News

LePage Administration, Volunteers Kick-off State Charitable Campaign 

Governor LePage and Commissioner Aho encourage State employees to give back

AUGUSTA – Noting Maine’s tradition of neighbors helping neighbors, Governor Paul R. LePage and Maine Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Patricia Aho are calling on State employees and retirees to raise $300,000 through the 34^th annual Maine State Employees’ Combined Charitable Appeal.

Governor LePage and Commissioner Aho, who is serving as chair of the 2013 MSECCA campaign for the second year, kicked-off the initiative today in the Hall of Flags at the State House in Augusta.

Department leaders and volunteers from State agencies who will encourage their colleagues to contribute during the three month campaign joined Governor LePage and Commissioner Aho. Representatives from the 18 federations – many of which are United Ways – whose member charities benefit also attended.

“For more than three decades, Maine State employees and retirees have shown their generosity by contributing to MSECCA and have made an enormous impact in the lives of so many here in Maine and throughout the world.  Mainers have a long history of recognizing families that are less fortunate need a hand-up.  By working together we can make a difference and strengthen the state we all so love,” said Governor LePage.

During its 33 year history, more than $6 million has been raised through MSECCA making it one of Maine’s most meaningful workplace giving campaigns. Last year, State workers and retirees showed their collaborative commitment to their communities by contributing around $300,000 through one-time gifts or scheduled payroll/retirement deductions. Hundreds of charities are affiliated with the campaign through participating federations, but donors can also direct monetary gifts to an organization of their choice not listed.

“Whether current and former Maine State employees make small or large contributions through MSECCA, they all add up to Mainers helping Mainers,” said Commissioner Aho.  “Thank you to the state employee whose generous spirit extend beyond their dedication to public service and is reflected in the care and compassion they have toward their less fortunate neighbors.”

The Bread of Life Ministries, which provides services to Augusta area’s poorest citizens to help them develop self-sufficiency, has historically been the single largest recipient of MSECCA funding. The organization’s executive director, Dean Lachance, spoke at the event about how MSECCA matters.

”MSECCA has a direct and influential impact on the hungry and homeless in our communities. Your financial contributions support hungry and homeless families, individuals, and veterans going through massive trauma,” he said. “On behalf of those we serve, I want to thank MSECCA donors for helping us make this happen. Each of you can, and does make a difference.”

Margo Batsie, the Member Services Coordinator for the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, also spoke at the event.  Ms. Batsie noted "The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence Resource Centers work to ensure that all people who are affected by domestic abuse are supported and perpetrators are held accountable all across the state of Maine. The support of MSECCA donors means that MCEDV Resource Centers can continue to serve Mainers who experience domestic abuse and work within their local communities to hold perpetrators accountable. And for that we are thankful."

Beginning today, State employees are able to contribute to the 2013 campaign online at www.maine.gov/msecca. The campaign concludes in mid-December.

Governor LePage to Present Forest Stewardship Award to Maine Tree Farm Committee

AUGUSTA — Governor Paul R. LePage will present the Maine Tree Farm Committee with the prestigious 2013 Austin H. Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award on Tuesday, October 1 at 11 a.m. at the Blaine House.

This prestigious award recognizes individuals or organizations that stand above their peers to further forestry, forests or forestland conservation in the State of Maine. Started by the Maine TREE Foundation in 2004, it is the only award in Maine that recognizes stewardship of the working forest.

“Maine’s working forests are a vital part of our past, present and future economy,” said Governor LePage. “Named after one of Maine’s longest contributing professional foresters, the Austin H. Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award is an opportunity to publicly recognize exemplary management of working forests.”

The Maine Tree Farm Committee makes arrangements for professional foresters to inspect and certify Tree Farms. The purpose of these inspections is to provide on ground assistance and advice to landowners and to help them develop management plans that meet their goals and objectives.

