Would fix welfare system

The Department of Health and Human Services is not doing its job. It isn't going after people who are cheating the welfare system.

Welfare enrollment has increased 70 percent since 2003.

I believe that the welfare system has been broken for more than 35 years. The hard-working people of Maine who need help are turned down because they make just a few dollars too much.

I am so sick of paying my state taxes to a broken welfare system. For more than 35 years, Democrats, including Libby Mitchell, have been running Maine into a hole. It is time for new blood.

Paul LePage would fix the broken welfare system and go after people who are cheating the system. That's why I support Paul LePage for governor.

Reggie Bechard, Lewiston

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Terry Donald's picture

LePage can't fix it. He's

LePage can't fix it. He's shown that he can't even keep track of the business going on in his own house, how can we expect him to be responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars?
He didn't know whether his name was on his house deed or not, even though after purchasing it he went through the effort to transfer the deed into his wife's name. He didn't know that his wife was claiming homestead exemptions on 2 houses, did he also not know that his wife changed her state of residence? Did he not know his kids were getting in state Florida tuition? And he has no idea how many points he has on his driving record?

Honestly, that's alot of things not to know.

Israeli Reforms

I believe LePage goes straight back to Golda Meir's example of working welfare and reforms. Which makes better sense in the real world and working class climate it is not about the something for nothing world which has accumulated. Quite frankly those on welfare who milk the system and use it to their advantages sicken me. Also, those who use the brand names over a local name in ordering products or services quite frankly are another source of attitude problems which are anti-business in Maine. There can be no small businesses just starting out when the customer balks and pays well over value for a pitiful system offered by Dell when a custom system performs just as well. For those who milk it and use the social security system for those ends it does not justify the means. I am on social security because of Aspergers if I were to build a client base through volunteer work that would mean that the strategy has met the goal work. Reggie I agree the welfare reform starts in the community not in milking the system.

Mark Wrenn's picture


"Welfare enrollment has increased 70 percent since 2003." Geez, I wonder which party was running the economy then. Maybe the government should have cut taxes on capital gains and dividends for the well off so there would be about a gazillion new jobs created by the "trickle on" theory. Then welfare need would decrease, right? Wait, what?

PAUL ST JEAN's picture

Bechard's taling about Maine

Bechard's taling about Maine welfare; you're talking nationally. Not a fair and balanced comparison. You might consider watching FNC and learn how it's done.

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

Or the Dems running this

Or the Dems running this state could have made a business friendly environment and not run major employers out.

RONALD RIML's picture

Have you ever read MERI's voting criteria, MAC?

Maine Economic Research Institute sets up a criteria by which it rates our legislators and their votes. Here's a link - http://www.me-ri.org/Rated%20Bills%20First%20Session%20124th/Legislation...

'Business-Friendly' does not necessarily equate to being 'Mainer Friendly'

Why would MERI be against a 'Sales Tax Holiday' for consumers on Columbus Day Weekend? So businesses have to reprogram the cash registers They're rather the consumer pay taxes.

Why would MERI want to deprive career firefighters who handle hazerdous materials and carcinogens the presumption that certain of their cancers were job-related? Throw your protectors out to the wolves, eh, Guys....

Fight against a Health Care Bill of Rights? Guess it is all about the Almighty Buck not about health care, eh???

See where we're going with this, Mac?

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

I see and it all comes down

I see and it all comes down to our fundamental differences in taxation. If Gritty's for example needs more revenue to stay afloat and they have enough room to seat one more table, why shouldn't they be able to do that, if even in the short term (tourist season), without fear of getting assessed at a higher tax rate? The same goes for adding new kitchen equipment. No, instead they are forced to stagnate and hope to get by. I'm talking less about a sales tax holiday and more about a fundamental change in how we tax employers. I worked closely with the owners of a small business and saw in black and white those factors concerning our bottom line. If the state were less restrictive with those who provide jobs, there would be more incentive to grow and create jobs.

