Governor Says Mainers Support Eliminating the Income Tax, Top Democrat Rejects the Idea  

AUGUSTA – On the same day Governor Paul R. LePage launched a new online calculator for Mainers to compare the State’s current tax rates to his proposed tax reductions, Speaker of the House Mark Eves made it abundantly clear he rejects the idea of eliminating the income tax burden on Mainers.

“There is ideological fabrication going on when Speaker Eves says the elimination of the income tax is a failed economic policy,” said Governor LePage. “I have spoken to hundreds of Mainers, and there is growing support for getting rid of the income tax. It would be a massive paycheck increase to hardworking Mainers, and I believe they would welcome 1.2 billion dollars put back into their pockets.”

In a news conference on Wednesday, Speaker Eves told reporters: “We literally do reject the failed trickle-down economics theory that the governor is trumpeting. We think it has been bankrupting other states around the country. When you look at Kansas—they have done this out there—they failed. Arkansas, they failed. Louisiana, they failed. Their budgets are in disarray because they did what the governor is trying to do here."

Both Arkansas (7.0%) and Louisiana (6.0%) have an income tax so it is unclear what the Speaker means when he says they have done this out there and failed. In 2012, Kansas reduced the state income tax rate to 4.9 percent from 6.45 percent and eliminated income taxes for about 190,000 Kansas small businesses.

“Kansas had good intentions. We learned from Kansas and it’s why our plan reduces the income tax gradually over a period of time while at the same time right-sizes government. Speaker Eves may be a competent marriage counselor, but he does not understand economics, and he is mistaken when he says the budget I presented is unpaid for and forces education cuts. Let me be clear: there are no education cuts in my budget.” *Please note education funding graphs at end of page.

On Wednesday, Governor LePage also referenced he will introduce a constitutional amendment eliminating the income tax. He said there is room for compromise on this, as well. “The date in which we decide to eliminate the income tax is on the table. Let’s talk about it,” he said. “And if Liberals continue to refuse to want to help Mainers, let’s allow the voters to decide.”

How can Speaker Eves say Governor LePage has made education cuts?

For the third time since he took office in 2011, Governor LePage has proposed a two-year budget that increases funding for Maine schools and students. While enrollment has dropped by more than 8,000 students since Governor LePage took office, his biennial budget proposal increases funding for education by nearly $148 million over what former Governor Baldacci and the Democratic-led legislature appropriated in his final two-year budget (FY10 and FY11).

Governor LePage’s FY16 budget proposal includes $964.1 million for General Purpose Aid for Maine schools (an increase of $20.3 million over the $943.8 million appropriated by the Legislature for FY 15) and $966.3 million for FY17 (an increase of $22.5 million over appropriated FY15 funding).

FCHN Volunteers Honored

Volunteers contributed nearly 20,000 hours in the last year

Farmington¾

Franklin Memorial Hospital’s Bass Room was the festive setting of a recognition celebration for the health network’s volunteers. The program included a social time and dinner, and spirited entertainment by Sammie Angel who performed old time favorites.

The 85 volunteers attending received certificates in recognition of their volunteer efforts, as well as pins and service bars. Twenty-six attendees were the lucky winners of door prizes.

Jodi Cordes, recruitment and volunteer services administrator, addressed the group by saying, “You donate your time and talents day after day and with energy, enthusiasm, and commitment that is inspirational. To me you are FCHN heroes; you know the true satisfaction that comes from helping others. The appreciation we feel for you is truly second to none.”

FCHN has 136 volunteers who help out in numerous hospital departments and affiliated FCHN organizations, contributing more than 20,000 hours of service this past year. Volunteers can be found greeting patients at the escort desk, parking cars, decorating for special functions, filing, processing orders in shipping and receiving, reminding patients of their appointments, and much more.

Cordes gave special recognition to the top ten contributors this past year. They include: Patricia Kilkenney, Eugene Martineau, Nye Mosher, Trudy Dawson, Bonnie Slater, Francis Slater, Alvin McDonald, Lawrence Wilbur, Brian Hand, and. Craig Viotto.

In addition to this annual recognition event, perks to being a volunteer include: an annual holiday party with a buffet meal and entertainment; free turkeys for Thanksgiving, free flu shots; and complimentary meal privileges.

Cordes welcomes calls from anyone who might be interested in volunteering. She can be reached at 779-2635.

New England Governors to Meet in Hartford April 23 to Discuss Ways to Reduce Energy Costs

April 20, 2015

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 20, 2015
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage and other New England governors will meet in Hartford, Connecticut, April 23 to pursue next steps in their efforts to develop and implement a cooperative strategy to address energy infrastructure challenges facing the region. The Governors will meet at the Connecticut Convention Center for a private roundtable organized by the Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG).