After the initial inspection and certification, Tree Farms are re-inspected every five years. These re-inspections provide an opportunity for further forestry assistance and help ensure that certified Tree Farm properties maintain quality standards for continued membership

Governor LePage Promotes Maine Products at “Big E” Fair in Massachusetts

The Eastern States Exposition is the largest fair in Northeast

AUGUSTA –Governor Paul R. LePage and Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry officials promoted Maine products today at The Eastern States Exposition, known as “The Big E,” in Springfield, Mass. The Big E is the largest fair in the Northeast, with nearly 1.4 million fairgoers setting a new attendance record in 2012.

The Governor was joined at the Big E by Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb. Saturday was “Maine Day” at the Big E.

“The Big E is a great way to promote Maine companies, products and outdoor recreational opportunities in a fair-like environment,” said Governor LePage. “It helps our economy by supporting Maine businesses and providing exposure to what we have to offer as a state.”

Commissioner Whitcomb emphasized the significance of the Governor’s visit to the Northeast’s largest fair. “The importance of Governor LePage’s presence here cannot be understated,” said Whitcomb. “Wherever he goes, the Governor energetically pursues opportunities to create new business opportunities and strengthen existing ones.”

Whitcomb also highlighted the many Maine food products that could be sampled in the State of Maine building at the Big E. “Fair visitors enjoyed seeing and tasting Maine potatoes, blueberries and last year’s winner of the ‘most healthy food at the fair,’ Maine salmon,” Whitcomb said.    

The Eastern States Exposition began in the fall of 1917. Maine became the second state to have its own building on the Avenue of States in 1925 after the Maine Legislature approved a sum of $25,000, matched by private businesses in the state, for the construction of an exhibition hall.

Each New England State has its own building on the Avenue of States. Through a fairground deed, visitors to the Maine building are in part of Maine. Each of the six New England states has its own “state day” during the 17-day event. 

Governor LePage Issues Food Drive Challenge to Maine Chambers of Commerce

As part of the Third Annual Blaine House Food Drive, Governor encourages statewide participation

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has issued a Food Drive Challenge to Maine Chambers of Commerce. In a letter issued last week to Maine chambers, Governor LePage encouraged participation in a local food drive throughout the month of October

Chambers that participate will have a chance to host a “Business After Hours” event at the Blaine House.

“As our holiday season approaches, it is very important that we remember those who are less fortunate,” said Governor LePage. “The First Lady and I will be hosting Blaine House food drives, but I am encouraging local chambers to get involved and help out their local food pantries or homeless shelters.”

The Governor and First Lady request each chamber submit an itemized list of products donated, as well as contact information for the organization receiving the donation. Donations are to be collected and donated for the challenge between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31. Participating chambers will be entered into a raffle to host a “Business After Hours” event at the Blaine House with the Governor and First Lady and senior officials in the LePage Administration.

By including Chambers of Commerce throughout Maine, the First Family hopes to bring more awareness around the goodness of giving within Maine communities.

“We are a small state with big hearts,” said First Lady Ann LePage. “In our family, we have taught our children that giving is more important than receiving. Giving money is great, but giving your time is just as valuable. So we encourage Mainers to consider volunteering at a shelter, food pantry or soup kitchen. It’s a great gift to give.”

The First Family is hosting the Third Annual Blaine House Food Drive on three consecutive Saturdays during the month of October: Oct. 12, Oct. 19 and Oct.26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mainers will have an opportunity to bring a food donation, receive a tour of the Blaine House led by Governor LePage and enjoy light refreshments.

Community Health Efforts Recognized as Franklin County Advances in Prize Selection Process

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Franklin County has been chosen as a finalist for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) second annual RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize. As a finalist, Franklin County is one step closer to the RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize which honors communities whose efforts illustrate an enduring commitment toward creating a culture of health for all residents.

Franklin County was selected along with eleven other communities from across the nation for their health improvement efforts and will now be considered for the RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize, which will be announced June 2014. More than 250 community applications were considered.

Additional finalists are: Bexar County , Texas ; Brownsville , Texas ; Buncombe County , North Carolina ; Canton , Ohio ; Durham County , North Carolina ; East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana ; Sitka , Alaska ; Spokane County , Washington ; Taos Pueblo Tribal Community, New Mexico ; Van Buren County, Iowa; and Williamson , West Virginia .

