Author: Steve Robinson

A front group of the Portland-based Maine People’s Alliance (MPA) is back in the news over a report it released on Thursday urging Congress against cutting unsustainable entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. The so-called “Maine Small Business Coalition” (MSBC) released a study prepared by the national Main Street Alliance at a press event in Boothbay. In February, The MAINE WIRE exposed MSBC as a registered front group for MPA, Maine’s most notorious leftist advocacy group.  Although MSBC is a perfect example of astroturfing – that is, fake grassroots – this has not stopped the Associated Press and…

Maine’s Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) provides enterprising journalists a way to dig up dirt on matters of great interest to the public, but state officials say some newspaper reporters have taken their pursuit of public records a little too far. The MAINE WIRE has obtained emails  that show how newspaper reporters have threatened to publish unflattering stories about state workers or state agencies — including details of state workers’ personal lives — if their FOAA requests are not granted quickly or inexpensively enough. According to state law, agencies may charge up to $15 for every hour after the first…

AUGUSTA – Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage on Thursday slammed Portland’s Democratic Mayor Michael Brennan for his “innappropriate” attack on a Portland-based public charter school. “Governor Paul R. LePage condemned today inappropriate activities that Portland’s Mayor has requested of Maine Attorney General, Janet Mills,” the Governor’s Office wrote in a statement. Brennan sent a letter to Mills on March 22 asking her to investigate the Baxter Academy for Technology and Science on the premise of “financial mismanagement.” In her March 27 letter of reply, Mills declined to interject the AG’s office into the dispute and pointed out that the Maine Commission…

During the 2012 election, much ado was made over Cleveland resident Michelle Dowery’s rant in a viral YouTube video about her “Obama phone.” Now, a telecommunications giant Virgin Mobile USA has begun an ad campaign designed to encourage Mainers to get Obama phones of their own. “Keep Obama in president… He gave us a phone,” said Dowery in a YouTube video that now has nearly eight million views. In reality, the Obama phone program – which is officially called the Lifeline program – began in 1985 during the Reagan administration and expanded to include cell phones in 2005 under President…

The National Rifle Association (NRA), the foremost defender of Second Amendment rights in the country, is running ads targeting Maine’s  junior senator. The NRA’s Facebook ad asks Mainers to call Sen. Angus S. King, Jr., the un-enrolled Democrat of Brunswick who replaced former Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) last November, and urge him to oppose the “anti-Second Amendment agenda” of President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Although King had a reputation as being an outdoorsman – and received the endorsement of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine – when he served two terms as governor, his senate campaign was buoyed through…

AUGUSTA – Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage said Wednesday via Twitter that he would give up his pension if Democratic leaders in Augusta would simply agree to his proposal to repay Maine’s hospitals with revenue from the liquor contract. The Governor, who is enjoying his yearly vacation in Jamaica, offered the deal in response to Assistant Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson’s (D-Allagash) attempt to take away pensions from governor’s who do not serve two terms. [RELATED: Democratic Rep. Attacks Gov. LePage on Pension] Jackson’s bill, which comes amid serious debates over Maine’s budget, was widely acknowledged by both Republicans and Democrats as…

From the House Republican Office: AUGUSTA – Well, there they go again.  Yesterday, Democrats were telling parents that their kids couldn’t go tanning.  Now, they’re telling struggling small business owners that the wages they offer aren’t good enough. The House this morning voted to advance a bill to further control the wages Maine employers may offer and Maine workers may accept.  The bill, LD 611, is sponsored by South Portland Democrat Scott Hamann and pushed by the controversial Maine People’s Alliance.  If it becomes law, the bill will increase the minimum wage by $1.50—or 17 percent—over three years, bringing it…

PORTLAND – The Portland Phoenix’s Jeff Inglis is reporting that Chris Korzen, the man behind MainesMajority.org, has quit the Portland-based non-profit group he started. “Not sure who’s empowered to accept his resignation, but it’s as clear as day: Chris Korzen is leaving the Maine’s Majority group he founded,” Inglis wrote in a story on Tuesday afternoon. “ BREAKING NEWS: Founder Chris Korzen ‘quits’ Maine’s Majority #mepolitics” Inglis’s report includes a lengthy email exchange between Korzen and Inglis in which the latter man points out the hypocrisy of Maine’s Majority assailing former State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin for his use of a…

Republican leader and former State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin on Wednesday released a new two-minute video that succinctly explains Maine’s hospital debt predicament and why paying Maine’s bills is the right thing to do. In the video, Poliquin explains how the state managed to accumulate $484 million in unpaid hospital bills and discusses Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed solution. Poliquin, whose tenure as Treasurer ended when Democrats assumed control of the Legislature, has continued to be outspoken about the role conservative principles can play in improving Maine’s economy. Watch the video below: Follow The Maine Wire on Twitter and Facebook!

AUGUSTA – Maine GOP Chairman Richard M. Cebra said Wednesday that Democratic lawmakers are falling short of lofty campaign promises and are instead resorting to petty, personal attacks on Republicans. The Maine Republican Party released a statement  highlighting what it believes is mounting evidence that Democratic Party is more concerned with pet issues and personal vendettas than delivering on campaign promises. “It’s almost April, and this session, Democratic leadership has failed in spectacular fashion,” said Maine GOP Chairman Richard M. Cebra in a statement. “They’ve ignored jobs, debt and the economy in favor of drinking hours, hiking car registration fees,…

Lawmakers on Tuesday considered two items of legislation that would force businesses to collect sales and use taxes on goods sold into Maine over the Internet. L.D. 346, An Act to Require the Collection of Sales Tax by Any Business Making Sales to Persons in Maine, was introduced by Rep. L. Gary Knight (R-Livermore Falls), the ranking House Republican on the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation. “This is not a new tax,” said Knight. “This is simply an attempt to collect an existing tax that is not being collected because of the nature of online sales,” he said. “Maine’s small…

Democratic leaders in Augusta are using unorthodox parliamentary tricks to prevent the Legislature from considering a proposal to make Maine’s schools safer. State House sources say Democratic leaders have asked for a fiscal note on a bill to develop safety standards for school access before referring the measure out of committee. Typically, lawmakers ask for fiscal impact determinations when a bill is referred out of committee. Rep. Lance Harvell (R-Farmington) introduced L.D. 529 as emergency legislation that would ensure future school construction projects abide by certain standards for access. The act has ten co-sponsors – all Republicans – including Sen.…

