Author: Paul LePage

When I took office, MaineCare was running biennial budget deficits of more than $200 million, and our state owed the hospitals $750 million in Medicaid debt. I campaigned on paying the hospitals without raising taxes, and I did. It was one of our signature accomplishments. My administration has worked hard to bring our state’s finances back from a sea of red ink and into the black. MaineCare is now on sustainable financial footing. It has not run a shortfall in years, and the hospitals have been repaid in full–this is a turnaround of nearly one billion dollars. But our state…

As we approach the winter holidays, we often look back and assess what we have accomplished and set goals for the coming year. We accomplished much during my administration, but there is more to be done. As my time in office comes to a close, let me first thank my wife Ann for her service to the people of Maine as First Lady. You have made Maine proud, and our family is proud of you. I also thank our children. I appreciate my family’s willingness to share my time with the duties of being Governor. It’s a difficult balance. As…

It was with great sadness that Ann and I learned about the passing of George H.W. Bush last week. He was a man who truly dedicated his life to his family and to his country. George Herbert Walker Bush served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. He was a New Englander, born in Massachusetts and growing up in Connecticut. He spent every summer at his family’s home in Kennebunkport. Walker’s Point was the Bush family retreat for more than a century, beginning with the President’s father and mother, Prescott Bush and Dorothy Walker. Although…

Over the next three years, the State is projected to collect more than $362 million than budgeted. Maine can–and should–return this money to the hardworking people who earned it. Now that we have restored fiscal sanity to Augusta, we need to ensure that legislators and the new administration make wise choices that continue to drive prosperity for Maine people. The Biennial Budget recommendation I have provided to Governor-elect Janet Mills does this in two critical ways. First, instead of using the budget surplus to fund Medicaid expansion, we included an increase to the hospital tax to provide sustainable funding for…

Last week I sent Governor-elect Janet Mills my administration’s recommended budget proposal. I called her attention to key measures I believe we must take to maintain the state’s fiscal health, to drive economic growth and to be good stewards of the state’s property. A new Governor has only a few weeks to craft a budget proposal. Our development of the next biennial budget should be useful to the Governor-elect and her team. The state’s cash pool has grown substantially since fiscal year 2012, from approximately $500 million to nearly $1.5 billion today. During that period, Other Special Revenue–typically generated by…

Last week, the Maine voters cast their ballot to elect Janet Mills as their next Governor, and the first female Governor of Maine. I wish her well in her new role. I love Maine, and I have worked hard to leave the state in better shape than when I found it. My administration has been successful in doing so. Over the past eight years, our administration has eliminated red tape, cut taxes, reformed welfare and created charter schools. We’ve improved Maine’s infrastructure, created new trade relationships and reformed health insurance to lower costs–to name just a few of our accomplishments.…

This year, Veterans Day marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, which ended on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918. It changed the course of the Twentieth Century. World War I was a new kind of warfare, a global conflict fought with new technologies, like airpower and chemical weapons. The war that was fought to make the world “safe for democracy” forever changed the way we fight. But the essential element of that fight to defend our freedom is our people. Veterans Day is the day we pause to…

Question 1 plays on voters’ emotions to pass policies that will hurt the very people it’s supposed to help. There are five questions on the ballot next week. I support Questions 2 through 5. These are bond questions that will make much-needed improvements in our transportation infrastructure, keep our water clean, and make strategic investments in our universities and community colleges to better train our workers and keep our young people in Maine. Question 1 is another story all together. We have seen these over-simplified referendum questions before. They are backed by out-of-state interests, and they sound great on paper.…

There are so many bad policies rolled into Question 1 on November’s ballot that it’s hard to know where to begin. I’m going to highlight what I consider to be the most dangerous. Question 1 attempts to create a “Universal Home Care Program” that purports to provide home-based assistance to people with disabilities and senior citizens. In reality, it creates a new 3.8 percent tax on individuals and families. It will create a new, massive bureaucracy with no state oversight, and it will put people on waitlists. It will also violate patient confidentiality, and will it hurt our economy. This…

It’s the political season and a lot of misinformation is flying around. I want to make sure you have the facts. In Maine, teachers are underpaid and over-worked, while school administrators are under-worked and overpaid. I’ve worked for eight years to put Maine’s fiscal house in order, and we’ve been successful, for the most part. The State’s finances are in the best shape they’ve been in decades. Getting here, however, required discipline and living within our means. But despite good management, referendum questions, coupled with the Legislature’s love of spending and failure to address needed reforms, will leave the next…

Legislative leaders caved to the Maine Municipal Association and watered down my bill. While the new law adds protections for the elderly, municipalities can still sell their homes and keep the equity. Sadly, it appeared our elderly were not a priority for Democrat or Senate Republican leaders. And we know they are not a priority for the Maine Municipal Association. We have been trying all year to get my bill passed to prevent municipalities from foreclosing on the homes of elderly citizens who have fallen behind on their tax bills. It was a simple, innocuous bill that would not burden…

A decade ago, the International Marine Terminal in Portland was nothing more than a derelict ferry dock in an overgrown, empty lot. Yet, in the 1800s, that same lot was booming with hundreds of ships and trains. We have brought this port back to life. When I became Governor, MaineDOT Commissioner Dave Bernhardt laid out an ambitious vision for the IMT. Our administration secured investments that would transform the IMT back into a bustling, multi-modal freight facility. By 2013, federal, state and private investments in the port led to Eimskip’s decision to make Maine its North American headquarters, positioning our…

In this tight labor market, we must use every tool at our disposal to encourage laid-off workers to search for work and to take the jobs they are offered. Unemployment is insurance, not an entitlement. It is a safety net – not a means of subsidizing one employer’s payroll on the backs of all other employers. Yet, the Legislature doesn’t understand the basic principles of the unemployment system. They voted for a bill that attempts to turn this insurance program into an entitlement: LD 700, “An Act to Give Flexibility to Employees and Employers for Temporary Layoffs.” This new law…

