combines DHHS cuts with $25 million in savings identified by a streamlining task force.
Over the weekend, Appropriations Committee members reviewed several new elements aimed at finding a compromise that two-thirds of lawmakers can support. Some of those new things need legal language that can be complicated to draft.
The Appropriations Committee did vote to apply a 1 percent across-the-board cut in what is called “all other” spending by state agencies. The committee also swept $4 million from accounts that fund licensing boards and regulatory agencies in the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.
Many of the most controversial parts of the governor’s original proposal, such as the elimination of $65 million to private nonmedical institutions, have been shelved for the time being.
If the governor vetoes a budget bill, it would go back to the House and Senate for an override or affirmation. Two-thirds of lawmakers would be needed to support an override, but lawmakers have been operating under the assumption that they would pass a two-thirds majority budget anyway.
If the budget passes only with a simple majority, it wouldn’t go into effect until 90 days after the session ends. If it passes with a two-thirds vote, it was take effect immediately.
Too many WIMPS in Congress and in Maine’s legislature! It is an election year, and standing up and standing out for the right but difficult thing to do does not have a place in many backbones.
They should actually be listening to the majority of their constituents and not anyone else because those are the people each elected lawmaker is SUPPOSED to be representing. I strongly suspect that thousands of call poured in from voters demanding that the cuts LePage wants NOT be made. That’s exactly why the Republicans are not supporting LePage on this. They know he’s a sinking ship and they are jumping ship in hopes of not going down with him.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
Hey, my associates and I keep getting banned from accessing this site just because we don’t agree with darkcat33 and mainemaggot what’s his face.
I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things. Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
As others have noted, putting half the voting population on the dole makes it really hard to make the changes required to remain solvent as a state – or at the federal level, for that matter. The problem is: no matter how bad you want it, no matter how many votes for it you raise, no matter what the damage to generations of kids growing up on welfare, we STILL cannot afford this level of largess. Every time you moan about the horrible condition of our roads, every time you whine about the state not covering your pet project, every time you groan about the huge cost of the schools, stop to think WHY we don’t have any money. It is going into the various entitlements. There is only so much money. Half the population pays NO income tax, half the population is on some form of the dole. We have managed to arrange things so that the people not paying in are voting to increase their levels of state support. Of COURSE we’re broke! All I am hearing from the liberals is how heartless I am not not wanting to continue the madness. Answer me this: HOW are we to continue the madness? HOW do you plan to pay for all this welfare and STILL pay our other bills? All I am hearing suggested for a “fix” is “Tax the rich!” People, we do not have enough “rich” folks to bail us out of this mess! We have to dig ourselves out by some other means. My suggestion, for starters, is to STOP SPENDING.
” Wimps” is term that is used almost exclusively by bullies.
Accurate non the less. See the above posts for simpleton/extremist/dangerous/bully/. No extreme rhetoric here. No sir!
Like Lepage??
This latest proposal is no different than the failed Baldacci era. If this proposal goes through as is, the current Appropriations Committee is no better than the prior one, which was loaded with liberal Democrats who created this terrible mess.
CUT DHHS and impose structural reforms and support Governor LePage! NO MORE GIMMICKS!
LePage is not in the position to call anything a gimmick. His administration itself is a failed PR gimmick and a simple-minded one at that. He is threatening to veto the work of the committee without having even seen it.
What makes him so smart, that he knows so much more than the rest of the legislature what’s good for us? Is it his degree from Husson? Or maybe it’s what his handlers at MHPC are whispering in his ear?
The man is incapable of thinking in complexities. What about taking steps toward the goal of a smaller MaineCare? Must it really be done all at once? Cold turkey? The man is a simpleton and an extremist, and — because his policies will hurt real people — he is dangerous.
I don’t think that he is smarter than a 5th grader, to say the least.
Comparing Lepage to a fifth grader is an insult …
… to the fifth grader.
You are so right Tyke.
YOU VOTED FOR HIM GREAT JOB MAINE
I didn’t!!!
I will again.
Once a fool, always a fool.
I will again !
38.2% does not equal Maine
Well 38% voted for Baldacci to get re-elected in 2006 , Spaghetti Boy didn’t get 50% neither time. King Angus/Mr. WindPower/Mr. Mainewatch only got 35% of the vote in 1994 what is your point. The Liberals claimed these folks were the greatest Governors Maine has ever had LOL. That is why factories were closing, with massive job losses, massive tax and spending increases, huge welfare expansion, massive borrowing for liberal pet projects. These 2 clowns left us with 1 to 1.5 Billion dollar shortfalls when the left office. The Liberals can claim these were great times give me Gov. Lepage anyday he is trying to fix the problems not kick the can down the road to give sympathy to people.
The state budget has to be balanced so neither left a shortfall.
Really when Baldacci took office he had a 1 billion dollar plus shortfall. When LePage took office he had close to a 1 billion dollar shortfall himself. So the fact the Liberals claim they balanced budgets is a farce. Just like all that money Baldacci claimed to have in the rainy day fund then few weeks later now we have huge shortfall. A shortfall that Baldacci tried to borrow $450 million to keep the state afloat from going into bankruptcy.
So, you’ve decided that the former governor is entitled to his correct name, rather than pinning one of your racist tags on him.
Baldacci just pretended to balance the budget. He didn’t pay the hospitals hundreds of millions of dollars that they were owed, he scheduled shut down days . To call that a balanced budget is like saying the MTA was a model of fiscal responsibility under Violette.
Didn’t like him either
Did I mention you are getting under my skin just a little?
I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things. Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
Wait, he gets worse!!!!! He hasn’t even started in on welfare recipients yet!!!! According to him, he is the only one who works and everyone else is living off him!!! I think he’s LePage in disguise!!!
More cut and paste.
Your perverse delight in pasting racist labels on people you dislike is sickening.
And OWS does not represent 99% either, so which is the biggest pile of liberal BS?
Liberals can pile it up just as well as anyone else.
However, our biggest attributes lie in the fact we are: Progressive, Broad Minded, Unprejudiced, Beneficent, Charitable, Open Minded, Unstinting and generous.
The opposite to all of these wonderful attributes is Intolerance. So well exploited by Paul Le Page.
As opposed to what was it 37% for Baldacci?
It did in the last election!
Maine. Government too big. Taxes too high. Anyone who tries to do anything about it is personally attacked and ridiculed. You liberals are blinded by your LePage Derangement Syndrome. Simpleton/extremist/dangerous/bully/madman? Nice.
Hmmm…I believe the ROBthePUBLICans have a majority…so you can roll and smoke your standard “blame the liberals” argument.
Pay attention. You are having another flareup. Focus ……You liberals are blinded by your LePage Derangement Syndrome.
LePAGE DERANGEMENT SYNDROME: Malady most appropriately attributed to conservatives who support, believe, and repeat often (See maineminority’s comment above as a great example) anything they hear out of the mouth of their loathsome leader lying loudmouth LePage.
CURE: Opening eyes, ears, and mind (i.e. Waking Up!)
This link sums up Repugnicans pretty well:
http://comics.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/06/1061480/-The-rightwingoverse?detail=hide&via=blog_792316
Ah, the Daily KOS. Now THERE’S an unbiased source! And cartoons yet! Oh, I see… so their readership can understand the subject matter…
Blinded? Even republicans – Moderates – are puzzled about how Le Page is going to explain to hospitals how he crammed 68,000 ill Maine people to their ER units.
How would you solve this problem?
It’s the Liberals who keep stalling wanting to keep kicking the can down the road because they want to keep protecting their voting block of Welfare Bums. They are the ones who keep stalling with new excuses holding the process hostage so they can keep using gimmicks to keep these failed programs going. It is time for Gov. LePage to stand up for us working folks/taxpayers by rejecting this budget and either having them go back and pass his budget or shut the state down for the rest of the year. It is time to send message to all Liberals he is taking no more BS from them and that he isn’t being bullied and threatened by Liberals such as Emily Cain, Peggy Rotundo, John Martin , Justin Alfond , Barry Hobbins etc..
Government is NOT the solution,
Government is the Problem!
If you don’t believe it vote in a Republican’
and he will make SURE of it!
is there really a difference between the republicans and the democrats toda?
Ron Paul speaks and both parties call him a crack pot, with out offering substantive discussion on where he is wrong.
I wonder if the US was always like this.
There is a big difference. The GOP works all the time for rich special interests and care and do nothing for the middle class, the poor and the elderly. The Dems at least care about, defend and initiate legislation to help the middle class, the poor and the elderly.
I respect that Ron Paul is consistent in wanting gov’t out of our lives and bedrooms, however his free for all ideas of no regulations will only leave America in a worse situation where the rich own and run everything and will run roughshod over the rest of us.
The Dems care about getting votes, and to do so, they cater to the lazy and illegal types who are willing to trade their votes for cash or considerations. Oh, and the stupid types who can’t calculate the harm this does to the country. Let’s see… lazy, illegal, stupid… did I miss any part of their ‘base’?
jimbob your side supports the greedy, don’t give a damn about anything but money types. Did i miss anything in your base? yes the uneducated follower types.
Let’s do some calculating as to who are harming the country. Bush, and the nummies who elected him, directly led to two unfunded wars, two big tax cuts mostly for the rich eliminating $4 trillion in revenues the past 10 years (the second tax cut he called a Jobs Bill), an unfunded prescription drug plan, the second greatest financial meltdown in US history, millions of job losses and and a surplus turned big deficit in just 10 years. Bush and the nummies got us to the point we are now AND NOW they will do everything in their power to make sure the turnaround is slowed or stalled until after the 2012 election. AND NOW they have the gall to claim there is class warfare when we are only talking about increasing millionaires income taxes to where they were just 10 years ago, a measily 4.6¢ per dollar on ONLY the dollars they earn above $1 million! Since all the red states are at the bottom of the educational stats, it’s not much of a leap to say that stupid is what the greedy and the GOP are preying on.
It still amazes me that you feel entitled to determine what is “excess” wealth in others, and then have the gall to decide what others can afford to pay in to your bankrupt schemes. The schemes are bankrupt because liberals cannot manage money. It is not a matter of “only” so much of someone else’s money. The point here is: that is not your money. You didn’t earn it, you don’t get to spend it. When we get to the place in time where YOU get to put your hands in MY pocket and take what you WILL, and tell me I OWE it to you because you WANT it, we are in a very bad place. That is Socialism. That is what you are advocating… taking from the producers and giving it to non-producers and decreeing that it is “fair”. Russia did this for some 70-odd years. People who complained were SHOT. That is the only way to make your ideas work. Ultimately, people know this is a crooked scheme and they object to financing it. Ultimately, you end up with a bunch of clueless sheep and you STILL don’t have any money. What then?
4.6¢ per millionaire dollars earned…4.6¢…the sky is falling, the sky is falling!
don’t forget,conservatives benefit from everything the D’s pass.Look at the TP’ers.Most of them are getting plenty of SS/Medicare plus everything else.
Just ignore the niggling little fact that people worked and payed in to the Social Security and Medicare funds. MedicAID is free to the people who get it. MediCARE was paid for by the recipients.
False.Medicare deductions by individuals make up a tiny piece of the expenditures.The first SS recipient lived to over 100 and got back many times the small amount she put in.The system needs fixing and it would not be difficult(Step One-eliminate the caps on taxation over $106,800)And MANY Medicaid recipients paid in for years.Many did not and that is a problem.Nobody should get Medicaid unless they put in their 40 quarters.
(Exception-children/spouses of veterans who gave their lives or are disabled from service)
Ron Paul has a good chance to win Maine and won Aroostook County in 2008.His problem is he’s too old and his son is evil.
Tyler:
No, it wasnt, but that was back when people actually paid attention, worked their own lands until they were buried on them, taught their own children instead of farming the job out to public schools, considered a “vacation” as the day at the county fair, knew all thier neighbors, went to church socials to generate funds for winter assistance to help each other, held barn raisings, gleaned the town woodlots to prevent forest fires and have wood for heating etc. People have forgotten that Maine has produced jobs, food , shelter, warmth and safety for over 300 years BEFORE factories, minimunt wage, tax breaks, cars , snowmobiles or Disneyland.
What, someone standing up for us that work and pay the bills? Hasn’t LePage learned that those of us that pay the bill are the bad guys? Just ask Emily Cain.
Yes, we know, only right wing extremists work, pay their bills, and pay their fair share in taxes. All others are dead beats, frauds, and lazy bums. Maybe we should all just take our cue from Poor Paul and leave the state. Can you imagine the utopia that this would create? Nothing but LePage and his supporters here in Maine. No more unemployment, everyone would work three minimum wage jobs to make ends meet. No social services, everyone could just sink or swim. No more state agencies, Poor Paul would just shoot from the hip on every decision and cast judgement on his supporters, and they would like it. And not a single smarty pants with an I.Q. over 80 to make fun of Poor Paul and his supporters. Absolute Nirvana! lol.
So, basically, if we disagree with you we’re stupid. Very mature.
If you can’t discern the truth in this situation, then yes, you are quite intellectually disabled and possibly morally bankrupt like LePage.
LOL…morally bankrupt….really?…how is redistribution of wealth a moral enterprise? It is theft from your neighbor via the coercive hand of government. The only intellectually disabled person rattling on here is you, as you don’t even understand basic monetary and legal concepts.
Its LePage/Bush/Republican Party that is re-distributing wealth not Democrats. How can that much BS make it in three sentences.
Conceptualize this Einstein, LePage’s tax cut gives those who make over $100K a $2,400.00 tax break every year. I who make half of that and file jointly, will see about $200 if I’m lucky. Rescind the tax break and it would mean over 200 million dollars in revenue, that’s revenue with an “R”. If you make more you pay more. That’s basic. That’s a concept I have no problem with, do you?
My problem arises when YOU decide unilaterally that some of us shall pay an arbitrary additional amount of money to satisfy your social agenda. You are talking about requisitioning my money, that’s money with a capital “M”. Those hateful “rich” people already do pay more. When you start confiscating “excess” profits, you establish disincentives to work or produce. Why bust my hump to get another bunch of money, if the government is only going to take it away and give it to the sit-at-homes? Remember that greed is the driver of enterprise. Greed is good because it makes us who want more to work more. This benefits everyone because the money gets spent and commerce is generated. Greed is only bad to liberals, who demonize it in an attempt to appeal to the folks who do not work hard to succeed. This makes them feel better about themselves. Well, they DO need something to feel good about…
BRAVO! Score!!!
what do you mean? do you look at our states financial problems as a game to one up your opponent. slow down and take a look at the big picture instead of making another mark on your wall. We have a real crisis in our financial picture in Maine . To make it go away you simply cant spend money you dont have,and wastefull spending needs to be stopped period.
