The candidate for governor favors tiered benefits, charter schools and less of an emphasis on wind power.

Scontras talks about his campaign In The Arena.

Jason Levesque, the Republican challenger in the 2nd Congressional District race, is blaming Democratic policymakers, including his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, for a slight increase in the state unemployment rate and national weekly jobless claims rising this week to 500,000 — the highest point since November 2009.

With Snowe was Jason Levesque, of Auburn, who is challenging Congressman Michael Michaud for the Maine's Second Congressional District seat in November. Also along for the tour were Rep. Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, who is seeking the open Maine Senate District 23 seat, and Lewis Baker who is running for the open Maine House District 43 seat.

Maine Republican Party
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010
For immediate release:
 
POLLING SHOWS LEPAGE HOLDING STRONG LEAD IN GOVERNOR’S RACE GOP

Candidate maintains dominant lead despite attacks

AUGUSTA - With just under 80 days till the election, a Rasmussen Reports poll released today shows GOP candidate Paul LePage with a strong lead over his opponents in the race for governor. The poll shows LePage leading Democrat Libby Mitchell by 8 points, and Democrat-turned-Independent candidate Eliot Cutler by a whopping 22 points.

LePage has come under concentrated attacks from both Mitchell and Cutler in recent weeks, to apparently no avail. Efforts by liberal supporters of both candidates to shift the discussion away from key economic issues have fallen on deaf ears, as LePage continues to be the people’s choice to get Maine back on track.

“The groundswell of grassroots support for Paul LePage is amazing,” said Charlie Webster, Chairman of the Maine Republican Party. “The other candidates have tried their best to talk about religion, or use environmental scare tactics, but it’s not working. The working people of Maine are focused on one issue- getting our economy back on track, and they know Paul LePage is the candidate to do that.”

LePage has held the same lead for two straight months according to Rasmussen Reports. Webster notes that both Cutler and Mitchell have spent substantial amounts of money, yet neither have gained support.

“Lifelong liberal Democrats like Libby Mitchell and Eliot Cutler are in the wrong state at the wrong time.” Webster continued. “Mainers have seen Mitchell, Cutler, and their fellow Democrats support policies that have destroyed our economy. The working people of Maine have woken up to the fiscal insanity that’s run Augusta for more than 30 years, and they’ve had enough. Mainers are ready to see Paul LePage take the reins and get Maine working again.”

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lance Dutson,
Communications Director,
Maine Republican Victory Campaign
 207-322-3843

August 9, 2010
MAINE GOP ISSUES 'LESSONS FOR LIBBY'
Mitchell confused about how to cut spending, GOP offers assistance
 
AUGUSTA - The Maine Republican Party has offered to educate Democrat gubernatorial candidate Libby Mitchell on the concept of spending cuts through a short primer called 'Lessons for Libby'.

Recognizing that the taxpayers of Maine are the ones Mitchell should be listening to most, the Maine GOP has also set up a special Facebook page where Mainers can weigh in with their own 'Lessons for Libby'. Libby Mitchell this weekend proclaimed herself entirely unfamiliar with the concept of cutting government.
 
"...I'm someone who understands government, who makes sure the cuts are strategic and the investments are strategic, rather than just saying we're going to cut state government. I don't even know what that means," said Mitchell, in an article by the Associated Press.

Maine GOP Chair Charlie Webster reflected on Mitchell's 36 years as part of the Democrat machine in Augusta. "I've watched Libby in action in the legislature, and it's clear that the term 'spending cut' is not in her vocabulary. The working people of Maine have watched her try to raise taxes on everything imaginable, all to pay for her vision of an ever-expanding state government.

"We released 'Lessons for Libby' to help her come to grips with reality," said Webster. "She's spent a lifetime in the state government, and that's got to take a toll. The Maine GOP wants to help bring Libby back down to earth, and give her an idea what life is like outside the halls of the State House.

"Life outside of Augusta will be good for Libby," Webster continued. "Maine's next governor will face a $1 billion shortfall in the next budget, and that means heavy cuts in our bloated state government. It's clear from her words and from her actions over the last 36 years that Libby is not up to the task. Paul LePage and the rest of the Maine Republicans who take office after this November's elections will be more than prepared to do the work Libby Mitchell and her Democrat friends have failed to do for years."

##

Lessons for Libby Facebook

Lessons for Libby
 A primer in reducing the size of government for Maine Democrat Libby Mitchell, courtesy of the Maine Republican Party

Lesson 1-It's not your money
 know it's easy to think the money you take from Maine taxpayers is your personal slush fund, but it's not. When one of your special interest friends comes knocking for another handout, remember whose money it is you're playing with.

 Lesson 2- Maine is a proud, independent state
 'Independent' means 'I don't need the government running my life'. The next time you're tempted to set up another expensive, invasive bureaucracy, remember that Maine people are skilled and industrious, and are perfectly capable of deciding what to eat, where to sleep, and how to get their work done without the state government making decisions for them.