Maine Department of Labor spent more than $6.5 million from 2008 to 2012 on “training and support” for 851 Mainers – Draft report describes flawed, irresponsible government largesse – Program managers required to funnel applicants into other welfare programs – Other welfare not considered “income” – Max two-year benefits: $48,390; benefits given for up to eight years – $393,375 spent on car repairs; $91,200 on car insurance – “Anti-poverty” program left some with lower wages By S.E. Robinson, Maine Wire Reporter AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Labor has spent $6.5 million on a flawed anti-poverty lottery that lacks accountability, has…

State employees are speaking out in favor of a bipartisan proposal to reverse a six-year-old decision to turn the state of Maine into a collections agent of the Maine State Employees Association (MSEA). The legislation (L.D. 786), which was introduced by Rep. Lawrence Lockman (R-Amherst), would prevent the state from withholding agency or service fees from the paychecks of workers who decline to become members of the MSEA – otherwise known as the state employees’ union. Rep. Terry M. Hayes (D-Buckfield) has co-sponsored the proposal. The MSEA began collecting fees from newly hired employees at the beginning of the Baldacci…

AUGUSTA – As the 126th Legislature wrangles with difficult debates over the state budget, Democratic lawmakers are occupying their colleagues with partisan jibes at Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage and former U.S. Senate candidates Charlie Summers and Bruce Poliquin. Democrats are pushing two bills, L.D. 947 and L.D. 490, which many in Augusta say are not only unworthy of the Legislature’s energy, but are also naked partisan attacks on Republicans. L.D. 947, An Act To Ensure the Effectiveness of Constitutional Officers, introduced by Sen. Christopher K. Johnson (D-Lincoln), would prevent sitting Constitutional Officers from seeking federal or statewide office. The…

UPDATED: Lewiston Mayor Bob MacDonald announced Wednesday that city officials have removed 84 people from the welfare rolls and saved taxpayers more than $150,000 in fraudulent welfare payments. More than half of the individuals included in the investigation will be charged with fraud, according to city officials.  LEWISTON – Lewiston city officials will hold a press conference Wednesday morning concerning an investigation into welfare fraud allegedly committed by local residents, The Maine Wire has learned. The investigation has found a significant number of welfare fraud cases in Lewiston alone, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulently received public…

Center for Constitutional Government Director David Crocker joined Inside Maine with Phil Harriman to discuss a lawsuit he has filed against the Maine Municipal Association (MMA). The lawsuit, which was filed in June of 2010, alleges that MMA inappropriately used taxpayer funds to engage in political activity supporting or opposing various ballot initiatives. The initiatives on which the MMA allegedly engaged in improper use of property tax dollars include the 55% School Funding Initiative (2002-2004), the Palesky tax reduction initiative (2004), TABOR I (2006), TABOR II (2009) and (5) the Auto Excise Tax initiative (2009). The MMA’s total expenditures (monetary and…

AUGUSTA – Amid Friday’s debate over whether to raise Maine’s minimum wage law, some Democrats fear doing so might make some Mainers ineligible for food stamps, Medicaid, and other welfare benefits. During a Friday work session on L.D. 611, An Act To Adjust Maine’s Minimum Wage Annually Based on Cost-of-living Changes, the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development pondered an amendment to raise the minimum wage even more. Whereas the bills sponsor, Rep. Scott Hamann (D-South Portland), originally proposed that the minimum wage increase by $1 and be indexed to inflation, the proposed amendment would have increased the minimum…

At Gov. Paul R. LePage’s Friday education conference at Cony High School in Augusta, key note speaker Tony Bennett called school choice the “social justice issue of our generation” and challenged Maine’s teachers’ union – the Maine Education Association – to bring new ideas to the table. “It does not play in the Bennet household that collective bargaining should be abolished,” said Bennet, who became Florida’s education commissioner in January. “But I would say to the Maine Education Association: come to the table with solutions,” said Bennett. “Come to the table in good faith with solutions.” Bennett, who spoke passionately…

Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage used is weekly address to talk about the education conference he hosted Friday at Cony High School in Augusta. The first-ever Governor’s Conference on Education served as a forum for dialog between national education experts and officials from other states and Maine lawmakers and school administrators. “Our first education conference was a great success,” said LePage, who sat center stage for the duration of the event taking notes. “A quality education is critical to any child’s well-being and future success,” said LePage. “The status quo no longer works.” LePage said that accountability, best practices and…

The Portland Press Herald reported Friday morning on a lawsuit filed against its owner, hedge fund billionaire and bank roller for many of Maine’s progressive organizations S. Donald Sussman. The Press Herald report comes less than a day after The Maine Wire first broke the news that Kevin Bunker of Portland-based Developers Collaborative had filed a legal complaint against Sussman seeking nearly a half a million dollars in restitution. The story was also covered by Chris Busby at his Bangor Daily News blog “News, Views, and Happiness Pursued.”  While reporting unflattering facts about its owner is commendable, the Press Herald’s coverage of a shipyard worker’s protest…

AUGUSTA – Gov. Paul R. LePage held a statewide conference on education Friday at Cony High School in Augusta. The Governor spoke candidly about his own personal experiences with the education system in Maine and rebuked those who have accused him of slashing education funding. “To say that the Governor of Maine is cutting education spending is incorrect,” said LePage. “To say that the Governor of Maine is making up for the loss of federal education funding is correct.” The Governor pointed to a graph (below) showing how his administration has increased funding for education. (* The amount listed for…

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) broke with the rest of Maine’s congressional delegation on Thursday to vote against a Continuing Resolution (C.R.) that will restore the Defense Department’s pre-sequester funding levels thus sustaining vital federal contracts for two of Maine’s largest employers. The C.R., which was supported by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus S. King (UD-Maine), ultimately passed in the House of Representatives with 318 “yeas”, Michael Michaud (D-Maine) included. The C.R. contains more than $4 billion for the Navy to purchase up to ten DDG-51 destroyers, ships which Bath Iron Works (BIW) of Bath is currently competing to build.…

WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Democrats joined forces late Thursday night to reject a Republican-led floor motion that would have required them to produce a balanced budget by 2023. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) made a motion to commit S. Con. Res. 8 back to the Budget Committee with instructions to report back no later than March 22, 2013 with such changes as may be necessary to achieve unified budget balance by fiscal year 2023, according to Congressional records. The motion was defeated on a 46 to 53 vote. Sen. Angus S. King Jr., an un-enrolled Democrat and former Maine governor, joined…

Summit Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Colorado-based Summit Utilities, has decided to enter into a project labor agreement (PLA) for its Kennebec Natural Gas project, prompting outcry from Maine’s leading construction associations and strong disapproval from Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage. “While I appreciate Summit’s commitment and investment in Maine to help reduce our cost of energy, I am extremely disappointed that they have chosen to implement a PLA on this project,” said LePage. “This action not only increases the cost of the project, but more importantly, it shuts out Maine’s construction workers and their families from good job opportunities,”…

Two letters from the Obama administration to Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage paint very distinct portraits of the federal government’s fiscal health amid sequestration and Medicaid expansion. “It is my hope that all states will fully expand their Medicaid programs and take advantage of the generous federal matching funds to cover many of their currently uninsured residents,” wrote Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a March 5 letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Maine Wire. That same day, Deputy Health Secretary William V. Vorr sent a separate letter warning that sequestration would cut funding for Maine’s Department of…

Billionaire Democrat S. Donald Sussman and wife Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are dealing with a lawsuit following the collapse of an $8,000,000 condominium project that residents in the First Congressional District had hoped would revitalize a blight-stricken Portland neighborhood. According to Cumberland County District Court documents, copies of which were obtained by The Maine Wire, Portland-based Developers Collaborative is suing Sussman and his real estate attorney Thomas B. Federle for consultancy services provided on the Newbury Lofts – a much-ballyhooed condo complex that was never built. Kevin Bunker, the manager of Developers Collaborative and plaintiff in the lawsuit, alleges nonpayment…

Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage has offered the federal government a quid pro quo regarding his willingness to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). On Monday, Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary C. Mayhew sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius outlining pre-conditions for the Governor to accept an expansion of Medicaid called for in the ACA — more commonly known as Obamacare. “Ultimately, we must make the decision that is best for the people of Maine,” wrote Mayhew. “While we share the common goal of increasing access to affordable health care,…

Assistant Democratic Senate Leader Troy Jackson (D-Allagash) wants Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage to forfeit his pension unless he his re-elected to a second term in the Blaine House. Jackson’s Democratic colleague, however, has called his efforts a “distraction,” “political shenanigans,” and “mere political tomfoolery.” Jackson testified on Monday before the State and Local Government Committee in favor of his bill, L.D. 490, which would amend Maine’s Constitution to specify that only two-term governors may receive pensions. “As the law stands now, someone could take the Governor’s Oath of Office, serve one day, and then quit and receive the full…

AUGUSTA – Lawmakers on the Criminal Justice Committee on Monday heard testimony on several bills that would restrict the sale and use of fireworks in the state of Maine. The law legalizing fireworks went into effect in January of 2012 and has allowed 17 retail fireworks stores to open in Maine. According to industry estimates, the stores employ roughly 100 Mainers full-time and another 500 on a seasonal or part-time basis. “The law to transfer fireworks regulation from the state to local communities was a jobs bill that has paid off big-time,” said House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette. “It would be…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), a division of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, on Tuesday alerted Maine’s school districts to a new grant program that will help cover the cost of upgrading campus security. William DeLong, Division Director for Homeland Security, said MEMA worked closely with Department of Education personnel in crafting the grant program. DeLong expects anywhere from 50 to 100 school districts toapply for the grant, which will be funded through a federal Homeland Security Grant program. “The thinking behind the grant is to enhance school security without costs for schools,” said…

George Mason University professor and renowned economist Walter E. Williams on March 7 delivered a rousing keynote address to the founders of the Independence Institute, entitled, “The Legitimate Role of Government in a Free Society.” Williams’ address examined the growth of the federal government within the context of constitutional liberty. “In the course of my comments I’m going to say things that will break with conventional wisdom on a whole range of topics. I’m going to say some things that may sound mean, mean-spirited, uncaring and politically incorrect,” said Williams. “One of the justifications for the growth of government—far beyond…

The leftist political organizations that control much in Maine politics on Thursday unveiled the latest initiative designed to advance their progressive agenda through Augusta. Fair Share Now, an initiative dedicated singularly to the pursuit of higher taxes on so-called wealthy Mainers, is controlled by an all-star cast of Maine’s tax-hungry Democratic powerbrokers: Maine AFL-CIO, Maine Education Association (MEA), Maine’s Majority, Maine People’s Alliance (MPA), and Maine State Employee’s Association (MSEA). “It’s not right for taxes to increase on Maine’s middle class and working families while those at the top get a break they don’t need,” the group states on its website.…

PORTLAND – U.S. Agricultural Secretary Thomas Vilsack on Thursday visited the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland  to lecture children on the national security and educational implications of obesity. “We must continue to take action today to ensure that today’s young people grow up healthy and strong, or we will see more challenges – everything from soaring health care costs to diminished national security and decreased business competitiveness,” said Vilsack in a USDA news release. “Improving the nutrition of our young people has tremendous implications for our country’s future,” said Vilsack, who was joined by Portland Mayor…

The Women and Gender Studies program of the University of Southern Maine will host author and sociologist Danielle Lindemann on Tuesday, March 19 at 5:30PM at its Portland campus to lecture about her new book, Dominatrix: Gender, Eroticism, and Control in the Dungeon. According to USM’s press release advertising the event, “Dr. Lindemann’s book draws from extensive fieldwork and interviews with professional dominatrices in New York City and San Francisco to offer portraits of pro-dommes, their work, and their clients.  Upending the idea that these erotic laborers engage in simple exchanges, Ms. Lindemann’s work contributes to a more sophisticated understanding…

From the House Republican Office:  Washington’s fiscal irresponsibility threatens another bait-and-switch on Mainers AUGUSTA – House Republican leadership says that Maine’s decision about whether to accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid is one that should consider the fiscal health not just of Maine, but of America. The federal government had a $1.3 trillion deficit in 2012, borrowing 35 cents out of every dollar it spent.  The CBO had projected a smaller deficit for fiscal year 2013, but in just the first two months (October and November 2012) the deficit far outpaced projections at $292 billion, which is spending at the rate of $1.75 billion…