Dear Honorable Members of the 128th Legislature: Under the authority vested in me by Article IV, Part Third, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Maine, I am hereby vetoing LD 1925, “An Act To Provide Funding for the Conduct of Elections.” As I prepare this veto message, I realize it is likely my last as Governor of this great state. Over the past eight years, I have exercised this constitutional prerogative more than any of my predecessors. I did this not for my own amusement nor to claim bragging rights. Rather, I vetoed your bills because it…

My administration passed a bill to lower health care costs in 2011, but Obamacare halted it in its tracks. The Trump administration is allowing us to implement the Maine Guaranteed Access Reinsurance Association again, and this will lower your health insurance premiums. MGARA is known as Maine’s “invisible high risk pool.” It was one of the centerpieces of our 2011 healthcare-reform legislation. It had a proven track record of success, lowering individual health premiums by approximately 20 percent. In fact, it became a national model. In 2012 and 2013, MGARA collected about $26 million in premiums and $41 million in…

The Maine Department of Labor recently released its projections for job growth for the next several years. The media has focused on its prediction of a net increase of only 100 jobs by 2026. As usual, they missed the real story. There is a saying that “demography is destiny.” It means the size and ages of your population determine your future. As the oldest state, we must put forth policies that ensure our population includes enough younger people to replace the baby boomers who are retiring. The Labor Department’s prediction is an important call to action about our population and…

People don’t value the things they get for free. Giving legal residents who are not yet citizens the right to vote devalues becoming a citizen of our country. Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage. Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling recently proposed that the City amend its charter to allow non-citizens to vote in Portland’s municipal elections. I’ve written a letter to the mayor advising him that allowing non-citizens to vote is a clear violation of state law. First, Maine law specifies that any person registering to vote must be a citizen. It states “[a] person who meets the following requirements may…

Ballot Question 1 is another benign-sounding, feel-good referendum. In reality, it’s one more in a long line of over-simplified referendums with a real downside for Maine’s economy. Like the minimum wage referendum, which also changed how restaurant servers are paid, and the people’s veto question on ranked choice voting that was completely misleading, Question 1 lacks essential information. It asks, “Do you want to create the Universal Home Care Program to provide home-based assistance to people with disabilities and senior citizens, regardless of income, funded by a new 3.8% tax on individuals and families with Maine wage and adjusted gross…

Here we are in August. It’s the dog days of summer, and the Legislature is supposed to come back to wrap things up. I hope we can believe them this time. We need to move three very important sets of legislation forward to get the people’s business done. I had hoped the Legislature would have completed its business by now and adjourned sine die so I could call a special session to deal exclusively with the reforms to the child welfare system. I had wanted to protect those critical bills from being held hostage in a political battle of wills…

Last week I spoke to you about the reforms we are proposing for the child welfare system, including better staff training and better support for our front-line caseworkers. Suddenly, a lot of organizations want to take credit for these reforms, including the state employees’ union. This is not about sharing the credit or the blame. Reforming our child welfare system is the right thing to do. However, I take exception to the union’s sudden interest in this issue. Based on internal reviews at DHHS, a number of changes have already been made in how child welfare cases are handled. We…

The tragic deaths of two little girls under the watch of DHHS is spurring needed reforms to Maine’s child welfare system. This summer, I will call a special session of the Legislature to put the safety of our children first. First, let me stress, if you suspect child abuse or neglect, please call 1-800-452-1999–that’s 1-800-452-1999–immediately to make a report. We cannot act on what we do not know. The priority of Maine’s child welfare system should be doing what is in the best interests of the child. I have personally experienced the trauma of an abusive home, and I want…

It’s summer in Maine. We should be enjoying it. Instead, at the State House, “it’s deja vu all over again.” This Legislative session just won’t end. Baseball legend Yogi Berra coined that phrase, and it’s never been more apt than during this revolving door of a session. Speaker Gideon cannot manage to wrap it up, and keeps adjourning for a few days with work left undone. Last week they came back, passed a couple bills, and dealt with vetoes. But they’ll have to return for more vetoes and remaining bills. This is July; the session was supposed to end in…

Over the last seven and a half years, the Legislature and I have had many disagreements over process, policy and approach to governing. But the true value of our republic is that, although we disagree, we can still move our state and our country forward. While differences on tax reform, welfare policy and economic development may create friction between political parties and branches of government, there is one area that I hope and believe we all share a similar passion–care and compassion for our elderly. I sent a letter this week to the legislative leadership asking them to work with…

Medicaid expansion is the law, and I am committed to implement it. But I am forced to veto LD 837. And home care workers need better pay. But I am forced to veto those bills, too. The Legislature has passed bills to implement Medicaid expansion and reimburse home-care workers, but they did it in a fiscally irresponsible manner. We cannot allow bills to move forward that will harm the economy. That’s why I have no choice but to veto these bills. At least $50 million in the first year, and an increasing amount each year is necessary to cover the…

Medicaid-expansion advocates plan to bring busloads of able-bodied adults to DHHS offices on July 2 to enroll in MaineCare. But the Legislature has not provided any money to process their applications or to pay their medical bills. Medicaid expansion is the law, it is my responsibility to implement it, and I will. However, the Executive Branch cannot commit to hundreds of millions of dollars in ongoing costs without an appropriation to pay for it. We are appealing the lawsuit that compels DHHS to expand Medicaid with no funding. The activists suing the state believe that, by enrolling busloads of able-bodied people on July…