RONALD RIML's picture

There are reasons for Seating "Fire" Codes

Learned one disaster after another. And one death now would probably wipe out all those profits from a single table for many, many years. Acquaint yourself with the Grand-Daddy of all - The Iroquois Theatre Fire, Chicago - 1903, 602 deaths. Many Regulations and Codes went into effect after that. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois_Theater_Fire

If Gritty's finds the booze business too onerous (which I doubt) he needs to diversify.

Got those links yet???

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

look up ^

look up ^

RONALD RIML's picture

So are they disallowed the seat by Fire Code....

Or taxed at a higher rate when they go into a larger seating capacity???

We all have to make business decisions.

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

The tax rate would go up for

The tax rate would go up for seating even if allowed by fire code. In Auburn, Gritty's used to have a pool table in the back. They chose to get rid of it to increase seating and because of that, had to pay more in taxes. I'm just saying that to tax such a place on seating, equipment, property, sales, meals, payroll (am I missing any) goes too far. We'll never agree on taxation, but at the end of the day, especially for a small business, it creates a hostile climate. I looked back over the numbers in my link above and, taken with the research written with it, the point still stays in tact: Maine is losing commercial jobs. I even checked a Maine.gov page that concurs although it only goes back far enough to blame it on the national recession. I think the empty store fronts all over the state speak for themselves. If the problem is indeed national, then we need to take drastic steps at the state level to counteract the effect considering Maine has never been a boom state even when the rest of the country is doing well.

RONALD RIML's picture

So did Gritty's 'lease' the pool table rather than own it??

If leased, the actual owner would be responsibile for taxes, maintenance, etc - take the money, and only pay Gritty's a share. Perhaps Gritty's thought they could make more $$$ with a customer table - but then they would own that and be subject to business personal property taxes.

As far as 'Taxes' creating an 'Hostile Business Environment' - so does paying one's vendors and employees - it all cuts into the bottom line. As paying free-lance writers creates a hostile publishing environment; so do we gut copyright law??

Republicans and Conservatives certainly hate taxes, but as the Reagan and both Bush Administrations proved - cutting taxes while still spending like drunken Gritty customers sure ran the national debt up!! - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_by_U.S._presidential_terms

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

I wish my freelance writing

I wish my freelance writing was taking a big enough share to create a hostile environment. Sadly, most publishers these days are taking more advantage of the "free" in freelance; finding contributors in hopes that they'll write for free on close to it in return for being able to pad their portfolio.
Republicans these days are more concerned with stem cells, abortion, and preventing gays from serving their country than economics. Cutting taxes works but only if spending decreases...otherwise it's just a great popularity booster in the short term. The real question of all our aspiring governors is how to shrink the beast. Libby won't touch it. LePage talks about it with no plan. Cutler....I couldn't tell the difference between the two until the news put them side by side in the debate. I think I'm still going with Moody thus far.

RONALD RIML's picture

It's a Bummer

And I'm certainly nowhere near satisfied with what the Dems fielded.

Cutting spending will take some major shake-ups in how govt operates, and I seriously doubt it will happen in my lifetime. Healthcare and military spending largest drains and require most drastic overhaul, yet special interests too firmly entrenched.

I've known a few aspiring writers, but none to my recollection "Did Good." Richard Ford is a neighbor of mine, but he'd already been awarded his Pulitzer before we met. He likes my politics and ain't bad for a Southern Boy.

I've thought of writing a few memoirs, etc including the "Largest Cockroach in the World" who held court in a broken commode in a skivvy house in Subic Bay, various Police Cases including the "Calf with Nine Lives" and the "Beheaded Be-itch"...

Conserva-mom claims she's 'Seen it all' - I highly doubt it.

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

You should dive in and write

You should dive in and write it. I'm about ten chapters into one of my own...when I'm not chasing shiny spots on the floor. At times I'm too highly distracted to do the serious stuff so I mostly play with magazines. At times as a writer the best you can hope for is to be like one of the many destitute scribblers who became famous after they found the other side of the dirt.

