Stupid Maine Government

As Economy Crumbles, Maine Government Responds with Ban on the Word Squa

2009-06-18T07:33:00.000-07:00

Almost like there was nothing better to spend their time on, the Maine Legislature and Governor further restrict the word 'Squa':

This month, Maine lawmakers amended the law to ban public place names that include "the designation 'squa' or any derivation of 'squa' as a separate word or as a separate syllable in a word." [Full Story]

Baldacci Extends Welfare by Making Earned Income Tax Credit Refundable.

2009-06-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

The Governor signed a new tax bill that, among other things, makes the Earned Income Credit refundable. Refundable tax credits are one way governments extend social programs in a secretive way.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Seeking to avoid a potential veto by Gov. John Baldacci, lawmakers approved last-minute changes to a tax restructuring bill that aims to reduce income taxes for Maine residents while broadening the sales tax.

Baldacci formally proposed the changes Thursday afternoon after allowing a similar tax overhaul measure passed by the Legislature to linger on his desk for nearly a week. [Full Story]

Maine Legislature Concentrates on Gay Marriage, not economy

2009-01-14T11:11:00.000-08:00

What is the Maine Legislature most concerned about these days? Mainers losing their jobs, High Taxes, the lack of affordable health insurance? No, apparently it's Gay Marriage [More]

Maine House, Senate get raises

2009-01-09T08:01:00.001-08:00

AUGUSTA, Maine — Despite hard economic times that threaten deep cuts in state programs and services, Maine legislators are getting cost-of-living pay increases for their work this year. More

DHHS Faced with Curtailment of Lavish Welfare Benefits

2008-11-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

In an effort to bring Maine's projected budget deficit under control, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) may be forced to cut..

...social services, podiatry, optometry, physical therapy and psychological services as some of the services eliminated under the proposal for those over age 21 with income between 100 percent and 150 percent of the federal poverty level, childless adults and some people with disabilities. [Read More]

These are all things the average working Mainer can't afford anyway. Call me crazy, but the best MaineCare benefits should not exceed the benefits of the worst health care plan of those struggling to pay their own way.

Voters to Augusta: Take Your Soda Tax and SHOVE IT!

2008-11-06T05:55:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the work of Fed Up With Taxes (www.FedUpWithTaxes.org) voters overwhelmingly approved Question #1 and repealed Augusta's new tax on soda, beer, wine and health insurance claims. The new tax was aimed at keeping the failed Dirigo Health program on life support. Kudos to Fed Up With Taxes. How we love them so!

Voters have approved a repeal of the recently passed beer, wine and soda taxes, according to preliminary results.

The Bangor Daily News is reporting that 64 percent of voters have approved the repeal, while 36 percent voted to uphold the tax.

“We said back in April that if Maine people had a chance to have a voice on these taxes they would reject them,” said Newell Augur, chairman of the group Fed Up with Taxes which backed the people’s veto. “It appears as though Maine people rejected these taxes by a 2 to 1 margin. It’s a testament that families and businesses are making difficult choices every day. They hope and expect that their government will be doing the same.” Full Story

From Jason in Portland: Motor Vehicle Excise Tax

2008-06-05T09:32:00.000-07:00

I got an interesting email from a viewer in Portland the other day. One more reason to not buy a new vehicle!

I guess you are already familiar with Motor Vehicle excise taxes, and how Augusta and the town pisses the money away! I purchased a new Truck for $26,000.00, and the sticker price was $37,000.00. Of course, the Peoples Republic of Portland city hall demanded the window sticker from the vehicle so they could charge excise tax on the full sticker price, and NOT what was paid for the vehicle. Then, to boot, at the Motor Vehicle office, they had the nerve to charge sales tax on the Factory Rebate of $5,000.00, and a $500.00 Presidents Day bonus rebate. So, all in all, they charged me sales tax on $5,500.00 which I did not spend!

I went online to get the addresses for our elected officials, and it's amazing how many offices each of them have! Presque Isle/Houlton, Bangor/Brewer, Lewiston/Auburn, Biddeford/Sanford, and of course they all have offices here in Portland with addresses such as One City Center, Canal Plaza! I wonder who's paying the rent, utilities, telephone/internet, cleaning, staffing, of all these offices, not to forget about their offices in Washington DC!