A year ago, House Republicans shut down state government to make sure bad policies did not pass. Now they are giving in because it’s an election year. Augusta politicians are proving once again that they’re unwilling to make the right choices. As the session neared its end, Democrats sat on their hands, hoping voters wouldn’t notice that they avoided voting on important bills. They didn’t vote on tax conformity or Medicaid expansion, and they didn’t vote to increase the reimbursement rates for direct-care workers who are usually paid based on the minimum wage. Those who care for people in nursing…

Each June, Maine voters go to the polls to elect local officials and vote on school budgets. The addition of the gubernatorial and congressional primaries, as well as the referendum question on ranked-choice voting, make next Tuesday an important day for every voter, not just those enrolled in a party. I urge all voters to let their voices be heard on June 12. As you head to the polls, there are several important issues I encourage you to consider. First, I would like to talk to you about clean elections funding. When I ran for Governor in 2010, I had…

As World War Two neared its end in June of 1945, General George Patton stated, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” This Memorial Day, let us be thankful that our men and women in uniform have been so willing to serve our nation—even to give their lives—to protect our liberty. We will never forget the sacrifice, courage or commitment to our nation of our men and women in uniform. The members of our Armed Forces have courageously defended our country for more than 250 years and…

I have been talking about the need to reduce energy prices for nearly eight years. Maine is a manufacturing state, and high energy prices have a direct and negative affect on the cost of doing business and the ability to create good-paying jobs. Central Maine Power Company won the proposal to create a transmission line to deliver electricity from renewal energy sources from Quebec to the State of Massachusetts. So my administration is now seeking input from experts on how we can benefit from this new era in Maine energy policy and options. CMP’s transmission line is Maine’s first direct…

The Maine people elect legislators to represent them in Augusta. They expect these elected officials to enact good public policy that benefits all Mainers. But some legislators put politics over people. Unfortunately, too many legislators are more interested in playing political games than doing the work of the Maine people. The worst offender is Speaker of the House Sara Gideon. I am a tough negotiator, but I am willing to negotiate. I am willing to have a conversation, and sometimes these might be difficult. They should be difficult, because as leaders we must make tough choices. But rather than sit…

Maine’s progressives have been selling the benefits of the minimum wage increase using faulty analysis. Don’t buy the hype. Our businesses and our state budget will face significant challenges when the minimum wage rises to 11 and 12 dollars an hour over the next two years. We’ve all heard the old saying about lies and statistics. Here’s the latest example: two recent blogs by the progressive Maine Center for Economic Policy incorrectly use workforce data to support raising the minimum wage. In a January 8 blog, MECEP incorrectly attributes our 2017 wage gain to the increased minimum wage (See note…

Americans paid their 2017 federal and state income taxes this week. Filing taxes isn’t a pleasant or easy task, but the lack of action by Democrats in the Legislature will make filing a nightmare next year. Maine’s tax laws, as those of most states, piggyback on the federal IRS code. This is called “tax conformity.” States conform to avoid having two sets of laws—one for the federal taxes, and another for state taxes. Aligning the state to the federal tax code usually requires minor fixes. But because the federal tax reform was comprehensive, we must make changes in a way…

As the legislative session enters its last weeks, Democrats are sitting on their hands, hoping voters won’t notice they have avoided making the tough decisions that affect your families, businesses and wallets. Tax conformity and funding Medicaid should be two separate, simple issues. However, the Democrats have linked them in their search for Medicaid expansion funding. The end result? They are doing nothing on either. “Tax conformity” is when the state adopts the same tax code as the federal government to avoid having two sets of laws—one for federal taxes, and another for state taxes. Maine should conform, but we…

As we wrap up this legislative session, I am making our elderly a top priority. Unfortunately, they are not a priority for Democrats. Senior citizens on fixed incomes struggle to pay rising property taxes. Municipalities are allowed under current law to foreclose and sell the property for the amount of taxes owed. Consumers have many protections if a foreclosure involves a mortgage. When the bank forecloses, it sells the house and pays the homeowner any remaining equity after all debts are paid. However, in a municipal foreclosure, when a senior citizen owns the home outright, those protections disappear. There’s no…

As Governor, it’s my responsibility to make the tough decisions. The upcoming closure of the Downeast Correctional Facility in Washington County is the right thing to do. The Department of Corrections has the duty and responsibility to run secure and humane facilities for convicted felons in a fiscally sound manner. Keeping Downeast Correctional Facility open violates these principles—unless we spend millions of dollars to improve an outdated, decaying facility. This facility was built in 1955 as Bucks Harbor Air Force Base, providing radar support to Brunswick Naval Air Station. In the early 1980s, the Legislature bought it from the federal…

I have been working hard to protect our elderly Mainers and to help them stay in their homes. But Democrats in Augusta are playing politics again. They say they want to help the elderly, but they are pulling a bait-and-switch. I had proposed a bill, LD 1629 “An Act To Protect the Elderly from Tax Lien Foreclosures,” that would protect senior citizens and the elderly from municipalities that wanted to take their homes for back taxes. My bill would do two very simple, common-sense things to help protect the interests of our seniors. One, it would provide notification that the…

The federal tax cuts will provide about $1 billion in tax relief this year and next to Maine families and businesses. To make things easier for taxpayers when the federal government changes the tax code, each state generally adopts that federal code. Adopting the same code at the state level is called “tax conformity.” It simplifies how Mainers pay income and business taxes. Most of the time, tax conformity requires minor fixes that are relatively easy for the state to adopt. This year, because the federal tax reform was long overdue, we must determine whether we will conform our tax…

Here we go again. There’s another referendum on the ballot this fall that sounds too good to be true. Trust me, it is. The ballot question proposes a bill, which is called “An Act To Establish Universal Home Care for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities.” It would pay for “in-home and community support services to individuals and families.” Sounds great, right? Don’t be mislead. “Universal” in this case isn’t universal. But here we go again. Big-money special interests from out of state are using Maine’s referendum process to push policies that would never make it past my veto. The Maine…