Your remarks are confusing me. Am I not trying to make a case for NOT spending money we do not have? If you are reacting to my comment, “BRAVO! Score!!!”, that was in response to ‘WilWhipple’, not ‘jj16oz’. Otherwise, I guess you’ve lost me – what DID you mean?
that is the game plan.
call names…. to liberals, somehow they think that makes them win.
winning
Most conservatives that I know will never receive a Nobel prize for anything. They can add though, and this trait binds them together. If you took their precious money away, they would just wander around lost and uninspired. It controls every aspect of their existence.
——————————
You know, I’ve noticed that myself: The less money you have, the more it matters. Huh. Oh, another interesting thing: You stated, “Most conservatives that I know will never receive a Nobel prize for anything.” What’s neat is, I know a Liberal who got a Nobel Peace Prize for doing NOTHING. How cool is that?
is there a chance that your IQ score really didn’t measure anything of value in day to day life?
some of the most inept people I have ever known and dealt with had PhDs from MIT.
high IQ, nearly useless people
Now, stop TEASING…!
Look at the headline above the article asking why college graduates are leaving Maine.Why would they stay?Young people are looking for a great place to live that offers them opportunity and supports the arts.Maine,excepting Portland has little of that.Plus to live in a state which is now nationally ridiculed due to this clown?
Cut and paste, cut and paste. You need some new material. Shut down the state? How exactly would one do that?
What are you a Boehner parrot? There’s no such thing as a fillibuster here pal, the Republicans have a clear majority on the committee. If they wanted to pass it they could without any Democratic response. However, in looking toward their own political future, they see the writing on the wall for the Teapublicans and their ilk. Soon enough they will be gone and believe it or not, there are some responsible republicans who don’t want their name associated with these bogus cuts.
Oh, and stop repeating/aping what you hear on t.v. I swear you Tea people have a cumulative I.Q. in the single digits.
LePage has the power to shut down the state if he wants he should veto this farce that the Legislature wants. He should let everyone who collects Welfare and Welfare with Unemployment suffer by shutting the state down only leaving a few departments open to get revenue. He should send a message to liberals he isn’t taking the BS and bully tactics that the working taxpayers of Maine we aren’t going to be held hostage anymore by Maine Democrat Party and Welfare Bums anymore. That their dependency on Augusta is about to end once and for all.
Look up a calendar called Strange Brew-Bagging on the Tea Party.Amazingly,available at Marden’s.Well worth buying.
….
You want to know what is old having my taxes raised being nickeled and dimed to death to support all of these Welfare Cases who refuse to get off their lazy butts and get jobs. All of these Liberals need to get with reality their welfare state is going to crumble one way. Either through cuts in Augusta, or all of the Taxpayers either revolting or leaving this state for better opportunity leaving Welfare Bums having nobody to pay for them anymore.
….
Plus he’s too stupid to realize taxes have gone down and are the lowest in 60 years.
….
Well, you know, the message doesn’t seem to be getting through! How DO you plan to pay for all the welfare, given that it seems to continue to grow in volume and has no built-in controls? We are already in debt for generations into the future. Did you think that the welfare load would somehow magically decrease over time? Has that been our experience to date? No. If you subsidize anything, you get more of it. Subsidize sloth and indolence, you get more sloth and indolence. Seems simple to me.
….
You don’t need a single democrat to pass the budget. For every welfare bum there are two business thugs like our current Governor.
Hey! That would be GREAT news for those who pay taxes! If it were true…
Your ROBthePUBLICans tag is humerous considering that it was a Dem legislator who robbed the public at the MTA and will be spending time in jail for it, and the MSHA, headed by another Dem legiscritter, is heading for the same fate. And while the failed Baldacci administration was in charge the state liquor business was sold to connected Dem insiders at a fire sale price to attempt to temporarily stem the bleeding in the budget. The Dem are the real crooks in Maine.
Yeah, I’m STILL pissed about that liquor agency business. Typical Democrat move – long-term pain for short-term gain… but it got him votes! Go figure…
I think you know who’s been doing the robbing for last forty years UNCLE DRUNKARD
Then bring back Baldacci. His budget was 400 million less then Lepage’s and that isn’t counting the extra $225 million Lepage wants added to the one they just passed.
Those budgets always sounded good: but then we would find out they had overlooked a few million here and a few million there, and it wasn’t actually balanced at all. Look at the mess he left in DHHS…and the mess he instituted in MSHA. The first Baldacci error is in jail, now. Hopefully, more to follow.
The Republican budget will be 1/2 a billion dollars larger than the last Democrat budget.
On top that , the Republicans have so grossly mismanaged things they are a 1/4 billion billion short and they want the our cities and towns to pay more to cover the short fall by raising local property taxes..
Those are solid facts. Baldacci didn’t make Lepage sign this disaster of a budget and Balddaci didn’t make Lepage use a Virginia based think tank to do the budget for Maine.
Another solid fact is that the Democrats in Washington are printing money as fast as the presses will go. This triggers inflation, and the value of all money in circulation goes down in proportion to how much faith people have in the government. Inflation means that it takes more (less valuable) dollars to accomplish a given goal. Since I am one of those folks who do NOT trust “The Most Transparent Administration in History”, I can see this quite clearly.
People keep saying that but inflation hasn’t been a problem since before the Clinton years.. The only issue with cost is that wages for the %99 of Americans has been suppressed ever since Reagan used the federal government to break the bargaining power of the working man.
yes spaghetti man’s budget was higher sherlock, that is why are in the mess we’re in, because the democrats live in fairyland, that just spend spend spend and don’t worry how it will get paid for! typical definition of a non-profit, everybody owns it and nobody cares.
Gov. Baldacci and the Democrats last state budget was 5.8 billion. Paul Lepage and the Republicans current budget is 6.3 billion.
Your infantile insults will not change these FACTS.
The failed Baldacci administration didn’t pay bills, had scheduled shutdown days, moved bills from one period to the next and used every other gimmick known to accountants to pretend to balance the budget. That’s why we’re in this mess. The Baldacci budget is the last place to look for guidance on spending.
Looks like Mr LePage ‘s budgeting skills are not to sharp either. The 220 million dollar shortfall is his budget. Sorry he owns it.
The shortfall comes from the legacy of incompetence at DHHS going back decades.
If he owns it county, then why is he getting stonewalled for trying to cut it? We’ll wait.
Lepage doesn’t want to cut the DHHS shortfall. He wants to have the local property tax payers and the hospitals pick up the tab.
Baldacci didn’t have shutdown days, Jock did, and then LePage did. 13 of them to be exact. Jock had more. LePage took 13 days pay from people just trying to do the job they were hired for and who need to put gas in their cars like everyone else. Let’s see you take almost three weeks off with no pay bigmouth and then come make a comment.
JJ16oz, Maybe Governor Lepage gave you 13 unpaid days off to try to get you to open your eyes. To see that The Hard Working, Tax Paying People need to unite to get the people in office to stop all this useless bickering between political parties. To do what it takes to get the hard job done of putting some pressure on the welfare recipents. To find work or get Educated enough to be able to take care of themselfs. Until then, The Hard Working Tax Payers are going to keep paying for not only the gas they put in their cars, but the cars of the welfare recipents as well. Just saying…
Yep, those budgeting tricks can only be carried out for so long, then the tent collapses. All the gimmicks have been used, it is now time to Pay the Piper!
And he is working like heck to cut that budget and the Emily Cains of the world are saying NO! It may be that this budget will be a simple majority budget like the kind Baldacci used to pass when republicans said no to his stupid accounting gimmicks. It will take a long time to dig out from under all of the incompetence in Augusta for the last 4 decades.
Lepage signed the budget and it was passed by the Republican controlled legislature.. Lepage’s signature means he believe it was balanced as required by state law… Now he wants the hospitals and local property tax payers to pay for his budget foul ups.
Lord Whiteman,
Facts! FACTS! Republican. You can’t use these in the same sentence. The Republican worldview is a supernatural, magical worldview composed of unrealized ambitions, frustrated hopes, and fantastic delusions like Austrian Economics and God calling them to sanitize this evil world. Rational conversation with them is impossible.
Disqus generic email templatethose are big words. not bad for a d
Personal attacks. Is that all you can do to defend your evil master, Paul Lepage?
The Dems are addicted to buying votes with public (translation: OUR) funds.
Like the Bush Medicare Part D giveaway for votes and the two wars PLUS the tax cuts-ALL unfunded!
Thanks to the stimulus.
“LePage Derangement Syndrome. Simpleton/extremist/dangerous/bully/madman?” Maybe not nice, but so very true.
You can sit in denial of the utter failure of that TeaRadical fool in the Blaine House all you want. See you in November when your worship-the-rich GOPTeaParty takes a royal pounding at the voting booth. And let’s see how many of your Republican candidates are out there campaigning with LeBuffoon. They are going to run away from him like the plague. Then you can accuse your own people of “LePage Derangement Syndrome.” Ha ha ha…
You notice how Ron Paul only agreed to visit with Paul Lepage behind closed doors and with no photos?
It makes one wonder if Lepage didn’t just make up the visit.
No!
“Nobody” wants to have their picture taken with the man!
LOL
You guys have it reversed; LePage wouldn’t have wanted to be seen with Ron Paul.
So that’s why Lepage begged Ron Paul to visit him on his way to Lewiston?
I voted for LePage, and I’ve seen nothing that would dissuade me from voting for him again. GOOD JOB, Gov. LePage!
So you like the fact that Lepage has increased state spending by 1/2 a Billion dollars and now he wants another 1/4 billion to be paid for by the hospitals and the local property tax payers?
Your “team” had decades to try to get it right, and couldn’t. LePage is in his first term – I am hearing the sound of Sour Grapes from a lot of posters.
Baldacci’s last budget was 5.3 billion , Lepage’s first budget is 6.3 billion and now he wants 1/4 of a billion more… I’m hearing the sound of cognitive dissidence from a lot of posters who can’t admit they got fooled by Lepage and his army of professional liars.
Someone posted earlier that the Dems were living in a fantasy land , your statement solidifies that argument !
LeBuffoon! That’s good. Hope its not copyrighted. Like to use it. Seriously
Then let’s repeal LePage’s tax cut. I’ll gladly give up my $40.00 I’m getting this year if those who make over 100K will give up their $2,400 they will be saving. If the tax cut is repealed the revenue created would equal this bogus number that LePage came up with to cut from DHHS.
Oh yeah- THAT would make Maine have a better business climate! NOT. Where is the incentive for people to come here and invest?
That didn’t take long. Now Bush Derangement Syndrome has morphed into LePage Derangement Syndrome. Is the only commonality that they are Republicans. Bush increased the Federal Deficit by 2.0 trillion dollars a year (He was projected by CBO (2001) to have a $850 billion surplus in 2009; insteady he had a $1.25 trillion dollar deficit a difference of over $2 trillion). Are you saying that LePage is going to increase Maine spending similiarly?
Facts are, Maine government too small, taxes too low, the safety net too weak with too many wholes and anyone who says otherwise deserves any ridicule they get.
Settle down Penguin – this is not the school yard and you don’t get to decide how we’re going to play. Oh, and would you try not to say anything too obnoxious while you wait? It just makes Maine looks bad, and we don’t need anymore of that.
And apparently you are incapable of having an original thought. You continue to beat the same ol’ drum against Lepage. Why don’t you take half the time you spend bashing him and try to actually educate yourself on some of the key subjects.
This whole issue with DHHS has been many, many years in the making and each previous administration has chosen to ignore it and pass it on, letting the next administration worry about it. Clearly that cannot continue to happen. Federal dollars are being cut and we as a state need to make the hard choices about not continuing to be a leading welfare state. Welfare was constructed to be a temporary “hand up”, not a continual “hand out” way of living that now is in it’s 4th generation of recepients.
Study the facts and make a contribution based on knowledge, not just emotions.
What about the fact that for every $1.00 Maine cuts from MaineCare, we lose $2.00 in federal funding? What will be the impact on rural clinics and hospitals — on employees at those hospitals, and on the grocery stores where those employees shop?
Would it be better to delay some of the cuts until the economy improves, so that people who lose benefits have a better chance of getting work, and the cuts in government money won’t have such a big impact?
What about the fact that some people who stand to lose benefits really do need them? Have you not heard their stories? (If not, please make an effort to do so).
What about the fact that the cuts LePage has got himself all in a tizzy about are illegal — and are likely not to be allowed anyway?
What about going with the committee plan for a short term fix, while at the same time wresting an agreement from the legislature to work toward a longterm plan that shrinks the size of MaineCare in a smart and humane way.
It’s not a simple problem. Why is LePage treating it like one?
At the end of the day, Maine is still gonna be a poor state — at least for the foreseeable future. Are we gonna be a poor and compassionate state or a poor and heartless state? That’s really the question.
“What about the fact that for every $1.00 Maine cuts from MaineCare, we lose $2.00 in federal funding?”You do realize that “federal funding” is also our tax money don’t you? Why do all liberals think that federal money is free money?
Yes, Maine will continue to be a poor state as long as we are forced to support people who won’t help themselves. There are thousands of people on the system who are not elderly or disabled. Generations of them have proven that they will not take responsibility for themselves unless they are forced to.
Everyone is free to send additional support to these people if they don’t feel the state is doing enough for them. What is holding you back?
By Mr LePage’s own math over 50% of the funds spent on MaineCare goes provide for the elderly. Now let’s add in the handicapped, disabled and the children. That pot of money going to support ” those who will not help themselves ” is getting pretty small. Are there cuts that can be made ? Without doubt and I would like to think that is where our legislators are focusing on.
Look at Mr LePage’s proposed cuts — many of them affect only the elderly, handicapped and the the disabled.
I for one am glad to have federal tax dollars come back to Maine. That ‘s money I paid in from my pay check and I would dare they came back here to support the State of Maine then go anywhere else.
Many of Mr. Lepages proposed cuts affect the lazy , deadbeats and cheats as well. Why is everyone so blind to the fraud? If we weed out the dishonest people and make them pay back what they have stolen, then the elderly , handicapped, and disabled won’t have to lose their benefits. How about families caring for each other and not pawning your loved ones off to the state to care for?
Then why not go after the cheaters, instead of the ham-fisted approach of cutting off all childless adults? Yes, LePage is right in trying to cut the budget. And, yes, if you cut out all childless adults, you’ll eliminate some cheaters; but you’ll also eliminate an undetermined number of people who really need the help. Maine, and the federal government, should have enough CPA’s and investigators to make sure that anyone who gets a dollar’s worth of public assistance is entitled to it.
Childless adults, providing that they are not disabled, do not need welfare.
