The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Mills’ Late-Term Abortion Bill Gets Last Minute Work Session for Thursday Afternoon
  • Maine Republicans Score Tentative Victory in Delaying Trans Trafficking Bill
  • Lawmakers Nix Public School Transparency Bill Favored by Bipartisan Majority of Mainers
  • Asylum Seekers Staying in Sanford Inn Will Soon Have to Find Another Place To Stay
  • Chellie Pingree Says “No One Is Coming For Your Gas Stove” But Daughter Hannah Pingree Disagrees
  • New England Energy Prices Have Increased as Demand Has Declined Due to Climate Policies, Report Finds
  • Gardiner High School Implements Controversial New “American Flag Only” Policy Following Student Clash
  • Taxes in Portland Could Rise by 10 Percent If State Declines to Help With Asylum Seeker Crisis: WGME
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Wednesday, June 7
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Pingree: Republican House members holding Americans "hostage"
National

Pingree: Republican House members holding Americans "hostage"

Steve RobinsonBy Steve RobinsonOctober 1, 20134 Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
pingree-memday
U.S. Chellie Pingree

Not to be outdone by Sen. Angus King, who has likened conservatives to murderers, Rep. Chellie Pingree on Monday said her Republican colleagues are holding Americans hostage.

“Republican House members still holding our economy and lives of Americans hostage to their obsession with undermining health care programs,” Pingree said in a Facebook post.

“I’ve set up a page on my website to provide information on how agencies and programs would be impacted if a government shutdown goes into effect tonight,” she added.

[RELATED: Maine politician’s outrageous rhetoric draws national attention…]

Pingree’s followers on Facebook were not comforted by her efforts to blame Republicans for problems in D.C. or her attempt to help them deal with the government shutdown.

 

“I would rather shut down the government than raise the debt ceiling again,” said Jason Harris of West Newfield.

“The American people don’t want the individual mandate. Also, why are you exempt from Obamacare?,” said Adam Towers of West Durham.

“If all you can do is set up a web page….get a new job. I want someone that can represent me and my family,” wrote another unhappy follower.

Paul Dube of Saint Albans had a more poignant criticism directed at one of many Obamacare taxes House Republicans wanted to repeal: “Thank you Ms. Pingree. Can you now please create a map that shows the medical device manufacturers in Maine? Please include their location, products they produce, how much they contribute to the local economy, how much the device tax will cost them, and what the net impact will be to each community they are located in. Much appreciated.”

Here is the list of things Pingree wants you to know about a government shutdown:

“Social Security—Benefits for this crucial program do not go through the appropriations process, so they will continue being deposited in your account or mailed to your home. However, Social Security offices will be open with limited staff. They will continue to take applications for benefits and appeals, and process change of address and change of banking deposit information. Other services, such as requests for yearly statements, won’t be processed. Social Security hearings already scheduled will take place, but new hearings will not be scheduled.

“Medicare—Benefits for this program are also exempt from the shutdown, so current participants should not notice any disruption, but new applications could be delayed.

“Veterans—VHA hospitals such as VA Togus and Community Based Outpatient Clinics will stay open, VBA disability compensation will be paid, and the VA call center (1-800-827-1000) will be operational.  However, VBA regional office public contact services will not be available, decisions on claim appeals will not be made, and the Education Call Center will be suspended.  More details on what VA services would be affected are available here.

“Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—SNAP will continue operations and eligible households will still receive monthly benefits for October

“Women Infants and Children—WIC offices will remain open and benefits will be distributed regularly in October.

“IRS—Walk-in IRS offices and the Taxpayer Advocate offices will be closed.

“Visas and Passports—Passport operations and visa issuance overseas will continue (these services are funded by fees, not Congressional appropriations).  Embassies and consulates overseas will continue to provide American citizen services.  Some passport offices (such as Boston) are located in federal buildings that may be forced to shut down during a lapse in appropriations, due to a lack of building support services.  However, the National Passport Center in Portsmouth should remain open.

“US Citizenship & Immigration Services—Local offices will be open, and immigration petitions will continue to be processed (these services are funded by fees).

“Federal Courts—The federal Judiciary will remain open for business for approximately 10 business days. On or around October 15, 2013, the Judiciary will reassess its situation and provide further guidance. All proceedings and deadlines remain in effect as scheduled, unless otherwise advised. Case Management/Electronic Case Files will remain in operation for the electronic filing of documents with courts.

“National Parks, Reserves—National Park Service sites, museums, and monuments, as well as federal wildflife (sic) reserves, will be closed.

“Small Business Administration—Most services, with the exception of the disaster loan program, will be suspended.

“Health Insurance Exchanges—Launched on October 1, the exchanges will remain open.  For more information, go to healthcare.gov.” (Emphasis added)
S.E. Robinson
Maine Wire Reporter
serobinson@themainewire.com

Chellie Pingree Obamacare Pingree
Previous ArticleU.S. workforce participation lowest since 1978
Next Article Technical issues plague Oct. 1 health exchange rollout in Maine (Update: Day 4 – Exchange site still broken)
Steve Robinson
  • Twitter

Steve Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire. ‪He can be reached by email at Robinson@TheMaineWire.com.

Related Posts

Mills’ Late-Term Abortion Bill Gets Last Minute Work Session for Thursday Afternoon

June 7, 2023

Maine Republicans Score Tentative Victory in Delaying Trans Trafficking Bill

June 7, 2023

Lawmakers Nix Public School Transparency Bill Favored by Bipartisan Majority of Mainers

June 7, 2023

4 Comments

  1. Bob Sipe on October 1, 2013 5:17 PM

    Thank you Chellie!

  2. Les Gibson on October 2, 2013 4:32 AM

    What can one say about Pingree? Except to suggest she look in the mirror if she wants to see who is really at fault for forcing something upon us that we clearly do not want. But liberals like Pingree, in their massive arrogance, truly believe they know better than us ‘ little people.’

  3. Maurine Krajnik on October 5, 2014 12:55 PM

    jooouli

  4. wedding tents rental on October 6, 2014 1:45 AM

    Pingree: Republican House members holding Americans hostage

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Mills’ Late-Term Abortion Bill Gets Last Minute Work Session for Thursday Afternoon

June 7, 2023

Maine Republicans Score Tentative Victory in Delaying Trans Trafficking Bill

June 7, 2023

Lawmakers Nix Public School Transparency Bill Favored by Bipartisan Majority of Mainers

June 7, 2023

Asylum Seekers Staying in Sanford Inn Will Soon Have to Find Another Place To Stay

June 7, 2023

Chellie Pingree Says “No One Is Coming For Your Gas Stove” But Daughter Hannah Pingree Disagrees

June 7, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.