Maine GOP: Voters Want Work Requirement for Welfare/Medicaid Recipients

A poll came out today showing overwhelming support for work requirements to receive Medicaid benefits. This is strong evidence that Governor LePage's, Congressman Poliquin's, and most Mainers' vision of able-bodied, working-age adults needing to do some amount of work to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits is shared nationwide. In fact, the poll (conducted by a firm whose results on Presidential elections have proven more accurate than most in recent years) found those in support of work requirements outnumbered those opposed by a nearly 3 to 1 margin. This may come as no surprise to you given how common sense a position it is. Yet as you also know there is a small but loud group of opponents to it... Still, as Maine GOP Chair Demi Kouzounas said just last week: "It is a simple truth that work strengthens individuals, families, communities, states, and nations. Work should be promoted on all fronts whenever possible. We are generous here in Maine, and encouraging a strong work ethic is one of the greatest gifts we've always given our people, and we always should." From Rasmussen polling today: 64% Say ‘Yes’ To Work Requirements For Medicaid Recipients Wednesday, January 17, 2018 The Trump administration announced it would allow states to create work requirements for Medicaid recipients, and most Americans think that’s a good idea. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 64% of American Adults think that childless, able-bodied adults in their state should be required to work as a condition for receiving Medicaid. Just 22% disagree, while 14% are not sure.

Maine GOP: News You Can Trust (January 11, 2018)

