BDN: How LePage’s public reaction to the Paris terrorist attacks evolved

November 17, 2015Daily Brief, Governor LePage                    

Good morning from Augusta, where we’re on the heels of another whiplash day brought to us by Gov. Paul LePage on two fronts. 

First, as reported by the BDN’s Michael Shepherd, there was the issue of Syrian refugees (here’s your soundtrack), which was ignited with a statement by President Barack Obama that the U.S. should prepare to accept some 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next year. LePage and his staff released this week’s radio address at about 1:40 p.m., which called that plan “irresponsible.” 

Meanwhile, several Republican governors started to say that their states would not accept the refuges. At 4:30 p.m., LePage announced in a press release that he would join with those governors in condemning Syrians coming to Maine because “at least one of the attackers [in Paris] was a Syrian refugee.”

TO READ MORE: http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2015/11/17/how-lepages-public-reaction-to-the-paris-terrorist-attacks-evolved/

BDN: LePage claims school funding is unconstitutional

By Amy Fried                         

 

Gov. LePage has, you might say, some unusual views about the Maine Constitution.
In July 2015 the governor neglected to veto a whole slew of bills he wanted to veto.  

After the Maine Supreme Judicial Court received arguments (including a brief by three Maine citizens who claimed the Legislature and Attorney General Mills were traitors), it ruled unanimously that the governor was wrong about the veto and adjournment provisions.

TO READ MORE: http://pollways.bangordailynews.com/2015/10/26/maine-politics/lepage-claims-school-funding-is-unconstitutional/

BDN: Yes on Question 3: Maine’s roads, bridges, transit need this $85 million investment

Ben McCanna | The Forecaster

Traffic stops for construction on the Martin's Point Bridge between Falmouth and Portland in May 2014.

By The BDN Editorial Board

Posted Oct. 22, 2015, at 1:15 p.m.

 

Do you favor an $85,000,000 bond issue for construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities and equipment related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails, to be used to match an estimated $121,500,000 in federal and other funds?

In 2012, Maine’s Legislature revamped the goals set out in state law for the quality of the more than 23,000 miles of roads that carry Maine residents and visitors and the goods they depend on from Point A to Point B.

TO READ MORE: http://bangordailynews.com/2015/10/22/opinion/editorials/yes-on-question-3-maines-roads-bridges-transit-need-this-85-million-investment/?ref=OpinionBox

BDN: Yes on Question 2: A step to address Maine’s need for senior housing

Nick Sambides Jr. | BDN

The Lakeview Senior Housing project in Lincoln was completed in 2010. Buy Photo

By The BDN Editorial Board

Posted Oct. 22, 2015, at 8:14 a.m.

 

Do you favor a $15,000,000 bond issue for the construction of new energy-efficient affordable homes for low-income seniors, the adaptive reuse of structures for homes for low-income seniors and the repair and weatherization of existing homes for low-income seniors, which will create jobs and will be matched by an estimated $22,600,000 in private and other funds?

Ninety percent of seniors want to live at home. But the death of a spouse, a disabling medical condition or an unexpected costly house repair can make this impossible for many seniors. Too often, however, when a senior is ready to move to a more manageable, affordable apartment, he or she faces a long waiting list.

TO READ MORE: http://bangordailynews.com/2015/10/22/opinion/editorials/yes-on-question-2-a-step-to-address-maines-need-for-senior-housing/?ref=OpinionBox

TIMES RECORD: LePage: Election reform ‘a scam’

Question 1

BY MICHAEL SHEPHERD

Bangor Daily News

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GOV. PAUL LEPAGE AUGUSTA

Gov. Paul LePage said Wednesday that Question 1, promoting statewide election reform, is “a scam” aimed at making the “wealthy wealthier and the poor people dumb.”

The proposal on the November ballot would boost Maine’s taxpayer-funded election system by increasing its two-year allocation from $4 million to $6 million, adding transparency requirements and increasing penalties for election law violations.

TO READ MORE: http://www.timesrecord.com/news/2015-10-15/Front_Page/LePage_Election_reform_a_scam.html

The Republican governor is a longtime opponent of the Maine Clean Election Act. He has called it “welfare for politicians,” tried to defund it and was a surprise guest at a State House news conference by Mainers Against Welfare for Politicians, a conservative group formed to oppose Question 1.