The Governors will explore common solutions to energy challenges facing the region in an effort to combat the high cost of electricity in New England, the lack of infrastructure to bring natural gas to power plants, growing concerns about reliability, and the transmission challenges of integrating power from renewable energy sources into the grid.

The Governors first outlined a strategy for regional energy cooperation in a joint statement issued in December of 2013.

“It is imperative Maine lowers its energy costs in order to be competitive,” said Governor LePage. “As other New England governors begin to address our energy crisis, we must all work together now to bring stability and competitiveness by adding pipeline capacity and stable clean energy to New England’s energy market. I look forward to working with my colleagues in New England to move our region forward.”

Prior to the Governor’s working session, a “Northeast Regional Energy Forum” for energy stakeholders will take place at the Connecticut Convention Center from 8:15 to 10 a.m.

At the forum, a panel will address regional infrastructure issues and will feature special guests Richard Levitan, president & principal of Levitan & Associates, Inc., and Gordon van Welie, president and chief executive officer, ISO New England Inc. A second panel will feature state energy officials who will discuss state initiatives and regional collaboration that is already underway.

The “Northeast Energy Forum” will be available live for public viewing on the website of the Connecticut Television Network at www.ctn.state.ct.us . The public will also be able to follow the forum discussion on Twitter @neenergysolutions and to also Tweet questions for panelists.

At their roundtable, the Governors will discuss a variety of resources to address the energy challenges facing the region – including cost-effective investment in new natural gas infrastructure, the continued integration of clean energy resources, aggressive investment in energy efficiency and distributed generation. The Governors will be focused on regional solutions and individual state efforts that can help the region reduce energy costs, reduce carbon pollution, and ensure the economic competitiveness of the New England region.

In their December 2013 energy joint statement, the New England Governors said, “We believe that by working together we can expand economic development, promote job growth, improve the competitiveness of our industries, enhance system reliability, and protect and increase the quality of life for our citizens. Expanding our existing efforts will ensure that we are on a course toward a transformed energy, environment, and economic future for our region that offers a model for the nation.”

All six New England Governors are expected to attend the April 23 session: Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut; Governor Paul R. LePage, Maine; Governor Charlie Baker, Massachusetts; Governor Margaret Wood Hassan, New Hampshire; Governor Gina M. Raimondo, Rhode Island; Governor Peter Shumlin, Vermont.

NOTE TO EDITORS:
For your planning purposes:
• The “Northeast Regional Energy Forum,” which will run from 8:15 to 10 a.m., will be open to media coverage and arrangements have been made with the Convention Center to provide camera locations and audio for electronic media.

• The New England Governors Roundtable discussion will be a private, working meeting for the Governors. The Governors do plan to brief the media following the conclusion of their discussions. The briefing is expected to take place at the Convention Center at about 12:30 p.m.

Governor LePage, Governors Renew Call for Congress to Reauthorize Export-Import Bank

April 14, 2015

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage and a bipartisan majority of the nation’s governors sent a letter today to congressional leaders to urge the long-term reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank. Last year, Congress extended the Ex-Im Bank’s charter until June 30, 2015, following a similar call from governors, businesses, and other supporters.

The governors wrote collectively that “the Ex-Im Bank is a crucial tool that both small and large businesses use to compete fairly in the world market, increase their exports, stimulate job creation, and contribute to the growth of our states’ economies… “Failure to act will place American industries at a significant disadvantage in the global marketplace and harm businesses in our states. We strongly encourage you to pass a long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.”

The Ex-Im Bank is the official credit export agency of the United States, charged with assisting in financing the export of American goods and services. More than 90 percent of U.S. exports are privately financed. But in many cases private lenders are unable or unwilling to take on credit risks or enter unfamiliar markets. In those cases, Ex-Im can provide loans, loan guarantees, or insurance to worthy businesses to promote exports and assist growth.

In 2014 alone, Ex-Im financed approximately $27 billion in exports and supported approximately 160,000 American jobs. The governors noted that financing from the bank allows American businesses to compete fairly against foreign competitors who receive trade financing from their national export credit agencies.