“We are honored to have advanced as a RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize finalist community,” said Jennifer McCormack, Healthy Community Coalition (HCC) executive director. “The Franklin County success story highlights the collaborative work of dedicated individuals improving health in this community over 50 years.” HCC collaborated with community leaders to submit the application on behalf of the community.

To earn prize finalist status, Franklin County had to illustrate how its efforts to foster healthier outcomes for its citizens reflect the six RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize criteria:

• Harnessing the collective power of leaders, partners, and community members.
• Implementing a strategic approach to improving health that focuses on the multiple factors that influence health.
• Addressing problems that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
• Developing sustainable, long-term solutions to shared community priorities.
• Securing and making the most of available resources.
• Measuring and sharing results.

“ Franklin County has a long history of people coming together with a shared vision, strong leadership, and commitment to making needed and lasting changes that are enabling individuals to live long and healthy lives,” said Rebecca Ryder , Franklin Community Health Network (FCHN) president/CEO. “One success story is the biennial FCHN visioning process that has led to improved access to primary care, transportation, prescription assistance, dental care, and more over the past two decades. The HCC mobile health unit is additionally a result of that process. In 2012 alone, more than 8,000 individuals received preventive care and health education on the mobile health unit.”

“The 12 RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize finalist communities distinguished themselves with creative strategies to help people lead healthier lives,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, RWJF president and CEO. “These communities are shining examples of a growing movement to create a culture of health across our nation.”

The RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize is an annual no-strings-attached $25,000 cash prize that will be awarded to up to six of the finalist communities in June 2014. The Prize was launched to further the work of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The program provides data, tools and potential solutions to help policy-makers and the public improve the many factors that influence health in their community. The Rankings show communities where there are areas to improve and the Roadmaps show how communities can take action to expand opportunities for healthier choices. The RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize honors communities that are creating a culture of health. Find out more at www.countyhealthrankings.org.

Governor LePage Proclaims “Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week”

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has proclaimed Sept. 22-28 as “Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week” throughout the State of Maine. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 to develop and maintain employer support for National Guard and Reserve forces.

“Since that tragic day in September 2001 when our country was attacked, our guard and reserve members have answered the call to protect America.” said Governor LePage. “Our nation is indebted to these brave men and women who regularly leave their families and the comforts of home to ensure our freedoms, as well as the dedicated and supportive employers who continue to make service in the Reserve Components possible.”

Today employer support is stronger than ever, more than 41 years after President Richard Nixon authorized the Secretary of Defense to establish the National Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Employers provide critical support to their reserve component employees allowing these citizen warriors to serve whenever the Nation calls, often foregoing financial gain and making sacrifices in the process.

Maine ESGR Committee Chair Rob Carmichael reports that within fiscal year 2013 approximately 50,000 employers have signed Statements of Supports and nearly 8,000 employers have been recognized with the ESGR Patriotic Employer Award across the country.

“I thank all of Maine’s employers who have given their employees their proud support during multiple deployments and long periods away, and I ask for your continued support of these brave men and women in the future,” said Governor LePage.

The National Guard and Reserve Component forces comprise nearly half of our nation’s military strength and are essential to America’s National Security. Reserve Component forces stand ready to answer the call to serve, whether serving alongside active duty counterparts all the across the globe or responding to natural disasters or humanitarian crisis at home or abroad.

The text of the proclamation is as follows:

WHEREAS, National Guard and Reserve forces comprise nearly half of our nation’s military strength, and are essential to America’s national security – Reserve Component forces stand ready to answer the call to serve, whether serving alongside active duty counterparts all across the globe or responding to humanitarian crisis at home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, employers provide critical support to members of the National Guard and Reserve; allowing Citizen Warriors to serve whenever the Nation calls, often foregoing financial gain and making sacrifices in the process; and

WHEREAS, employer support is stronger than ever, more than 41 years after President Richard Nixon authorized the Secretary of Defense to establish the National Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR); and

WHEREAS, our nation is in debt to the Citizen Warriors departing the comforts of home to ensure our freedoms remain intact – likewise, America pays special tribute to the commitment of dedicated and supportive employers who continue to make service in the Reserve Components possible.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAUL R. LEPAGE, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim September 22-28, 2013 as

EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE WEEK

throughout the State of Maine, and urge all citizens to recognize this observance.