In the face of tremendous opposition from Democratic legislators, the powerful teachers’ union, and even nameless vandals, Cornville Regional Charter School is giving students opportunities previously unavailable to them in the traditional education system. “We don’t know who did it or why,” said Justin Belanger, executive director of the Cornville Regional Charter School (CRCS). “But someone entered the school building, popped a ceiling tile, cut the school’s intercom and internet wires, and left them dangling in the hallway,” said Belanger. The act of vandalism occurred sometime between the closure of Cornville Elementary School in 2010 and the repurposing of that…

AUGUSTA – The 4th floor committee room in the State House overflowed with outspoken citizens on Tuesday as the Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Rep. Corey S. Wilson’s (R-Augusta) bill to exempt concealed weapon permit information from Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) requests. “I was extremely pleased with the number of supporters who turned out for the hearing,” said Wilson. “I was satisfied with the testimony offered on behalf of my bill,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the work session.” The FOAA exemption Wilson is asking for is not unprecedented and would add to the 483 exemptions provided…

AUGUSTA – The Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday held a work session on legislation that would force Maine’s hospitals to disclose conflicts of interest and other pertinent information to patients when referring them to affiliated nursing homes or rehabilitation facilities. LD 447, An Act to Increase Patient Choice in Health Care Facilities and Health Care Settings, was introduced by Sen. John L Patrick( (D-Rumford) and would require hospitals to declare conflicts of interest by using statements such as “affiliated with hospital” or “owned by hospital” when referring patients to secondary care facilities. The bill would also require hospitals…

AUGUSTA – Sparks flew on Tuesday as Gov. Paul R. LePage’s nominee to head the board of directors of the Dirigo Health Agency (DHA) blasted his critics and unexpectedly withdrew his nomination during a heated hearing of the Insurance and Financial Services Committee. “There were many things said about me last Tuesday. Some of them were true,” said former Republican Rep. Jonathan McKane of Newcastle in reference to the March 5 hearing in which the committee rejected his nomination by an 8-5 party line vote. “I was accused of misogyny, of wanting to deny women the right to vote, of saying…

The Center for Educational Excellence, a project of the Maine Heritage Policy Center, has released a new study on the benefits of educational innovations that capitalize on new and emerging digital technologies, Online Learning: Maximizing Results by Leveraging Technologies. “Online learning, often referred to as ‘anywhere, any time learning,’ is an education model whereby a student completes his coursework through internet-based programs,” writes MHPC Education Policy Analyst Amanda Clark. “Given the laptop programs and online learning programs already in place throughout our state, Maine has the potential to revolutionize education to such a degree that every student can realize his…

By Sandy George, Montville The inspiration for offering this opinion was a personal e-mail sent to me by John Piotti, executive director of Maine Farmland Trust, referencing his “Cedar and Pearl” column of March 6, Taxes, Conservation Easements, Farms and Other Thoughts of Spring.  In his column, Mr. Piotti reduces the response of sitting selectman to property tax increases as a simple complaint about “others.”  Of the many selectmen I have met across the State of Maine during the past 46 years, very few are uncaring about their citizens.  Recently, one very frugal 1st Selectman from Waldo County put it…

After weeks of public pressure, Democratic leaders on Monday had a change of heart: They now support repaying Maine’s $484 million hospital debt and doing so with revenues from a renegotiated liquor contract. “Democrats have always been focused on repaying the state’s debt to the hospitals,” Senate President Justin Alfond (D-Portland) said during a morning press conference. “Today, we commit to a swift upfront and immediate payment in full to put to rest our debt obligation.” Prior to Monday’s press conference, which came just minutes before public hearings on Gov. Paul LePage’s competing proposal began, it was unclear whether repaying the…

Democrats on the Insurance and Financial Services Committee last Tuesday reached new heights of incivility in savaging Gov. Paul R. LePage’s nominee to head the Dirigo Health Agency (DHA), Jonathan McKane former Republican Representative of Newcastle. McKane withstood the barrage of heated rhetoric as the committee’s co-chairs Sen. Geoff Gratwick (D-Bangor) and Rep. Sharon A. Treat (D-Hallowell) refused to allow him to respond to criticisms ranging from matters of policy to direct assaults on his character. “The lawmakers opposed to the nomination cited McKaine’s long-standing opposition to Dirigo Health and its mission of increasing affordable health care in the private…

By Rep. Kathleen Chase (R-Wells) If most of us won a small lottery and received monthly payments over 10 years, we would not simply spend that money on dinner out and fancy new cars.  We would do something smart with it, such as pay off the home mortgage early or invest for retirement. In other words, we would try to do something fiscally responsible. The State of Maine is faced with a similar choice.  We are fortunate to have an opportunity to realize an extra $30 million or so per year since our current contract on the state’s liquor business is…

By Rachel Sheffield Heritage Foundation Last summer, the Obama Administration gutted the successful 1996 welfare reform law by offering to waive its work requirements. Now the debate is back, as several Members of Congress are trying to restore the reforms that helped so many out of poverty. The work requirements were the heart and soul of the historic welfare reform signed by President Bill Clinton. As a result of “workfare,” welfare rolls declined by half within five years, and employment rates among low-income individuals increased. Some of the biggest winners from workfare were children. Millions of children were lifted out of poverty. In 2003,…

As lawmakers in Augusta consider a bipartisan proposal to eliminate a statute of Maine law requiring non-union members to pay fees to government employee unions, Breitbart.com’s Lee Stranahan reports that teachers in Michigan are trying to outfox a similar law that state passed amid uproar in 2012: Michigan Republicans passed right-to-work legislation that banned mandatory union dues in December 2012, amid pushback from big labor. Now there’s a different kind of pushback as the state’s teachers unions are attempting to skirt the new law and keep the money rolling into union coffers. The teachers’ trick is to negotiate new contracts before the…

Residents in the Oxford County town of Byron will get the chance to approve a measure that would make the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution mandatory for all households. Byron Head Selectman Anne Simmons-Edmunds told FOX News Thursday she expects that all three members of the board favor the measure and that she expects the town’s estimated 140 residents to approve it at next week’s town meeting. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