RONALD RIML's picture

Give me a call some time

In de book or whatever

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

Will do!

Will do!

RONALD RIML's picture

Continue the discussion...

The tax you're speaking of - is that the "Personal Property" tax for the business - and not the real estate tax.

Of course as a business acquires additional personal property (more tables and chairs) that valuation will increase, and so will the personal property tax.

My guess is that the tax for one additional table and four chairs is probably less than what Gritty's gets for three pitchers of beer, even at Auburn's mil rate.

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

I think the last I heard, it

I think the last I heard, it was around a quarter to put a pint of their own brew in front of a customer. Funny though, out of staters don't trust our local micros and I remember one of the owners having to go out and stock up on Bud Light and Coors mid day...pittiful.

RONALD RIML's picture

I thought we were talking about Beer....

Not Rice Wallow and Mountain Pizz

 's picture

the link you provided are the magical figures of

the Maine Heritage Policy Center, which is totally funded by big business. The figures were manipulated to prove the theory they want to prove. When will you realize that the MHPC is a fraud?

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

Here's the lesson, kiddies:

Here's the lesson, kiddies: Veritas and I were having a polite, thoughtful discussion. Tron jumps in and simply says that it's all lies; bringing nothing to the table. Friends,don't let friends feed a troll.

 's picture

REALLY? Exactly who have the Democrats

'run out?' I'd names of major employers who the democrats have targeted and 'ran out' of the state. Not a lot, just the top ten, please? Or admit you're a liar and apologize.

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

Although I hate to feed a troll...or copy and paste

Over the past decade, 3,400 government jobs were added while 13,000 private sector jobs were lost.

The dramatic disparity between the growth in private versus public sector employment in Maine illustrates the need for the Taxpayer Bill of Rights provision which will be on the November ballot. Consider these facts:

• Data from the Maine Department of Labor reveals that there are fewer private sector workers in Maine today than there were a decade ago. As shown in Chart 1 and Table 1, over the last decade Maine’s private sector has lost 13,000 workers. Since the recession began in January 2008, Maine’s private sector has lost 22,700 workers.

• In stark contrast, Maine’s state and local governments have added 3,400 employees over the last decade. To put it another way, for every additional state and local government employee added, four private sector workers lost their jobs.

• This public sector job growth has been driven by out-of-control government spending. From FY 2000 to FY 2008, total state expenditures grew $2 billion, from $4.7 billion to $6.8 billion - a runaway spending increase of 45 percent!

• This unsustainable state spending is fueled, in part, by a bloated state workforce. In 2007, Maine state government had 4,497 more workers than needed, by national standards, costing Maine’s taxpayers an additional $189,451,468 in taxes. Clearly, the only long-term solution for controlling this kind of runaway government spending is the Taxpayer Bill of Rights initiative, which, if passed by voters this November, will allow taxpayers to decide if government should grow faster than the economy’s ability to create jobs for private sector workers.

RONALD RIML's picture

Your numbers wrong by the link you provided.

Mac, the statistics in Tables 1 and 2 which you provded in the link http://www.mainepolicy.org/resources/media/251_448221629.pdf are inclusive to the year 2007.

According to Table I, there was an increase of 20,773 Total jobs in the 10 years ending in 1997; of these 13,854 were 'Commercial Jobs' - the remainder, 6,919, are decribed as "Non-Commercial, being government, not-for-profits and religious organizations"

So just where in this document do you get the figures that you have decribed? It doesn't add up.....

RONALD RIML's picture

Mac - we expect better from you.

No link - how do we know what to respond to, or even if the statistics have validity? You, of all people, should know better.