Welfare Expansion is not Free

Last week, we finally paid the hospitals the half-a-billion dollars in welfare debt the state has owed them for years. Before they could even cash their checks, liberal politicians were asking to expand welfare again. And now they claim that welfare expansion is free.

Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage.

The hospital debt was a result of expanding welfare in 2001. This led to broken budgets, unpaid hospital debt, and an unreliable welfare system. 

Liberal politicians now want to expand welfare again and add 70,000 people to the MaineCare program. They keep telling Mainers that this expansion would be free because the federal government would pay for it.

But folks, as I keep saying, there is no free lunch. This expansion would cost Mainers hundreds of millions in local tax dollars. Expanding welfare would require more staff and more administrative costs at Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services.

DHHS estimates that this so-called “free” expansion of welfare would cost millions of local Maine taxpayer dollars in the short-term. Then it will cost $150 million in each state budget after that. No matter what the liberal politicians tell you, that money has to come from hard-working Mainers.

What liberals will not admit is half of the 70,000 Mainers they want to put on MaineCare rolls would already be eligible to purchase private health insurance at reduced rates in 2014. Why would we put people on government healthcare when they could buy private health insurance at a very low rate?

We must focus on the 3,100 elderly and disabled Mainers who are on waiting lists for critical services. We must prioritize our tax dollars to care for them today.

The federal government will not pay Maine’s welfare bill for the long-term. The federal government is 17-trillion-dollars in debt and continues to cut funding to states.  

They are cutting food stamp benefits to Mainers. They have also drastically reduced money for MaineCare reimbursement to hospitals in recent years.

All Mainers should have affordable health care, but waving MaineCare expansion like a magic wand will not solve the problems in our welfare system.

We need to better manage our programs, provide care for our neediest residents and keep cracking down on fraud and abuse before adding one more dollar or one more person to the system.

Thank you for listening.

AUGUSTA – Maine’s First Family invites Mainers to visit the Blaine House once again this year in an effort to help fellow citizens who are less fortunate. In October, Governor Paul R. LePage and First Lady Ann M. LePage will open their doors for the annual Blaine House Food Drive. The Governor and First Lady started the food drive three years ago, and have collected thousands of pounds of food for pantries and homeless shelters across Maine.

The food drives will take place on three consecutive Saturday’s during the month of October, which are Oct. 12, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26. Mainers will have an opportunity to bring a food donation, receive a tour of the Blaine House led by Governor LePage and enjoy light refreshments.

“As our holiday season approaches, it is very important that we remember those who are less fortunate and are trying to get on their feet,” said Governor LePage. “The First Lady and I recognize how meaningful these food donations can be to those individuals in trying circumstances. Mainers are generous people, and it is heartwarming to see to see so many who are willing to help their neighbors in need. The First Lady and I are happy to open the Blaine House for another food drive this year.”

All donations collected at the Blaine House will be given to Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Good Shepherd Food-Bank will determine the communities that need the food most and distribute the donations.

“Governor and First Lady LePage are setting a great example for Mainers to get involved in the fight against hunger,” said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “Hunger is a significant problem in Maine with 15 percent of households not able to access enough nutritious food. We thank the First Family for making a different in the lives of families struggling with hunger and encouraging others to do the same.”

Doors will be open at the Blaine House for the food drive between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on October 12, October 19 and October 26.

Federal Budget Reductions Continue to Push More Welfare Costs onto Maine Taxpayers 

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage released the following statement today about a reduction of federal funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as “food stamps.”  SNAP will reduce the amount of money low-income Mainers receive to purchase food beginning on Nov. 1 because one-time stimulus funding is running out.

“The federal government used stimulus spending to prop up welfare spending for food stamps, and that funding is coming to an end,” the Governor said. “This is another example of the federal government reducing funds for welfare programs. Liberal politicians who keep promising that the expansion of Medicaid welfare will be ‘free’ should take notice.

