Tag Archives: veto

Feb 24 2015

Poliquin Reacts to the President’s Veto of Keystone Pipeline/Questions cuts to VA

With the news of a Presidential veto of Keystone Pipeline, Bruce Poliquin expressed his disappointment by releasing a statement from his office. “It’s a shame that the President put politics before policy by vetoing the construction of the Keystone Pipeline,” said the Congressman from Maine’s second district, noting that the project would create 40,000 new jobs and drive down the costs of heating for Mainers.  He reiterated his resolve to stay committed to fighting for job creating policies, citing the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act which he supports.

More For Veterans

In other developments, Poliquin has joined with other colleagues in the House of Representative in asking the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary, Robert McDonald, the reasons for cutting funds to the Veteran’s Access, Choice and Accountability Act.  This Act was intended to alleviate the wait time periods and help facilitate access for those  veterans in rural areas through Veteran’s Choice.  In the presser, Poliquin posted a list of questions sent to the Secretary along with a copy of the letter specifically asking why the President’s new budget needs to raid funds from this benefit set aside for veterans.

Jul 3 2013

Pride and Accomplishment

 

 

When much ado and public pomposity ensues, there is usually a liberal behind it.  So has been the case in the resurrection of the remnants of Roger Katz and the Pretentious Eight.  Senator Katz has made his name and call to fame by publicly disparaging the Governor and undermining the efforts of the Republican Party to protect the people of Maine from burdensome tax increases.  It seems the “Honorable” Senator from Augusta gets the shivers every time the Governor gets grumpy.

Yes, the Governor’s words were uncalled for.  We know that.  He knows that.  But lets compare the records of these two men – their accomplishments and what they take pride in:

It is well documented that the Governor has a street fighter’s mentality.  He has a tenacity and rough edge that is born from the sidewalks and alleys of Waterville and Lewiston.  It has served him well as he has scrapped his way up through the business ranks to now be the Executive of the State of Maine.

When he held the majority, he passed many sweeping reforms in Maine.  He enacted the largest tax cut in Maine’s history, cutting $150 million in the first 2 years and $500 million over 4 years.  He removed 70, 000 of Maine’s lowest income families from the tax rolls, increased the death tax exemption, and allotted $31 million to relieve the tax burden on job creators.

He paid $248 million to the hospitals on the huge debt owed them by the State.  He passed LD 1 and reformed Maine’s dysfunctional regulatory system.  He reformed health care insurance, allowing competition across state lines.

Now with a minority, he has held the line on tax increases and government overreaches by sustaining some 18 vetoes of the Democrats.  He has stood his ground against Justin Alfond and the Democrat majority and forced them to pay the hospital debt.

Roger Katz comes from an entrenched Democrat political family in Augusta.  He has gained some notoriety from publicly criticizing the Governor’s crusty personality.  Perhaps Mr. Katz operates a finishing school that he would like the Governor to attend.

Senator Katz is known in Augusta as the one Republican that the Democrats can rely on to help circumvent Republican tax reform attempts.  His latest accomplishment is organizing a betrayal of Maine residents by helping to pass a Democrat purposed budget that increases taxes on Maine people, despite the veto of the Governor, then writing an editorial touting it as a victory, while railing against the Governor, again.  Roger Katz is consistent if nothing else.

What Mr. Katz has done is deepen the divide between the Northern and Southern Maine interests.  Rural Maine can no longer sustain the “marginal” tax increases that Mr. Katz advocates.  It’s just a matter of time before its small businesses and its tenuous fiscal structure become insolvent.

But it doesn’t matter to the “Honorable” Mr. Katz.  He has a political coup for his resume and he lives in Augusta, buried in the political machine.  There he will stay, sipping the nectar of the tax revenue his maneuverings have procured.

Their perspectives are completely the opposite.  Their accomplishments speak for themselves.  The Governor believes in the people.  The Senator believes in government.  Each takes pride in defending their beliefs.  Still, in the end, it is We The People who pay the price and who must decide whose accomplishments we take pride in.

May 29 2012

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.