True example;
22 years old, high school drop out, never once has filed income taxes and made good money being paid cash on a lobster boat ($1K to $2K per week), able bodied oxy addict, now swinging on Mommy’s apron strings, Grandma’s apron strings, and getting welfare.
Currently unemployed, and won’t even lift a finger to get a GED to help make himself more employable. Total loser that we will pay for his entire life, not to mention, how long before he knocks up some girl, who will probably be under age. There is more, but THIS is what we have a problem with. It’s called poor life decisions, no responsibility, and who’s fault is it? This is no “isolated case”, it is rampant all over this state, and it needs to change.
I could not care less if this man lives under a bridge someplace.
That indeed is IT in a nutshell. Well put! The guy in your example has no incentive to change his lifestyle. NONE. This is actually a disservice to him, because he will not approach his own potential while lying about on the dole. All he has going for him is his vote. It is not hard to guess who he is going to vote for…
There is a finite supply of money. If it must be that all the layabouts MUST be on the dole, of course there will be less money for those who really need it. That is what we have been SAYING!
Yeah, I wonder just how long all this Compassion would last, if the liberals had to spend THEIR money on some of these inane programs… HEY! Anybody want to volunteer to fund the Midnight Basketball Program?
Doesn’t matter if they are Dems, Rep or Libs they’re all a bunch of jerks who can’t work together for the good of the people.
Where do you think the $2 in federal money comes from? It has to originate with somebody going to work or investing his hard-earned dollars so he can give some of it to the taxman. Doesn’t matter if you are giving it to Maine or the feds, if you are working or have savings, you are paying the money to be spent by DHHS and every other agency.
Or maybe you are one of those who can sit back and let OTHER people earn the money and pay for everything.
Where was your outrage when the failed Baldacci administration was simply NOT PAYING the hospitals and health care providers in order to pretend to balance the budget? You don’t think that had any effect on the local economies?
The Baldacci administration was paying the bills , albeit not completely up to date but they were paying. Mr LePage’s answer is to give them no money at all in many instances for services rendered. The people removed from MaineCare will still require health care which they will receive as charity cases. The bulk of this will translate to higher health insurance premiums, talk about just shifting the costs.
And I am sure that the hospital administrators will tell you that sending out a bill for services rendered is better than not being able to bill anything. Even if one has to wait for payment.
Um, yeah – I’ll bet $125,000,000 would go a long way toward making the hospitals happier…
I pay both Federal and State taxes. Cutting spending at both levels sounds great to me.
You’re right. It will take a longtime to reverse the thirty years of Democratic failures that have locked Maine into poverty. Can’t be done overnight.
Jeez! You are NOT “losing” money! That is NOT “YOUR” money! I could as easily say, “For every dollar Maine SAVES, the federal government SAVES two dollars. It is all TAX money, and WE pay it.
At least we now know why everyone in Waterville and all Mardens employees voted for him. They wanted to get rid of him!
He is smart enough to realize we dont have money to give to people who do not deserve it. Maybe there is something to a Husson education after all. You cant take something from nothing braniac
All 65,000
don’t deserve it.wow! All of them need to just go away. The gov wants to be a
dictator , and after he cuts them all off , he’ll next want a bill to prevent
them all from voting..Just because the Appropriations committee won’t stoop to
his level doesn’t make them wrong. Just a little more compassionate. I know, I
know… compassionate and republican seem to be an oxymoron.
“…compassionate and republican seem to be an oxymoron.”
Much in the same way that ‘thinking’ and ‘liberal’ are oxymorons, eh?
He is a dictator. Just look at his headlines every day. He either gets what he wants – or, else?
He refuses to accept committee reports that vary from his extreme views. He is a martinet pledged to carry out the Tea Party’s ideology.
The DHHS and review committee surely are smart enough to investigate or review all recipients and “weed out” those who are not qualified under Maine law to receive such benefits.
Harsh and severe slashing of funds could affect many who who are dependent upon DHHS assistance.
It is not a Liberal, Republican, Independent, Tea Party decision. It is a plausible solution worked out by Maine citizens acutely aware of the individual problems and cost considerations.
Everyone has seen it! The Appropriations Committee has been telling the papers about their plans. Same old fiddling without addressing core problems.
I’ve read several informative columns in the BDN about how to straighten out this seemingly “crushing problem” Le Page suffers each day. However, he obviously is not in the mood to accept suggestions on this issue.
After constant prodding by columnists and legislators – from both sides- he adamantly refuses to discuss the proposals. He much prefers to report to his tea party and Koch brothers sponsors that he is doing his share to slash and cut as part of the tea party ideology.
Even republicans are quoted that the major cuts are not necessary. Like others, they realize that chopping 68,000 Maine residents off DHHS roles will toss the burden of care onto Maine hospitals, who will be forced to overload their already burdened ER units, medics and doctors, who are dealing 24 hours a day with Maine’s drug epidemic.
He should learn to govern within the jurisdiction of the Maine Legislature. This state is not under the dictatorship of one Paul Le Page.
Apparently the Democrats, too, are incapable of thinking in complexities. That is precisesly what got us into this mess in the first place. I’m not saying LePage is 100% correct but, by the same token, what’s been done in the past- creating a “balanced” budget via trickery- just isn’t going to work anymore. If Obamacare goes into effect, as written, the business landscape in this state and this country is going to look like the moon.
it is pretty simple.
the cupboard is bare.
there are no complexities.
the cupboard is bare.
Did something happen here that I did not notice — the last I knew the Republicans held the majority in the Appropriations Committee and the legislature — if that still holds true then it is time to stop blaming democrats — this is a bipartisan measure — sounds to me like the legislators got the message from their constitients — lets have some compromise and give us something that works for the people of Maine
Since it’s an emergency bill, it will require a 2/3 vote in both houses of the Legislature to be enacted. That said, MPBN reported tonight that LePage took aim at Republicans on the committee:
Last week, Republican Gov. Paul LePage blamed minority Democrats in the Legislature for the Appropriations Committee’s failure to act on his proposed $220 million dollar Medicaid restructuring plan. But not anymore.
“I will tell you, what is being discussed today is being discussed by the–I’d say being pushed very strenuously–by the Republican side of the Appropriations Committee,” he said at a news conference today.
http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/20126/Default.aspx
You seem to mean ‘no more representative democracy’.
The Republican party swept the election winning a majority in the House and the Senate and we have a Republican governor. What do you think the problem is?
It is not a pure enough Republican society , yet ?
Really 81% of the Maine people voted against the Democrat Party in the last Governors election with most of them voting the Liberals out of the legislature as well. They want economic and new philosophic change in Augusta after 36 years of having the Far Left Democrat Agenda down our throats which failed miserably. The Libs think we want to go back to their radical agenda with economic policies that are against business and the working Mainer. They want to take away our rights and freedoms with the restrictive Nanny State we had for those 36 years because they feel that they should be the ones taking care of us. That we can’t take care of ourselves. No we don’t want their agenda we want a Center-Right agenda with little to no restrictions on our lives, with lower taxes, less welfare , good paying jobs, new businesses and prosperity for Maine citizens.
That 81% business is an interesting spin, but of course it doesn’t begin to tell the whole story. Most (dare I say nearly all?) of Cutler’s votes came from the Democrats who were concerned that Libby wasn’t the person for them. But, as I say, it’s an interesting spin that doesn’t begin to pass the straight-face test.
Unfortunately for the state of Maine the people elected a bully who knows a lot about buying and selling factory seconds and damaged goods but nothing about legislative compromise. Unfortunately again for the state of Maine, when he gets turned out after his current term lots of Republicans will be turned out on his coattails and this whole finanacial situation the state is in may get worse.
Your last sentence, “we want…lower taxes, less welfare , good paying jobs, new businesses and prosperity for Maine citizens” is a good, common-sense platform that just about anyone can agree on. Unfortunately your disingenous “81%” spin cast a pall over everything else you said.
So we should just blindly accept your word on where Cutler’s votes came from with no evidence whatsoever? Just because you’re always right and know everything, I suppose?
81% of Mainers did vote against liberal Libby. Deal with it.
You really believe 81% want the Dems out of power? Didn’t LePage say 60% of the state is on welfare?
81% didn’t vote for the Democrat Party nominee Libby Mitchell in the last election. With most of those 81% that voted against the Democrat nominee voted to elect Republicans to get control of the Legislature. Why because the are tired of their failed economic and sick and twisted social agenda (Gay Rights, Gay Marriage). They want a new path that is why Democrats were given the boot. Bringing back Liberals will go back to the same old failed more of the same with what is left of Maine’s Businesses and people leaving. Who will pay for the Welfare Bums then if what taxpayer’s are left leave.
how come the Governor is still unhappy with the Legislator?
hint: it’s not about party, since the Republicans have the majority.
you are failing to see beyond party politics. that’s sad for our State.
You seem to continually forget that if either one of the other candidates, Mitchell or Cutler had not run, then…..we wouldn’t be in this mess! Libby Mitchell got the less of all three, meaning that the democrat was the least likely candidate, but what about Eliot Cutler? He damned near beat Le Page, without a state ticket! That doesn’t say much for a person that is demanding the way that he does. Live with it; prior to his election, the man never spent one hour in the shoes of a legislator, or even a page.
He has no idea how to conduct himself. You don’t, ever, interrupt a committee work session; unless you are asked. He just stomps in, that’s not good, that’s not how it works. Each and every legislator knows that they are a part of a separate branch of government, and I assure you, each and every one of them were offended in one form or another.
He is bring what he said he would to the Governorship.
He is running the State like a Buisness .
He is just being the proverbeal Dictatoral @$#%&@# Boss!
Without a state ticket? Ticket for what? Speeding?
He didn’t interrupt the committee work session. He went in and testified just like everyone else. Good to know you can read the minds of all legislators to know how they feel about things. Can you tell us exactly what the final budget will be with your psychic abilities?
/syDumpkat: \reformat:\device
I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things. Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
I wish they would ban you…..you are getting under my skin. Tired old rhetoric!….give it a rest…PUH LEEZE!
You cover a broad swath of governors over the past 30 or 40 years. Did you mean to include John Reid, John “Jock” Mc Kernan, Angus King, James Longley, and John Reed? If so, they also served within the past 44 years. Three republicans, two independents, and 3 Democrats -John Baldacci, Kenneth Curtis, and John Baldacci.
As governors they relied on bi-partisan support to help run state government smoothly.
The “majorities” are small. Hopefully after Nov. the Dems will control both the Senate and House.
don’t take this the wrong way….please know I’m a registered Dem and have never strayed from my party, but I would hate to see any one party control the whole game.
Competition makes us sharp. What I mean by that is: opposition forces each of us to hone our message and prioritize our goals. That can only benefit each party and the State.
I applaud the Republican majority for not kowtowing to LePage. If I agree with them on one thing…just one thing…than I can no longer label them as ‘all bad’.
then the money will go out so fast the working people wont be able to replace it.. thats a terrific idea.. lets do that… lts just give it allll away.. that will fix everything
I think the problem is that you do not like being in the minority.
what do you do….scan comments and just jump in with one-line insults? no content. no ideas. no discussion. just a nasty personal attack.
weak. very weak. pfffft.
It takes time to dismantle an out-of-control welfare system.
You may want to reflect on WHY the Republicans swept the election. We the People are sick and tired of the old “business-as-usual” attitudes of the entrenched Democrats. Judging by the shrieks of woe I’m hearing on these comment pages, this was a rude awakening for a lot of you. Now, it is going to take time to try to undo a lot of the harmful things you have put in place. Please be patient…
“You may want to reflect on WHY the Republicans swept the election.”
*****
actually, i think it is more appropriate that the legislators reflect on that subject. That is what they are elected to do.
There are an awful lot of ‘you’s in your comment. Not sure why it is necessary to point fingers at folks and to categorize people as ‘us’ and ‘them’ like that. Reinforcing divisions is not good for our State or our Country. If you have ever read any of my comments I remain moderate and rarely, if ever, knock the GOP or the LePage.
It is certainly necessary to point out that WE the people are responsible for the state of the nation and the state. WE voted in the inept political managers and WE voted for more welfare and entitlements. WE agreed to pass along the crushing debt to future generations. WE are personally and severally responsible for the horrid state of affairs that now pertains. RESPONSIBILITY is the name of the game. WE bought it, WE own it. You had better believe we have divisions in the body politic, WE have some work to do; WE have to decide if we are going to continue to throw money at people who just sit around, or are we going to address some problems and keep that money for those who REALLY need it. WE includes YOU. Are you going to sign up to be part of the continuing problem, or are you going to step up and help with the solution? There, is that better?
no.
WE don’t live in a pure democracy, WE live in representative democracy. so WE need to voice our opinions to our representatives. Apparently, some of US are doing so, ergo…it’s not a slam dunk for the LePage budget.
I’m not being ideological, I’m just saying: this is how the system works.
Another message from the Blaine house and all the servants.
Kim Jong Lepage has no soul . I am sure he is drinking on the job
Thank you, no. As a matter of general principle, I decline to support anyone who explicitly wants to throw me under the bus and becomes vocally petulant when other elected officials work to prevent him from doing so. Apart from anything else, to do so simply wouldn’t make sense.
LePage should be banned from legislative workshops. He’s like the class clown, always disrupting the process. GO away LePage….Please!!!!
I agree, having expectations that they do their job is far to stressful, lets just pretend that the problem does not exist, you know, like democrats like to do – put a band aid on it and pass the wine!
If you’re a LePage supporter you need to change your user name to maineminority. His own party is even fed up with him.
Hello MaineMINORITY. Gimmicks? Like the endless “gimmicks” used by the Republican McKernan administration? Enough of the pious hyprocrisy. Baldacci and Democrats cut $800million at the height of the Bush Recession, and they did it without all the bullying and nonsense we get from LeBuffoon. Tell your daughter-hiring tantrumming baby boy that this is the Maine state government, not Mardens, and that he better grow up and learn how to govern before he utterly destroys his own party’s chances of being elected dog catcher. Even his own party is running away from him. Wait until they pass a two thirds budget bill and override him. Ha ha ha. This is a budget problem and the entire budget needs to be considered. If he had managed his budget right in the first place, we wouldn’t have nearly as much of a problem. See you in November. The Maine GOP is TOAST.
The Baldacci budget just ignored hundreds of millions owed to Maine hospitals, shutdown the state on certain days and used every other accounting gimmick they could think of to “balance” the budget. If you failed to pay your car payments would you consider your household budget balanced?
Well stated…..
This latest proposal isn’t yet finalized so characterizing it as “no different than the failed Baldacci era” is nonsensical.
LePage is ignorant of or unwilling to grasp the reality that the Legislature works for the people of Maine and not for the Governor and that he could work with legislators to achieve some of his goals instead of trying – and failing – to dictate what they do.
LePage’s veto threat is the behavior of a bully, not a leader.
