| LePage Hauls in Welcome Mat for Maryland Gov | |||||||||
| 06/04/2012 11:51 AM ET Reported By: A.J. Higgins | |||||||||
| Some governors have been known to roll out the red carpet when a chief executive from a neighboring state comes to Maine. But Gov. Paul LePage decided to haul in the welcome mat Saturday when he heard Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley was on his way to Augusta to address the Democratic State Convention. The LePage administration put out a press release calling the Maryland governor a failure as Democrats were preparing to hear their keynote speaker. A.J. Higgins reports. | |||||||||
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| Republican Gov. Paul LePage doesn’t think much of Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s tax policies.
As the Democratic governor was en route to speak with Maine Democrats at their state convention, LePage authorized a press release written by his staffers that cited O’Malley’s critics. They said the O’Malley administration had resorted to solving its financial problems by making them the problems of Maryland’s working families. LePage’s press release then dismissed O’Malley’s record as “a record of failure.” O’Malley said LePage’s attention was focused on policies that benefit the rich. “Some of these tea party, new age Republican governors like LePage worship the false idol of tax cuts,” O’Malley said. “The fact of the matter is that our nation’s deficit problem, 55 percent of it is driven by tax cuts that primarily benefitted the wealthiest of Americans.” O’Malley is chair of the Democratic Governors Association and he said his group is committed to electing a Democratic governor for Maine in 2014. |
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Tag Archives: Governor LePage
A Picture Says…..
Seems to be some ruffled feathers among those candidates bringing up the rear behind Bruce Poliquin in the U.S. Senate primary. Many of the trailing candidates are complaining that the State Treasurer has put out an ad with a picture of him with the Governor. These disgruntled candidates whine, as their being lapped, that the Treasurer has somehow crossed the line. But Secretary of State Charlie Summers admitted in his complaint this morning on the George Hale and Ric Tyler show that they all have pictures with the Governor. So why not use them? Are they ashamed of the Governor? Governor LePage is easily the most popular politician within the Republican ranks so it stands to reason to use a photo with the Governor. Sounds like good campaigning. Why haven’t the other campaigns used the Governor to their advantage? Maybe that’s why their cries of foul are coming from the behind through the dust of front running Bruce Poliquin.
The Governor Mourns the Loss of one of Maine’s Finest
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Contact: Adrienne Bennett (207) 287-2531
Governor LePage and First Lady Mourn the Death of Maine Soldier
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage issued the following statement today regarding the death of U.S. Army Captain John “Jay” R. Brainard III, of Newport, who was killed in Afghanistan on May 28, 2012:
“It brings me great sadness to learn that Maine has lost Captain Brainard who dedicated himself to defending our State and Nation, and we are forever indebted to his display of courage and selfless sacrifice. It is with a heavy heart that I express my sincere condolences to his family and friends. This news never comes easy and is especially difficult knowing this young man made the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day.
As Memorial Day approached, the First Lady and I paused to honor those who have fallen in service to their country and decorated their graves with American flags. As my wife and I gazed across the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery we honored, thanked and remembered those who gave their all – not for any recognition, but for the freedoms we all value today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Captain Brainard, and I join with all Mainers to forever remember him as a true son of the State of Maine.”
Captain Brainard, 26, was an active duty helicopter pilot assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade. He is a 2004 graduate of Foxcroft Academy and a 2008 graduate of the University of Maine.
Governor Vetoes LD 1781
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Contact: Adrienne Bennett (207) 287-2531
Governor’s Veto Message Urges Union to Support Teachers’ Professional Development Not Politics
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul LePage vetoed a bill today to reaffirm the need for the Maine Education Association (MEA) to provide professional development and support to its teachers. The union represents more than 24,000 active and retired educators. Governor LePage vetoed LD 1781, An Act To Restructure the National Board Certification Program for Teachers citing he believes a more coordinated state-wide solution is required.
The LePage Administration is committed to increasing support and development training to Maine teachers, and the Governor acknowledges the importance of National Board Certification. In his veto message Governor LePage offers to eliminate teacher certification fees and increase teachers’ salaries. However, the Governor does not feel that teachers and taxpayers should be the only contributors to funding the certification process. “LD 1781 requires teachers to partially fund the program, while simultaneously paying union dues,” Governor LePage wrote in the veto message, “which are squandered on a host of activities not even remotely related to professional development.”
Governor LePage reiterated his challenge last week urging the MEA to provide teacher training to its members. In a letter to MEA President, Chris Galgay, Governor LePage encouraged the MEA to partner with the State to improve professional development opportunities. “Specifically, I pledge to budget state funds to match – dollar for dollar – any increase in professional development funds offered to teachers by the MEA,” wrote Governor LePage.
Last year, Governor LePage offered this same challenge to the union, which has yet to offer a response. “We must work together to move education ahead in Maine,” the Governor said Tuesday, “right now the union is not stepping up to the plate. Teachers should be concerned when education is being put on the back burner as a result of decision-making from union bosses.”
Just last week, Rob Walker, executive director of the Maine Education Association said “making sure we have a highly skilled work force is the job of the employer” not the union. Meanwhile, the MEA announced its endorsement recently of the same-sex marriage proposal on the November ballot. This announcement is an example of what the union is choosing to focus on rather than expanding and enhancing opportunities for teacher development.
The Governor has consistently said that in order to improve education, we must first ensure that every student has an effective teacher. Research shows that investments in effective teaching are a critical component of educational success among students. According to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, research indicates that the single most influential school-based factor affecting student achievement is teacher quality. Therefore, the most important thing that schools and policymakers can do to improve student outcomes is to ensure that every student has a highly accomplished teacher.
The Maine Conservative Voice 