GOPDD: Maine Mayor Wants To Publicize The Names And Addresses Of WELFARE LEECHES

By Dylan - Sep 26, 2015

 

According to the Gateway Pundit Lewiston, Maine Mayor Robert Macdonald wants a website to post the name and address of all the local welfare recipients.

Maine Mayor Wants Website to Post Name and Address of Welfare Recipients
Macdonald also wants the website to expose the length of time the citizen has been on welfare.

TO READ MORE: http://gopthedailydose.com/2015/09/26/maine-mayor-wants-to-publicize-the-names-and-addresses-of-welfare-leeches/

The Maine Wire: Court Rules Against LePage in Veto Dispute‏

Maine Governor Paul LePage

By
Nathan Strout

On Thursday, The Supreme Judicial Court of Maine unanimously ruled against Governor Paul R. LePage in his veto dispute with the state legislature.

The disagreement centered around the governor’s veto power and how long the governor could wait before returning vetoed bills to the legislature.  Typically, the governor has ten days to veto bills and return them.  If the legislature adjourns and signals the end of the second legislative session before those ten days are up, the governor may exercise a pocket veto.

LePage’s administration had claimed that the legislature’s temporary adjournment on June 30 triggered a provision in the Maine Constitution which allowed the governor to hold onto bills until the legislature reconvened for three consecutive days.  The governor’s basic argument was that the legislature’s adjournment, with no set date to return, prevented him from returning vetoed bills to the legislature.  Therefore, he could hold onto the vetoed bills longer than the typical ten day period.

The governor acted on this position, refusing to return the bills during the traditional ten day period, only sending them to the legislature after is had reconvened.  Democrat Speaker of the House Mark Eves and Republican Senate President Mike Thibodeau refused to take up the vetoes, however, ruling them out of order.

With his constitutional interpretation rejected by the Maine legislature, LePage asked the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine to answer the question of whether his vetoes stood, or if the bills had become law.

Read more here:  http://www.themainewire.com/2015/08/court-rules-lepage-veto-dispute/

IT IS TIME FOR THE STATE TO ENFORCE STATE LAWS!

IT IS TIME FOR THE STATE TO ENFORCE STATE LAWS!

Under the provisions of the “Home Rule” the state cannot interfere with the daily operations of a Municipality.  However, even under the “Home Rule” Municipalities cannot violate or ignore Maine law.  The Town Council has violated Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1:  General, Statute 405 Executive sessions.

According to the latest Agenda, July 21, 2015, Agenda Item 2015-218 Order – 1 MRSA Statute 405 (6)(e) Consultations with legal counsel but did not list the appropriate Agenda Items being discussed such as DEP Consent Agreement; Revaluation Decision or Interlocal Agreement for the Code Enforcement and Stormwater Services.  I understand the need to keep from placing the Municipality at a substantial disadvantage.  No one needs to know the specifics of what is said in Executive Session but the Public has a right to know what is going on in regards to these matters in accordance with Maine Statute 401.

                                 (Click on each to print out)

Tuesday night, Chairman Pesce requested a motion to move to Executive Session and it was moved and seconded.  At no time did anyone state why they were moving into an Executive Session except to consult with the attorney.  After approximately 45 minutes, the Council returned and continued on with the meeting.  No Councilor made any motions nor was there a vote taken.  Everyone thought they would tell the people what was going on when it came to the three Agenda Items.

When Agenda Item 2015-210 DEP Consent Agreement and 2015-211 Revaluation Decision came up there was a motion to accept as stated in Executive Session and it was seconded.  Both were approved by a vote of 6-0.  At no time were the people told what is going on or provided a summary of what just took place.  Under Maine Statute the people have a right to know what is going on but they do not have a right to know the specifics of what was said in Executive Session.  The third Agenda Item was tabled.

Maine Statute 405 outlines the procedures to be followed pertaining to Executive Sessions.  This statute was not followed and the people were denied the right to know what is going on with the DEP Consent Agreement and the Revaluation Decision.  

Where is the transparency when the people are denied the right to know what is going on and how their tax dollars are being spent?