The Grover Norquist Tax Pledge that the Governor signed is a “””Gimmick””””!
You ignore the facts and just keep repeating the same old lies Lepage keep repeating.
so, let me understand this. The current legislature Appropriations Committeee which is completely controlled in every aspect by conservative Republicans is “no better than the prior one which was loaded with liberal democrats…” So conservative Republicans come to the same conclusions that liberal Democrats did. Must mean that the maineminority is out of touch with the people of this state. Might even be an extremist who goes along with our “my way or the highway” Governor Bully.
The governor is on this web site using a false name. “…failed Baldacci era.”? Hellava lot more productive than this blowhard.
Once again our state and federal government dont work ! They are so afraid of putting themselves in a position to be disliked by a few conservatives that they are more concerned in saving their careers instead of making the tough choices and taking care of business !
Re-election is ALWAYS on their minds..
absolutely, A politician cannot be one without an office. ” If they are not looking towards re-election, then they ought not to be in politics, and when they get beat, don’t look like a duck that has been slapped on the head. “…… Abe Lincoln
You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. They stayed up way to late every night and worked through the entire weekends to put together a budget because it was immediately obvious to ALL the Democrats and ALL the Republicans in both the House of Representatives and the Senate that the governor’s budget wasn’t feasible. If he’d done his friggin’ job and put together a budget that they could get behind and vote for they wouldn’t have had to start from scratch. You’re just unbelievably certifiably lost. Man are you lost.
Dale Carnegie he ain’t.
…
I can’t wait to BLAST Mr. LePage when I go to vote next November. He should probably start practicing making quack-quack noises right now to prepare himself for 2013-2014 as the LAMEST duck that’s ever waddled through the Blaine House. At least he’ll have 41K pay Lauren to wheel him from room to room.
Acting a little overconfident the same way the Liberals did in 2010 when they thought they had everything in the bag. Well you might not like what is coming in 2012. Nobama losing the White House, Republicans winning the U.S. Senate, Gay Marriage rejected again here in Maine and more seats for the Republicans in the Legislature. Because that could very well happen because their is alot of anger and hatred towards Liberals by alot of folks.
Yeah, he’s sounding a little overconfident, but I set him straight. Say, what’s your problem? This business with the governor isn’t about politics or business. It’s about Homeland Security and the enormous threat LePage poses to the interests of the people of America. You and he are obviously enemy combatants against America. You are bad news. Nobody talks like you that isn’t either stoopid or dangerous.
I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things. Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
It’s your fantasy, so you get to make it as big as you want. hahaha
I’m not trying to be a wet blanket. I’m 100% positive that this waive of fake governors is part of a plan that was put in place 5 or 10 years ago to destroy America. That’s why they’re so confident and thick sculled. It’s not like they can vary from their plan to enslave us all in heavy labor prisons while they take our natural resources because they have no individual decision making power.
These people are enemy combatants, and we haven’t woken up to the war yet. We think it’s politics as usual. Well, it’s not. And we’re all screwed. The Military High Command needs to pull their thumbs out of their butts and prepare to respond to this unprecedented attack on American soil.
I have a comment too, not aimed at you, but here it is: I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things.
Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
I am pretty liberal, and frankly, you will never get anyones respect with your language and tone. Your New World Order stuff went out 20 years ago.
Come on this is politics its all about power and getting elected would we really expect anything different?
Full of gimmicks? Please, he’s the one screeching about a deficit while making it larger with his tax cuts for the dead. Just stay in Florida and leave us alone. You’re an embarrassment.
I think he is a gimmick.
Bingo, hey I’m sick of getting banned from the site and so are the rest of my legitimate business associates. We just tell it like it is and the posts get pulled and the servers get permanently blocked from connecting with the BDN server.
Here’s possibly my last stand against Censorship the completely skews the landscape of free speech.
I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things. Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
I’m really starting to feel for these poor legislators trying to resolve our budget issues in a thoughtful and fair manner. I’m especially sorry for those who are in the Republican/Tea Party. Here they’re busting their buns to get something done all the while knowing that Mr. LePage is just going to turn his nose up at whatever they produce in conjunction with and involving anything like a compromise. He doesn’t want to compromise. Any compromise should be considered DEAD ON ARRIVAL the moment it hits his desk. Then next November these same reasonable GOP/Tea Party members will have to face the wrath of a public that is growing more and more angry over the LePage administration’s incompetence, “Silliness”/National Embarrassments, really sad choices involving political appointments, as well as good old fashioned nepotism. If these conservative legislators were smart they’d change party affiliation now and hope to be spared from the GOP/Tea Party bloodbath that’s coming next November.
It’s sometimes very difficult for former ceos who become chief executives in government to understand the fact that the concept of divided power gives them no direct authority over the legislative or judicial branches. That is Paul LePage’s problem in this business. He should make his case about what he thinks ought to be a legislative action, then get the hell out of the way. He’s threatening a veto on a piece of legislation that hasn’t taken final form. Good grief, guv: brush up on Civics 101. The legislative leadership in his own party must be ready to buy him a ticket to Jamaica for a while.
I’ve been saying he needs to take a ninth grade civics class ever since he took office. It gets worse every day!!!
Liepage wont sign it he didn’t get what he wanted.. All he wants to do is cut income, cut spending, and bankrupt the state.. The republicans believe that they will cut every income possible then bankrupt the state then blame it on Obama.. That way they will be sure to have a Repukelicar in office in 2012.. Well at least that’s the idea according to Grover Norquist.. As said in an interview with the Washington post..
http://www.washingtonpost.com/how-grover-norquist-hypnotized-the-gop/2011/06/30/AGYOUlsH_story.html
http://nationalcorruptionindex.org/pages/profile.php?profile_id=21
And my favorite story
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/grover-norquist-the-billionaires-best-friend-20111109
This guy is at the head of it all Google him and see he is whats killing our country.. Right now business is picking up, unemployment is going down and things are finally starting to get better economically.. And that I blame on Obama.. If he is not reelected things will get worse mark my words things will get a lot worse.. Look at Bush’s record vs Clinton’s.. When Clinton left office things were great, Bush gets in there and no one has work the economy is tanking, now Obama is there and things are getting better but it took some time.. He had to finish Bush’s war.. Obama is doing good for our country if the Republicans would just stop trying to sabotage his every turn it would be even better..
What are you talking about?
Mommy, the Emperor has no sense !!
Lets call this what it really is.
Illegal Tax Fraud.
The Governor and other Tea Partiers have signed the Grover Norquist Tax Pledge and refuses to use the tool of taxes to get us pass a period of recession which has reduced the Tax revenue intake.
The Governor and other members of the legislature have entered into an agreement with a third party lobbyist who has not been elected by “anybody” from the Maine Electorate.
They have conspired to undermine the Maine Constituion and the citezens of Maine for an ideology and net monetary gain of a few Tax Payers
They have conspired and Violated the Maine State Constitution Article (9) Section(9)
{The legislature will not in any manner surrender the power of Taxation}
Increasing taxes will pull us out of a recession?
Wrapping a chain around your neck and hooking it to the bumper of a pickup truck will pull us out of a recession. Toy Story 2 Sucked and was way overpriced.
You’re an obvious goon straw man so don’t get all indignant when I give you no respect. It’s the price you pay for selling out your fellow Americans.
I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things. Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
“Quite frankly, I believe this represents an ABDICATION of their RESPONSIBILITY to the Maine people,” LePage said in a Monday afternoon press conference. I hope he is not thinking about what I think he is thinking about.
You mean he wants to return our Murals he has hidden in a closet on Civic Ctr. drive.
Wait, first he doesn’t speak English so he screwed up a word or two without knowing. Second, his statements are emotional diaper loads without exception, not meaningful communication. Third, there are a few things that most of us don’t know that are very important to this discussion. Number 1 Maine is a sovereign state. It was created as part of the Missouri compromise as a win win. Missouri could be a slave state if Maine could be separated from Massachusetts as a free state. People in Maine were so furious with Massachusetts failing to protect them from the French, the Native Americans, and the British that they jumped at the chance to become a sovereign state. Some horrible losses were incurred by the men of Maine that went to war in adequately armed and supplied after Maine became a state. There are parts, now get this, there are parts of the Constitution of the State of Maine that are Secret. That’s what I said, “Secret” articles exist in Maine’s Constitution and you can’t just look them up. But they boil down to complete sovereignty of each and every Maine citizen, complete freedom to practice your religion or not, that the state is specifically beholding to nobody but God, and that the Governor is Commander in Chief of the State of Maine at all times with complete authority over Maine’s military without any need for an emergency. Choke that down. Try to find those articles. I knocked myself out hunting partly because I had no idea these unlikey things were in the Maine Constitution or that it was even possible to have secret portions of a state constitution.
HEY Govnah: Can you please, for once in your life, shut your piehole and see what the legislature comes up with first before you start shooting off at the mouth?
Sounds to me like LePage wants to veto anything that isn’t exactly what he DEMANDS. Thank God the legislature has the power to override. I got an idea it will be used more than once before he’s gone.
RECALL LEPAGE NOW!
NO NO NO YOU VOTED FOR HIM ENJOY YOUR VOTE I DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR YOU AT ALL
the only problem with that posture is that because of his lack of mental skill before his term is up he will have our State in such a mess that i will take years to recover and he will be back working in the warehouse at Marden’s. Why the owners would hire him back is a wonder as all the people that have worked for him hate him for his treatment of them.
No, he’ll be retired to Florida living off his state pension.
That is right, HE is all set.
I’m really surprised Marden’s survived all these years with him employed there.
Government is NOT the solution,
Government is the Problem!
If you don’t believe it vote in a Republican’
and he will make SURE of it!
I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things.
Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
LePage’s complete statement as supplied by his office:
I was presented a plan last Thursday. I told the Appropriations Chairs that I would not sign nor veto that proposal. However, their plan has drastically changed since then. The latest proposal eliminates nearly all of the structural changes that are necessary to make our welfare system affordable and sustainable.
The latest plan is full of gimmicks and built on false savings. It continues to cannibalize state government to support an out-of-control welfare program. If the approach taken by the Committee is allowed to move forward, we will be back here in a few months dealing with another large shortfall in the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Committee is no longer considering eliminating all coverage for childless adults. They are taking a half-measure that doesn’t fix the real problem. The ironic part of their proposal is that they are booking savings that are dependent on federal approval. My plan has been criticized for the exact same thing.
Quite frankly, I believe this represents an abdication of their responsibility to the Maine people. This is the exact same approach the Legislature has taken for the past 40 years and it hasn’t worked yet. They are kicking the can down the road and Maine people deserve better.
So? what’s the point? Did you expect anything different? The difference between the federal approval is simple: ANY change must be federally approved. The Appropriations Committee used savings from other agency’s to circumvent their changes, his change was entirely based upon federal approval…….BIG difference. I did four month’s of leg work to get a covered bridge replicated in Guilford. I had to get the site, declared a historical mark, not the bridge which was swept away in the flood. I had to work extensively with George Mitchell’s office and others. My point is this: there are other ways of getting something accomplished, there’s always more than one answer .
I simply posted the complete statement because the BDN did not do so. Think of it as a reader service.
How did the bridge turnout?
Your service is appreciated.
Gimme a break. Was this translated from Franglais by his spokeswoman? He doesn’t know words like abdication! Besides, the word is abnegation. What LePage should do is abdication. It’s the noun that means to resign from your position as a leader or to fail to fulfill your duties as a leader. Wait, he’s already doing the latter…
“abdicate vt, vi
to surrender or repudiate (a right, responsibility, etc.).
abdicate most commonly refers to the formal giving up by a sovereign of his throne, but sometimes describes a surrender of any prerogative.
Lepage is a BULLY
thank god he is too.. Im sick of the states money. Im referring to the money that the hard working people of the this state getting handed out to just about anyone. We need a bully to get this in hand. Im glad he is . I hope that he succeeds in cutting most of the crap out of the welfare system.. Im a working man and I support Lepage. I see many here are not..but… theres a reason he is sitting in that chair. Ill bet there are enough of me to make sure he will sit there again. If you are receiving money and you shouldnt be.. Well pay attention .. may want to set those cheetos down and find yourself something to do.. because there is a bully after YOUR money LMAO!!!
It apparent the Governor fancies himself a Penguin on horseback, but he is in fact, only a part of the democratic process. He needs to go back to Sea World.
much to his chagrin, he would rather hold court over all branches of government, and continue with the attitude ” just to what I damn well tell you!”
LOL
Congratulations to the Appropriations Committee — they have worked together to produce a bipartisan measure that all sides can support — no thanks to the lack of support by Mr LePage and crew who produced no reliable data or information and continually gave out disinfromation during the process
It is time for Mr LePage to figure out his function in State government — he is supposedly the governor– not a legislator — not a dictator — not a department head — be the governor — get out of their way and let the legislature do their job that the people of Maine elected them to do — if you do not like the legislation you have the right of veto — a word of caution though — you might want to prepare yourself for a veto override
The citizens of Maine expect leadership from their governor — they do not expect him to act like some spoiled child — so Mr LePage unfortunately it is time for you to attempt to lead — oh yeah and be prepared to lead in some directions you might not care for
Please get the message — it appears that the people are speaking through their legislators — you might want to get in line
According to his point of view, the line starts with him. NOT! The Committee did half the work, and have done what they are supposed to do. They got 140 million, do you think that this governor would cough up the tax cuts? Which are worth 150 million? He’s an embarrasment to all of us. We are better than that.
Excellent comment again rusjan, keep up the good work in behalf of the people of Maine.
Now….comes the tantrum. He wanted them to pass his budget. He knew he wouldn’t get a waiver! He wanted to enact his emergency powers……….The man is an idiot! He has been in Augusta for a year or so, these people on the committee have been there much, much longer. Bill Diamond is a former Secretary of State, he’s not fooling them and now he is throwing his little tantrum.
Anyone interested in starting a recall referendum petition? If the Legislature won’t, guess it’s up to us.
I’ll definately sign it, and so will many other people I know.
Recall him! He can’t even get out of his own way. Referendum !
“Recall him” With what people’s good looks. Maine has no recall law for state government officials. So unless you collect 57,000+ signatures and get it on the 2013 ballot your wasting time blowing hot air. By that time it will be 2014 with the re-election campaign going on. If Liberal run idiots and career politicians/government officials like Liberal Mitchell and that whiner Eliot Cutler they would have had a better chance. You need to run folks like Rosa Scarcelli or Barbara Merrill again both of which would energize voters, have better economic plans , business experience and conservative which would attract Republicans and Independents. Both are women and don’t have anything negative record wise which would be hard to run against. Though I see Liberals instead nominating buffoons and moonbats like Emily Cain, Cynthia Dill, Justin Alfond, Ethan Strimling, Peggy Rotundo or Glenn Cummings. None of which will do anything to inspire the voting block instead they will create more of a dark dreary attitude to Maine and its voters.
