Media Advisory: Governor Will Highlight Budget Proposal to Combat Maine’s Drug Problem

March 23, 2015

In the biennial budget now being considered by legislators, Governor Paul R. LePage has included funding for four new District Court Judges within the Judicial Branch, seven Investigative Agents in the Department of Public Safety and four Assistant Attorney General positions within the Office of the Attorney General.

The budget initiative provides Maine with additional resources to combat the State’s growing drug problem. Combined with treatment and recovery, funding for these critical positions is also needed to stem the increased threat to public safety and to the health of Mainers.

Governor LePage will be joined by public officials, legislators and supporters of this initiative at a news conference Tuesday in the Office of the Governor.

WHEN: 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 24
WHERE: Office of the Governor, Cabinet Room, Augusta

Speakers:
Governor Paul R. LePage
Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Morris
Senate President Michael Thibodeau 

Hospital to Host Summer Health Careers Exploration Camp

The camp is open to all students who will be entering grades 8 - 12

Farmington, Maine¾

Franklin Community Health Network will once again host a Summer Scrub Club Camp taking place June 22–25 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at Franklin Memorial Hospital. The camp is designed to introduce participants to a wide variety of careers available in health care and is open to all students who will be entering grades 8-12.

A sampling of careers explored may include: physical therapy and sports medicine, nursing, pharmacy, radiology, anesthesiology, orthopedics, medical lab science, mental health counseling, and emergency medical services.

Campers will have the opportunity to participate in unique hands-on activities and demonstrations such as casting, suturing, prostheses, lab analysis, and emergency response to a mock accident. All campers will receive certification in Heartsaver CPR.

Online registration is available at: http://www.franklinahec.org/programs-and-events 

For more information, please contact the Education Department at 778-2381 or e-mail, ncaron@fchn.org

This program is primarily sponsored by the Franklin Memorial Hospital Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a member of the Maine AHEC Network, which is supported by a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The Legislature is in full swing. More than half of the 1,500 bills submitted by lawmakers have been printed and referred to committees, which are holding public hearings and reviewing the legislation before making their recommendations to the full Legislature.

The state budget is one of the major areas of focus. The governor's budget proposal is a complex one that includes major changes to state tax policy, including proposals to lower income tax rates, eliminate most income tax credits and deductions and expand the sales tax with the goal of exporting a portion to out-of-state visitors. The budget would also eliminate revenue sharing to local communities beginning in the second year of the budget and impose property taxes on certain non-profit organizations in the state.

I have serious concerns about the inevitable impact some of these proposals will have on property taxpayers, as well as how vulnerable Mainers will be affected by proposed cuts to programs that help the elderly pay for health care and medication and that serve children with mental illness and autism.

The Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee is in the midst of public hearings on various parts of the governor's proposed budget. Many Mainers have testified about their priorities for our state. I encourage you to weigh in.

The full budget proposal is available at www.maine.gov/budget. You can also follow the budget process here.

Crafting a balanced budget that works for the people of Maine is one of our most important jobs as legislators. You can be assured that I will analyze this budget very carefully and with my constituents in mind.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns or thoughts.

Sincerely,

Paul Gilbert 

State Representative

University of Maine Presque Isle to Host Governor’s Town Hall Meeting

March 18, 2015

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 18, 2015  
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531  

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, Governor Paul R. LePage will visit Aroostook County for a town hall meeting to answer questions about his comprehensive tax reform and relief plan. This is the fourth town hall of several to be held across the State.  

University of Maine Presque Isle will host the town hall from 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, which is free and open to the public. The town hall will be held in the Campus Center at the University of Maine Presque Isle located at 181 Main St, Presque Isle. Additional town halls are expected on the following dates (more will be added). More information regarding specific locations will be available in the coming days.

April 2: Saco
April 16: Ellsworth
April 28: Belfast

The cities of Auburn, Bangor, 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.
  Attract good-paying jobs so our kids can stay, work, prosper and raise their children here.

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has announced that Maine’s request for a Presidential disaster declaration to address the costs of the January 26-28 blizzard in three Maine counties has been approved.

A disaster declaration has been approved for Androscoggin, Cumberland and York Counties. A damage assessment identified over $2.5 million in snow removal and response costs, as well as repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

“It is rare, and it should be, for a state like Maine to qualify for assistance for a snow storm,” said the Governor. “But when we break snow records, it also breaks the budgets for a lot of communities.”

Governor LePage said a special FEMA policy allows states to apply for snow assistance when storms break official records for snowfall and meet financial thresholds both statewide, as well as county by county. While many parts of Maine suffered from long stretches of snowy weather, including parts of Downeast Maine, only the January blizzard broke single-storm records in the counties where the disaster was declared.

FEMA will reimburse municipalities and state agencies for 75% of their costs for at least 48 hours of snow removal, as well as for costs associated with emergency protective measures and any infrastructure damage related to the storm. Public briefings will be scheduled in the three counties to inform communities how to apply for FEMA reimbursement.

Sagadahoc County, which is still assessing costs, could potentially be added to the declaration.

Maple Syrup Season Starts with Blaine House Tree Tapping 

Maple syrup season is an example of why small farmers are such an important part of our heritage and our economy.

Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage.

This week, I took part in an annual tradition – the tapping of a maple tree at the Blaine House. This event kicks off Maine’s maple syrup season and helps promote this growing industry in our state.

Maine’s maple industry contributes an estimated $28 million directly to our economy. Including multiplier effects, it has an annual economic output estimated at nearly $50 million.

The industry also provides 805 full and part-time jobs and $25 million in labor income.

More importantly, this industry has a tremendous potential for additional growth and future job creation.

A University of Maine study conducted last year found that Maine has the third-largest maple industry in the United States.

Maine’s licensed maple syrup producers have been in operation an average of 24 years, and many span multiple generations.

Our tax reform proposal would help these maple producers, as well as other small farmers and family businesses.

Our goal is to eliminate the income tax, which would put $1.2 billion back in Mainers’ pockets. This year’s phase of cutting the income tax would save Maine’s small farmers more than $4 million.

Almost every Mainer who claims income from farming would get at least $1,100 from our tax cut.

The estate tax often results in families losing the farm or business. We would eliminate this “death tax,” which would help keep farms and small businesses in the family.

We also double the Homestead Exemption for homeowners over 65, and we replace revenue sharing by tripling the Property Tax Fairness Credit, which provides tax relief directly to Maine’s taxpayers.

Our tax reform proposal puts money in farmers’ pockets, helps them keep their homes and protects their farms or small businesses for future generations.

You can visit many of these farmers and maple producers on Maine Maple Sunday, which is on March 22.

About 100 sugarhouses will be open throughout the state. Visitors can enjoy samples of maple syrup and candy, see demonstrations of making syrup, take sugarbush tours and participate in other activities.

For more information about Maine Maple Producers, please go to: www.MaineMapleProducers.com.

Thank you for supporting our maple industry and our small farmers.

Governor Issues Statement on Keno

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

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage issued the following statement Tuesday about the Administration’s decision not to include keno among the draw games offered by the Maine State Lottery:

“Legislators could have brought their concerns to the Administration and we could have avoided this debate. While the Executive Branch is authorized to add a game to the Maine State Lottery without legislative approval, we will not add keno this year.”

“Democrats have expanded gambling in our state, and the people of Maine have said they want casinos. But now is not the time to have another debate over gambling. We are focused on cutting the tax burden for Maine people by $300 million and bringing prosperity to the future of our state.”

Maine Supreme Court Rules in Favor of LePage Administration

Opinion finds Attorney General lacks authority to direct litigation in certain cases

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

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage released a statement Tuesday regarding the Maine Supreme Judicial Court’s opinion stating the Attorney General does not have the authority to direct litigation involving a state Executive Branch agency when the Attorney General decides to oppose the State in litigation.

That means the Attorney General does not have authority over litigation decisions and expenses in such cases.

The opinion was in response to questions raised by Governor LePage and argued before the Court on February 26.

“The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed my belief that the Attorney General should not have authority over litigation that the Executive is involved in when the Attorney General decides to publicly take the opposite position,” said Governor LePage. “When that happens, it is a clear conflict of interest, and I thank the Justices for recognizing it.”

“Neither Maine’s Constitution nor its statutes or common law require or authorize the Attorney General to manage or direct the Executive Branch’s litigation once the Attorney General has authorized the Branch to employ private counsel and has taken an opposing position in the litigation,” states the opinion of the Court in Paragraph 37. 

Governor to Hold Third Town Hall in Auburn on Wednesday

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

AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, Governor Paul R. LePage will visit Androscoggin County for a town hall meeting to answer questions about his comprehensive tax reform and relief plan. This is the third town hall of several to be held across the State.

Edward Little High School in Auburn will host the town hall from 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, which is free and open to the public. Edward Little High School High School is located at 77 Harris Street, Auburn.

“It’s important for the people of Maine to understand how this tax reform plan will help them and our economy as a whole,” said Governor LePage. “My plan puts $300 million back into people’s pockets, which will help us bring prosperity to our hardworking Mainers and there is much more it aims to do to make our great state prosperous. I encourage you to join us in Auburn to learn more and ask your questions.”

Additional town halls are expected on the following dates (more will be added). More information regarding specific locations will be available in the coming days.

March 19: University of Maine, Presque Isle
April 16: Ellsworth
April 28: Belfast

The cities of Bangor and Westbrook already have hosted town halls.

Governor Signals Beginning of Maple Syrup Season by Tapping Blaine House Tree

March 9, 2015

For Immediate Release: Monday, March 09, 2015
Contact: John Bott, 207-287-3156

AUGUSTA – The Governor’s Tree Tapping is an annual tradition to promote Maine maple syrup and highlight its contributions to Maine’s economy.

Maine maple syrup producers will join Governor Paul R. LePage Tuesday in tapping a maple tree on the Blaine House lawn. The event also serves as a prelude to Maine Maple Sunday, which will celebrate its 32nd Anniversary on March 22.

Approximately 100 sugarhouses throughout the state are expected to participate in Maine Maple Sunday.

When: Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 11:00 AM
Where: Blaine House Lawn