In addition to the 28 governors who signed the Bentley-Inslee letter, governors and state leaders from at least three other states have recently written individual letters to congressional leaders requesting action to reauthorize the bank, bringing the number of governors publicly supporting reauthorization to more than thirty. The text of the governors’ letter sent today to the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate:

“Dear Speaker Boehner, Leader McConnell, Leader Pelosi and Leader Reid:

As governors of states whose economies and workforces depend on exports, we strongly urge you to support legislation that provides for the long-term reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) before its charter expires on June 30, 2015. The Ex-Im Bank is a crucial tool that both small and large businesses use to compete fairly in the world market, increase their exports, stimulate job creation, and contribute to the growth of our states’ economies.

As the official export credit agency of the United States, the Ex-Im Bank assumes the credit and country risks that private sector lenders are unable or unwilling to accept, and without it, U.S. firms would lose many sales to overseas competitors. The Ex-Im Bank allows our companies and workers to compete on a level playing field against international competitors who receive extensive support from their own export credit agencies.

As the economies of our states continue to grow, the Ex-Im Bank is currently playing a vital role in promoting exports and jobs. In federal fiscal year 2014, the Ex-Im Bank supplied more than $20 billion in financing to support approximately $27 billion in exports. In that same fiscal year, the Ex-Im Bank supported more than 160,000 American jobs. And the overwhelming majority of the Ex-Im Bank’s transactions – nearly 90 percent – assisted small businesses.

In a tight federal fiscal environment, we are encouraged that the Ex-Im Bank is financially self-sustaining, and operates at no cost to hard-working American taxpayers. In fact, in fiscal year 2014 alone, the Ex-Im Bank returned approximately $675 million in deficit-reducing receipts to the U.S. Treasury.

Last year, an overwhelming majority of the nation’s governors urged Congress to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank. While we appreciate that Congress extended the Bank’s charter until June 30, 2015, it is essential that both chambers act again, this time to pass a long-term, multi-year reauthorization, before that deadline. We also welcome opportunities to continue to reform and improve the Ex-Im Bank moving forward. Failure to act will place American industries at a significant disadvantage in the global marketplace and harm businesses in our states.

We strongly encourage you to pass a long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. Thank you for your consideration and your leadership as we work together to increase job opportunities in our states and grow our national economy.

Sincerely,

Governor Robert Bentley, Alabama
Governor Jay Inslee, Washington Governor Bill Walker, Alaska
Governor Edmund G. Brown, California Governor John Hickenlooper, Colorado
Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut Governor Jack Markell, Delaware
Governor Eddie Baza Calvo, Guam Governor David Ige, Hawaii
Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, Idaho Governor Steven L. Beshear, Kentucky
Governor Paul LePage, Maine Governor Charlie Baker, Massachusetts
Governor Mark Dayton, Minnesota Governor Steve Bullock, Montana
Governor Brian Sandoval, Nevada Governor Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire
Governor Susana Martinez, New Mexico Governor Mary Fallin, Oklahoma
Governor Kate Brown, Oregon Governor Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania
Governor Alejandro Javier Garcia Padilla, Puerto Rico Governor Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island
Governor Nikki R. Haley, South Carolina Governor Dennis Daugaard, South Dakota
Governor Peter Shumlin, Vermont Governor Terry McAuliffe, Virginia
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, West Virginia”

Physician Joins Franklin Health Women’s Care

Comes Here from Eastern Maine Medical Center

FARMINGTON¾

James MacDonald, MD, has joined the medical staff of Franklin Health Women’s Care. Other providers in the practice include Connie Adler, MD; Tara Aumand, MD; Susan Kearing, DO; and Jennifer Zeliger, MD.

Dr. MacDonald completed his residency in OB/GYN at SUNY Stony Brook University Hospital in Suffolk County, New York. As chief resident he managed labor and delivery, antepartum, GYN and gynecologic oncology services while supervising medical students and junior residents. Dr. MacDonald received his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Before joining Franklin Health Women’s Care, Dr. MacDonald accepted high risk obstetrical cases of all gestational ages for northern Maine at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Dr. MacDonald’s professional interests include post-surgical pain control and laparoscopic surgery. He is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Franklin Health Women’s Care offers a full range of women’s health services at its offices on the first floor of the Franklin Health Medical Arts Center, on the Franklin Memorial Hospital campus. Obstetrical services are also provided at the Androscoggin Valley Medical Arts Center in Livermore Falls.

President Obama Proclaims “Day of Remembrance for President Abraham Lincoln”, Directing Flags be Lowered

President Barack Obama has issued a proclamation entitled “Day of Remembrance for President Abraham Lincoln”, which directs the flags be lowered to half-staff for the entire day Wednesday, April 15, 2015.

The notification was received by the Office of the Governor shortly after 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 14. We apologize for the late notice.

