State of the State will be delivered in historic fashion

This year I will not deliver my State of the State speech to the Legislature. Instead, I’ll follow the historical precedent of sending a written message to the Legislature.

Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage.

The State of the Union was always delivered as a written message to Congress until President Woodrow Wilson began the modern tradition of delivering it in person to lawmakers. 

I would rather talk with Mainers at my town halls. The truth is, I’ve delivered the State of the State to Legislators for five years —only to have it fall on deaf ears.

Last year, socialist legislators wasted more than six months of the taxpayers’ time and money on a political witch hunt. While Mainers were literally dropping dead from the drug crisis, these legislators were grandstanding for the cameras, hoping to score political points by attacking me.

Mainers did not send us to Augusta to play childish games. They sent us here to reform welfare, lower taxes, end the drug epidemic and find ways to keep our young people in Maine.

Mainers want their government to help them prosper and improve our state. That’s why I am bringing the issues directly to the people at my town halls and outlining my vision to make Maine prosperous. 

If they truly want to work for the people of Maine, legislators should listen to the people who put them in office in the first place. 

My vision is clear: Continue to reform welfare and strengthen the safety net for our most vulnerable; continue to lower taxes for all Mainers so they have more money in their paychecks; reduce energy costs for businesses so we can attract companies with good paying careers. Way too much money is spent on energy costs that could conversely go to wages; address the high cost of student debt that is burdening young people from living and working in Maine; and get tough on drugs by stiffening drug crime penalties, as well as cutting off the deadly drug supply by arresting traffickers who are crossing into our state.

The State of the State is about a long-term vision. Rather than deliver to Mainers once a year, I will continue to bring it directly to Maine people every week.

Thank you for listening.