Maine GOP Presents: News You Can Trust Here is a quick round-up of some key news items.  At the Maine GOP we plan on providing you with a periodic update of key articles and opinions from around the state on topics that matter to you.  If you are aware of a news article or event that should be included here, please email garrettmurch@mainegop.com with the link and information. News You Can Trust Video Edition Top Maine and National News Washington adopts welfare reform long supported by Maine Republicans Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new guideline that will allow states to implement work requirements for Medicaid benefits to working-age, able-bodied adults. This reform is along the lines of reforms advocated for and implemented by Maine Republicans for years, including by Governor LePage, Congressman Poliquin, and Republicans in both the Maine Senate and House. Upon announcement of this important welfare reform, Maine GOP Chair Dr. Demi Kouzounas had this to say: Once again, Maine has led as Governor LePage's reforms requiring work for welfare have now become national policy. I am so pleased Washington is actually doing something right here, adopting the vision of our Governor... As Congressman Poliquin said today, the goal of welfare should not be to make people helpless and dependent, but rather to "give individuals the opportunities they need to succeed and become self-supporting and independent." Demi's full statement can be read here. Governor LePage's statement can be read here. Congressman Poliquin's statement can be read here. Senator Volk continues fight against human trafficking On Wednesday, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Amy Volk (R-Cumberland) hosted the 4th Annual Human Trafficking Day at the State House to raise awareness of human trafficking and exploitation globally and in, yes, Maine. Senator Volk had this to say:   While many people assume that human trafficking occurs mostly in large cities and foreign countries, the truth of the matter is that it’s happening right here within our communities in Maine... During my time in Augusta, arrests have been made in my suburban district and I have met a number of survivors, some as young as my own children, others older than I am. It’s heartbreaking, but by working together and recognizing the warning signs, we can identify more victims, curb demand and bring abusers to justice. It is sad that inhumane crimes like these have spread even to Maine, but we are grateful to Senator Volk and others for fighting back. With your help, we know Senator Volk and her bipartisan allies in this battle can prevail. NATIONAL DAY OF TRAINING ON JANUARY 20TH On January 20th, in celebration of President Trump’s first full year in office, the Maine GOP will be holding a National Day of Training and 2018 campaign kick-off events. WILL YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS JOIN US? We at the Maine GOP and our legion of supporters (YOU) have worked hard to ensure a successful first year for President Trump and Maine Republicans. Now we want to kick off 2018 with a bang. On Saturday, January 20th, starting at 9am, we will be offering training at these two locations: Maine GOP Headquarters 9 Higgins Street Augusta, ME 04330 ...and... Jeff's Catering 15 Littlefield Way Brewer, ME 04412   SIGN UP TO HELP HERE At these events, we will show you how to use the new RNC door-to-door app, how to do volunteer recruitment, and get you familiar with our phone calling app. Please don't be intimidated, our instructors will show you how simple and easy it is now for you to help! THESE TRAININGS ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR SUCCESS THIS YEAR PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP HERE Will you join us for the January 20th National Day of Training? This program is excellent, and becoming a part of it will truly make a difference. And, feel free to bring a friend or two with you! Walmart Boosts Worker Wages after President Trump's Tax Cuts Yesterday, USA Today published the following article about how Walmart (one of Maine's biggest employers) is now increasing its minimum wage and giving bonuses of up to $1,000 for its hourly workers because of the Republican tax cuts strongly supported and influenced by Senator Collins and Congressman Poliquin. From USA Today: Walmart is boosting the minimum hourly wage for its U.S. employees to $11 and dishing out bonuses of up to $1,000, crediting President Trump's tax cut for enabling the move... The big-box store chain, which has more than 1 million U.S. hourly employees, will reap a windfall from the U.S. corporate tax rate cut from 35% to 21%... The company is also boosting its paid maternity leave policy for full-time hourly workers to 10 weeks at full pay. Previously, birthing mothers got six to eight weeks at half pay... Walmart is also increasing its paid leave policy for new fathers and non-birthing mothers to six weeks at full pay for full-time hourly workers. Previously, the company didn't offer any paid leave for them... The changes in parental leave put salaried and hourly workers on the same footing... Walmart also said it would offer financial help to full-time hourly and salaried employees who are seeking to adopt children. In making this positive move, Walmart has joined numerous other companies such as AT&T, AccuWeather, Aflac, American Airlines, Bank of America, Boeing, Comcast, Comerica Bank, Nationwide Insurance, Southwest Airlines, and many others who are increasing their workers' pay as a result of the Republican tax cuts. Just today, Chrysler joined the movement!   To read more, click here. Americans Wanting to Work Won in 2017 This week, the Washington Examiner published a piece outlining some of the economic successes last year for working Americans. It noted the unemployment rate for workers who have graduated from high school but don’t have a college degree dropped from 5.1 percent in December 2016 to 4.2 percent in December 2017, and the monthly average unemployment rate, 4.6 percent, is the best it’s been since 2007. It also pointed out that the average number of Americans 16 years or older working part-time because they couldn't find full-time has dropped by 600,000 in the past year. That means more Americans who had been forced to work part-time are finding higher-paying, full-time employment. Good news!!

Maine Governor Paul LePage Orders Pine Tree State Sheriffs to Comply with ALL ICE Detainers

Maine, otherwise know as the Pine Tree state, has shifted from becoming a reliably blue state to a red state over the past 8 years.

What happened? Barack Obama happened. The blue dog Democrats of Maine wanted to see government that put the needs of average folks first. That was not happening with Barack Obama at the helm.

In 2010, one outspoken candidate, Paul LePage of Lewiston, ran in the Republican primary. He was bold, he was blunt, he was the proto-Trump, outspoken against corruption and government waste, as well as the destruction of our culture

Maine GOP Appreciates Governor LePage Effort To Protect Maine & American People Governor directs Maine County Sheriffs to comply with ICE illegal alien detention requests