One of my most important duties is to appoint judges to Maine’s district, superior and supreme judicial courts. The Maine people must know our judges are impartial, objective and committed to a fair and honest judicial process. I have been praised for ignoring the political affiliation of judges and striving to appoint the most qualified people to the bench. We insist that judges demonstrate they are above reproach when it comes to making the important decisions that affect the lives of Mainers. However, I must apologize to the Maine people for an appointment I made to the Maine Supreme Judicial…

We need to make sure that employees in Maine do not see the same cut in pay that’s happening to low-wage workers in Seattle. The Department of Labor submitted a bill this year to establish a training wage and slow the increase of the minimum wage. It would also eliminate indexing once the wage rises to $12 an hour in 2020. There’s a big difference in the cost of living in Aroostook and Cumberland Counties. One wage doesn’t fit all employers. Other states recognize that a statewide minimum wage poses a problem. New York State allows its Commissioner of Labor…

It’s been 100 days since voters passed the referendum to expand Medicaid. So far, the legislature has done nothing to fund it. Mainers who voted for Medicaid expansion are waiting to see signs of its implementation. But, as I have told the Legislature repeatedly, I cannot implement it without funding. Medicaid expansion is the law, and I will execute the law. However, funding it is the Legislature’s constitutional duty. Folks, they have no idea how to fund it. DHHS cannot hire and train the additional 105 staff needed to run the expanded Medicaid program without money. We cannot pay the…

We need to treat our elderly with respect and let them keep their dignity. And we must let them keep their homes. I have submitted a bill to protect the elderly from tax lien foreclosures. It would protect elderly Mainers on fixed incomes from losing the equity in their home when they have trouble keeping up with ever-rising property taxes. Last year, I learned about an elderly couple who lost their home through the tax lien foreclosure process. The husband is a disabled veteran, and the wife is a former nurse with health issues. The couple was living on social…

When I came into office in 2011, the state workforce had been subject to pay freezes and furlough days, reducing the pay of a state worker by 5 percent. I promised state employees that I would restore their lost pay and that I would never balance a budget on their backs. I have kept those promises. State employees received a 1 percent raise, the first pay raise in nearly five years, in 2013. They got another 1 percent raise the next year. I also restored merit and longevity raises. Since then, state employees have received cost-of-living raises. The Baldacci Administration…

Obesity is a problem in our nation, and it’s a problem in Maine. But the USDA refuses to prohibit the purchase of soda and candy with food stamps. Maine has twice requested a waiver to exclude sugar-sweetened beverages and candy from purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, which are still referred to as food stamps. The Obama Administration denied the first waiver, and now the U.S. Department of Agriculture has denied the second request under the Trump Administration. This is extremely disappointing because Maine, like other states, is experiencing a health epidemic of obesity and other chronic illnesses, such…

Too many Maine families are facing skyrocketing property taxes that strain household budgets. Our elderly on fixed incomes are particularly vulnerable to these increases. School budgets are often blamed for annual increases in property taxes. But there’s another reason. A tremendous amount of land and property value has been taken off the tax rolls, leaving homeowners to pick up the tab. At the state level, my administration is actively working to put long-held, unused property back on the tax rolls. The new DHHS building in Augusta is a prime example. We sold the property to a private owner who will…

As American citizens, one of our most precious rights and solemn duties is to vote. The active participation of our citizens is vital to a functioning democracy. Just this week, new Voter ID laws went into effect in two states, West Virginia and Iowa. Across the nation, legislatures are recognizing the need to protect our sacred right to vote. They realize stronger measures must be put in place to protect the ballot box from those who would abuse it. Because our neighbor New Hampshire has a Voter ID law, we have data we can use to examine patterns in voter…

As we look forward to the new year, one of the big challenges facing our state is growing our workforce and keeping our economy on a roll. In 2017, we hit record lows in unemployment and all-time highs in private sector job growth. To meet this demand, our employers need skilled workers. We are the oldest state. Record numbers of baby boomers are entering a well-deserved retirement. Employers need to replace these skilled workers. For our state to continue to grow, it must become easier for graduates to stay in Maine, and we must attract talented young people here. Not…

At this time of year, we gather with loved ones to celebrate Christmas, count our blessings, remember the past year and look forward to next year. This holiday season, I ask that we reflect on where we are. Our state has reached an all-time high in private-sector job growth, and our unemployment rate is hitting record lows. Wages are rising at the fastest rate in decades, and I am told we have one of the highest percentages of our population working ever. For the past seven years, my goal has been to make our state prosperous, and I hope you…

I have laid out four basic principles to guide the Legislature’s decision on how to pay for Medicaid expansion. We must maintain the state’s long-term fiscal health and avoid the budget disasters of the past. DHHS estimates the cost of Medicaid expansion will be about $63 million in fiscal year 2019 and $82 million in 2020. It will rise to $97 million in 2021, then jump to more than $100 million every year after that—and the price tag will continue to grow. Maine taxpayers will spend more than $450 million in just five years, just for the state’s share of…

Proponents of Medicaid expansion have not been honest with the Maine people. They claim it’s free because the federal government will foot the bill for this massive expansion of welfare. Folks, it’s just not true. The federal government will pay approximately 60 percent of the costs for some of the new Medicaid recipients. The feds may pay up to 90 percent for some Medicaid recipients, but Maine still has to pay its share of the costs—and those costs will be significant. Maine’s share of Medicaid expansion will cost taxpayers more than $60 million in the first year, then will increase…

The federal government must do a better job to provide adequate resources for background checks on people purchasing firearms. Horrific mass killings remind us of how fragile life is. When killers have a history of violence or mental illness, they should not be able to buy a gun. The vast majority of Maine’s people are responsible gun owners, and our outdoor traditions have instilled in us a healthy respect for weapons. Homicides in Maine are few. Unfortunately, they almost always have a relationship to either drugs, domestic violence or mental illness. Many people are already prohibited from buying a firearm,…