Governor to Release Online Tax Calculator for Mainers, ALEC to Highlight Best State Tax Policies

April 14, 2015

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage will announce the launch of a new online calculator on “Tax Day,” Wednesday, April 15. The new calculator will provide Maine taxpayers an opportunity to compare tax rates and credits under current law to the Governor’s tax reform and savings plan, which the Legislature now is considering.

In addition to the launch of the calculator, the American Legislative Exchange Council will join the Governor to release its 8th edition of “Rich States, Poor States.” The new data focuses on specific policy choices throughout the 50 states that have led to prosperity in some states and caused others to fall behind in economic growth.

The Governor will hold the news conference at 3 p.m. in the Cabinet Room. He will be joined by members of the American Legislative Exchange Council, local legislators and others.

WHERE: Governor’s Cabinet Room, State House, Augusta

WHEN: Wednesday, April 15, 3 p.m.

FMH Physical Rehabilitation Department Hosts Two Running Clinics

Track teams from Spruce Mountain, Mt. Blue, and Mt. Abram invited to participate

FARMINGTON¾

Picture caption: Physical therapist Heather Paterson uses an Ipad app called “Coach My Video” to analyze Marah Black’s gait while running on a treadmill. Black is a freshman on the Mt. Blue track team.

The Franklin Memorial Hospital (FMH) Physical Rehabilitation department recently hosted two running clinics for high school track teams that are provided FMH athletic training services: Spruce Mountain, Mt. Blue, and Mt. Abram.

The clinics provided screening for flexibility, core strength, footwear choices, diet, and running gait. The running analysis is provided through a slow motion computer program that enables the clinician to analyze a person’s gait in millisecond increments.

FMH staff taking part in the clinics included: Dr. Thomas Pulling; athletic trainers Dan Waterman and Jeremy Starbird; physical therapists Heather Patterson, Jon Abell, Sue Davidson, and Marco Madison; and dietitian Katie Drouin.

Through extensive research and training, the physical therapist is able to analyze multiple points of contact during running to help prevent injury and improve performance.

The clinics received accolades from students, parents, and coaches. Organizers say plans are in place to offer the service again during the fall sports preseason in August.

Governor LePage to Visit Ellsworth for Tax Town Hall Meeting

April 13, 2015

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 13, 2013
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, April 16, Governor Paul R. LePage will visit Hancock County for a town hall meeting to answer questions about his comprehensive tax reform and relief plan. This will be the sixth town hall meeting the Governor has held.

Ellsworth High School will host the public forum from 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, which is free for anyone to attend. The town hall will be held in the theatre of Ellsworth High School, 299 State Street, Ellsworth.

The next town hall will be in Belfast on Tuesday, April 28. Auburn, Bangor, Presque Isle, Saco and Westbrook already have hosted town halls.

The LePage Tax Cut Plan is a bold initiative to make Maine a more attractive place for young families, retirees, veterans and job creators. This plan will:

• Cut the tax burden by $300 million for Mainers.
  Make Maine competitive again, nationally and globally.
  Drive prosperity for decades to come for all Mainers.
  Reduce the income tax by 40% since the start of the LePage Administration.
  Propel Maine’s national ranking from 33rd to 23rd in terms of tax climate.

Governor LePage Supports SEALSfit Program, $16,000 Allocated to the Program From Contingency Fund

Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage announced this week, he is allocating $16,000 to the SEALSfit youth leadership program. The funding is through the Governor’s contingency fund and the money will enable the program to continue offering support to Maine youth.

The Portland Police Department and the Maine Leadership Institute manage the SEALSfit program, which is a youth leadership course that incorporates physical training (based on the US Navy SEALs regimen) with values-based leadership instruction and mentoring by law enforcement personnel.

“Our children need mentors to help them discover the leadership they have within themselves,” said Governor Paul LePage. “SEALSfit has proven to be an effective program for teens in the Portland area and I fully support broadening its reach so youth across Maine have opportunities to succeed.”

During its previous four sessions, SEALSfit has provided training for a diverse group of Portland-area teenage youth in cross-cultural, interpersonal relations to develop a better understanding of teamwork, character, ethics, anti-bullying and group and individual communications.

Session “5” begins on April 13, lasting 7 weeks and culminates in a graduation ceremony on Friday, May 29. The weekly program consists of two, two-hour physical training sessions and one, two-hour leadership training session led by members of the Portland area educational community. Former US Navy SEALs will conduct physical training Members of the Portland Police Department and other area law enforcement agencies, including the South Portland Police Department, Westbrook Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will mentor twenty students from Portland area high schools.