AUGUSTA – Maine Republican Party Chair Dr. Demi Kouzounas released the following statement today in appreciation of Governor LePage's directive to Maine's county sheriffs directing them to comply with detention requests from ICE. “We appreciate Governor LePage's expectation and directive that Maine's county sheriffs work with the federal government to comply with detention requests for individuals who are not in the United States legally,” said Chair Kouzounas. “The Governor's letter makes clear that he has the authority to issue this directive, and it is the right thing to do,” added Dr. Kouzounas. “As a party, we have deep respect for our county sheriffs, who keep Maine people safe across Maine, and we hope that all sixteen sheriffs across Maine will work with ICE and the federal government to comply with these requests.” “Let us not forget, we are talking about individuals who are not in our country legally, and who are currently being detained by law enforcement after breaking our laws,” said Dr. Kouzounas. “This is about keeping our streets safe for the people of Maine,” continued Dr. Kouzounas. “One or two Maine sheriffs should not put our system in peril because they wish to not obey our laws and constitution, and instead put illegal immigrants who are in custody ahead of safety and the rule of law.” “Our team stands ready to support the sheriffs who work to protect Maine people, and to make sure that the rare sheriff who refuses to comply has to find a new line of work.” You can read the Governor's letter to Maine County Sheriffs here: www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=767392&an=1

The winning never ends!

Notice that the first day that Governor LePage was in office, he issued clear directives to all law enforcement officers, the county sheriffs in particular, that they had to comply with federal law. No illegal aliens would be allow to remain in the United States, free from federal detainment and deportation.

Incredible! Of course, notice that the press did not cover this necessary order. At the time, January 2011, the country was just getting revved up to take back the country little by little from the corrupt Barack Obama and his Democratic Party cronies.

Republicans are gaining ground like never before in a state which hadn't gone Republican since 1988. For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Republican Presidential candidate picked up one electoral vote. That was also the first time in the state's history that the electoral tally was split because of the Congressional proportional representation at work in the state.

This is just great!

I am so glad to see executives putting the needs of Americans, their own citizens, ahead of illegal aliens, and ensuring the public safety of all within their jurisdictions! This letter is especially impressive because the Governor lays down the law clearly and firmly, and even asserts the right to remove lawless, wayward sheriffs who refuse to comply with federal immigration laws!

We could really use a leader like that in California and all over the country.

And if anyone has a problem with that ...

Maine Democratic Party: I Hate OFA!

Last week, I wrote about the total disaster which Organizing for Action had become for the Democratic Party.

Granted, it was a total bust in red states.

But blue states especially hated it:

From the Daily Beast:

“Yes, it sure is,” Katie Mae Simpson, executive director for the Maine Democratic Party, replied. “OFA showed up in Maine, organized a press conference on saving [Obamacare], with one of our Dem legislative leaders speaking, all without ever mentioning that they were in state and organizing. They hired someone I know, which is somewhat helpful, but my god, they don’t have a very good alliance-building process.”

The Maine Democratic Party leadership shared their concerns, too. Keep in mind that Maine has been a reliably blue state since 1992, but for the first time in its history, a Republican presidential candidate won an electoral vote! For the first time in over nearly 20 years, a Republican Congressman represents the state of Maine.

Imagine the damage that OFA can wreak in other blue states in the next two years!

Governor LePage, Tell the Critics: "Kiss My Butt!"

If conservatives fear that Donald Trump is an enfant terrible, then they haven’t been paying attention to their sprawling, engaged coalition of Republican governors for very long.

I’m not talking about Dem-lite Charlie Baker (who has done some good, but really needs to go, now that he has signed off on allowing men into women’s bathrooms), and I am not talking about Governor-to-be Phil Scott of Vermont.

There’s already a true red conservative in blue New England who gets headlines (sometimes) for the wrong reasons, but deserves credit for substantial reforms on tax cuts, improvement of the state business climate, expansion of Second Amendment rights, and heightened state security.

I am talking about Maine Governor Paul Richard Le Page.

I love this guy. He campaigned on a message of ending bureaucratic entanglements, bringing back jobs, and telling President Obama to “Go to hell!” Once elected, he told off the NAACP when they shamed him for not attending one of their events: “Tell ‘em to kiss my butt!”