WASHINGTON, DC – Uncertainty and increased insurance costs caused by President Barack Obama’s health care law are leading employers to lay off workers and slowing job creation, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve. The “Beige Book” – which assesses economic conditions in twelve regions across the country – shows how employers are responding to the Affordable Care Act – a.k.a. Obamacare – and the tsunami of new regulations. According to the report, new rules and regulations promulgated by Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius – 15,000 pages and counting – are driving premiums higher and increasing burdens on businesses…

Democratic leadership held a press conference Thursday  to ask Gov. Paul R. LePage to issue voter-approved general obligation spending bonds. The Governor has repeatedly stated that he will not allow the State to incur additional debt until its fiscal house is put in order, a stance that has caused Democrats in the Legislature and the State Treasurer’s office to seek ways to issue bonds without executive approval. Assistant Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson (D-Allagash) said LePage is exercising too much control over the bonding process. “I’ve just never seen anyone try to have such an iron fist on the people of Maine’s mentality…

Sen. Rand Paul’s 13-hour old-fashion filibuster of President Barack Obama’s CIA director nomination began Wednesday and lasted well into Thursday morning. Paul used his time in the Capitol Building to call on the President to answer questions about the federal governments use of unmanned aerial vehicles to target U.S. citizens. “I won’t be able to speak forever, but I’m going to speak as long as I can,” said Paul. “When we ask the president ‘Can you kill Americans on American soil with drone strikes?’ it should be an easy answer,” he said. While Paul’s filibuster lasted long enough to grab…

Legendary conservative talk show host Howie Carr was talking welfare reform on Tuesday and referenced a story first reported by The Maine Wire. Carr spoke about the federal government’s increasing federal intervention in states’ administration of welfare programs including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) February denial of Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to put photo identification on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. “Indeed, according to a report at The Maine Wire, LePage first learned of the USDA’s denial in the Portland Press Herald in mid February, a paper — a real piece of crap, I might add — owned by…

Mainer’s with concealed handgun permits may think their names and addresses have been kept safe by emergency legislation passed in response to the Bangor Daily News’ public records request. In truth, these records have been in the hands of Democratic operatives since 2011. A Washington, DC-based political targeting firm requested a list of Maine’s concealed handgun permit holders in July of 2011, according to records acquired by Gawker.com via a Freedom of Access Act Request and obtained by The Maine Wire. According to the documents, the Maine Department of Public Safety released a CD containing the information, including names and addresses…

AUGUSTA — As Gov. Paul R. LePage pushes for more customized learning solutions, a new survey shows more than half of Maine voters favor policies that increase student access to private schools. Released by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice and Maine Heritage Policy Center, the poll reveals strong support for town tuitioning and mixed reviews on the quality of K-12 education. The “Maine K-12 & School Choice Survey” found 55 percent of voters support town tuitioning, which allows families to use their public education funds for private school tuition; 38 percent oppose town tuitioning. Maine already has the country’s…

Some within the media have wrapped themselves in the flag of the freedom of access law. They are rallying to oppose legislation proposed by the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) and sponsored by Rep. Corey Wilson, Augusta that would make concealed weapons permit holders names and information private. Critics of this legislation are ignoring recent history in New York. Just after the Connecticut school shooting, the Gannett- owned, Journal News published the names, addresses and a detailed map of concealed permit holders in two New York Counties. The action was obviously a provocative attempt to label law abiding concealed permit holders with a scarlet letter. In…

AUGUSTA – Senate President Justin Alfrond (D-Portland) said in 2008 Maine could potentially solve its budget problems by not honoring the State’s debt obligations to hospitals. Alfond’s comments surfaced in a short video recently released by the Maine Republican Party. In the video, Alfond describes his suggestion to not pay the state’s bills as one of three ‘meaningful cuts.’ The Maine Republican Party released the following statement: “This video is just one more piece of evidence that Maine’s Democratic leaders have never been serious about paying off the hospital debt. This video is all the explanation the people of Maine…

Maine Gov. Paul LePage blasted the United States Department of Agriculture for denying his request for a waiver to allow the state to require food stamp recipients to provide photo identification when using their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards as way to cut down on fraud. (Read the full story at DailyCaller.com) “[USDA] denied our request, saying that the use of photo ID would be ineffective in reducing fraud and abuse,” he said during his weekly radio address over the weekend. “This is a shocking statement.” The USDA also claimed in their denial letter that such a requirement would result in the…

Agents of the federal government are conspiring to politically damage Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage by coordinating with his Democratic opponents and leaking sensitive information to Maine’s newspapers. Sound like far-flung conspiracy theory? It’s not. According to documents obtained by The Maine Wire, employees of the federal government have on two occasions supplied communications intended for the Governor to his Democratic opponents or to the press, instead. The leaked information has not only benefited the media outlets, but has also disrupted the Governor’s ability to govern in the face of an increasingly over-reaching federal government. The first leak occurred in…

By Diana George Chapin On Feb. 23 the Bangor Daily News and Lewiston Sun ran an article, “The good, bad and pricey parts of using public money for land conservation.” This piece started an important public dialogue about conservation in Maine, but the article only opened a small window into a topic that desperately requires in-depth discussion in communities and across the state. Why? Because Maine people have been systematically propagandized by the message “conservation is good” without having a meaningful public discussion about some of the collateral damage the land preservation movement is generating in rural towns. On Tuesday, March…

By S.E. Robinson Maine Wire Reporter In a Thursday email blast to Maine Democrats, Democratic Party Chairman Ben Grant falsely stated that Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed budget will raise property taxes. “The GOP budget slashes funding to towns and municipalities, drives up property taxes on Maine families and puts our children’s education in jeopardy in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy,” said Grant in the email. (Emphasis added) As readers of The Maine Wire know, property taxes are controlled by cities and towns—not by the State. Only municipal governments can change property taxes. Although raising property taxes is…

The Center for Health Reform Initiatives, a project of the Maine Heritage Policy Center, today released a study on Maine’s new health care reform law (PL90) Crisis to Cure: Maine’s Health Care Reform Law is Helping Business. The report uses three unique case studies on real Mainers and real Maine businesses to show how PL90, less than two years into its implementation, is already providing more health insurance choices and cheaper costs. “Opponents of Maine’s new health care reform law (PL90) erroneously describe the law as ‘a gift to the insurance companies,'” said Center for Health Reform Initiatives Director Joel Allumbaugh. “In…