I immediately wrote letters to Susan Collins, Olympia Snow, Tom Allen, and Baldacci. Our fine elected official in our Congress and Senate responded by apologizing, and stated that they only deal with Federal Issues, and not State level issues. Our Governor's office responded with a statement that the Excise tax has been around since the 1920's, etc, and that I should express my concerns with my local district representative here in Portland. Talk about passing the buck! Not one of them had any interest in speaking to me about this issue, other than a response with a form letter from one of their assistants.
It's a complete WASTE!

I'm outraged at the system of not only our government, but the lack of commitment our elected officials take, as well as the waste of our already overburdened taxation. It's no wonder people in this state drive jukers for vehicles, while Snow, Baldacci, Collins, and Allen drive around in brand new SUV's, and Jet Set. Is there something wrong with this picture??

Jason
(The Peoples Republic of Portland)

Dirigo says Dirigo has saved state $190M

2008-06-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

Maine's Dirigo Health program says it has saved the Maine health care system more than $190 million. Honest. Full Story

Petition to repeal Maine Soda Tax Launched

2008-06-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

A coalition made of the state's restaurants, convenience store operators, grocers, innkeepers, chambers of commerce and beer, wine and soda distributors has officially launched a drive to overturn the new taxes passed by the Legislature last month to support the Dirigo Health subsidized insurance program. Full Story

Democrats Sucker Punch Maine Citizens....Again!

2008-04-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

Late Tuesday night, with no public input, democratic lawmakers passed and the governor signed a tax increase on Beer, Wine and Soda to fund the failing Dirigo Health Program. It's funny, but not unexpected, how quickly the governor and legislature did a 180 on their commitment to no new taxes we heard so much about during the budget debate. It's really our own fault for electing them. Full Story

Democrats Removing all Accountability on Their Spending

2008-03-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

In the middle of the night (when they thought nobody would notice) the democrats in Augusta slipped a provision into their budget proposal to effectively eliminate the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability. Full Story

Democrats reject reducing state employee benefits

2008-03-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

According to the Portland Press Hearld, "Democrats rejected Republican suggestions that state legislators and their staffs pick up 10 percent of the cost of their health insurance, which the state now funds fully." I can only dream of a day where I only have to pay 10% of the cost of my health insurance!

The Democratic plan would also eliminate the Legislature's watchdog agency and transfer its duties to the Legislature's fiscal office, a proposal opposed by Republicans on the Appropriations Committee.

Full Story

I honestly don't know how these lawmakers can get away with raping the Maine tax payer like this.

Here's a few thoughts:

1. TABOR 2
2. Vote Republican
3. Sign this petition against raising our taxes and in favor of spending cuts:

Maine welfare cuts protested.

2008-03-13T06:15:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, thousands of taxpayer dollars were spent to transport protesters to Augusta to make the case for increasing our taxes. The silent majority of over-taxed and struggling Mainers were unable to attended because they had to work.

Perhaps the most worthwhile testimony of the day came from Tarren Bragdon of the Maine Heritage Policy Center who said significant money could be saved by "reducing MaineCare eligibility, cutting faculty and staff within the University of Maine System and tightening up spending by members of the Legislature". I totally agree with cutting Mainecare. I strongly urge anyone in this state who is paying for their own medical care (insurance, etc) to compare their list of benefits to those that people on Mainecare get. It'll make you sick. Full Story

Augusta Liberals Squeal at Budget Cuts

2008-03-12T05:42:00.000-07:00

I've been watching with fascination the budget debates in Augusta over the last few weeks. The Gov seems to be remaining firm on his stance of no new taxes. Good for him! However, I do sometimes wonder if this isn't a "Good Cop/Bad Cop" act. As the Augusta Liberals salivate over huge new tax increases, the idea may be that we'll be so scared of them we'll eventually allow the Gov to slip in a few small ones. I'm not saying this is what's going on, but it's something we should all be on guard for.

Now, many welfare-supporting liberals are squealing as the budget Ax bears down on them and their programs. To them, these proposed budget cuts are making the unthinkable a possibility. Some of these unpleasant realities include the idea that people may have to earn a living. They may have to pay for their own health care. Scary thoughts.

Augusta Democrats Warming Up to Tax Increases

2008-02-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

As if we didn't all see this coming. Faced with a $225 million budget shortfall from all the years of lavish spending, Jeremy Fischer, D-Presque Isle (head of the Appropriations Committee) said lawmakers should consider tax increases if cutting the budget becomes too onerous.

Augusta democrats absolutely hate to cut spending and they're trying to warm us up gradually to the idea of new taxes. Can the Republicans stop them? We'll see. Full Story

Viewer Letters

2008-02-08T05:49:00.000-08:00

Here are some letters from our viewers. My apologies for not posting these sooner. The common theme seems to be more DHHS abuse and stupidity...