Now we are going to look at the Council Working Rules, written by the Council, for the manner in which meeting are supposed to be conducted.   Paragraph d(2) Meeting Length states “All council meetings, workshops, or executive sessions shall be conducted, except in extraordinary circumstances within 2 ½ hours of the time the meeting is called to order.  At regularly scheduled meetings, this will call for adjournment on or before 9:30 P.M.   The council may, by waiving these rules, agree to extend the time for meetings if it is deemed appropriate.”  The meeting on July 21^st began at 7:30 P.M and was adjourned at approximately 11:30 P.M. and there was no motion to waive the time restriction; Chairman Pesce totally disregarded this provision and continued the meeting.  It was Chairman Pesce’s responsibility, along with the Town Manager, to create the Agenda to be accomplished within the 2 ½ hours time frame.  This was also ignored.  If you look at the Agenda above, you can tell it was too long and needed to be split.

These continued violations of Maine law and the Council’s own working rules need to be stopped immediately. 

The State needs to review the actions of Chairman Pesce and Town Manager, Diane Barnes to ensure that Maine law is being complied with at all times.

Larry Fillmore

The Maine Wire: A Breakdown of the Veto Dispute‏

Maine Governor Paul LePage

A Breakdown of the Veto Dispute

Over the past few weeks, there has been significant discussion in the Maine political discourse on whether or not sixty-five bills were vetoed by the Governor or have become law.

However, much of this discussion has consisted of personal attacks and false information, and has failed to focus on the legal arguments being made by the Governor, the Maine Legislature, and other political figures.

So what is this veto dispute really about?

Background on Vetoing Legislation
According to clear language in the Maine Constitution, the Governor is allotted ten days to veto legislation while the legislature is in session.

However, if the legislature’s “adjournment” prevents the Governor from returning his vetoes, he may then veto legislation “within 3 days after the next meeting of the same Legislature which enacted the bill or resolution.”

 Read more here: http://www.themainewire.com/2015/07/breakdown-veto-dispute/

The Maine Wire: “Activists Gathering to Support LePage Budget Veto Tuesday Morning” plus 1 more‏

(click on titles to read more)

Activists Gathering to Support LePage Budget Veto Tuesday Morning

On Tuesday Morning, activists, concerned citizens, and advocates will be gathering at the State House to encourage lawmakers to sustain Gov. LePage’s veto of the next biannual state budget. Support for the Governor’s veto has been growing since the budget deal was released two weeks ago, due to the fact that the budget contains a $300 million spending increase, does little to address the need for welfare reform, is actually a significant tax increase, and is overall a bad deal for Maine. 

The rally, which is set to start at 8:30 am in the Hall of Flags in the State Capitol, will take place just hours before the legislature is set to vote on the Governor’s veto of the budget plan. […]

A Bad Deal for Maine

On Monday, Gov. LePage is expected to veto the legislature’s $6.7 biennial state budget, and force lawmakers to either over-ride his veto or head back to the budget negotiating table. And while significant attention will be given (by Democrats and members of the media) to the fact that LePage’s veto means Maine could be heading

 The deal is riddled with flaws and shortcomings, and would fail to move Maine towards prosperity or economic growth. It does not adequately address the largest issues facing Maine, nor does it reflect the core ideas and principles that Republicans were overwhelming elected on last November.[…]

Hey, Look At This, Governor "getting off the couch" and coming to Lisbon Tonight

This will pose a competitive issue for audience participation at the scheduled Town Council Meeting tonight!

LePage to hold town hall meeting on budget Tuesday in Lisbon

 The Associated Press

 

Maine |

Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at 8:21 am

LISBON (AP) — As the battle over the state budget heats up in the Maine Legislature, Gov. Paul LePage is heading to Lisbon to discuss his tax overhaul plan.

The Republican governor will hold a town hall meeting at the Open Door Baptist Church auditorium at 26 Gartley Street at 6 p.m.

LePage has been traveling the state to tout his ambitious plan to raise and expand the sales tax to pay for a massive income tax cut.

But his proposal has gained little traction in the Legislature. He acknowledged last week that his plan is "dead."

READ MORE HERE

Governor Requires Food Stamp Recipients to Work 6 Hours a Week, This Happens Immediately After

By clyde - May 1, 2015

 

Governor Paul LePage of Maine fired a wake-up call at all able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) who were receiving food stamps.

LePage informed all ABAWDs they would only receive food stamp benefits for three months if they did not get a job working 20 hours a week, take job training or volunteer six hours a week.