Rep. Terry M. Hayes (D-Buckfield) said Tuesday she is supporting right-to-work legislation introduced by Rep. Lawrence E. Lockman (R-Amherst) that would prevent the state employee unions from collecting agency fees from state workers who exercise their constitutional right to refuse union membership. Lockman’s proposal, An Act to Ensure the Voluntary Membership of Public Employees in Unions (LR 1367), would repeal two laws passed during the Baldacci administration that not only forced non-union state employees to pay fees to the union, but also caused the state to collect these fees from the paychecks of state employees. The bipartisan measure will be…

By S.E. Robinson State lawmakers on the Taxation Committee today heard testimony on LD 361, An Act to Promote Plug-in Electric Vehicle Sales, sponsored by Sen. Geoffrey Gratwick (D-Penobscot). Despite the Democrats’ protests against so-called “tax cuts for the rich” and their demands that wealthy Mainers pay their fair share, the bill would provide substantial tax benefits only to individuals capable of purchasing new electric plug-in vehicles—cars which typically retail for more than $35,000. Gratwick said his bill could very possibly be a tax cut for the rich. “It goes without saying that only people who can afford to buy…

An editorial from the Sun Journal, a Lewiston-Auburn-based newspaper, on Sunday praised Gov. Paul R. LePage’s proposal to retool the State’s liquor sales contract and use proceeds to pay off debts owed to Maine’s hospitals. It is reassuring to know the Maine Legislature can act swiftly in the face of an imminent crisis Like when we can’t get a drink before 9 on St. Patrick’s Day morning. In order to  preserve the “public peace, health and safety,” Rep. Barry Hobbins would move happy hour back to 6 a.m. when St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday, as it does this…

By Amanda Clark, Education Policy Analyst The rural towns of Athens and Brighton Plantation, nestled in the lower part of Maine’s second district, are in the works of withdrawing from School Administrative District #59.  Members of the respective withdrawal committees cite “local control” and parents’ primary role in the direction of their children’s education as the overall end goals of the independence pursued. This Customized Learning approach, with a selection of learning methods, allows a child’s needs and interests to be better met. Additionally, town tuitioning is a perfect way to confront the dilemma of a shrinking population and declining…

UPDATE: Saco Mayor Mark D. Johnston on Monday confirmed for The Maine Wire that the bacon-wrapped scallop banquet originally scheduled for Feb. 28 at the University of New England has been cancelled. Johnston said the decision was made for a number of reasons — none of which included the publication of this story. He said Maine’s mayors and lawmakers will likely gather at some point in the future to discuss Gov. LePage’s budget. Johnston declined to comment on that meeting’s menu.  State legislators will join the Maine Mayors Coalition Feb. 28 at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford…

By S.E. Robinson Maine taxpayers will be forced to repay more than $150,000 to the federal government – and could pay more than $250,000 – as a result of Maine State Housing Authority’s (MSHA) mismanagement of funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The repayment of federal funding is the result of a September 2012 audit by the HUD Inspector General which found two instances where MSHA had violated federal regulations. The federal investigations follows a review by Maine’s Office of Program and Government Accountability (OPEGA) which found systemic corruption and waste during the tenure of…

By Neal B. Freeman The Buckley Rule has been much invoked in recent weeks, in this space and elsewhere, and on almost every occasion it has been both misquoted and misapplied. As one who was present at the formulation, I feel obliged to record the “originalist” intention. It was the winter of 1964 and the unresolved question at NR editorial meetings, week to week, was this: Whom should the magazine support for the Republican presidential nomination? To outsiders, the question would have seemed all but settled. Issue by issue, NR gave every appearance of being all in for Barry Goldwater. Heck,…

By Amy Payne, Heritage Foundation You’re busy. So busy you barely have time to read these words. So why should you care about the U.S. debt? Does it affect your life? Unfortunately, high government debt is having more of an impact on each of us than we realize. Heritage’s Romina Boccia explains that high levels of federal debt are linked to all of these problems for Americans: Higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and other loans. For many people, this means having to wait to buy a home. High interest rates on loans can prevent people from getting a…

By S.E. Robinson U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock Thursday invoked George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four in a decision analyzing Maine Municipal Association’s (MMA) involvement in several ballot initiatives over the past decade. “There is… a certain Orwellian aspect to the vision of government-sponsored speech drowning out the voices of ordinary citizens and in so doing assuring the continued sustenance and primacy of government itself,” wrote Judge Woodcock in a 56-page decision which ultimately dismissed First Amendment claims levied against MMA. “As a matter of policy, there is something intuitively odd about the government taxing tax protesters and others…

By S.E. Robinson Less than two years into its implementation, the Republican-led health care insurance reform, known as Public Law 90, is helping stem rate increases for Maine individuals and businesses.  But despite evidence of the law’s benefit, Democrats in Augusta and activists on the left are waging a campaign against what they have pejoratively dubbed “the rate hike law.” In the decade prior to PL 90, the typical small-group and individual rate payer in Maine saw average annual increases of 17 and 13 percent, respectively. By comparison, recent rate increases have averaged just 11 percent in the small-group market…

By S.E. Robinson Maine Wire Reporter UPDATED: The State House echoed with “solidarity claps” and chants of “Keep Maine Healthy, Tax the Wealthy!” on Tuesday as amateur activists with the Maine People’s Alliance (MPA) descended on Augusta to lobby lawmakers. The daylong tutorial began at 8:00 a.m. with a training session in Cross Office Building, where MPA personnel briefed rally-participants on a host of legislative initiatives, including revenue sharing with municipalities, toxic substances regulation and the expansion of MaineCare and Medicaid proposed under the federal Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). After getting caught up to speed on MPA’s platform and agenda,…

This is the governor’s weekly radio address for February 9, 2013. To listen to the audio version, click here. Hello. This is Governor Paul LePage. It was an honor to speak with Maine families during my State of the State address and reflect honestly on the progress made during the past two years and the challenges we face as a State. I believe you and your family can prosper as long as government is efficient and effective. You deserve a government you can trust and afford. Government should be transparent to the public. You deserve to know how government spends taxpayer…

By S.E. Robinson Maine Wire reporter As Democratic lawmakers in the 126th Maine Legislature seek changes to Gov. Paul LePage’s health care insurance reform, known as Public Law 90, left-leaning non-profits across the state are gearing up for the fight. The Portland-based Maine People’s Alliance (MPA), a well-known advocate of progressive causes, is leading the campaign against PL 90 through its front organization, the Maine Small Business Coalition (MSBC). PL90, which has already driven down health insurance costs for consumers, allows more competition among insurers and more choice for consumers while keeping crucial consumer protections intact. PL90 already complies with or…

MHPC CEO J. Scott Moody and MHPC Education Policy Analyst announce the launch of the new GreatSchoolsforME.org website, which provides a wealth of information on Customized Learning in Maine, local schools, student test scores and comprehensive data on school spending. They spoke February 6, 2013 at a press conference at the State House in Augusta.