Just how much Federal Aid does Maine receive for our state and local governments per person? In 2007, we were the 11th highest of the fifty states, receiving $1,936 per person. - http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/ranks/rank22.html

Sarah Palin tells us how hardy and self-sufficient Alaskan is (which is practically hemorrhaging oil from its northern slopes, and in 2007 issued each resident an “Oil Royalty Check” for $1,654) - http://www.seattlepi.com/national/332411_dividend20.html

– yet in 2007 Alaska was the second highest recipient of federal aid - receiving $3,568 from the Federal Government per capita; 84% higher than what each Mainer accounted for. Governor Palin was certainly in OUR pockets while big oil was minding their store! -

RONALD RIML's picture

Appears you know not what you are speaking about, candice

candiceanne writes: There are four times yes 4 time the national state average of nonprofit organizations in the state of Maine

According to their website, "The National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) is the national clearinghouse of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States."

Go to to their web-page entitled "Number of Nonprofit Organizations by State, 2010" - http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/profileDrillDown.php?rpt=US-STATE

The NCCS states that there is a total of 1,514,530 Non-Profit Organizations in the U.S. in 2010; this would average out to 30,290.6 per each of the 50 states. Maine is listed as having 8,763 Non-Profit Organizations, or 28.9% of the State Average, and not four times the State Average as you claim.

If, however, you are comparing the number of 'Non-Profits to Population' - then we find the following: Total U.S. Population of 308 Million served by 1,514,530 Non-Profits equates to a National Ratio of One Non-Profit per 203.4 persons; in Maine, with a 2010 population of 1,321,574, the State Ratio is One Non-Profit per 150.8 persons.

You either need to stay awake in class or someone has their figures way off. Which is it? No wonder you have no links.

 's picture

Your source only lists

Your source only lists "charities" not all nonprofits are charities.

RONALD RIML's picture

Read the following:

"Nonprofit organizations include everything from neighborhood associations that meet a couple of times a year and have no assets to Harvard University and the Gates Foundation, each with tens of billions in assets. They include soup kitchens and traditional "charities" that serve the poor as well as your local church, the Chamber of Commerce, the Sierra Club, the United Steel Workers labor union, and the Metropolitan Opera. As you can see, there's no "one-size-fits-all" way to think about nonprofit organizations."

Chamber of Commerce and Unions are 'Charities?'

Perhaps you'de best quote that part of the site where it states it lists only charities......

 's picture

she apparently went to the same school

of mathematics that the SJ editorial board went to, see today's editorial.

RONALD RIML's picture

candiceanne - your links??

Alaska was #2 State for Federal aid to state and local govt at $3,568 per person. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/ranks/rank22.html

Gov. Sarah Palin sure knew how to cut a fat hog in the azz, didn't she.....

RONALD RIML's picture

Your school has links - Don't be lazy.

So you're trying to expand your mind to match your ego? Way to Go!!

Almost everything out there has links. I earned my first Bachelors pre-computer, but can find links to every concept or issue involved. You're being either lazy and/or arrogant to imply you can't.

 's picture


You are right Veritas, it is the University of Southern Maine so candiceanne is wrong it IS a MICKEY MOUSE SCHOOL. Candiceanne you better transfer to a real school so you can get a real education, even Veritas admits USM is a joke.

RONALD RIML's picture

I never stated USM was a 'Joke'

I criticized candiceanne for failing to reference any links supporting her allegations.

That's out and out laziness.

RONALD RIML's picture

And no curriculum, subject matter, nor references available

on line. Fancy That. Certainly doesn't sound like that last degree I earned.

Though my first, pre-personal computer days, was a B.A. in Public Service. Back when there were only books.

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

Did you see the banner ad on

Did you see the banner ad on this page for Palin?

RONALD RIML's picture

Provide a 'link' so we know where it's coming from...

That's the criteria

Douglas Mac antSaior's picture

You're not gonna like the link

PAUL ST JEAN's picture

And, your point?

And, your point?

Mark Wrenn's picture


Maybe mentioning "Paul Lepage" and "cheating the system" in the same sentence has something to do with it.

PAUL ST JEAN's picture

Let's face it; if they don't

Let's face it; if they don't keep people on welfare, the case workers won't have any cases to work on and THEY won't have jobs, either. Get the picture?



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