From Jeff:

To Whom It May Concern:

On June 2nd 2007, I purchased a small, used motorcycle. At that time I was a resident of the state of New Hampshire and had been living there for 25 years. In mid-June, I moved to the mid-coast of Maine. I did not register the motorcycle in New Hampshire as I knew I would be moving in two weeks. What rational person would register a vehicle in a state for a year, knowing they were leaving in two weeks?

The motorcycle came to Maine in the back of my pickup truck. When I went to the BMV to register the motorcycle I was told I owed the state of Maine $125 in sales tax. "That's insane", I told the clerk. I bought this vehicle as a New Hampshire resident, from a New Hampshire resident, in North Conway, New Hampshire. I owed no sales tax to Maine for a transaction that took place in New Hampshire between two New Hampshire residents. I showed the clerk the HUD-1 statement documenting the date I bought my home in Maine and the title for the motorcycle showing the sale 2 weeks prior. She was not impressed. I was told because I had never registered the motorcycle for use on public roads, I would have to pay Maine sales tax. That's outrageous. They had me. Either pay the sales tax, or I could not register the motorcycle for use in Maine.

This is nothing less than legitimized theft. If I took $125 from someone at gunpoint, I'd be in jail. I guess it's OK for Maine to take $125 from me, with no rational right to do so.

I have twice emailed the Secretary of State asking for an explanation, since that time. I have never received a reply. I know they received my email because I have never gotten a bounce notice and they've responded to a different email inquiry from me regarding a matter for which they did have an easy answer. I guess the Secretary of State only answers easy questions. That doesn't surprise me.

It's not bad enough the the State of Maine mismanages millions of taxpayer dollars, but it is brazen enough to take that which it has NO right to collect. I have only been in Maine 6 months. I am going back to New Hampshire. This and several other instances of sheer stupidity and arrogance by the state have been enough. A shame really as I am the kind of resident Maine needs. Fully-employed, responsible, accountable and civic-minded. I think they expect me to work hard so they can take my money and throw it away. I am too smart to tolerate that for very long.

Good luck to all of you who are left behind.

J. G. Adams, MSgt, USAF (ret.)

P.S. How about the 20 million dollars the state treasurer recently threw away based on advice from his golfing buddies? I would respectfully suggest he get every dime back or go to jail.
Either you are a steward of the public trust, or you're not.

From Anonymous:

I can not believe that any department can have so much power with
personnel that are so unqualified! My father has been hounded for five years
by DHHS of Lewiston. Let me tell you I thought he was exaggerating
until I became involved. He and my stepmother, both in their 70's, have
been married for 30 years when she had a stroke in 2000. He has been her
sole caregiver for many years. She is very limited in her speech, and
has been examined by DHHS Doctors who have declared her to have
dementia and unable to make decisions for herself. The department has tried
over the past 5 years to become, and if they are her guardians then they
could get her on Maine Care and become the beneficiaries. They have
tried on numerous occasions to get her to sign for divorce and give them
guardianship. They have removed her from the home on three occasions
and placed her in a nursing home. Twice thrown out of court and the third
time the judge in Oxford county said he had not been given any just
cause for removal. This last time the judge gave DHHS temporary
guardianship and they placed her in a nursinhome in Canton maine who dropped her
and broke her hip not once but twice!There is so much more to this
story than i can write here. Is there any advocates or someone there in
Maine I can contact? I need help I am living in Oklahoma and don't know
where to begin.

From Tom:

Hello, my name is tom and I am the grandfather of two infant children. My daughter has had two children with two different men. In 2005 she got pregnant, and the father was told VARIOUS times by telephone, AND by her visiting him at his parents house. He was VERY upset with her calling him, the father of the baby and told her MANY TIMES to NEVER contact him again for ANY reason. We complied, seeing that he had on many occasions demonstrated violent outbursts, including carrying a loaded gun into a sandwich shop, and chasing after my daughter and two of her friends with an AX ! MY self, and my fiancee have taken care of the first child for nearly 2 1/2 years when DHHS stepped into the picture, and took her out of the home due to my daughter being in a dangerous situation with the father of the second child. The first child has NEVER been away from us, she has gone through absolute HELL, at DHHS's expense, NOT TO MENTION the anxiety we've gone through, along with my declining health since they took her away from me. DHHS heard the story about how the second father knocked out my daughters front teeth with a padlock, that he hurrled at her face, they EVEN have it on record , YET, they made NO ATTEMPT to arrest him for the crime that he OPENLY has admitted to. NOW, the father of the first child has the first child even though he attacked my daughter, AND the father of the second child has his child even though he admitted to nearly killing my daughter. SO......DHHS has seen fit to give these children away to the fathers that have BOTH openly admitted to violently treating my daughter. Is Maine NOW opposite land???? it SURELY looks as though both these guys BOUGHT a decision........and of course because I didn't agree with the decisions DHHS made for my grandchildren, I got VERY upset as I felt as if my family was (AND IT WAS!), being torn apart. I guess I was just supposed to sit back, and watch my family abused by the ABUSIVE POWER of DHHS. Even as this state's budget is WAY out of wack DUE to DHHS, NOW the father's of the children.....(making a combined total of 30 dollars an hour get a COURT APPOINTED lawyer, BUT, DHHS has seen fit to CONTINUE the child protective case into the parental rights and responsibilty case. THIS STATE in ALL it's trouble has not ONLY represented LIARS, THUGS, BUT, has paid ALL their court expenses,..........INCREDIABLE !!!

I'd sure appreciate hearing from someone that is HUMAN instead of being treated like trash by a governmental department that operates in the OPPOSITE direction than the one that states on their website, "IN THE CHILDRENS BEST INTEREST"

Maine goes after out-of-state plane owners

2008-01-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

PORTLAND, Maine — When Steve Kahn got a $26,000 tax bill on his airplane, he thought Maine Revenue Services had made a mistake. Kahn lives and works in Massachusetts.

But the bill was no error. It was part of the agency's efforts to collect taxes on aircraft owned by out-of-staters, even though they bought their planes elsewhere and brought them to Maine only to visit.

Full Story

Maine Health Insurance Mess

2007-09-26T05:58:00.000-07:00

I recently received a letter from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield informing me that, beginning Jan 1, 2008, my premiums will jump a whopping 18.6%. I'm one of many Mainers that aren't covered by an employer health plan and have to purchase individual insurance out of my own pocket. My current plan carries a $5000 deductible and costs me $230/month. Starting Jan 1 I'll be paying $282/month. I also have an HSA account which helps a little bit.

So, since I'm paying all this money every month and pretty much getting nothing in return, I decided to investigate the current state of health care in Maine. The letter I received from Anthem blames the Maine State Government for the rate increase and directed me to a website for more information: www.FixInsuranceForME.com While I'm always a little skeptical about what insurance companies tell me, Anthem does make some good points. And it's certainly not inconceivable that the Maine Government could be at fault.

Anthem claims the problem with the Maine Health Insurance system is the result of outdated laws passed back in 1994. Specifically:

1. Guaranteed-Issue Law: This means that no one can be denied health insurance for any reason.

2. Community-Rating Law: This restricts what insurance companies can charge for premiums, regardless of the condition of the applicant. Sick members aren't charged much more than healthy ones.

As with most laws, the intentions were most likely honorable. Guaranteed Issue means insurance is available to everyone. Would it really be fair to deny someone insurance because they're sick? Same with Community Rating. Is it fair someone has to pay more for their insurance because they've been afflicted with a disease, etc?

In reality, however, these laws (at least in part) have degraded the Maine insurance market to the point where almost no one can afford private insurance. The high rates have caused many people to drop out of the insurance program. The ones who are left are generally the older and sicker people who simply have no choice but to keep participating. And those of us who are healthy and refuse to go without insurance are forced to carry an unfair percentage of the burden of the sick members in the risk pool. Of course, if the Maine Legislature had put a little thought into these laws before passing them, we probably wouldn't be in the mess we are. For example, The Guaranteed-Issue Law make me ask myself the following question: Being a 30+ healthy person, why shouldn't I just drop out of the program save the $300/month payment? I could buy that new big-screen TV I've been wanting, some good quality beer, maybe take a vacation, etc. Or maybe just bank the money. Ten+ years down the road when I get sick, I'll just rejoin (they can't deny me due to the Guaranteed-Issue Law) and start collecting benefits? Hmmmmmm. Of course, at that point it ceases to be Health Insurance and becomes Health Welfare.

I'm not really blaming the State of Maine for passing these laws. On the surface, they sound like a good idea. And many other states made the same mistake. The difference is that many other states have realized the error of their ways and FIXED the problem! But the Maine Legislature has done nothing as usual. They are fast to break things and painfully slow to fix them.