Lesson 3 - The more people that handle money, the less is left at the end Mainers pay taxes for the things they need - teachers, policemen, firefighters, roads, bridges, and other necessities. Unfortunately, there are too many layers of expensive bureaucracy between the taxpayer and the classroom, fire station, or police station. Mainers deserve to get as much from their hard-earned tax dollars as possible. The next time you're tempted to hire more state workers to get involved in this process, remember that you're actually siphoning off money from local communities where it's needed most.

Lesson 4 - Maine's economy is not your private social experiment
Maine government is constantly using taxes, penalties and regulations to manipulate our behavior. From attempts to impose so-called 'sin taxes' to outrageous environmental regulations that stifle industry and devalue property, this state government needs to stop using our economy to promote a left-wing social agenda.
 
Lesson 5- Listen to the people, or else
You tried to raise taxes on soda, and the Maine people voted to stop you. You tried to start taxing labor, and the Maine people repealed it. The working people of Maine are fed up with the constantly growing, intrusive, inefficient state government you and your Democrat friends have created over the last 30 years. This November, the people of Maine are going to give you one final lesson - when they vote in Republicans to stop the out-of-control spending and reduce our crippling tax burden.

AUGUSTA -- Lawmakers on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee were given an overview of the state's finances and projected budget shortfalls for the budget cycle during an all-day meeting Tuesday.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lance Dutson, Communications Director, Maine Republican Coordinated Campaign 207-322-3843 July 29, 2010 MAINE GOP CHAIR BLASTS DEMOCRATS FOR “CRIPPLING” ENERGY POLICIES Destructive policies to blame for Mainers paying some of the highest energy costs in the nation AUGUSTA.- Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster took Maine’s Democratic Party to task today, citing a long record of policies that have caused Maine to have some of the highest energy costs in the nation. “Maine Democrats have zero credibility when it comes to energy issues. For more than 3 decades, the people of Maine have suffered from irresponsible, anti-business policies. Democrats in the legislature have spent their time cow-towing to special interests instead of looking out for the welfare of Maine’s working families. “Democrats have negotiated reckless, long-term energy contracts. They’ve pushed through government mandate after government mandate, and they’ve increased tax after tax. Libby Mitchell and her fellow Democrats can’t be trusted to relieve the burden on Maine’s working people. “The people of Maine have had enough, and they deserve better. They know that they pay more taxes because of Democrats. They know they have higher energy costs because of Democrats. And this November, the voters in Maine will be showing Libby Mitchell and her pro-tax, anti-business Democrats the door.” ###

ROCKLAND — American flags waved, confetti exploded and a brass band played Saturday during Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul LePage’s old-fashioned whistle-stop campaign tour of midcoast Maine.

Today, Rasmussen released another poll which reconfirmed LePage’s early lead in the race: ?Paul LePage – 39% ?Libby Mitchell – 31% ?Eliot Cutler – 15%

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Press Office July 20, 2010 202-863-8614 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND THE MAINE REPUBLICAN PARTY ANNOUNCE D2H VICTORY CAMPAIGN IN MAINE WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee today announced the Maine D2H Victory campaign to establish the grassroots political operation to ensure Republican candidates are successful in November. In partnership with the Maine Republican Party, the RNC is providing funding and resources to augment the in-state GOP campaign structure, support Republican candidates, and promote the conservative messages of low taxes, limited government, and fiscal responsibility. The RNC will devote resources to enhance the Maine Republican Party’s ability to effectively reach Republican voters and tap into the grassroots volunteer base that will be the key to Republican success. This investment in Republican state parties is a critical part of the RNC’s Delaware to Hawaii (D2H) strategy to compete aggressively in all fifty states. “The success of the Republican Party starts with the volunteers who knock on doors, make phone calls, attend events, and reach out to Republican voters in their own small communities and neighborhoods. The RNC is excited to be partnering with the Maine Republican Party in this effort to build the Republican Party at the state and local levels where our grassroots support is energized and growing,” said RNC Chairman Michael Steele. “The RNC’s Victory program will tap into this excitement and help send a clear message to Augusta and Washington that it’s time to end the big government policies that are failing to deliver for the American people, and restore fiscal restraint, checks and balances, and accountable government.” “With a sophisticated political operation at the state and county level, we can capture the groundswell of support that we are already seeing here in Maine,” said Charles Webster, Chairman of the Maine Republican Party. “Our volunteers are energized and ready to get-out-the-vote in November. The resources that Chairman Steele and the RNC are providing to our state will enhance our ability to deliver the Republican message and stand up to the big-spending Democrat agenda that has resulted in 8.4 percent unemployment and is failing to address our nation’s critical challenges.” Maine is a critical state for the Republican Party in 2010 and Chairman Steele and the RNC look forward to this partnership and delivering Republican victories this fall. ###

AUGUSTA - Paul LePage, the Republican nominee for governor, is hosting a fundraiser of a different sort Saturday.