Mainers are generous people, and we are known to help our neighbors when there is a need. Whether it during a natural disaster, a holiday season or any time of the year, Mainers take care of Mainers. Generosity comes in many different forms. It can be donations of money or your time. Some people—including those who have very little to give—will donate slightly worn coats or help serve meals or volunteer at a shelter. Earlier this month, I joined the Salvation Army to kick off its Annual Kettle Campaign. Proceeds from the campaign help to provide food, clothing, utilities and…

It took a lot of work to balance Maine’s budget, bring fiscal responsibility to state government and restore our rainy day fund. Expanding Medicaid must maintain a balanced budget, protect our reserves and not raise taxes on hard-working Mainers. For seven years, I have made very tough decisions to move Maine from poverty to prosperity. My administration has always put forth budgets that provide services to hard-working taxpayers at an affordable cost. The Legislature’s budgets are driven by special interests, and they just push costs down the road. We shut down state government this summer to negotiate a budget Mainers…

In 1865, President Lincoln asked Americans to remember soldiers and veterans. He urged them: “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” I take his words to heart. The First Lady and I have had the great pleasure to meet thousands of Maine veterans over the years. Our men and women in uniform are dedicated to protecting the freedoms we share today. They put their lives on the line and make many sacrifices to keep our nation free. Many members of our Armed Forces have made the ultimate sacrifice, and for…

Maine needs you to make important decisions that will affect our future. Please vote on November 7. There are several important issues on the ballot, including two statewide citizens’ initiatives, a bond question and a proposal to amend our state constitution. Question 1 is about putting a third casino in Maine. The casino can only be in York County and can only be operated by one legal entity. Don’t be misled by the slick ad campaigns. Question 1 is not about funding our schools, creating jobs or lowering taxes. It is about gambling. Period. The gambling market in Maine is…

The Maine people are being told that if Medicaid is not expanded, children and the elderly will suffer. Folks, it’s not true–it’s just the opposite. Medicaid is for impoverished children, the elderly and low-income people. They will continue to receive Medicaid, with or without Medicaid expansion. No one will be kicked off. The truth is that Medicaid expansion will just give able-bodied adults free healthcare. Most of these adults do not have children, and they should be working. Then they can get insurance on the exchanges or contribute to the cost of their own health care through their employers. We…

Special-interest groups are using the ballot box to push initiatives that are bad for Maine. For seven years, I have been leading the charge to change the status quo in Augusta. But the Legislature won’t make the tough decisions that are needed to move Maine from poverty to prosperity. This opens the door for socialists to push their agenda through the ballot box. These citizen referendums punish success, encourage professionals to leave Maine and burden our taxpayers with runaway costs. In the last round of referendums, the socialists at the Maine People’s Alliance tried to tax successful people and hurt…

Those elected to represent the people of Maine have a responsibility to prioritize the needs of our state. But Maine’s Senators do not put Mainers first. The people who elected Senators King and Collins are already facing fewer insurers, higher premiums and soaring out-of-pocket costs. But the Senators killed any effort to reform ObamaCare and provide Mainers with affordable health insurance. Senator Collins falsely claimed that “Maine would lose $2 billion over the next 10 years and billions more after that.” Although some states would have seen a decrease in future funding, Maine would not. Funding in Maine would have…

Maine’s senior senator in Washington, D.C. single-handedly killed the chance to reform ObamaCare and provide hard-working Mainers with affordable and effective health insurance. Senator Susan Collins claimed the latest efforts to reform ObamaCare in the Graham-Cassidy bill would cut Medicaid for our most vulnerable citizens. She said it would hurt people with pre-existing conditions. She believed it would result in higher premiums and reduced coverage for Americans. But no one who is now on Medicaid would be kicked off. Medicaid was originally designed for impoverished children, the elderly and the disabled. However, Medicaid expansion under ObamaCare gave free health care…

If we are going to save the American healthcare system, we need your help—and we need it now. I have been in close contact with many people working on this issue in Washington D.C.. We’re nearing the number of votes needed to end the national nightmare of ObamaCare. A new piece of legislation could be voted on this week. I don’t need to tell you how damaging ObamaCare has been. Premiums are skyrocketing between 20 and 40 percent again, and deductibles are about to jump significantly. Everyone who pays for their insurance knows what is happening. Democrats are trying to…

After the devastation from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the families who have to rebuild their lives need affordably priced lumber. Unfortunately, corporate greed from a coalition of big lumber companies has already sent those prices skyrocketing. Making a profit is the goal of any company—and it should be. But it is unconscionable that this coalition is in a position that could lead to price-gouging Americans in distress. The issue is tariffs levied on Canadian softwood. The coalition is holding the U.S. Department of Commerce hostage, trying to slap a tariff on softwood exports to the United States from New Brunswick.…

It is so refreshing to have a President in the White House who truly understands what it takes to create jobs and grow the economy. From his long and successful career in business, President Trump knows firsthand that a burdensome tax code doesn’t create jobs, it kills them. When he outlined his vision for tax reform last week, I was pleased to see it will help Maine families keep more of their hard-earned paychecks. Americans now spend 6 million hours and more than $250 billion preparing taxes each year. Small businesses incur between $15 and $16 billion on tax-compliance costs.…

The compassion and generosity of the American people is never more evident than during a disaster. Even as Hurricane Harvey has been downgraded to a tropical storm, the people of Texas are still reeling from the devastating effects of the massive weather system. Mainers are always quick to rush to the aid of their neighbors, and many are looking for ways to help their fellow Americans in Texas. The most effective way to support disaster survivors is to donate money and time to reputable charitable organizations. Emergency agencies are requesting that people do not donate unsolicited goods, such as used…