A new study released Wednesday by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) debunks myths which advocates of higher taxes use commonly—and wrongly—when attempting to justify tax increases. Using overwhelming theoretical and empirical evidence, Tax Myths Debunked confirms what is clearly proven in Rich States, Poor States: The key to economic prosperity at the state level is in free-market, pro-growth policy. Co-authored by economists Dr. Randall Pozdena, former vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and Dr. Eric Fruits, Tax Myths Debunked shows the fallacy of seven popular tax myths commonly used by advocates of higher taxes: Myth 1: Increased government spending stimulates the…

By Curtis Dubay The Heritage Foundation The federal income tax is now a centenarian. On February 3, 1913, the 16th amendment to the Constitution was ratified. The revenue the income tax raises allowed Congress to greatly expand the size of the federal government. We will likely never return to a federal government the size we had before the 16th amendment became law. Even though the income tax raises gargantuan amounts of revenue that allows for big government, it can only raise so much. The individual income tax’s top rate has been as high as 91 percent as recently as 1960 and…

Hello. This is Governor Paul LePage. It is no secret that the federal government is deep in debt. Yet politicians in Washington continue to recklessly borrow more and more money for new government programs. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy proudly touts that since 2009, $90 billion dollars has been spent on “government investments and tax incentives” for clean energy projects. The return on those investments has not been overly successful in developing new technologies; Solyndra comes to mind. And Maine families who purchase heating oil or gasoline know all too well that these technologies have not lowered the…

MHPC CEO J. Scott Moody speaks at a press conference at the State House about his study, “Where Have Maine’s ‘Rich’ Gone?”, which shows that Maine has fewer high-income taxpayers earning more than $200,000 or earning more than $1 million when compared to the national average or neighboring New Hampshire (which has no individual income tax). Carol Weston, state director for Americans for Prosperity—Maine, then speaks about who Maine’s “rich” really are: hard-working families who own small businesses.

Legislators calling for the repeal of Gov. LePage’s tax cuts for the “rich” ignore the reality that Maine’s previous top individual income tax rate of 8.5 percent has already pummeled high-income taxpayers, forcing them out of state or into nonproductive tax shelters. Consequently, Maine’s economy suffers from underinvestment, a lack of jobs and lower state revenue. An MHPC study released Wednesday,“Where Have Maine’s ‘Rich’ Gone?”, shows that Maine has fewer high-income taxpayers earning more than $200,000 or earning more than $1 million when compared to the national average or neighboring New Hampshire (which has no individual income tax). Despite have…

“When school children start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.” — Albert Shanker, President of the United Federation of Teachers [1964-1984] and the American Federation of Teachers [1974-1997] Now that the new year has turned, towns across the state have entered the semester of budget preparation, presentation, deliberation, and enactment.  This seems like a good time to review the factors, organizations, and political pathologies that drive school system priorities, in particular. Last year, we addressed school budget theatrics in this column: https://www.themainewire.com/2012/06/op-ed-not-so-secret-libretto-tricks-school-budget-intimidation/. Now I intend to prove that the only group that has no champion…

By Rachel Sheffield The Heritage Foundation The third annual National School Choice Week is officially underway. Once again, school choice advocates—including parents, teachers, schoolchildren and administrators, and many others—will come together to promote educational choice, with more than 3,600 events taking place nationwide. School choice is something to celebrate, because it gives families the power to choose the best schools for their children—helping children to improve educational outcomes and increasing overall parental satisfaction. School Choice Students Graduate at Higher Rates For example, students who participate in the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (DCOSP)—a private school voucher program for low-income K-12 students—graduate…

There’s surprisingly little gold in the world. This infographic shows all the gold ever mined. If all the gold ever mined was melted into a solid cube, the cube with sides of 20.5m would fit in an Olympic-size swimming pool. One ton of gold is worth $64.3 million at $2,000 per ounce. The small gold sphere in front of the couch weighs 1 metric ton exactly, with a value over $50 million dollars. The couch, which is made of $100 bills, is worth $46.7 million. The pickup truck can carry only 133 of the 400-ounce bullion gold bars, weighing a total of 1.66 tons and maxing out…

Fourth quarter 2012 numbers are out; rate payers win big AUGUSTA – Health insurance premium numbers for the fourth quarter of 2012 are out, and they bring good news for Mainers with private insurance policies.  Click here for charts distributed by the Bureau of Insurance before the Legislature’s Insurance and Financial Services Committee yesterday. In the fourth quarter of 2010, before the enactment of PL 90 by Republican legislators, 2.9 percent of businesses saw their health insurance premiums go down.  In Q4 2011, the first quarter of PL 90 implementation, that number increased to 9.2 percent.  Now, recently released numbers…

Audio of the Governor’s Weekly Message can be found here. Hello. This is Governor Paul LePage. Maine is in the middle of a cold spell. With rising prices for heating oil, Mainers are spending more to fill their tanks to keep warm this winter.  Gas, groceries, and the basic necessities are increasing forcing Maine families to manage tight budgets. Furthermore, the federal government takes more from your paycheck. The average family is paying 1,000 dollars more in payroll taxes. I believe Mainers should be able to keep more of their hard-eared money.  That’s why I have lowered taxes for the majority…