Greetings, this is Rich Cebra, state representative from Naples . One of the great challenges facing the next governor and the next Legislature will be writing a state budget during this time of severe economic stress. Let’s look at a few numbers to set the stage. The last two-year budget came in at $6.3 billion. The current budget, which ends next June, totaled about $5.4 billion. That means we reduced General Fund spending by approximately $900 million. Besides cutting programs to save money, we also used $800 million in federal stimulus cash to basically maintain level spending. But the stimulus program ends in December and there is no more money where that came from. The federal government itself is running on empty. The stimulus provided a sugar high for the state, but that high is fading fast as legislators contemplate the next budget that may require cuts of well over $1 billion. In percentage terms, a billion-dollar cut is nearly 20 percent of all General Fund spending, which would have major implications for those sectors that receive the vast majority of state money – specifically, Maine schools and MaineCare, which now provides free medical and dental care for 290,000 people. The stimulus program and the new ObamaCare health law block changes in MaineCare. That means the state’s public school system will be squarely in the crosshairs once the budget writers begin work this winter. You will hear much more about that issue in the future, because Maine is not alone. Many states are on the edge of bankruptcy, and ObamaCare demands that they add 16 million more people to their Medicaid rolls. The cost of insuring this new population will be staggering. States can’t afford that massive increase without huge cuts to schools, road maintenance and other important programs. Their only other option would be financial default. But no one expects the states to sit back quietly and become insolvent just because the Democrats passed this thing called ObamaCare, and signs of a revolt are already spreading across the country. Against this grim backdrop, the news this month from Maine ’s pension fund came as an especially bad jolt. On July 8th, the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement System announced that the state will have to contribute more money in the next budget to cover investment losses – a lot more. In the current budget, the state is spending $629 million to cover normal pension contributions and the unfunded liability payment. In the next budget, the state will have to pump in $916 million. This huge increase -- $287 million – combined with the end of the stimulus cash, means that balancing the next budget without a major tax increase will require a Houdini act. What we’re looking at is a perfect storm of economic trouble, with bad news converging from several directions and no way out. When the next governor takes office, this mess will be sitting on the desk like a steaming pile of toxic waste. You can’t ignore it and you can’t easily dispose of it. But this crisis presents an opportunity to make some changes that would set the state on stronger financial footing in the future. A good place to start would be the Public Employees Retirement System, which pays out pensions to retired teachers and state employees. We have what’s called a defined benefit program; pensions are guaranteed based on length of service and the three highest salary years. All the risk is on the shoulders of the people who pay the pensions – that is you, the taxpayer. The problem with the system is that when state coffers are full, legislators hand out benefit sweeteners. It’s a great way to buy votes with other people’s money. Indeed, Maine ’s system got into serious trouble after the post-Watergate election of 1974, when Democrats took control of the Legislature for the first time. But when state coffers are empty, the politicians short-change the system. That’s how we ended up with an unfunded liability that now stands at $4.43 billion. By the time it’s paid off in 2028, it will cost taxpayers about $8 billion. Current retirees and people already in the state workforce have to remain covered by the current system. But we need to end the unaffordable cost of a defined-benefit plan and transition to a new system for new hires, one based perhaps on Social Security and a 401(k). That would provide portability for people who alternate between government service and the private sector, and it would shift some of the risk from the taxpayer to the employee. This is not an instant solution to Maine ’s problems, but it would be a good step towards long-lasting fiscal health.

If it seems as if the tax code was conceived by graphic artist M.C. Escher, wait until you meet the new and not improved Internal Revenue Service created by ObamaCare. What, you're not already on a first-name basis with your local IRS agent?

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that she would support a bipartisan proposal to limit federal discretionary spending for Fiscal Year 2011. Senator Collins also joined her Republican colleagues on the Appropriations Committee in signing a letter to Chairman Daniel Inouye unanimously endorsing the spending cap. A copy of the letter is attached. Senator Collins released the following statement: "Our nation's current level of federal spending is unsustainable. This trend of spending far beyond our means threatens to extend our economic stagnation, puts our nation on an irresponsible financial path, and imposes unconscionable debts on our children and grandchildren. It is alarming that the President's budget would result in a doubling of our national debt in five years and that Democratic leaders have failed to produce a budget that would set forth a plan for limiting spending. "That is why I have joined my Republican colleagues on the Appropriations Committee in supporting the Sessions-McCaskill limits on federal spending. This bipartisan proposal, which all Republicans and 17 Democrats in the Senate have supported in the past, will rein in federal spending because it essentially freezes non-defense discretionary spending at last year's levels. It is a significant step in the right direction." ###