The violent behavior in Charlottesville was more than despicable—it was deadly, causing the deaths of three people and injuries to many more. I condemn anyone who believes in the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacy or racism. It has no place in our country. I have spoken out forcefully against the KKK for seven years as your Governor. In the 1920s, the KKK had as many as 40,000 members in Maine. They came after Franco-Americans because they hated Catholics. They hated my family. The KKK’s first parade to take place in broad daylight was in Milo, Maine in 1923. They didn’t even…

To be an adult, or not to be? That is the question I have for the Maine State Legislature. I vetoed a bill that would prohibit 18-year-old adults from buying cigarettes, but the Legislature overturned it. This new law denies rights and responsibilities to 18-year-old adults who want to purchase a legal product. Quite simply, any legislator who voted for this law is a hypocrite. These legislators have no problem trying 18-year-olds as adults in a court of law, and they want 18-year-olds to vote for them in our elections. They make 18-year-olds pay taxes, and they allow 18-year-olds to…

It’s easy for politicians in Washington, D.C. to make promises to the people, especially when they don’t have to deal with real-world consequences. Governors are directly accountable to the people. We are required to balance our budgets. If we fail to do that, our residents suffer the consequences, such as higher taxes or even government shutdowns. We have to live with the consequences of our actions every day. Senators in Washington D.C. don’t have to deal with the harsh reality of keeping their promises. They just keep making promise after promise, even if it creates $20 trillion in debt. Our…

If Washington insiders were forced to use the failing ObamaCare system, they would think twice about the gridlock they are causing right now. U.S. Senators like Senators Susan Collins and Angus King are enjoying Cadillac health insurance plans while they are mandating Americans ride a moped. They are so busy seeking the national limelight, they are ignoring the people in their own state. Quite simply, ObamaCare is collapsing because it is unaffordable. Premiums and deductibles have skyrocketed, and private insurers are fleeing states, leaving fewer options for the individual marketplace. The individual mandate has been a disaster. Despite the ObamaCare…

After years of fixing Maine’s balance sheet, now is the time to make investments in our economy. During this past session, I supported three initiatives that focused on using bonds to invest in Maine families and our future: transportation; commercialization; and education. Investing into our transportation system to maintain Maine’s infrastructure is critical. Our economy relies on transportation, and we must ensure our roads, bridges and ports are accessible, safe and reliable to transport goods to consumers. The Department of Transportation has proven they can do it in a frugal, fiscally responsible way. In my budget proposal, I provided options…

As your Governor, I will do everything within my authority to prevent deadly drugs from killing Mainers. Recently, I informed the Federal Highway Administration that Maine will follow federal law and suspend driver’s licenses from those who are convicted of a drug-related offense. Many legislators, including Democrat Speaker of the House Sara Gideon, disagreed with me. But I am adamant we must do more to deter the influx of out-of-state drug-trafficking into Maine. The Legislature could have conformed to this federal law during the past session, but they chose to ignore it—even after I advised them that we would lose…

I submitted a budget more than six months ago and Democrats are going to try to blame the Governor’s Office for a shutdown. It’s not happening. Over the past week, Senate and House Republicans have worked together and agree on a budget that is reasonable. However, Democrats continue to refuse to compromise. One thing is certain Mainers don’t want to be over-taxed. A survey of small Maine businesses reported that more than 77 percent of small-business owners want to eliminate the 3 percent surtax imposed by referendum last November. This job-killing surtax is already affecting our small businesses. 68 percent…

As usual, the budget comes down to crunch time Folks, it’s déjà vu all over again. I submitted a balanced budget in January. But—as usual—the Legislature has waited until the very last minute to get serious about it. They are scurrying around like Keystone Cops, trying to get a budget done and get it to me with just seconds to spare. This is the fourth biennial budget of my term, and they have done this every time. This year, however, is worse than ever. It is due in part to the inexperience in the Legislature. Too many new legislators have…

Too much money can hide a lot of problems. Well, we spend more and more money every year on education, but our student performance remains stagnant. That’s a problem. Instead of blindly throwing more money at public education, we need to ask why this problem has been allowed to go on for so long. Just because the status quo is something that has been done for years doesn’t mean it’s the right way to do it, and we can’t defend it any longer. For decades, Maine politicians have increased education funding despite massive declines in the number of students in…

I’ve said it for years, and I will say it again. There is no amount of your money the Legislature will not spend. The State of Maine cannot tax-and-spend its way to prosperity, but the Democrats are doubling down on spending. My biennial budget calls for $6.8 billion, which is more than enough to fund government and meet the needs of Mainers. The Democrats want to boost spending to $7.5 billion. Hard-working Mainers should be outraged by this kind of reckless and unnecessary spending. In January, I presented a balanced budget that is fiscally responsible. It essentially flat-funded Executive Branch…

Our administration has done a good job bringing accountability to the Maine Turnpike Authority. Mainers are still counting on us to ensure that turnpike revenue is spent as efficiently as possible. As a state, we must plan long-term and streamline the management of the state’s transportation infrastructure. If the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority merged, there would likely be a number of efficiencies found. This would lower costs for toll payers, while at the same time continue to maintain good roads and bridges. I recently submitted legislation authorizing the Turnpike Authority to merge with the DOT by…

Mainers who have overcome drug addiction have powerful stories and when they share their struggle it is hard to ignore. When Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and President Trump senior advisor Kellyanne Conway visited Maine last week, most of the media tried to ignore the reason why they were here. There were articles claiming the Trump administration and Maine is at odds over a narcan bill I introduced. However, that was fake news. We are not at odds about this bill and all the media wanted to do was create controversy. The media failed to focus on the…