Anyone who is committed can get 57,000 signatures. And if you like it or not, the man is not acting responsibly.
You can continue your plethora of names and name calling, but not one of those names has been or are serving in the office of the Governor. The man is not reasonable, he doesn’t understand the power of the Legislature and it will cost him, dearly. So, as you go on saying your names, I can recite plenty myself, but I won’t out of respect for their service, you need to think how are you ever going to salvage what his 38% meant? Abraham Lincoln got more votes than he did, and that was months before the civil war, his name didn’t even appear on ballots in many states, but look what happened.
I can say names, and point fingers, but I won’t, because it doesn’t solve one damn thing now does it?
Do you actually sit there making this stuff up and typing it into your computer? Do you take drugs first or just drink the whole time? I’m growing tired of responding to you. Get a life. Get a job. Go to rehab. I guarantee you it will change your life.
.I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things.
Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
Our accidental governor has gone from being Maine’s national embarrassment to being a true danger to our citizens. Lacking the intelligence, statesmanship and simple common sense required to govern, he now tries to bully the legislature into passing his questionable and probably illegal cuts, assuring them that he will go to Washington to bully the administration there into giving in to his draconian cuts.
There is a good reason why 61 percent of Mainers voted against this extremist: we preferred a governor.
~61% voted against every candidate, that is how it works when you have three candidates.
Why is everybody so opposed to making cuts? We don’t have the revenue, and we cannot get the revenue no matter how high tax rates go. Would you rather do what Baldacci did and make cuts to education? Or maybe you would prefer to make cuts to programs that are very widely abused? Maybe by making the cuts we can get people off who shouldn’t be on there, leaving more resources for those who should be.
It isn’t a revenue problem, it is a spending problem. It is like making @junker207:disqus 20,000 a year and spending $200,000 a year and stating that you don’t spend to much, you just don’t make enough.
There were 5 candidates for gov, not 3. instead of cutting health care, shut off young healthy people on TANF who are capable of working, even though it might not be their “dream” job. Look at the people sitting in a DHHS waiting room, not many “old” people, mostly young people. If a family is getting TANF, don’t pay for new babies who are born after mom is on TANF. Stop paying for methodone clinics and suboxen. Limit ASPIRE support services. End the PAS program, Parents as Scholars. (the word scholar is used loosely here). PAS allows people getting TANF to attend college to meet their work requirements. Many get low grades, take online courses. That way they don’t have to get out of bed & get dressed in the am, just waddle over to the computer. There are plenty of better ways to cut the DHHS budget.
Yes, you’re right, but it essentially “came down” to three. And either way, no candidate got a majority of the vote, so whether you like LePage or not, the whole “61%” is totally irrelevant, as you could have made the same statement about any of the other candidates had they won.
As far as budget cuts go, I would like to assume that LePage knows a whole lot more about how much money and where it gets spent, thus he is likely in a much better decision to decide what needs cuts. But I cant imagine that there are no cuts that can be made to DHHS.
I truly believe that if corrupt politicians weren’t getting into bed with you and your ilk we wouldn’t be in this situation, so you might want to shut your pie hole. Nothing you say is true or even passes the straight face test. You are regurgitating sputum from the bowels of the Tea Party anti-American Guerilla Organiztion with international ties to many countries who all plan to take our natural resources and destroy our country and our land. Do you realize what it’s going mean worldwide in terms of famine and pestilence if you are successful. I found a nice chain, and my neighbor has an old pickup truck.
Your post counts on people not knowing what you and I know about you. You belong to a group of people. There are different branches but the goal of the organization is to destroy America. I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things. Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
when he flies to DC he may be escorted directly to jail. He won’t be allowed anywhere near the H & HS Secretary.
It is clear that LePage does not understand the legislative process. All he is doing is irritating every single legislator.
You see he does not have many mental skills relating to governing, otherwise he is a failure of a human being – are you surprised:)
As well as a large majority of Maine citizens!!!!
How dare the legislature try to take the power of the purse strings away from our most enlightened and benevolent governor. He is the only one, except for Bruce “Ain’t tree growth nice” Poliquin, who understands the complexities of cutting as many deadbeats like the unemployed off the state dole. His family all found good paying jobs, albeit at the cost of the state. Does anyone have the recipe for fried penguin brains?
It’ll be a small meal.
Dear Ms. Cain, Here is some ideaology for ya! Where in our constitution does it state that we “the people” have the responsibilty of maintaining those who choose not to do for themselves. Oh Mr Hobbins, A rose by any other name is a rose.. and Mr Nutting, You speak of acceptable trade offs, here’s one for you, Shrink this bloated goverment and trade off the savings back into the taxpayers wallet and you might earn a little respect!
Legislator Cain, if you read this rag, which I doubt, pay no attention to nummnutts oi812. Most people don’t “choose not to do for themselves” and when they do they quickly fall into a life threatening condition that warrants admission to a hospital for treatment.
You’ll have to do better than a bleeding heart yawn song to convince hard working people that all of the individuals taking advantage of the WELFARE system are forced in to their current situations. BOOO!!!!! HOOOOO!!!!!
They should rethink the MaineCare Plan and limit the kinds of procedures people can have. Some people are costing this state just too much money.
let’s start with no longer paying for sex change operations.
Oh yes there is epidemic of that going on. Get real.
Yeah like mostly the very ill. Cast them out, deny them any services, don’t worry, they’ll soon expire.
I dare him to veto a compromise bill. He will not ever see the light of day in another election.
Sound like the Governor may be about ready to declare an emergency, call out the guard, announce marshall law, declare he is the supreme commander of the Great State of Maine and abolish the legislature all together unless they bow and cede to his edicts.
So much for a democratic republic where the people have a say through their elected representatives and the Maine’s constitution, the one that gives the “power-of-the-purse” to the legislature, not the governor. But, hey, in the business world its no democracy — and the Governor said he was bringing his business model to State Government…..
and yet, he sticks a sign out “Open for Business” ? and criticizes how our state cannot provide the “trade skills necessary” for our plants? Sorry CP, I respect the Legislature with all of my heart, but someone has to stand up to this guy, and if the Republicans choose not to, it’s up to the voters.
redact
And you can’t run government like a business, because government isn’t a business, government are the rule makers, the one that business has to oblige and skirt around, government cannot and should not ever be run like a business, it’s a completely different entity.
The reason why a person is in business, is because we say that they can be, not them.
That’s exactly what the people like the Kochs, Waltons, etc. want. That’s why they fund groups like ALEC, MHPC, Americans for Prosperity [theirs], the Cato bunch, and on and on to control their puppet politicians and spin their propaganda. They don’t want a democracy. They don’t want to share in building a society that benifits all the people, they just want it all to satisfy their immense greed.
I keep telling myself I do not live in a dictatorship but same days I find it hard to believe….
The only person I see abdicating responsibility is , his highness, Landslide LePage.
Everybody is wrong. Well that is unless your name happens to be Paul Richard LePage and then you are not only never wrong you are infallible. In another one of his famous finger pointing sessions Paul Richard LePage has declared once again that members of the Maine Legislature are wrong. We have become accustomed to hearing LePage’s bombastic attacks on Democrats in the Maine Legislature. Until now he has limited his criticism to Democrats. Last week he blamed Democrats for not passing his latest proposal to effectively gut Maine’s version of Medicaid. We have come to expect Democrats like Emily Cain and Barry Hobbins to refute LePage’s claims. That’s what happens in politics especially in these contentious times. The right blames the left, the left fights back and blames the right. Nothing new there. That has been going on since the beginning of times in the political arena. However recently we are seeing a new dynamic take place. . Now we are seeing these charges being refuted by members of his own party. Last week LePage blamed the Democrats on the Appropriations Committee for “dragging their feet”. This time however it wasn’t Democrats who came to the defense of the Democrats it was Republicans. And not just low level Republicans, but Republicans who are in positions of leadership in the Maine Legislature have broken ranks with LePage to not only refute him but to tell him he is wrong. In his latest attack upon the Legislature LePage does not limit his attack to just Democrats but to the Legislature as a whole. This week another Republican leader this time none other then Robert Nutting Speaker of the Maine House has come out and said that the Appropriations Committee has been doing their job and has said it was “unfortunate” that the committee has not been allowed to do their work. It is one thing when a sitting Governor is criticized by members of the opposing party, but when the leadership of his own party, especially the Republican Speaker of the Maine House starts calling his actions “unfortunate” then you know that things are not going well in the Republican Party. Is it really possible that everyone is wrong with the exception of Paul Richard LePage?
Is there any1 out there that can diagnose
LePage’s apparent mental health problems?
Yes but I keep getting banned from this site. I’ve laid it all out so a 2 year old could understand it. I wonder, have I lost my mind? I keep getting banned, along with some hundred or so of my legitimate business associates. I wish somebody would do something about this site http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm . They have an obligation to give equal time, not ban everybody they don’t agree with.
LePage’s primary personality disorder is “Attachment Disorder”. This is an untreatable as successful reversal would have to happen before age 3. It’s cause is unknown, but mothers of such children universally struggle to be a “good mother” and “love their babies” invariably with irreversible emotional damage to the mother akin to death of a child. The function of attachment is interactive learning about how to live in the world, face challenges, ask for and accept help when appropriate, and enjoy success. Adult traits are psychopathy, anxiety disorder – usually accompanied by self-medication leading to addiction, and an inability to accept help or to collaborate with others to achieve goals.
I’m no psychiatrist, but I play one one TV…….ah, his diagnosis is ….OCD, and he has no feelings about how many people he upsets, as long as he is satisfied.
I think his issue is that he sees the reality of the problem that decades of democratic dictatorship and spending has gotten us into.
another one of his issues is that he doesn’t want to borrow more money to kick the can down the road like everyone else did.
Yes, quite simply he’s brainless.
Lepage says he needs this bill passed, so he can use it as leverage to argue his waiver in D.C. So as not to lose federal money in the process, to balance a state budget, (Mr. Chips Goes to Washington) which they already told him (and he already told them to go to hell and your full of bullshit,nice way to get them on your side ) its illegal and fat chance. Well, if he cant convince the Maine Legislature (Republican controlled), how you gonna convince D.C. you can get a waiver. Lepage is crying Icant do my job unless I have the right tools, but I will tell you what the tool is after you tell me I can have it. But if they (D.C.) say no well, I guess I stuck you with a tool you cant afford, but I get my way suckers. No Health Care for the needy of Maine. He doesnt want federal money, he wants to pass this bill so there is no money federal or state whatsoever and he doesnt get blamed for a complete failure instead of actually working towards a solution, Wakeup Mainers thats like me telling you only the needy suffer so we can prosper!
Amazing! What about the tax breaks the people in “the system” get each tax year? I personally know one individuall who is getting back nearly $10,000 back in earned income credits and tax breaks – and bragging about no less. He and his girlfriend have two young children, live in subsidized housing, she doesn’t work, he won’t work more than 20 hours per week in order to not loose any benefits. They get all of the other benefits “the system” allows! My take on this is anyone who is receiving benefits from DHHS should be made to remit ALL they get in tax breaks back to the state and be put in the DHHS coffers. The governor has threatened to shut down DHHS because of insufficient funds. What a joke! That is totally unfair to the people who legitimately need it.
The highest possible earned income credit is $5,000 .
Your little “I know someone” story is fishy.
I never said the total came strictly from the earned income credit. That was only a part of it.
_____
you sound like lepage
Why thank you. No wait, Lepage wants to shut down DHHS. I want to keep it up and running but just for the people who trully need it and deserve it. Plus, if our tax dollars are being used to support DHHS why should those in the system get to keep the extra tax breaks? Oh well, I ddin’t expect too many supporters anyway. Therefore I will withdraw my decision to run for the next governor.
Right. And the total tax credit available to anyone taking the standard deduction (unless they installed thousands of dollars of eligible insulating or energy equipment ) is about $400 per child.
Keep digging …
child tax credit of 1,000 per child.
LMAO! Ok, so we have $5.000 earned income credit, $2,000 tax credit for 2 children = $7,000. Looks like we’re getting closer to the $10,000 mark all the time. And Tyke, I’m not going to waste my time and the other readers’ time by itemizing everything in detail. I don’t plan to do any “digging” just so you can try to bury me with rebuttals on each specific thing I say. Nobody says you have to agree or disagree with everything I say. Besides, even giving back a mere $7,000 would be a start in putting monies back in coffers. I certainly don’t always agree with what you or others write for comments but, I certainly don’t make it a habit of critizing what people say. But that’s just me.
Idea!!! Nobody in Maine pay State taxes and they take care of them selves and if we choose we donate to people in need. Dont need all these high paid DHHS workers, just a none profit accepting these donations.
overnight all of the people collecting welfare that can’t get their free money, food, or heat from the gov’ment would be rioting in the streets.
remember, you have to work hard, because people on welfare depend on you.
Paul Lepage never recognizes the rights of others and sees his self-serving behaviors as permissible. Lepage can appear to be charming, yet he is covertly hostile and domineering, seeing the citizens of Maine as merely an instrument to be used. Paul Lepage needs to fell dominate and he enjoys humiliating other human beings.
Reading many of these comments, it is no wonder why Maine is, and consistently been the state with the highest tax burden in the country. When faced with the decision to make cuts, or raise taxes the people of this state only ever want to raise taxes.
Why is it that there are so many other similar sized states, with presumably similar state programs, and yet they are able to get by with significantly lower taxes?
Many of you fail to realize that we need to be competitive in order to succeed. Being competitive doesn’t mean having the highest tax burden in the country. Yet people wonder why the business climate in this state is terrible, and why we don’t have many high skilled high paying jobs.
So let’s go ahead and continue down this road, we’ll continue educating our future tax base in our colleges and universities where they will be forced to leave the state to find employment that puts their skills to use. So long as we don’t have to make cuts to our precious social programs.
You know the best colleges in maine are private and very exspensive (just like all the academys) but the rich can afford to send thier kids there because Lepage gives them a tax break? and he is so cheap he sends his kids to school in Florida for free.
You don’t need to be rich to go to these so called “prestigious” schools, and most public colleges/universities are just as good.
If LePage didn’t “send” his kids anywhere, they chose to go there. Are they not allowed to?
But the real kicker was his wife claiming their residency in Florida so the could pay in state tuition. Talk about abusing a government program.
Do either of them pay either income taxes or property taxes there? If not, then it is not acceptable for them to do that. If so, then that is the entire point of in-state tuition, to benefit the taxpayers of the state.