LePage won his first term on a slim, five-way plurality. The second time around, he gathered more support. I have been a fan of his since the day he announced his bid for Governor. When I wrote a review on the governor last year (Maine’s Paul LePage: Conservative Kicking Butt), his one-liners alone merited his election. Fellow conservatives in California admitted to ne that they had never heard of him. Yes, this praise is strange coming from a conservative in a cozy, crime-free section of Los Angeles California, but Governor LePage’s commands a bravery—and bravado—which should be celebrated on a national scale.

Even though he has never worked with an entirely Republican legislation in the blue state of Maine, LePage has signed off on tax cuts, welfare reform, and shall-issue for concealed-carry weapons permits.

Then I read the latest headlines that Governor LePage was stepping down.

What?!

Evidently, LePage made it into the news (again) for conspicuous reasons.

He left an obscene voicemail for state assemblyman Drew Gattine (D-Westbrook):

“Mr. Gattine, this is Gov. Paul Richard LePage,” a recording of the governor’s phone message says. “I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you (expletive). I want to talk to you. I want you to prove that I’m a racist. I’ve spent my life helping black people and you little son-of-a-bitch, socialist (expletive). You … I need you to, just friggin. I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you.”

Of course, the governor let off more steam, admitting the he wished he could challenge Gattine to a duel and shoot him “right between the eyes.”

First of all, a little context.

The lawmaker allegedly asserted that the governor was a racist because of his welfare reform policies.

LePage adopted a black kid. Racist? Really?!

What does welfare reform have to do with racism? That’s a racist assertion, connecting welfare use (and abuse) with certain people.

Gattine has since disputed the claim that he called LePage a racist.

Second of all … LePage’s tirade was offensive.

To his credit, LePage has pushed the limits of political incorrectness, especially on race.

This is a discussion executives need to tackle, especially in New England, where drug dealing has eroded a once vibrant region of the country. Lest we forget, the retiring Governor Peter Shumlin of Vermont spent the greater part of his State of the State speech discussing the heroin epidemic devastating his own state.

Who is doing most of the dealing? If the criminal element is mostly black or Hispanic, then every state government should investigate the underlying reasons. Is it just race, or are class and cultural elements involved—as is often the case?

Most people are not aware of the New England opioid epidemic, which is ravaging Maine, too. Despite some insensitive remarks about the ethnic background of these evil drug pushers, LePage rightly challenged the press for not exposing this deep problem.

No matter how justified his anger, LePage should not have left that abusive message.

The governor lost his temper, and his statements were patently unacceptable.

He has apologized.

But public pressure has mounted for the governor’s resignation.

A recent Townhall.com article suggested he might do just that:

“I’m looking at all options. I think some things I’ve been asked to do are beyond my ability. I’m not going to say that I’m not going to finish it. I’m not saying that I am going to finish it.”

“If I’ve lost my ability to help Maine people, maybe it’s time to move on.”

My response: He has not lost his ability to serve the Maine community.

Look over his Twitter feed.

Jobs are growing in the Pine Tree State. Check this index for proof.

Maine has languished in economic stagnation for years, until recently.

The Cato Institute reports:

Maine has long been one of the freest states in the country personally and one of the least free economically—the opposite of Alabama. Since 2009, however, the state has gradually improved on economic freedom.

LePage was elected in 2010. Correlation perhaps?

The governor has been an asset, not a liability for Maine and for the country.

His bold stance on issues, coupled with his rags-to-riches upbringing, command respect and should inspire emulation.

Within minutes of hearing of a possible resignation, I contacted the Maine Republican Party and told them to stand by their man.

An hour later, LePage informed the public that he’s staying.

Good for him!

LePage needs to watch his mouth. So does the Republican Presidential nominee. Trump delivers careful policy speeches. His polling rises. LePage can follow the same path to future victories.

Republican governors who fight for their constituents need to know that all of us have their backs and will support their efforts. So, I say to Governor Paul LePage, if he has any aggressive detractors who want him gone, he should respond:

“Tell ‘em to kiss my butt!”