Speaker of the House Sara Gideon is trying to pull a fast one on Mainers. She is pushing a bill to expand welfare, and she claims there is $150 million to pay for it. Folks, it’s not true. Once again, Speaker Gideon is being disingenuous—to put it politely. She claims DHHS has $150 million in federal funds for welfare that are not being used. That is totally false. This money is in the DHHS spending plan. Instead of handing out cash benefits—like previous administrations did—DHHS is investing this money in programs that directly benefit at-risk youth and families in need.…

Good teachers are critical to Maine’s future, so let’s pay them adequately. Our children are our most valuable asset, and as a parent, I have been fortunate to raise my family in Maine. Unfortunately, while Maine is a good place to raise a family, our teachers are earning below-average salaries. The average salary for teachers in New England states is more than $70,000. In Maine, they settle for $20,000 less, which is $8,000 below the national average. Sadly, union bosses who claim to represent our educators don’t want to work on solutions that will increase teacher wages and help improve…

Democrats say they want to reduce property taxes. But they don’t have the courage to actually do it. You can’t talk about reducing property taxes without addressing state funding for education. Education costs are a major driver of local property taxes. Democrats keep telling people that my administration has cut education funding. That is absolutely not true. State funding has increased every year since I have been Governor. The real problem is that student enrollment is plummeting as costs keep climbing. Since I became Governor in 2011, Maine has 10,000 fewer students, but we are still spending over $100 million…

Democrat politicians in Augusta will take every opportunity to spend more of your money, and most Mainers simply can’t afford it. Last week, Speaker of the House Sara Gideon announced something we already knew: Democrats in Augusta are ready to raise your taxes and spend more of your money. Democrats claim to represent the little guy, but their actions do the opposite. They increase taxes and grow big government. This doesn’t help the working people of Maine. The Maine media applauded the Democrats’ proposal as an alternative budget. But they failed to report the most important fact: it isn’t a…

Over the past six years, welfare reform has been at the forefront of my agenda as your Governor. Some of these reforms have required legislation, such as capping TANF at 5 years back in 2011 and prohibiting the purchase of cigarettes and alcohol with welfare last year. Despite overwhelming public support for welfare reform, many welfare reform bills have failed because of the entitlement mentality in Augusta. That’s why many of our greatest welfare reform successes have not come from legislation, but from executive action. Work requirements, asset tests and photo IDs on EBT cards have helped move Mainers from…

Protecting our natural resources is a priority. It is also a priority for me to make sure Mainers can afford to live in this great state we call home. Maine’s electricity rates are among the highest in the nation. In fact, we rank number 11 in highest costs. When you see your electricity bill, you should know these rates are artificially high. The reason is what liberals like to call “subsidies” or “stranded costs.” These subsidies are taxpayer dollars funneled to the solar and wind industry to make sure they do not go bankrupt. Alternative forms of energy are worthwhile,…

As your Governor, I want all Mainers to prosper. Providing opportunities for people to help themselves is the best pathway to success. Unfortunately, liberals believe a bigger government, higher taxes and more spending is going to help Mainers prosper. For decades, they spent millions of taxpayer dollars on welfare programs with no accountability. They increased the tax burden on families and businesses, driving them out of state. Now Maine has the second-highest income tax in the United States. Some folks have told me they can no longer afford to live here. In a time when we need to attract people…

Our electricity rates are far above the national average—Maine has moved up from the 12th highest rates to the 11th highest in the United States. High rates have destroyed our industrial base, our commercial base and, more importantly, are causing higher rates for those who can least afford it, our retirees. The decision by the Public Utilities Commission to compensate owners of solar panels for transmission and distribution is taking Maine in the wrong direction. It increases prices on ratepayers by charging them twice for T and D of electricity. I agree solar customers should be compensated for the electricity…

Union lobbyist Ryan Tipping should resign his House seat. Legislators who line their own pockets rather than represent their constituents do not belong in the State House. Representative Ryan Tipping of Orono accepted $9,000 from state and national teachers’ unions to line his own pockets, go around the legislature and work to pass a citizens’ referendum that raises taxes. These pay-to-play payments nearly doubled his salary as a legislator. Tipping’s boss was the lobbyist for the teachers’ union, but he took this money while he was on the legislature’s Education Committee. He then ran for reelection as a so-called “clean…

While politicians were scrambling to pass a moratorium on marijuana legalization, their credibility went up in smoke. As usual, politicians in Augusta waited until the last minute to pass legislation on a very important issue. They approved a bill allowing Mainers to possess and grow marijuana, but they put a moratorium on buying and selling it until rules are developed to regulate retail sales. The original legislation directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to implement the regulations and enforcement of recreational marijuana. But ACF does not have the manpower or expertise to create and enforce these regulations. It…

Legislators may not understand how taxes work, but experts recognize the tax reforms in my budget would make Maine more competitive and more prosperous. The non-partisan Tax Foundation has reviewed the tax changes in my budget, which reduces individual income taxes, lowers corporate taxes, broadens the sales tax and eliminates the death tax. They called my plan “a recipe for a more competitive state.” They also liked my effort to simplify the income tax and reduce it to a flat tax of 5.75% in 2020. We have also proposed lowering the top corporate rate from 8.93% to 8.33%, which would…

In 2002 when Governor Angus King left office the State was seeing red—big time. He left a billion-dollar structural deficit for the next administration. Today, all of that is nearly eliminated. Mainers who rack up debt and fail to pay it are adversely affected with poor credit scores and sometimes sued for payment. This impacts their ability to buy a car, apply for a loan or a mortgage, and it can even prevent them from renting an apartment. Interest rates will also be very high for someone with bad credit. High debt can also harm a state’s credit rating, so…

If we want to put more money in our classrooms, we need a more efficient education system. We often hear from people throughout the state who want more of the over $2.2 billion dollars spent on education to go into the classroom. I agree. It is unacceptable that we have underpaid teachers in Maine schools who must take money out of their own pockets for classroom supplies while there is bloated administration for over 240 school districts led by 148 superintendents for only 175,000 students. Maine’s public school infrastructure has not kept up with our declining student population. Education spending…