And we’re supposed to ignore the fact that Maine is an incredibly old and rural state? Obviously the tax burden is going to be higher because of that.
Go play with your toys. We’re done with you. Yes, we’ll still take payroll taxes our of your part-time paycheck from Wendy’s and spend them as prudently as possible, but look at it this way: The roads will be maintained, poor disabled people won’t be trying to murder you to steal your macaroni and cheese, if you get sick and go to the hospital they will have to give you medical care despite the fact that you obviously don’t have health insurance through your employer, your elderly parents won’t be dumped off on your doorstep by the group home for you to take care of, and a million other things you’re not even thinking about will get done in spite of you.
You can wag finger’s at each other all you like soon dem/repub won’t matter all gov. funded programs will stop because their simply isn’t enough money.What is our currant national debt now to a Foreign gov.(china)16 trillion they also own like 80% of our United States Savings Bonds they cash out we collapse. they have been sending product through their manufacturing to us while our manufacturing goes away money goes out but none comming in.Our biggest export now is what scrap metal?The Roman’s went this root in the end they were invaded and slipped away into history books ,we are joining them.I watched a documentary on it at our current debt all gov. funded programs could stop and taxes trippled and we couldn’t dent it for Generation’s our great grand children are going to be slaves all due to the greedy that run our politician’s, and the fool’s who don’t live within their mean’s.
We got wonderfull choices in nov though, we got Romney the guy who evades his taxes by hiding his money in of shore acc. and Obama who doubled Bush’s 6.5 trillion debt. No matter who you vote for or approve of ,they get their lobbyist money/campaign contributions from the same place.So Prepare for the worst, and pray for the best.
sell your computer to fund lepage
Or you could just work so that your taxdollars can fund the lazy welfare rats.
“get back to work! millions on welfare depend on you!”
Why didn’t LePage propose this $50 million cut to MaineCare?
http://www.dirigoblue.com/2012/02/why-didnt-lepage-proposed-this-50-million-cut-to-mainecare/
dirigo should have been shut down years ago, but baldacci had it as his little pet project.
total failure.
millions of dollars per year to cover very few people.
According to the last report by Mr LePage Dirigo is running in the black — maybe not such a bad program after all.
And your alternative would be ? No health insurance at all ?
“Senate Minority Leader Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, said the governor is wrong”
I agree that our current governor is just plain wrong.
hard to take this article with LePage’s bullying threats and Nutting’s past of theft from the same government/people he now works for….the whole process is sickening. Don’t trust any politicians, they are in it for what they are going to get out of it first. To hurt the most vunerable of our citizens is truly horrible and gutless.
Kim Jong Lepage! Maybe he also wants welfare advacottesTo go to re education camps.
Golf page has a giant head!
Lepage Is a tyrant
Which are you? Welfare recipient or state employee?
I’m thinking welfare recipient.
Kim Jong – Lepage
It is ironic that you can put such derogatory blogs on Lepage and those wishing to label the former governor this way were blocked out!
Lepage= north korea
“The Appropriations Committee has been trying to clean up the governor’s mess”…
House Minority Leader Emily Cain
Sorry Cain, but he is trying to clean up YOUR mess. He didn’t create it; your party did. And we want it fixed.
With all due respect the process is simple. The governor is the chief executive of the executive branch of government, one of 3 branches. The other two are the legislative and judicial branches. The reason the governor submits the budget to the legislature is because everything to do with executing the statutes of the State of Maine including how it’s done and what it costs goes through the governor’s office. The governor has a responsibility to ensure that his staff in the governor’s office put together a responsible budget, anticipating political and economic conditions, is that his office is the only office that has direct access to all that information and all state agencies are ultimately responsible to the governor’s office.
Selecting, coaching, and trusting staff in the governor’s office is crucial to the success of this process. So when the governor is a nincompoop surrounded by people speaking gibberish (remember he had to have all his tests read to him at Husson College because he never really did learn to read or comprehend English) and he submits a budget that is so lousy the entire legislature in both houses can’t in good conscience move it forward and have to throw it out and start over that means the governor DID NOT DO HIS JOB.
Now tell me you hoser, how on Earth could any of that be Emily Cain’s fault??
Sorry Regina — the budget with the 220 million dollar shortfall belongs to Mr LePage — he created it and it belongs to him
He could just do the whole bond thing that the democraps have been doing for decades to kick the can down the road.
ya know, spend money we don’t have and borrow more money to cover our debts?
Sorry but in 41 years of voting I do not recall one bond issue to cover debt.
And please put the can back on the shelf — you have worn a hole in it.
Lepage’s DHHS Commissioner finally admitted (on mic) at a legislative hearing that his administrations errors in calculating their budget caused over 95% of the shortfall.
The only open question there fore is: was it caused by incompetence or dishonesty?
… or perhaps a healthy measure of BOTH.
I keep getting banned from this site. I’ve laid it all out so a 2 year old could understand it. I wonder, have I lost my mind? I keep getting banned, along with some hundred or so of my legitimate business associates. I wish somebody would do something about this site http://esupport.fcc.gov/compla… . They have an obligation to give equal time, not ban everybody they don’t agree with.
I’m posting this because my friends and I keep getting banned from this site. We don’t know why. We read things that are far more illegal than anything any of us have ever posted. There are a few people posting on this site that should have been stopped and banned after their very first posts. They are the posts that demean the disabled and the poor relentlessly. This Paper has a legal obligation not to print such things.
Look, all I want is a little respect. What am I, a clown for the amusement of the Warrens? Hey, if you’re paying any attention at all weigh in on this Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Do you think it’s OK for people to viscously attack and discriminate against people with disabilities? Do you have a valid explanation for allowing it to constantly occur on your site while you ban me and my associates? Ban me and my legitimate business associates from posting on your precious little “Comment Section”. Delete all my posts, then you can block my server address. And after that, you can come visit me. I’ll provide transportation and be the perfect host. I promise.
It sounds like Nutting is getting sick and tired of LePage’s mrddling with the legislative process. His calling LePage’s meddling “unfortunate” is for this quiet-spoken, understated individual a definite rebuke of LePage. LePage is one person with one mind (and a weak one at that). The appropriations Committee has several much sharper minds working on a budget that can actually work. And here comes the bully boy again with his “My way or the highway” approach to governance. Guess what Paul! These legislators do not work for you. You are not their boss. This bullying approach may have worked on your employees at Mardens, but these legislators are not your employees; collectively, they are your equal. It’s time you started treating them accordingly. They work for the people of the State of Maine. And part of their job is to make sure that one loudmouth in the governor’s office doesn’t set policy independently. Meddling with the legislative process is not part of the governor’s job description and is quite possibly illegal. LePage is not above the legislators or the State constitution except in his own mind.
Well according to the Portland Press Herald LePage announced tonight he is vetoing their proposal. It’s about time it’s time to have someone stand up for us taxpayers and take it to you Socialist Liberals and your stupid social programs. It is time to start kicking everyone off of these programs. If the Legislature refuses he should shut the state down till January 2, 2013. It is time to send you socialists the message that he along with the Working Taxpayers of Maine is taking no more BS from Liberals and Welfare Bums. It is time for them to go start mooching off of new sugar daddies down south or move to Canada to mooch off of people.
It won’t be long darkcat33 and you will get your wishes. The Gov. is on his way out. Just as soon as he veto’s the bill the citizens of Maine will impeach him and throw his butt back into Canada where a Liberal President Jimmy Carter gave him amensty so he could come back from Canada after he ran to get away from the draft…this is the coward you are worshiping and trying to protect. He doesn’t care about you. Just think, if you had lost your job, had a family and couldn’t make ends meet that you would be the one out on the street soon.
LePage created this mess, ever since he told President Obama to kiss his a_ _. The federal goverment has cut the funding from Maine and other states because our Republican Congress wants to balance it’s budget, that means instead of the federal goverment paying 2/3 of the cost of DHHS, the state has to pick it up now….that’s where the 221 million short fall is….not the last Governor. So stop your whining and crying and put your pacifier back in your mouth and start telling your wonderful Governor to start acting like a responsible Governor instead like you…let’s bully everybody around, tell them to kiss our a_ _. And wonder why nothing gets done… you need to grow up and move on.
Those rascally Republicans in Congress! Imagine they aren’t going to spend the money in Maine because THEY WANT TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGET. What an idea.
You are correct: the Republicans in the House want to balance the federal budget. The Republican in the Blaine House wants a decent balanced budget in Maine. MY governor is responsible.
Our government may be attempting to be responsible but I am not so sure about Mr LePage
How did those BALANCE THEIR BUDGET Republicans do during the Bush Years?
Why Balance the Budget when you can give away tax Breaks for your Buddies?
The Republican Idea of balancing a budget is Take away ALL of the Revenue and Then Take away ALL of the spending in the name of a Balanced Budget!
Talk about GIMMICKS!
Then repeal the unnecessary tax cut. Problem solved, budget balanced, time to move on.
Believe me – President Obongo needed telling!
Like the President gives a shirt…..what LePage has to say…LePage is his own worst enemy. As long as he has you kissing his butt he will keep walking with his belly bloated and his mouth over riding his butt.
We all know that the federal government gets it’s money from China. I guess we should tell Lepage to apoligize to the President so we can get some more of that free money from Washington. You appear more small minded than you claim Lepage to be !
LePage is already getting 2/3 rds of federal money to help pay for people that live in Maine and are on some sort of assistance. And this is not China’s money, that is yours and mine going to help others in need.
Thank God you never need to have to accept something because your poor and not by your own fault. Job loss, home and auto loss, family falling apart because of the unfounded stress…
Than a Governor comes along and says, poormaniac we can’t help you and your family because we are in debt and even though it is I who put us here, you have to pay the price. And I am the one that is small minded….ok! it’s all my fault and your wonderful…
WHAT YOU KNOW AND WHAT IS REALITY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. WE OWE 8% of our deficit to China. Can’t your side stop with the lies, dishonesty, misrepresentations all the time.
Veto it without reading it. He’s a real winner. If you want to live in a place with a dictatorship, move to North Korea. One person making all of your life and death decisions should make you very happy and secure.
Get a Real job and pay your Taxes!
Well, another Mensa member speaks someone else’s mind. Got an “A” in Parroting 101 didja?
….
Well said.I know very few conservatives who help anyone yet they are the biggest crybabies on earth.They’ll be going to a nice WARM place soon.
“Socialist liberals” – oxymoron that perfectly characterizes the Republican Party and its extremist wing.
“He doesnt want federal money, he wants to pass this bill so there is no money federal or state whatsoever and he doesnt get blamed for a complete failure instead of actually working towards a solution, Wakeup Mainers thats like me telling you only the needy suffer so we can prosper!”
I want people to read the end of nextgovernor’s post above. It’s shocking and people go immediately into denial, but when nextgovernor says LePage wants there to be no government money state or federal that is really what he means and he is not exagerating. Not only that but nextgovernor is spot on right. What you should be asking yourself is, “Why would our governor want us to have no money of any kind, federal or state for any purpose?” I hesitate to give you the simple answer because it’s to horrible to imagine. LePage is part of something big, and it ain’t a gun toting redneck family reunion. These people are systematically putting this country under siege with intent to destroy America.
He doesnt want federal money, he wants to pass this bill so there is no money federal or state whatsoever and he doesnt get blamed for a complete failure instead of actually working towards a solution, Wakeup Mainers thats like me telling you only the needy suffer so we can prosper!
You hit the nail right on the head.
It’s time to give LePage a Band-Aid and a toothbrush and throw him out on the street.
The Governor has no business meddling in the affairs of the legislature. If he wants to control the legislature, let him run for state rep.
Of course the governor has business seeing that his proposals pass the legislature! Did you have a problem when Obama called Congressional leaders to the White House and “blasted” them for not raising the debt ceiling?? LePage is responsible to see that the laws in this state are enforced, and that the budget is adhered to responsibly—that’s the job of the executive branch. And it is certainly reasonable for him to work with the legislature to get the job done.
Key words in your comment ” work with the legislature” . Any time he wants to start would be great.
And the argument for PUBLIC OPTION just keeps on getting stronger ! LePage keeps up like this and he’s going to force the issue, once and for all. And the minute he shut’s down the school’s, like he keeps threatening to, he’s going to find himself in court on the wrong end of a judge that knows meaning of an abuse of authority complaint. The AG isin’t going to do him any good either. The AG needs to have a little ‘closet time’ with LePage before Paulie gets in over his head any deeper and drags the rest of us in with him. Those funds that LePage keeps threatening to take hostage, namely the school funding, are tied to Federal matching funds. You grab Federal money and hold it hostage, by whatever name you call it, and you are now on the Fed’s radar. And they don’t play nice, Arne Duncan’s visit’s not included. LePage spit’s in the Feds eyes and the result’s are not gonna’ be pretty for anyone.
Once the money runs dry on April 1, maybe the school teachers will work for free at Emily Cain’s request, all to protect welfare.
If only the masses would realize that.
It is almost amusing to see how much heat and controversy is generated by Landslide LePage’s proposals for cutting HHS and not much is heard about creating jobs that would do more to get people off MaineCare and TANF. You do not grow jobs by cutting funds and services. You admit that you don’t have any programs that would increase jobs. This illustrates a state in rapid decline.
The repubs, state and national, do not want to create jobs, or do anything that might speed a recovery because they don’t want any recovery on Obama’s watch. Instead they seem intent on pushing as much pain as possible onto the people so they can try to blame Obama and the democrats. That’s why the obstruction in Washington, and the cartoon characters we have running the show in Augusta.
LeBuffoon strikes again.
Good Cop/Bad Cop = Nutting/LePage
Yet another $25. check to the Lepage re-election campaign is going to post this morning.
Poor Paul, if only he could bully the legislature like he bullied his junk store employees.
spoken like a true liberal who has to make sure that the check comes uninterrupted
Define Liberal?
How about: One who puts his hand in my pocket to pay for his compassion?
Liberals are defined as unprejudiced and generous.
He wants to cut DHHS , but how many new committees has LePage established since he has been Governor? And how many of these so called new committees are buddies of LePage? DHHS isn’t the only problem here, start in Augusta eliminate the political fraud.
he shut down a bunch of the former administrations pet project committees.
I think your record is broken.. HEARD YA .. now get out
Seems you’ve poseted it multiple times. Doesn’t seem like you get banned.
Even though I agreed with you many posts ago,I’m beginning to see why you get banned.Enough already!
You all realize that we’re out of money, right?
We can’t aff0rd to have the social programs and so called “safety nets” that have for years been abused and are no longer sustainable.
Remember: Welfare is great! until you run out of everyone else’s money.
A reasonable amount of cutbacks in the welfare budget is called for here.
Kick them all off and start over.