Maine already has the 12th highest energy costs in the country; offshore wind project will raise prices on Mainers AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage responded to the Maine Public Utilities Commission vote Thursday to approve the Statoil North America, Inc. proposal for a long-term contract with Maine utilities for the development of an offshore wind project. As proposed, this project would cost nearly $200 million, an exorbitant price to be paid for by Mainer ratepayers. The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted 2-1 on Thursday morning to allow Statoil North America, Inc. to move ahead with plans. PUC Chairman Thomas…

Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, recently elected by new Democratic majorities in the Maine Legislature, has fired Small Business Advocate Jay Martin and hired Peggy Schaffer, a veteran of Democratic politics, for the post. Schaffer —who has no business experience—has worked as a partisan Democratic staffer in the State House, a public sector lobbyist and a political organizer for Maine’s teachers’ union. She recently wrote an opinion column in the Bangor Daily News critical of private sector employers. By all accounts, Jay Martin was a competent, knowledgeable and responsive Small Business Advocate for the Office of the Secretary of State.  The Legislature created…

AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, Patrick Woodcock submitted comments to the Maine Public Utilities Commission regarding the Statoil North America, Inc. proposal for a long-term contract with Maine utilities for the development of an offshore wind project. In those comments, Woodcock raises concerns relative to the cost passed on to Maine consumers and overall economic benefit to the State of Maine. Described as the Hywind offshore wind pilot project, Statoil North America, Inc. requests Maine ratepayers to absorb above market electricity rates totaling $203 million to subsidize the project. Annual costs to Mainers for this pilot project are estimated to total…

MaineCare growth, pension reform, proactive fiscal management specifically cited House Republican leadership responded Wednesday to the revision of Maine’s bond rating from AA+ to AA by Fitch Ratings and hyper-partisan responses from Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall and State Treasurer Neria Douglass. “I am disappointed with Goodall’s and Douglass’s response to this downgrade, which reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the report; namely, the finding that an ‘increasingly contentious decision-making environment’ will prevent us from overcoming the state’s fiscal challenges,” said House Republican Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport). Fredette noted that in fact most of what the Fitch report cited as positive…

AUGUSTA – House Republican leadership on Wednesday joined Democratic and Senate Republican leadership in announcing the names of the 15 members to be appointed to the Committee on Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future.  The committee will be charged with proposing legislation to close the “skills gap” that exists in the job marketplace, whereby employers often cannot find workers with the skills they need to fill available jobs. House Republican members on the committee include Reps. Paul Bennett (R-Kennebunk), Peter Johnson (R-Greenville), Joyce Maker (R-Calais), and Jeff Timberlake (R-Turner). “I look forward to seeing the findings of the Workforce Committee because…

Paul LePage is one of the most unpopular Governors in the country. Only 39% of voters approve of him to 55% who disapprove. But there’s a decent chance that he might get reelected next year for the same reason that he won in the first place: a three-way split with a Democrat and an independent that allows him to scrape by with less than 40% of the vote. Public Policy Polling tested five contests that included LePage, independent Eliot Cutler, and different Democratic candidates and in each LePage comes out ahead even though he only gets 34-37%. Only two of the…

Amanda Clark, education policy analyst at MHPC, presented this report at luncheon events in Portland and Brewer. She will present it again in Auburn on January 31. This is the first of a three-part series that she will present on customized learning in Maine. Download the report here. By Amanda Clark MHPC Education Policy Analyst Customized learning is a student-focused system where kids enroll in the curriculum which best meets their educational needs.  Customized learning is not new and, in fact, is at the heart of Maine’s well-rooted educational history going back to the days of town academies.  Unfortunately, this…

United States spent $75,706,080,000 dollars on Food Stamps in 2011. America has over 44 million people on Food Stamps, or 14,588 participants for each Walmart Super Center. The food stamps program’s real name is Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). With one of the lowest percentages of SNAP participation by population (8.60%) in the country, New Hampshire is ranked number 49. With a population of 1,328,188, Maine had 247,943 people on food stamps in 2011 (18.67%), ranking it at number 20 nationally. New Hampshire has a similar population as Maine, totaling 1,318,194, but in 2011 had 134,536 fewer people on food…

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today issued the following statement honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and recognizing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: “On this day our state and nation remembers the life and work of a man who dedicated his life to ensure civil rights for all Americans. We honor Dr. King for his quest for equality through civil disobedience and non-violent means. Equality of opportunity is the essence of the American dream, and America decided to make people more equal by providing them educational options. As Dr. King once said, “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of…

Audio of the Governor’s Weekly Message can be found here. Maine people work hard to pay their bills, and government should too. Hello. This is Governor Paul LePage. This week, I submitted emergency legislation that when enacted, will lower Maine’s debt by nearly half of a billion dollars. Maine owes its hospitals $484 million in unpaid medical bills which go back as far as four years ago. Many Mainers know what it is like to juggle their bills until pay day arrives. Imagine waiting for up to four years to be paid for your work. The State has used its…

While much focus has been placed on Governor LePage’s proposal to suspend revenue sharing payments to municipalities in order to balance the state’s budget, several important aspects of the proposal have gotten less attention. Gov. LePage’s proposal prioritizes education, maintaining funding for Maine schools after they received a $63 million boost in the last biennial budget. The Baldacci Administration cut education funding by $100 million in its final three years. The budget proposal also addresses the workforce skills gap by restructuring the apprenticeship program and increasing funding by over $1 million for Jobs for Maine’s Graduates. Furthermore, schools will receive an additional…

By Michael Sandoval The Heritage Foundation More than 41 percent of the U.S. population is “enrolled in at least one federal assistance program,” adding tens of billions of dollars to the national debt each year, according to new research by The Heritage Foundation’s Patrick Tyrrell and William W. Beach. That means that a startling number of people in the United States draw income from money their family earns as well as money transferred to them from U.S. taxpayers via some form of federal assistance spending, according to the report from the Center for Data Analysis at Heritage. The rate of growth…

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has proposed a balanced state budget that reflects necessary fiscal discipline which reduces the impact to education, pays bills, right-sizes government, and provides a safety net for the most vulnerable. (The full budget document is available by clicking here.) “Our state is facing a fiscal crisis, and we need to examine our spending practices, evaluate the delivery of services and gain control of our welfare system,” Governor LePage said. “Maine’s economic security and future is at stake and we must make hard choices so we do not leave our children with unmanageable debt.” This biennial…