As we look forward to the New Year, we think of those who are struggling to get by. Unfortunately, their struggle is about to get worse. Maine needs to attract more jobs, more families and more opportunity. Raising the minimum wage too high, too fast will make it much harder to do that. Increasing low wages sounds like a good idea on the face of it. But the economic devil is in the details. A couple of sentences on a ballot do not explain the details of the law that regulates the wage hike. If the question asked voters to…

Sometimes when you hit a road block, you have to find a detour. I was appalled when Democrats recently voted—twice—to block the approval of plans to construct a secure mental health unit in Augusta. While Riverview has been a political pawn for Democrats for years, it needs to stop. This new facility is needed for individuals who are not criminally responsible and who no longer require a hospital level of care. This facility would ensure these forensic patients receive the right treatment in the right setting. Moving individuals who no longer need a hospital level of care will significantly improve…

When I swore in the 128th Legislature this week, I urged them to reduce the negative impact of two referendum questions that will cause significant harm to our economy. All elected officials must respect the will of the people. However, the Legislature’s first duty as elected representatives is to do no harm to our state. Two questions will cause significant harm to our economy. They will hurt restaurant workers, small businesses, successful people and particularly our elderly. They will drive away doctors, dentists, scientists, engineers and other much-needed professionals. Question 2 hikes the income tax by 42% on successful Mainers,…

Since 2010, average residential New England electric rates have increased by 20 percent. But in Maine, they have remained essentially flat. Liberals, special interests and the Democrats in the Legislature are constantly trying to carve out gravy trains for wealthy energy companies, then make you pay for it. Not on my watch! That’s why our rates have not increased since I took office in 2010. Electric fees are like regressive taxes. Our low-income households and our elderly struggle every month to keep the lights on. Increasing rates, add ons, and fees on our must vulnerable should be an outrage to…

We have a lot of work to do in the upcoming Legislative session. If we are going to make progress, there must be a willingness to work together. One of the first tasks the Legislature must deal with involves the citizen’s referendums. Citizen initiatives certainly have a place in a democracy, but I strongly believe the process needs better checks and balances. Several of the ballot questions put out to voters have serious, unintended consequences for the people of Maine. Some questions are clearly unconstitutional, one will chase successful people out of Maine and another will drive the elderly deeper…

Veterans Day has been celebrated in many ways since 1926. And one of the best ways to honor are country’s heroes is to help them in any way we can. The First Lady and I have had the great pleasure to meet many Maine veterans over the years. Sadly, we also have attended many funerals of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Our men and women in uniform are dedicated to protecting the freedoms we all share today. It is our responsibility to honor our heroes today and every day. Our administration has been focused on ensuring veterans are…

Governor LePage on Question 2 harming Maine’s economyGovernor LePage explains Question 2 – the referendum on increasing taxes which will harm Maine’s economy. Posted by Paul LePage, Maine’s Governor on Saturday, October 15, 2016 Question 2 will not solve education funding in Maine. Don’t be fooled. It will just raise the income tax to 10.15% on successful Maine households. It won’t put more money into classrooms. It won’t go to rural schools. It will go into the General Fund. The Legislature can spend it on however they want. Question 2 won’t help education. It will drive successful people out of…

When Press Secretary Adrienne Bennett requested the opinion piece be considered for publication, Portland Press Herald Editor Greg Kesich said, “I’ll pass.” Op-Ed: Raising the minimum will hurt 325,000 Mainers Make no mistake: if you vote on Question 4 to raise the minimum wage, you will be hurting your grandparents and your elderly neighbors. The socialists at Maine People’s Alliance are pushing hard to arbitrarily increase the minimum wage, claiming it will improve the lives of workers. They don’t tell you it will harm our most vulnerable residents: the elderly and those on fixed incomes. Raising the minimum wage so…

The Maine Education Association (MEA) has used out of state funds to place job-crushing Question 2 on the November ballot – but Maine people should know we can’t trust the MEA. They tell their members one thing but do another in Augusta. I have been trying to partner with the MEA to invest in professional development for Maine teachers. In September, MEA president Lois Kilby-Chesley e-mailed all MEA members saying “I welcome any opportunity to sit down with the Governor and respectfully share ideas on how we can work collaboratively to improve teachers and schools…” but she wasn’t telling the truth.…

Question 3 on the November ballot calls for Universal Background Checks on all private sales and transfer on firearms. But it is unenforceable; it creates an unfunded mandate and it is the first step toward gun registration. The name of this proposal is misleading. Universal Background Checks are not “universal” because criminals will never follow this law. Criminals get guns by breaking existing laws. They steal them, buy them on the black market or use straw purchasers. Less than one percent of criminals get firearms from dealers at gun shows. This proposal won’t do anything to stop criminals from getting…

Last week I spoke at a forum during Constitution Week at Husson University. Liberals are constantly attacking our Constitution, but I believe it is a sacred document. As Governor, I am sworn to uphold the Constitutions of Maine and the United States of America. I take this responsibility very seriously. In fact, I carry a copy of the Constitution in my suit pocket every day. In Maine, I believe three of the questions on the November ballot are unconstitutional. If they pass it will be impossible to uphold my oath of office. Question 1 seeks to make marijuana legal. But…

Anyone with mental illness or disability can reach their full potential; they just need support to do it. In the early 90’s I was fortunate to work with a start-up program in Maine focusing on enriching the lives of people affected by mental illness and disability. That program is thriving today and is still known as the High Hopes Clubhouse in Waterville. The Clubhouse model promotes individual strengths to recover from the effects of mental illness sufficiently to lead a personally satisfying life; and a belief that work, and work-related relationships are healing. High Hopes Clubhouse is Maine’s founding clubhouse…