Democrat and former Gov. Baldacci’s last budget was 400 million less then Lepage’s and that isn’t counting the extra $225 million Lepage wants added to the one they just passed. If the Democrat could creata budget for 5.8 billion why does Lepage want 6.3? That’s an 8% increase in government spending that Lepage wants to pass on the local property tax payers and the hospitals.
Deficit Spending Big Lie Republicans.
The George W. Bush model of government.
Yessah
What a dangerous embarassment this knuckle-dragging neandethal is to our state. His ideas and proposals are fragmented thoughts, so dangerous to our state’s citizens, that his own political party does not support them. The only consolation here is that his inability or at the very least unwillingness to work in a bipartisan manner to address our states issues, will almost guarantee that he is a one term governor
It’s a Republican legislature . . .
“My way or the highway!”
After reading alot of the comments, it seems to me that we the people are worse than the fools in Augusta, with our blaming each other. How can we ask those who we put in power to listen to us if we just fanning the flames. We vote those who we believe can and will make a difference in to office, then when they fail we vote them back in to office. Something must be done to the budget as the state is bleeding money. Yes we do have people who know how to play the system and win, what happens to the others who by no fault of their own need our help? As far as this childless thing goes why should they lose health care to a baby machine, I saw it first hand when I lived in a large city. Just my opinion
If you want to save money and cut down on government spending, etc, elect one senator and two representatives from each county. The vote for governor should be 50% or more to win. And may the best liar win!
Emily Cain is a bald faced liar calling this the Governor’s mess! It is people like you, Cain, who keep perpetuating the idiotic games the legislature plays with appropriations. This is the culmination of years of kicking the can down the road and now the piper must be paid or the house of cards will fall down. Democrats only know the word no at the present time.
Just another daily attack.
Sorry Bart this budget mess does belong to Mr LePage. This 220 million dollar shortfall happened under his watch no one elses.
Sorry but you are wrong. Our Governor has been in office one year. Look in the mirror.
Actually, if you recall, LePage asked for DHHS reforms in his first biennial budget proposal. The legislature eliminated that part of his budget proposal and offered their version. LePage’s only responsibility is that he signed a budget given him by the legislature–and he didn’t have much choice on that as it was a 2/3 majority budget that would have overturned a veto. This budget belongs squarely with the legislature–they made the deals to get Democrats on board–and now they are making the same deals again.
Maybe it will work this time? Anyone think?
Who writes these headlines?? I listened to excerpts of LePage’s press conference on MPBN– who is certainly no friend of LePage–and I heard no “Blasting”. LePage spoke in calm, firm tones. By this headline, one would think he was fist-pounding the podium and spewing spittle…
The BDN is raising rates to $1.00 soon, their headline should be BDN BLASTS READERS. In tough economic times this seems to be self flagellation.
Welfare is welfare no matter what other name you give it. Money and benefits given to someone to help them fare well, is WELFARE.
What do you do when you are out of money to give, raise taxes again? come up with gimmicks? it has not worked for 42 years, GO GET EM PAUL
Ask LePage’s daughter about that.
yesah
As I have previously stated, it is now my hope that there are no significant changes made to DHHS! The State will soon be out of money and this agency will finally collapse. The Governor could then form a bipartisan board which would be tasked with providing towns and municipality’s funds for only the most basic of needs. Open up State armories and municipal buildings as shelters. Shuttered churches could be reopened to accommodate those in need. Coordinate with the private sector to supply area food banks with basic supplies such as flour, sugar, vegetables etc. Do whatever it takes to help those truly in need but gut this agency once and for all.
Repeal LePage’s tax cuts and raise taxes on the 1%.
Implement Single Payer health insurance
Negotiate prescription drug prices.
Stop voting republican
problem solved.
yessah
What is it you are trying to say???????????????????????
he doing his all wrong thank about people he is hurting us on what we need he needs to be out of the office because all he is doing is hurting the people so he can put more money in his pockets and he is also prdijust against people that are not his kind. gov lapaige do us all a favore and get office because you hurting us poor people we arent rich like you
GO GET EM’ PAUL
Who are “them” – people with jobs that don’t offer health insurance and that do not make enough to pay for private health insurance?
The sick and the disabled?
Why do you want to “get ” them?
why is that the liberals hide behind the sick and disabled.. Why is it when a republican says cut… they say .. compassionless?…he has said time and time again that people who are on the chopping block and single 20 year olds on the program are first.. why is that so wrong?.. are we supposed to take care of able bodied men and women for that matter?.. are all of this group disabled?.. Disabled from the food stamp president maybe..Im sorry Im a 40 year old guy who has survived a heart attack.. I have worked my whole life and went back to work 2 weeks out of the hospital.. why ?.. because im a worker not a whiner!!!. I have paid my way from the beginning and had a 10k deductible on top of that Ill be damed if I want to give free passes to these young able bodied people.. and go after more as well.. ones who are using the system as an extra income.. Your damed right GO GET THEM PAUL ALLLL OF THEM IM RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!
…..
maybe they should have planned better and wouldnt be in this situation in the first place
welfare are the ones who get all those free perks and won’t go out and find a job….take a look at that situation….what about all the mothers who have two or three kids and getting ready to lose their benefits because of a time line and decide: Oh I’ll just go out and get pregnant again and stay on welfare for another five years…..plus with another mouth to feed the benefits go up drastically….free rent, free food (some of which most of us can’t afford). Paul LePage sit back and take a look at this abuse not what you’re proposing…you could really cut a lot of money there.
We have to develop a needs test for these benefits that takes into account the extended family’s ability to contribute to the client. We do it with college tuition. They require parent and student tax returns, trust information, ex spouse information, etc. How many middle class families have parents receiving benefits? How many of the adult childless have parents or other family members who use the government to subsidize their family obligation? If you focus solely on the disadvantaged individual, they are all worthy causes. But who is hiding in the wings?
….
You’re a liberal! You’re a liberal! You’re a liberal! Say it enough times and it gradually begins to sound meaningless, doesn’t it?
My family’s business of more than thirty years, all our employees and our residence are about to be thrown out in the streets due to this idiot governor who funneled federal funds meant for the elderly to who-knows-where. How is closing several private businesses a Republican ideal?
I’m all for eliminating every single “cheater” in any program that involves public assistance. Maine, and the federal government, should have enough investigators and CPA’s to make sure that every dollar of public assistance goes to people who are eligible and really need it. But I read that Governor LePage’s proposal would eliminate 18,600 “childless adults” from MaineCare. Yes, his proposal would eliminate some “cheaters”, but it would likely eliminate an undetermined number of people who have to depend on MaineCare through no fault of their own. My question is: where will these people get their medical care? Are we willing to see them go without health care just so we can trim the DHHS budget? Perhaps my question was covered in the 289 comments (so far) but I didn’t make it all the way through.
the T in TANIF stands for TEMPORARY! end of story.
This is Mainecare – not TANF – please try to keep up.
The majority of childless adults on MaineCare work.
Their employers do not offer health insurance and they do not make enough to pay for it themselves.
The rest are sick or disabled.
It is not “welfare”
end of story
yessah
“the majority of childless adults on Mainecare work” WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO FOOL? GIMME A BREAK.
Prove me wrong
Post a link
Produce it
yessah
How about you prove ME wrong since you made such a ridiculous claim. Im waving the white flag. You cant have a battle of the minds with someone who is obviously unarmed.
Here yeah go
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/approved/0001/11/30/lepage-plan-would-cut-mainecare-coverage-families/1140499
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/01/09/health/new-study-disputes-lepage-administration-on-mainecares-childless-adults/
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/01/25/opinion/contributors/analysis-of-childless-adults-on-mainecare-revealing/
The fact that these people have incomes means they work.
yessah
You’ve still not proved your point(im not surprised). NONE of those stories state that the MAJORITY of people on Mainecare work. Do some? Yes of course they do. If you knew who I was or what I do for work you would know theres no possible way of changing my opinion on the subject. I have a front row seat on a daily basis to see the horror show called MAINECARE. Thanks for the reading material though I appreciate it.
You are wrong – they have to produce W-2’s etc. to meet the income requirements.
If you have income – you work.
LePage is the horror show and as well as the low-information sterotypers that believe people that receive Mainecare do not work.
yessah
…
love it!
Here is the truth: I am a childless adult and a senior citizen. MaineCare charges me a premium for insurance. MaineCare only pays the deductible. In the last month MaineCare has stopped paying the deductible entirely, though they have my money for a year’s premium for what little they cover. The Governor is already implementing his cuts though the Legislature has not yet approved them. Here is the truth: The Governor is covering his own BUTT because he has jumped the gun on the MaineCare cuts!!!!!!
HERE IS THE TRUTH.
Why is it up to the taxpayers to subsidize YOUR healthcare?
So you believe that senior citizens are sponging off the government and if they can not afford to pay for health care or prescriptions they should just do without….?
Yep.
….
I am old, aAnd I gave up drinking to save the money so I wouldn’t become a burden to others in my old age. Climb out of the welfare hammock and provide for yourself.
,,,,
State employee, teacher, grant funded NGO worker… pretty much the same thing.
….
Because I worked long hard hours for YOU and now Im in need of maine care and am using it HAPPILY.
Since I’m neither a welfare recipient, nor a state employee, you’ve never worked so much as half a second for me, Comrade.
As far as I can see is that these Law makers doesn’t have the fortitude to take care of business for this State. Again the workers of the State will take it up the backside because no one has the fortitude to stand uup for those people, the people that work and support the State, not the people that the State supports and does not pay in to the State. Some day it will turn around.
You’re right about the lawmakers…I just wonder when it will turn around?
LePage just doesn’t have a good grasp on how government or budgets are created. After all, this man only managed a Mardens store and that doesn’t mean he knows anything about making or balancing budgets. His ideas and actions speak volumes of his true lack of experience and comprehension.
Metaphorically speaking, LePage approaches everything as if you can fix a broken table with a hatchet. He’s all about the quick fix without regard for the impact one thing has on another. He just doesn’t get it that what he’s doing is not fixing anything but further damaging whatever he approaches in this manner.
Seriously, what would a manager of a retail outlet store know about budgets? I mean, a business has no need for a budget, does it? It can just get more money anytime it needs it and just keep spending and spending….oh, no, wait…that would be the government that can do that! My mistake.
The real problem is that the legislature’s proposal does not fix anything. It is a band aid—and not a very big or sticky one either. We will be back to deal with DHHS again next year, and the year after, and the one after that–until necessary structural changes are made.
No, the dead all voted Democrat.
The GOP fools no one
yessah
The DEMS fools all.
So because he’s governor, he’s only allowed to speak once on each issue? I missed that part of the Constitution. I think you’re the one who needs a little Civics 101.
Not possible.
You think the Constitution prevents the Governor from being against tax increases? Really?
64% voted against Cutler.
81% voted against Libby.
It wasn’t accidental; people prefered him over everyone else. Get over it.
All this energy is being expended while Maine
needs new businesses, industries, and jobs. It’s too bad that that this energy
and the Governors were not put into securing that Kestrel Plant, 600 plus jobs
not coming to Maine, because our leadership didn’t make it happen. Our
leadership is in part putting the cart beside the donkey, and thinking it moves
things along in the right position. This when actually we are in a bus to begin
with (they do not know the difference), the carburetor needs some tweaking (review
all DHHS cases thoroughly…and other state agencies), start it up, and see how
it runs, don’t floor the thing and throw a rod, remember we are all on this bus
together. The answer is, and always has been to create jobs like now, get the
revenue moving, invite and entice businesses, and stop bashing them with fees
and taxes. Then give it the gas (keep the same movements going, review,
creation, everybody advances). Riding this bus stinks, the seats are those old
metal ones with ½” foam, the windows are all stuck, lead paint is flaking, and
the heater is broke in the winter and AC in the summer, and few onboard have the money for its repairs. By following
this simple analogy conditions improve, and by maintaining good practices
involving morals and ethics; soon nobody rides for free and everybody kicks in to
improve conditions, welfare should be the exception and not the rule. There
will always be the “free riders” but far fewer will choose this, opting to ride
with dignity and comfortably in our pristine modern bus that offers improved
quality of life every step of the way from birth until death.
Actually there were three candidates. There were also five.
It is not possible to recall state officials.
So policies you like are, ipso facto, undemocratic? Brilliant logic.
Any time the Legislature wants to start working that would be great.
Hey Todd – if you want to reply to someone’s comment – you have to hit the “reply” thingy next to it.
LOL
yessah
….
LePage and his daughter ought to give up their taxpayer funded “welfare” state health insurance.
The both make enough to pay for their own.
yessah
….
You can pick whatever side you want to be on, but it’s very apparent both Republicans and Democrats are working hard to jump through every hoop the Governor presents them with. There’s a very gracious effort to work with the Governor being put forth here by both sides of the aisle and if anything it’s the Blaine House substituting gimmicks for solutions.
And for those who continue to offer the “love it, or leave it” response, I hate to alarm you but nobody’s going anywhere. Everyone here is invested in this country and we plan on sticking around to make it a better place, with your help.
The tax burden is high because the state spends too much.
LePage’s budget is bigger than Baldacci’s
Go Figyah
yessah
Right, because the government proposes policies you disagree with it’s a dictatorship.
….
Just stop all Mainecare funding that has to do the Methadone clinics. I don’t think anyone or the Governor realizes what a HUGE drain those clinics are having on Mainecare. Patients go on Methadone for no less than 3 yrs, having a daily dose and transportation paid for by Mainecare. 365 days year for 3-5 years. And not to mention all the fraud involved by people saying they live further away just to get higher mileage reimbursement checks. It’s a HUGE scam from the clinics, etc. If the state can’t stop paying for the clinics, then they need to at least put a limit on how long a person can go. It would save millions.
Why are we supporting drug use?
Keep up the good work guv!
Even republicans need to be reminded why they were elected.
Gov. Paul LePage, in his strongest words to date, criticized lawmakers Monday for drastically altering his initial budget proposal to cut $220 million from the Department of Health and Human Services and for putting forward a new plan “full of gimmicks and built on false savings.”
Isn’t his plan “full of gimmicks and built on false savings” as well. He hemands that the legislature make drastic cuts to the elderly & needy, stating that Maine will receive a waiver from the feds, when he’s been told that Maine does not qualify for the waiver as a way to balance the budget. He has also been told that Maine will lose federal funding as a penalty for making these cuts. He’s equally guilty of promising the same thing he’s accusing the legislature of an more. At least the legislatute is working in a bipartisan way to fix the budget, which is more than can be said of him.
Yeppers! I don’t think there is any way to fix him. I think he sould fly himself down and just see if he can get himself that waver. Then I think he should make himself a state of his own, because he does not speek for the State of Maine. He is not a one man show and its high time he finds that out.