TO READ MORE: http://gopthedailydose.com/2015/05/01/governor-requires-food-stamp-recipients-to-work-6-hours-a-week-this-happens-immediately-after/

 

See What Happened When the Gov. of Maine Forced To Truly Work for Welfare

By Dylan - Mar 30, 2015

 

Republican Gov. Paul LePage of Maine decided that he had to stop the “abuse” of welfare in his state concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

 LePage decided that in order for non-disabled residents to receive SNAP benefits that they would be required to work at least twenty hours per week, volunteer or attend vocational training. (great idea, don’t you think?)

 

 

TO READ MORE: http://gopthedailydose.com/2015/03/30/see-what-happened-when-the-gov-of-maine-forced-to-truly-work-for-welfare/

LePage Budget Proposes Significant Tax Changes

By Nathan Strout on January 9, 2015
The Maine Wire

 

On Friday, Governor Paul R. LePage released his biennial budget.  The highly anticipated budget includes significant changes to the state’s tax system, as well as changes to health care and general assistance spending.

Tax Reform

While many suspected that Gov. LePage would eliminate the income tax all together, his tax reform proposal is more modest.  Instead of eliminating the state income tax, the budget reduces the top individual income tax rate from 7.95% to 5.75%.  The state’s corporate tax rate is also reduced by over 24% to 6.75%.

Taxes on all pensions would be reduced, and taxes on military pensions would be eliminated entirely.  Likewise, Maine’s estate tax would be removed.

TO READ MORE: http://www.themainewire.com/2015/01/lepage-budget-proposes-significant-tax/

Maine Is Doing THIS To Stop Its 6,500 Welfare Abusers Dead In Their Tracks

 

Governor Paul LePage of Maine has announced that it is requiring all able-bodied citizens that are capable of working to do so in order to receive food stamps. This mandate will be instated for able-bodied adults who are 18 to 50 years old and have no children. They are required to work (or volunteer) 20 hours per week. If they do not, they will be limited to three-months worth of food stamp benefits over the course of a three-year period.

“We must continue to do all that we can to eliminate generational poverty and get people back to work,” LePage said. “We must protect our limited resources for those who are truly in need and who are doing all they can to be self-sufficient.”

The new law has many current welfare recipients and many liberals up in arms. Although the law is a perfectly logical solution to the issue of welfare abuse, many do not understand why they would need to work in order to receive assistance.

TO READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE: http://gopthedailydose.com/2015/01/28/maine-stop-6500-welfare-abusers-dead-tracks/

The Maine Wire: “National Rifle Association backs Poliquin” plus 3 more‏

• National Rifle Association backs Poliquin
• Press Herald columnist likens tea party to Ku Klux Klan
• Cato Institute ranks LePage among top four U.S. governors on fiscal policy
• The Embarrassing Governor

National Rifle Association backs Poliquin Posted: 02 Oct 2014 01:33 PM PDT Republican congressional candidate Bruce Poliquin on Thursday received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, the nation’s foremost Second Amendment advocacy group. “Bruce is committed to fight for gun owners and hunters in Maine,” said NRA Political Victory Fund chairman Chris Cox. “He is the only candidate in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District who shares the NRA’s commitment […]

Press Herald columnist likens tea party to Ku Klux Klan Posted: 02 Oct 2014 12:51 PM PDT Portland Press Herald columnist Alan Caron says Republican Gov. Paul LePage isn’t the worst governor in Maine’s history, but he’s a close comparison to Gov. Ralph O. Brewster — a man notorious for his ties to the Ku Klux Klan. “Ralph Owen Brewster is a closer comparison to LePage,” Caron wrote in a column published Thursday. […]

Cato Institute ranks LePage among top four U.S. governors on fiscal policy Posted: 02 Oct 2014 10:44 AM PDT The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., released its 2014 Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Maine Gov. Paul LePage received top marks from Cato with a score of “A”. Only three other governors — Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina, and Gov. Mike Pence […]

The Embarrassing Governor Posted: 02 Oct 2014 06:51 AM PDT Author’s note: A previous version of this column appeared in the Portland Press Herald We’ve heard the term “embarrassing” used a lot in Maine over the last four years – and it’s usually in connection with our current governor. I, for one, am not embarrassed by Republican Gov. Paul LePage at all. OK, I’ve cringed […]