Here's some more reading on the subject:

http://www.downeast.com/Articles-2007/Maines-Insurance-Mess/

DHHS Moves to Make Welfare Fraud Easier

2007-09-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

The SunJournal is reporting

On Oct. 1, the state will stop using voucher management agencies to dole out child care subsidies and will instead give parents debit cards to pay for day care themselves. Full Story

While the move is expected to save $1 million by eliminating the middle man, I'm sure that the increased amount of fraud will more than make those savings disappear. Does the state really think that giving people who are not good at managing money unrestricted debit cards with large amounts of money on them and expecting them to be responsible is a good idea? For many dependent families, child care is the largest sum they receive from the state. The average food stamp allotment is $238 a month for a family with children. The average child care subsidy is $420 a month.

Reading further into the article we get some interesting insight into the philosophy of DHHS:

DHHS officials believe the debit cards will be a good thing. Parents won't have to worry about the stigma of state assistance because they can pay for care directly, just like all the other families. Full Story

Shouldn't people on public assistance feel a certain degree of shame for taking money from the rest of us who work hard to support our own families as well as theirs?? That stigma DHHS wants to eliminate is, for most, a good incentive to get off public assistance. But while getting people off welfare is good for working Mainers, it's bad for DHHS.

Governor Seizes Verizon Overcharge; Stifles Small Business

2007-08-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

I was recently forwarded a letter written by Chris Anderson of Pioneer Wireless (a Northern Maine Internet Service Provider) to Jack Cushman, economic advisor to Gov. Baldacci. The letter is a protest of the Governor's plan to intercept a confirmed customer overcharge by Verizon and give it back to Verizon. The letter raises some obvious questions such as why the customers who were overchanged aren't getting their money back.

8/13/2007
Mr. Jack Cashman
Economic Advisor to the Governor
Augusta, Maine
RE: Your visit to Aroostook Partnership for Progress

Mr. Cashman,

Thank you for the economic development update during your visit at the APP board meeting last Friday. During your discussion you highlighted the Governor’s plan to allow a confirmed overcharge by Verizon to be used, in aggregate, as a gift or grant to Verizon/Fairpoint for further broadband development in Maine. Is it true that the estimated overcharge amounts to a staggering $34,500,000 with Verizon agreeing to use $12,500,000 of it for broadband deployments? This proposal is very disturbing to me. I have been thinking about this all week-end and decided to write this letter. First, overcharges belong to the rate payers or to those that were billed in excess of expectations and not the State of Maine or the Pubic Utilities Commission to do with as they please.

Second, I am certain there must be laws in place that prevent regulated activities to fund unregulated activities. Does this diversion of funds violate those very laws?

Third, giving Verizon/ Fairpoint a windfall of $12,500,000 to extend broadband is
rewarding them for reluctant behavior at someone else’s expense. For years, Verizon has delayed further deployments of broadband because they claim it did not make economic sense. So now an overcharge is discovered and they get to keep the money as long as it is directed at broadband deployment? Something does not seem right about that.

Fourth, broadband deployments are occurring throughout the state. And it’s occurring through the entrepreneurial efforts of small businesses like ours and others. I find that PUC statistics and maps are woefully inaccurate and/or outdated regarding current activity. Firms such as Pioneer Wireless, Aroostook Internet, Cornerstone Communications, RedZone Wireless, MidCoast Internet and Point South Internet, to name a few, are using their own capital and taking significant risk to bring broadband services to areas of rural Maine; areas that Verizon has been reluctant to invest. Free capital gives subsidy to the large Telco monopoly making it impossible for the unsubsidized small businesses to compete, creating significant unfair advantage. In fact, this free money in the hands of Verizon/Fairpoint will most certainly spell doom for our company.

Fifth, if the State can somehow rationalize diverting regulated overcharges, why is Verizon / Fairpoint allowed to be the sole beneficiary? I can only dream of the things
Pioneer Wireless could do to accelerate broadband offerings with a fraction of this subsidy. Why not give it to ConnectME? The ConnectME Authority, created in late 2006 to accelerate broadband deployment, is just getting off the ground this year with a paltry (comparatively) $300,000 in grant money. Firms must then apply competitively with the hopes of being reviewed by an unbiased party to get a grant award. This would be a more fair and democratic way of dispensing the funds.

Sixth, central office (CO) or remote terminal (RT) DSL deployment is by no means ubiquitous to a target area. The only sure way for complete coverage is to deploy a combination of wired (DSL or Cable) and wireless technologies. Free capital of such a large magnitude in the hands of the large Telco will simply put Pioneer Wireless and others out of business. And thus, despite a massive rural deployment of DSL there will still be folks unable to receive the coveted DSL signal as promised but will no longer be able to enjoy our wireless service because, well…we will not be there to serve them.

