In response to a newsletter put out by Maine Medical Center CEO Richard W. Petersen and other hospitals that are lobbying for the expansion of Medicaid, Governor Paul R. LePage has issued a statement: “It’s obvious the CEO of Maine Med and other hospitals do not care about taking resources away from our most vulnerable Mainers—including our elderly and intellectually and physically disabled people—just so they can give free, taxpayer-funded healthcare to adults who should be working and contributing to the cost of their own health insurance. “Medicaid expansion will cost Mainers $500 million over the next five years. The…
Author: Office of Governor Paul LePage
Office of Governor Paul LePage
A business leader who served his community as mayor, Paul LePage decided to run for Governor believing the approach that had succeeded throughout his business career and in Waterville could work for all of Maine. Paul LePage was sworn in as Maine Governor on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 and is currently serving his second term.
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today issued a statement urging college students to establish residency in Maine if they choose to vote in state. “Democrats for decades have encouraged college students from out of state to vote in Maine, even though there is no way to determine whether these college students also voted in their home states,” Governor LePage said. “Casting ballots in two different states is voter fraud, which is why Maine law requires anyone voting here to establish residency here. We welcome college students establishing residency in our great state, as long as they follow all laws…
Winners of $5,000 or more will be removed from SNAP when they win AUGUSTA— Under a new rule established by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), winners of significant lottery and gambling prizes will be removed from the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The rule, which has been approved for adoption, allows for immediate termination of benefits when a welfare recipient collects winnings of $5,000 or more in one calendar month. If the prize remains with the individual, it will continue to count as an asset that could disqualify someone…
AUGUSTA – Over the last year, nearly a dozen projects under the Land for Maine’s Future (“LMF”) program have been closed and funded. One major project in Cumberland County, however, remains up in the air despite this year’s June bond sale that included funding for LMF. On Monday, Governor LePage raised concerns over why $225,000 in state funding has yet to be utilized. “My critics and the Maine media have slammed me repeatedly for supposedly not releasing funding,” said Governor LePage. “The Portland Press Herald and others have gone after Representative Michael Timmons personally, blaming him for delaying the project.…
Governor Paul R. LePage has called attention to the precarious future of many of the state’s small hydropower resources due to expensive and burdensome federal regulatory relicensing requirements. The Governor recently wrote Maine’s congressional delegation to notify them of the uncertain future of three small hydropower facilities in Kennebunk caused by a one-size-fits-all, expensive, lengthy federal regulatory process designed for facilities a thousand times larger. Governor LePage also asked the delegation to take action to modernize the permitting process, so these renewable generating assets can continue operating. “The Kesseln Dam, one of the three small hydropower dams owned by the…
Governor Paul R. LePage has announced he will take several actions in light of recent controversial comments from both himself and Representative Drew Gattine. “To the Maine people, I am asking for forgiveness. Comments I have expressed recently are unacceptable, and I apologize sincerely for using such disrespectful language as your Governor,” said Governor LePage. “Also, I would like to express an apology to the Gattine family. I understand how hurtful statements affect a family and regret that my words have upset your lives. For this I am truly sorry.” Tuesday morning on WVOM 101.3 & 101.9 The Voice of…
Since less than half of the welfare fraud cases presented to Attorney General Janet Mills have been prosecuted, Governor Paul R. LePage is calling on her to get serious about stopping welfare fraud. More than 50 welfare fraud cases are still pending at the AG’s office. “At the request of House Speaker Mark Eves, the Attorney General is wasting her staff’s valuable time by fining a commission $500 for an informal meeting held at the Blaine House instead of prosecuting welfare fraud,” said Governor LePage. “DHHS is doing a terrific job cracking down on welfare fraud and now has more…
The debate on whether or not voters should increase Maine’s minimum wage continues, but now liberals pushing for it are exposed for hypocrisy. For years, the liberal ring leader of the Maine People’s Alliance, Mike Tipping, has created a wage war claiming minimum wage is not a livable wage. And for years, we now know that Tipping has been speaking out of both sides of his mouth. That’s because the liberal think tank posted an ad on Craigslist to recruit canvassers and community organizers to “Work toward a fair minimum wage for Maine.” At the same time, Tipping’s group said…
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has issued an Executive Order in an effort to better understand the human health risks and effects of emissions produced by the combustion of ethanol containing gasoline and the effect of increasing ethanol blends on emissions. The Executive Order follows federal mandates, which have resulted in increased domestic production and use of ethanol in gasoline. Governor LePage recently signed the Order saying it is essential to understand the environmental and human health effects of ethanol emissions. “It’s important that with the increased use of ethanol mixed gasoline that we understand the environmental and health…
Governor Paul R. LePage on Wednesday delivered remarks to the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, which convened for a field hearing in Northern Maine. The hearing at the East Millinocket Town Office was held at the request of Maine’s 2nd District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, focused on the proposed unilateral national monument designation in the North Woods by the President. “It is through meetings like this, and not through rallies with bussed-in supporters, that those in Washington have a true opportunity to hear from those that would be affected by this proposed National Monument designation,” Governor LePage said. Governor LePage…
Governor Paul R. LePage today reiterated his opposition to a proposal from out-of-state liberals to create a North Woods national monument in the Katahdin region. The Governor’s criticism follows a recent news release from U.S. Senator Angus King, who is inviting the head of the National Park Service to Maine. The visit, according to the release, will take place Monday, May 16 with NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis “to discuss the possible designation of privately owned land in the Katahdin region as a national monument and to hear directly from Maine residents about the proposal.” The Office of the Governor did…
After the Portland Press Herald refused to print a detailed response with the facts from the Warden Service to correct the many inaccuracies in the paper’s fictionalized account of a 2014 raid on Allagash poachers, Governor Paul R. LePage issued today the entire response. Click here for the response in its entirety. “The Maine people have heard me complain repeatedly about bias in the Maine press, especially in the Portland Press Herald,” said Governor LePage. “But this hit piece on the Maine Warden Service by Colin Woodard is one of the most outrageous examples of the Portland Press Herald’s complete and…
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today issued a statement regarding the Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center Dedication Ceremony, in which the Governor was heckled by two students: “First and foremost, I apologize to President Foster and especially to Theodora Kalikow for the sequence of events on Tuesday. I was humbled to be invited to speak at a ceremony to honor Theodora Kalikow and recognize the great legacy she has left the University of Maine at Farmington, as well as its faculty, staff and students.” “I am accustomed to daily attacks and ridicule from protestors, but most people are not.…
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage on Tuesday signed into law LD 1646, “An Act To Prevent Opiate Abuse by Strengthening the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program.” The bill, introduced by the Governor, mandates prescriber participation in the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP), sets limits for the strength and duration of opioid prescriptions and requires that prescribers submit opioid prescriptions electronically beginning next year and that they undergo addiction training every two years. Approximately 75 percent of heroin addicts started with prescription opioid medications. Those being prescribed opioid pain medication are 40 times more likely to use heroin. Experts recognize opioid…
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage signed LD 1612 into law today, which combines several legislative proposals to improve the delivery of services and benefits to Maine veterans and provide tuition assistance to members of the Maine National Guard. Governor LePage held a signing ceremony in the Cabinet Room with members from the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. He and First Lady Ann LePage have been staunch supporters of Maine veterans. “I am proud to sign this bill into law,” said Governor LePage. “Our veterans give so much to our state and nation and ask for so little…