As usual, the usual suspects continue to rail away, pointing the proverbial finger, blaming everyone and everything they deem is not correctly aligned with their individual manifestos-ideologies and ever toxic opinions…Reminds of a bunch of disagreeable kick-butt 3rd graders throwing rocks and sand around the sandbox because they have absolutely no interest in any outcomes that might benefit anyone but just little old them and no one else, yammering it up and living by their blame filled opinionated lonesomeness, and loathsomeness, end of conversation…To gin up the attitude of blame as anything pro-democracy is nakedly, patently false. But this ever stupid blame and blame the blamer game is nothing more than the usual high stakes, ego-emotionally driven bash people, all in sight, for the sake of bashing people. Who am I to expect more from a democracy and our discussions here among citizens on this or any other BDN thread?…The conjectures of a guilty bystander…’
Thank you….
House Minority Leader Emily Cain, D-Orono, said the governor is wrong to keep meddling in the legislative process.
“The Appropriations Committee has been trying to clean up the governor’s mess in this budget and offer a real solution, not one that is purely ideological,”
Are you kidding me? What are we re-writing history Ms. Cain? The Democrats have had control of the legislature for how many decades, and the is LePage’s mess? Some of the same people who got us into this mess are on the Appropriations Commitee.
Why would anyone quote Cain? Sounds like more of a Democrats gimmicky budget than a real, reality based budget facing the tough issues. Could always sell the alcohol commission, but the Dems already did that one. Hey, why not sell the turnpike?
Don’t laugh, that could happen.
How many times do these people have to hear THE STATE OF MAINE IS BROKE ?
We cannot sustain the welfare system that we have in this State.
I am 100% in favor of help for the disabled and the elderly, but it stops there.
We have a spending problem in this state, not a lack of revenue.
If we send them more they will spend more.
Don’t you understand that the Federal Government pays for most of it. $2.oo for every $1.oo spent by the state of Maine, The State of Maine is going to loosing money and still paying for needed services and that we are going to be paying huge finds to the Federal Government.
How can you propose to spend part of something you don’t have? Our government needs massive reform.. along with how these systems are being mismanaged.
Let’s veto LePage !!
I read on here that Lepage is a bully….thank god he is too.. Im sick of the states money. Im referring to the money that the hard working people of the this state getting handed out to just about anyone. We need a bully to get this in hand. Im glad he is . I hope that he succeeds in cutting most of the crap out of the welfare system.. Im a working man and I support Lepage. I see many here are not..but… theres a reason he is sitting in that chair. Ill bet there are enough of me to make sure he will sit there again. If you are receiving money and you shouldnt be.. Well pay attention .. may want to set those cheetos down and find yourself something to do.. because there is a bully after YOUR money LMAO!!!
Oh Ya! Well Billie I applaude your dreams of working hard and making and hones wage, you have a healthy Republican you have to work if you want to eat ethic. I just hope that you won’t get sick and become unable to work! I hope that someone you love wont become disabled or god forbid have a handicaped child that needs care and medication, a child that can’t be supported without some assistance through Mainecare. I hope that you in your wisdom will be able to care for your elderly parents so that will not have to depend on Mainecare to help them pay for the high cost of Nursing care or even inhome care. I now that you have prepared ahead of time and secured long term care insurance for yourself and any dependant such as a wife that you might have. I wouldn’t want you to think thant anyone want to help you pay for your nursing home care either or for those kids you have that your not supporting either….. Get real!
Lepage’s state budget is 6.3 billion dollars. That should be plenty of money for him to run this state. Now he wants another 1/4 of a billion and he wants our heath insurance payment to pay for it…….. Bring back the Democrats, these Republicans don’t know how to keep a tight budget.
The Dems got us into this mess there Lord Whiteman! LaPage has been in office for a year! Create a crisis situation come April if nothing is done and then you will hear some crying. Got to wean them off the teat.
Comprehensive Annual Fiscal Reports – going back to 2005 – (I didn’t explore farther) repeatedly pointed out revenue shortfalls, growing deficits and also stated that Medicaid has
to be dealt with. Emily states in this article, “The Appropriations Committee has been trying to
clean up the governor’s mess in this budget …”
The governor’s mess??? I beg to differ.A bit of Emily Cain’s legislative history is very revealing. You see, Emily “service” in the legislature goes back to the 122nd, (2005 – 2006). When in the 123rd (2007 – 2008) Emily sat on the Appropriations Committee, herself! Her term in the 124th (2008-2009)
she CHAIRED Appropriations!! She should have been well aware of the
issues regarding medicaid and the building deficit. We are in year 6
with Emily’s direct involvement Looks
to me like the governor is trying to clean up a mess that has been
perpetuated over the years by Emily Cain’s democrats and directly under
Emily Cain’s watch. Some leadership! Don’t fix the problems,
just keep borrowing, shifting, leaving the problem that cannot be
ignored any longer. Yet, she states its Governor LePage’s budget that is
a mess?? This is more then a load of malarkey. Emily and her ilk are
once again resorting to tactics of denial, evasion, and blame for
something they, and Emily herself, are responsible for. This time they
want to steal from
other programs, specifically the fees collected for various licensing
and betting on future contracts not even in existence – THIS
is Unacceptable! Please, call and email your reps and tell them it is
unacceptable. Call or email ALL the members on Appropriations and tell THEM it is
unacceptable; it is UNACCEPTABLE to continue the same methods that have fixed nothing and brought us to where we are now; 221 million dollars in the hole!
PLEASE CONTACT THEM AND TELL THEM THAT WE NEED REAL STRUCTURAL
REFORMS. This problem needs to be fixed. Across the board cuts, stealing
from dedicated fees for other programs and borrowing into the future
from contracts not in existence will only put off the problem. We’ll
have to deal with this in the future if it is not fixed correctly NOW.
USEFUL TOOL to email Appropriations: This
link will take you to where you can send an email to each member in one
full swoop. It also has the phone numbers to contact each individually
if you so choose. Below I have placed excerpts from the State of
Maine’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports going back to 2005. Along
with the excerpts you will see the page number and the link to where
you, yourself, if so inclined can go read the facts. This link will take you to Maine’s Department of Financial and Administrative Services, Office of The State Controller – Financial Reports where I obtained the various reports excerpted from below. A Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is a set of U.S.
government financial statements
comprising the financial report of a state, municipal or other
governmental entity that complies with the accounting
requirements—generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)—promulgated
by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The U.S. Federal
Government adheres to standards determined by the Federal Accounting
Standards Advisory Board (FASAB).From CAFR 2009: pg 14 http://www.maine.gov/osc/pdf/financialreporting/cafr/cafr2009.pdf
Fund Balance
From Fiscal Year 2003 the deficit of $81.4 million in the State of Maine’s Unreserved Fund Balance Account in
the General Fund continued to get larger with the high of Fiscal Year 2008 of $403.9 million. At the close of
Fiscal Year 2009, the negative position has decreased to $390.4 million. This reduction is primarily due to a
reduction in Medicaid liabilities of $155.6 million. A significant amount of this reduction in Medicaid liabilities
was offset by additional internal cash borrowing. (my highlight)
From CAFR 2008: page ix http://www.maine.gov/osc/pdf/financialreporting/cafr/cafr2008.pdf
“Fund Balance Since Fiscal Year 2003 the deficit of $81.4 million in the
State of Maine’s Unreserved Fund Balance Account in the General Fund
continues to get deeper every year. For comparison purposes, at the
close of Fiscal Year 2008, the negative position has increased to $403.9
million. The deficit in 2007 amounted to $283.5 million causing a
single year increase of approximately 42.5%.
As we review the Unreserved Fund Balance Account over the past five
years, the deficit has increased by almost 397%, or by approximately
$322.5 million. There are many factors that adversely affect our General
Fund Balance Sheet that we should strive to resolve over the next
several years. The paramount cause for the current condition is the
increasing Medicaid liabilities that accrue at the end of each fiscal
year.
From CAFR 2007, page 14:http://www.maine.gov/osc/pdf/financialreporting/cafr/cafr2007.pdf
As a result of the November 2007 report by the Revenue Forecasting
Commission adjusting General Fund Revenue downward by $95 million over
current biennium, significant adjustments will be made to bring
currently authorized spending into line with expected revenue for the
remainder of the biennium. Along with the downturn in revenue,
additional spending pressures are mounting in the State’s Medicaid
program which will require additional General Fund support to ensure
that “cycle payments” are made on a timely basis. This will require
additional cuts in other state funded programs beyond the adjustments
necessary to meet the revenue downturn.
From CAFR 2006, page 11:http://www.maine.gov/osc/pdf/financialreporting/cafr/cafr2006.pdf
The cost of the State’s Medicaid Program exceeded the $632 million in
resources approved in the legally adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2006,
requiring additional budgetary resources amounting to approximately $75
million. The Legislature adjusted the budget by advancing the funding
from the budgeted resources for Fiscal Year 2007, causing a potential
shortfall by the same amount.
From CAFR 2005 page 81: http://www.maine.gov/osc/pdf/financialreporting/cafr/cafr2005.pdf
DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS
In State fiscal years 2004 and 2005, the Department of
Health & Human Services funded the federal share of the
Non-Categorical Childless Adult Medicaid Waiver with
Disproportionate Share allotments. An undeterminable
amount of the allotted funds may be required to fund
Disproportionate Share payments to Acute Care
Hospitals in the future.
The last federal balanced budget was under Clinton(actually a surplus)Bush=eight years of deficits which every state is struggling with.Oh,and voter fraud?It exists -look no further than another R Charlie-White the Sec of State-indicted for voter fraud.No surprise at all.
Enough with the ‘wide-screen’ photographs. We get it. He has a face.
Let’s just get on with it – the Governor should do what he wants, then everything will start from scratch. Living with all these threats is causing illness and anxiety. Just do it so we can get on with things. Seriously. The man should realize that if he wants to rule as King, then the serfs are still supposed to get basic shelter and food. Funny – but the Sheriff of Nottingham gets his due.
I like this Pintaway. I feel the same way. This man has no business being Governor. He is trying to change the system to bennifit himself, with no regards for the majority of us. Most of the people of Maine understand that others sometimes need help and social services has to be in place to take care of these needs.
“Most of the people of Maine understand that others sometimes need help and social services has to be in place to take care of these needs.”Glad to see you finally get it………others SOMETIMES need help and social services……. The key word here is “sometimes”.
Yes, I agree there are times that people need help and I am for helping those truly in need. Take the waste, fraud, and abuse out of DHHS and there is more than enough money to do what can be justified. Many people are on these benefits/programs should not be. Let’s figure out how to eliminate those people. That is a place to start. How about some accountability? The taxpayers of this state cannot continue to support the out of control spending. It needs to stop and soon. Many think that the answer is simply raising taxes, more taxes, raising the sales tax, tax, tax, tax. Spending is the problem and we need reforms and cuts now. Go gov.
“Its me me me and its all about what I want”…thats what Im hearing the Governor say.
Did you see the news. Man he is nuts. “Its a game, and he doesn’t trust the Democrats.” Man he is a nut. He should go be Governor of Nort Korea!
One of the Congregation, I don’t think you have a clue and your statements don’t make sense…” he should go be Gov of N. Korea”, where is that coming from. Why don’t you make comments that make sense instead of spouting crap.
So… cut off the childless adults — the only adults responsible enough to not breed — and instead keep awarding benefits to the breeders who should not have bred in the first place, and increase those awards for each new offspring produced. Wow, way to encourage responsibility!
The commision is two parties. let them submit their final and let him veto and then overide. The welfare is not about people who won’t work. The proposal descriminates against disabled and elderly. The first cut is the deepest
LePage’s approach to specify categories of people who will have reduced services or be eliminated completely, or pick artificial percentages of reductions of poor, mentally and/or physically challenged, and unemployed as targets, does nothing to truly reform the public assistance system.
There is no perfect system – there will always be some people who take advantage of the system and needy people who slip through the cracks; however, I believe that the most appropriate structure does its best to specifically and individually identify those who both receive and are denied support.
Also, I have a suggestion for LePage and others in government who promote a “hatchet” approach to this issue, essentially blaming many people for being poor or needy, while, at the same time, in a contradictoy fashion, publicly decrying their plight.
For the remainder of this legislative session, set aside your salary, perks, health insurance, bank accounts, and any other income and you and your family live at the same level as those people who are unemployed, working but earning subsistence wages, are poor, disabled, etc. – i.e. those who rely on public support to survive. I am guessing that some of you might have a different perspective than you do now.
Contrary to the mythology, most people receiving public assistance are not living “on the gravy train”, nor is the vast majority “welfare cheats”. The most egregious examples of abusers are always cited, ” I know someone (or three or four someones), or a friend told me…”, but the actual statistical data, even factoring in an additional percentage of cheats and abusers refutes that a large proportion of public assistance recipients are not in need.
For the record, my family and I do not receive any form of public assistance, pay more taxes than we would like, and do believe that fraudulent recipients and those who are not truly in need must be, as much as reasonably and feasibly dealt with. However, we do have a social conscience and empathy, something that is sorely lacking in much of our society, especially by many of those that I call pseudo-Christians, who preach Christian ethics, cite Jesus’ teachings, profess that they are on the moral high ground, and claim to know the mind of God – and all the while ignoring Jesus’ fundamental message of caring for the poor and our neighbors.
Lastly, for those of you who choose to comment and disagree with me, fair enough; but, read carefully what I have said and respond thoughtfully. Then, agree or disagree, your response will have meaning and value. Too often, I have seen comments from people on all sides of issues that “cherry pick” other’s commentary, take it out of context, misrepresent it, try to show their superiority by citing spelling errors or typos, make derogatory, inane, or ignorant, dismissive, and pointless statements.
When you do any of those things, you underscore that you have no solid argument or position and illustrate your ignorance. So, if this is you, please don’t waste your time or mine by posting.
The consider methadone clinics “treatment” for opiates and heroin addiction. But, there isn’t any “treatment”. They dose them up everyday for years, and up their dosage little by little, and then slowly wean them down after 3 or 4 years. Its a HUGE Mainecare scam and fraud. There’s no reason why someone can’t get real treatment in a reasonable amount of time (such as 12 months). I did number crunch on just 500 patients (when there’s more like 3000), and based it on 3 yrs of daily dose, along with the mileage reimbursement. It came to over 1.6 million dollars. And that was just based on a small percentage of people going to the clinics. One clinic in Bangor serves over 700 people, another serves over 1500. So, in just one city in Maine, the savings would be huge and no need to cut services to the elderly or the poor or the disabled. Just cut it from drug addicts going to “treatment” for 3-5 yrs which gets them high as well. I just don’t know why noone has ever looked at the clinics for what they are doing and the savings there would almost save the budget.