The Maine Wire: “LePage blasts Mass. liberals on natural gas policy, calls for federal intervention” plus 3 more‏

• LePage blasts Mass. liberals on natural gas policy, calls for federal intervention
• Daily Catch: Obama’s ’60 Minutes’ Interview, Debate Debates, Minimum Wage, and James O’Keefe’s Latest
• Common Core: An Up-Close-And-Personal Encounter with the Standards Review Process
• Poll: Poliquin leads Cain by double digits

LePage blasts Mass. liberals on natural gas policy, calls for federal intervention Posted: 29 Sep 2014 01:09 PM PDT AUGUSTA - Gov. Paul R. LePage on Monday called upon the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to intervene in New England to address rising energy prices before a winter gets underway — a step he said is necessary because of recent actions taken by Massachusetts. “New England households and our businesses are about to experience a […]

Daily Catch: Obama’s ’60 Minutes’ Interview, Debate Debates, Minimum Wage, and James O’Keefe’s Latest Posted: 29 Sep 2014 08:09 AM PDT Contradiction:  In a CBS “60 Minutes” interview, President Barack Obama admitted that his foreign policy plans in Syria were based on a contradiction. The president’s efforts to “degrade” Islamic State forces may have the undesired effect of helping the brutal Syrian dictator, Bashar Assad, regain control of the country.  “I recognize the contradiction in a contradictory land […]

Common Core: An Up-Close-And-Personal Encounter with the Standards Review Process Posted: 29 Sep 2014 07:16 AM PDT By Heidi Sampson – It was with reserved optimism that I accepted a post on the Standards Review Panel. I was informed that this process would only look at the standards to make sure they are of the highest quality for Maine students. I was also assured by the commissioner we would be bringing in […]

Poll: Poliquin leads Cain by double digits Posted: 29 Sep 2014 06:48 AM PDT A new public opinion poll shows Republican Bruce Polquin leading Democrat state Sen. Emily Cain (D-Orono) by 10 points in Maine’s Second District congressional race. The poll was paid for by the liberal-leaning Portland Press Herald, whose majority owner, S. Donald Sussman, has donated to Cain. It was conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey […]

The Maine Wire: LePage calls out Deval Patrick on energy politics‏

LePage calls out Deval Patrick on energy politics

Posted: 28 Aug 2014 08:07 AM PDT

In his weekly address, Governor Paul R. LePage criticized Governor Deval Patrick on Thursday for backing out of a plan to alleviate high energy costs in New England by developing infrastructure that would increase the supply of natural gas. “This is not rocket science, folks,” said LePage.  “Bad public policy and politics are blocking progress.” […]


(click on headline for more reading)

The Maine Wire: “Sting operation shows majority of fake Obamacare applications getting approved” plus 1 more‏

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Sting operation shows majority of fake Obamacare applications getting approved

Posted: 23 Jul 2014 10:44 AM PDT As problems with President Barack Obama’s health care law continue to unfold across the country, a new sting operation launched by the Government Accountability Office has discovered a troubling trend: Obamacare’s enrollment system is unable to discern fake applications for federal health care subsidies. The GAO’s sting operation submitted 18 fake applications to healthcare.gov seeking […]

LePage to enforce welfare-to-work requirement Posted: 23 Jul 2014 10:23 AM PDT AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday it will require nearly 12,000 able-bodied Food Stamp recipients to work, provide volunteer services, or participate in job training as a condition of receiving the federal welfare benefit. “People who are in need deserve a hand up, but we should not be giving able-bodied […]

MHPC Applauds LePage's Decision on Welfare Work Requirements‏

July 23, 2014

PORTLAND, Maine - The Maine Heritage Policy Center, Maine's foremost free-market think tank, on Wednesday applauded Governor Paul R. LePage's decision to implement work requirements for many able-bodied recipients of welfare benefits under the federal Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also known as Food Stamps.

"Maine's social safety net should be a temporary stop for Mainers on their way back into the work force, not a permanent destination," said MHPC Communications Director Jonathan Haines. "This policy will encourage work-ready adults to be self-reliant, independent, and in control of their own financial and economic destiny."

"Not only is it smart, fiscally responsible policy, it's an act of tough-love that will ultimately improve the well-being of Mainers who are down on their luck," said Haines.