“The federal government has steadily forced Maine taxpayers to pick up more and more of the tab for welfare reimbursement to hospitals,” said Governor LePage. “The Social Security Disability Insurance program is expected to run out of money in 2016. Regardless of which political party is in charge down in Washington, we cannot ignore the fact that the federal government is nearly $17 trillion in debt. Combined with uncertainty over debt limits and welfare funding, this has put all states in a tough position when it comes to planning.”

“Hard-working Maine people should brace themselves as the federal government keeps putting more burdens back on the states,” the Governor said. “There is no evidence that the federal government will be able to keep its promise of ‘free’ welfare expansion under Obamacare. The money must come from somewhere, but Washington is already buried in IOUs.”

Just last week, Governor LePage made good on his 2010 campaign promise to pay back the half-a-billion-dollar debt to Maine’s hospitals—a debt racked up because of the last expansion of MaineCare welfare. MaineCare is Maine’s Medicaid program.

Even though Medicaid is a federal program that the states have to administer, the federal government only pays part of the bill to doctors and hospitals. The federal government’s reimbursement rate has been falling since 2004. This fact cannot be avoided. The matching rate was 69.17 percent in 2004 and has dropped to 62.57 percent in 2013. The rate is expected to drop again in Fiscal Year 2014 to 61.55 percent.

“The federal government keeps lowering their share of the bill, which is why this ‘free today, pay tomorrow’ welfare expansion is so worrisome,” said the Governor. Additionally, Medicare's hospital fund is predicted to run out in 2024, and Social Security's retirement trust fund is estimated to run out by 2035. 

The Governor added that while liberal politicians claim that welfare expansion will be “free,” Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the administrative costs of welfare expansion would cost millions from the state almost immediately, and then cost $75 million a year after that. This money would have to be taken from other places in the Maine budget.

“Washington and some liberal politicians like to ignore economic realities,” Governor LePage said. “The federal government pays less and less to Maine’s doctors and nurses for their work, food stamps are being reduced, funding for disability insurance is running out, and money for Medicare and Social Security is being exhausted.

“But liberals still keep promising the federal government will provide billions of ‘free’ dollars for MaineCare welfare expansion, even though the federal government is $17 trillion in debt,” the Governor said. “There is only one place for the money to come from, and that is from the pockets of hard-working, middle-class Maine people who cannot afford to pay more federal or state taxes.”

Long Overdue Welfare Debt: Paying Maine Hospitals was the Right thing to do

Many Mainers know what it’s like to juggle their bills until pay day arrives, but imagine having to wait four years. That’s what Maine’s 39 community hospitals did: they waited four years to get paid a half-a-billion dollars for Medicaid services they provided dating back to 2009.

Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage.

This week, our administration made good on a promise we made in 2010: we paid the hospitals.

In total, the State owed its hospitals nearly $490 million.

This debt was bad for business – not just for our hospitals, but also for our state.

As the welfare bills went unpaid, many hospitals had to lay off employees and reduce benefits, borrow against lines of credit to meet payroll and other obligations, dip into savings and forgo interest delay payments to local vendors and eliminate services. Capital improvements, such as building additions and renovations, as well as the purchase of new equipment, were put on hold.

As a candidate in 2010, I stood outside of Central Maine Medical Center and said that if I became Governor, I would make paying these bills a priority. During my first budget, we pushed to address the significant welfare debt by paying money owed for years 2004 to 2008.  We also worked to see that a new system for payment was funded—a system that now pays hospitals in real time. 

In January of this year, we took the next step in making good on my promise: we proposed a plan to pay the remainder of the hospital debt that I inherited when I took office.

After lengthy debates and a near impasse at the objection from Democrats to pay these bills, they finally relented. Honestly, it’s not about who gets credit for paying the hospitals, but rather we honor our commitment to pay our bills.

Hospitals do more than heal. They are economic drivers, not just in their communities where they are often the largest employer, but also in our state, where they hire, build, educate and care for our loved ones.

For years, we listened to rhetoric from politicians promising to pay the hospitals—even as they kept fighting to expand Medicaid and accumulate more welfare debt. But actions speak louder than words. This week, we finally did it.

It was, quite simply, the right thing to do.