The final point is that this plan of the Governor’s is not friendly to small business. It stifles the very creative energy that pushed our company to start Pioneer Wireless
Network six years ago. There are folks from Fort Kent to Calais that enjoy and depend on our service daily. I get thanked often for bringing high speed internet to their area when they know that no other firm was willing to take the risk. I get asked very often by underserved folks when they might expect us to serve them. We are trying hard to make rural broadband a viable business model. When state policy makers design deals that create unfair advantage for the large business to the detriment of the small business, our economy suffers in the long run. The State was recently ranked 48th worst state in the nation to do business. Policies such as these could be one of the very reasons we have achieved such an infamous reputation.

I’m not well versed in the regulated Telco world but felt compelled to write this letter. I look forward to hearing from you to discuss this issue further.

Sincerely,

Christopher B. Anderson
President

DHHS Worker Sentenced for Theft from Elderly

2007-08-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

Another DHHS worker that was caught stealing has been sentenced to two years in jail with all but 30 days suspended. Albert Bouchard of Limestone was charged with stealing more than $9,000 in funds from elderly clients to purchase jewelry, electronics, gift certificates and furniture for himself, his wife, children and his girlfriend between 2001 and 2003. This seems to be a growing trend at Maine DHHS (formerly DHS).

From the Bangor Daily News:

In one instance, Bouchard charged a $300 digital camera to the account of one elderly woman with dementia and also made several cash withdrawals from her account.

He used another client’s account to purchase a $1,300 large-screen television for his home and delivered a 27-inch TV to the nursing facility at which the client was living.

Bouchard also charged the accounts of two clients with dementia for several pieces of expensive jewelry, including a $600 diamond anniversary ring and a $700 gold rope chain necklace. Rowe said Bouchard delivered inexpensive substitutes to the clients, who were residing at nursing care facilities. Full Story

Top 5 Reasons it's Hard to be a Maine State Government Employee

2007-07-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

#5 - Getting your name and salary published in the Bangor Daily News

#4 - Wondering how long it will be before Maine citizens catch on.

#3 - Feeling sorry for all the other Mainers that aren't doing as well.

#2 - Wondering if you could make more money in Racketeering.

#1 - Being teased by co-works if you make less than the governor.

I Want to Work for the State of Maine

2007-07-19T18:26:00.000-07:00

What do a Principal Law Librarian, Professor of Theater, Professor of Art, A Hockey Coach and a plethora of other Umaine, DHHS and other state employees have in common? They all make more than the Governor, according to a Bangor Daily News article published last weekend. And I'm by no means suggesting the governor is under-paid. And in an article in today's BDN, Baldacci seemed shocked the state is dishing out this kind of money in salaries, calling the article "eye opening" and commenting he'd "like to know how to get a job like the former [UMaine] chancellor has." Yeah, at $208K/year, wouldn't we all. In fact, in the BDN list of "More than 950 Maine State, University, Judiciary and Legislative Jobs that Pay $75,000 or more", the University of Maine System sticks out like a sore thumb (even more than DHHS).

The Maine Government Wants to Help us Manage our Money

2007-07-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

I almost fell on the floor laughing when I heard about this. Maine Lawmakers have determined that we (Maine Citizens) aren't very good at managing our money and could use their help. LOL. OMG.

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Lawmakers say Mainers, and especially younger people who get easy access to credit cards, need better money-management skills. And they're putting up money to see that more financial advice will be offered. Full Story

The Book Augusta Doesn't Want You to Read

2007-06-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

I highly recommend every Maine Citizen download and read the the 2007 Maine Piglet Book Published by the Maine Heritage Policy Center and Citizens Against Government Waste. The book is a startling looking at government waste in Maine. Leading the pack, as usual, is the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Probably the most unaccountable and arrogant agency in state government, we have DHHS to thank for blowing $56 million in taxpayer dollars on a medicaid billing system. DHHS failed to do its homework before hiring a contractor to build this system and throwing a lot of (our) money at them. Had they done a little due-diligence they would have discovered this contractor had no experience in building such a system. If this doesn't get your blood boiling check out the section on State Employee Compensation. In most organizations some heads would be rolling if $56 million was squandered. But not at DHHS! Here you'll learn that the top 12 DHHS employees are each making over $143,000/year in salary! More than the Governor! These figures are from 2005 so maybe they've come down some, but I doubt it.