Macdonald’s win against overwhelming effort by Democrats shows strength of conservative policies, drift of Democrats from core beliefs of Maine voters Republican win brings 2015 scorecard to GOP 3 – Dems 0
AUGUSTA – The Maine Republican Party tonight is congratulating Mayor Bob Macdonald on his victory in the Lewiston Mayor’s race.
“I
offer my hearty congratulations to Mayor Macdonald,” said Maine GOP
Chairman Rick Bennett. “Despite nearly one-hundred thousand dollars and
the full force of a statewide political operation against him, Mayor
Macdonald prevailed for the people of Lewiston.” The Maine People’s
Alliance, the political arm of the Maine Democratic Party, was known to
have pulled out all the stops to support Macdonald’s opponent, who also
raised nearly $100,000 for the effort.
“Tonight’s results should
send a strong signal to Maine Democrat leadership – Lewiston is not for
sale, and you are out of step with common-sense, mainstream views of
Maine voters,” said Mr. Bennett.
After sweeping the special
elections for the Maine Legislature in November, this victory in a
Democratic stronghold completes the ‘hat-trick’ scenario Republicans
focused on this year.
Democrats outnumber Republicans in
Lewiston, Maine’s second largest city, by about 27 percentage points of
overall registration. In Sanford, where Democrats lost one of their
legislative seats in November, Democrats had a 14 point registration
advantage.
“These results demonstrate that a smart approach and speaking to core issues of concern for voters far outweigh voter registration. Democrats have painted themselves into a corner with positions that only speak to a narrow extreme,” said Mr. Bennett. “Our political machine is prepared to keep gaining ground.”
News reports show Eves used his position to push Education Committee & Government Oversight Committee to investigate Baxter Academy
AUGUSTA – The Maine Republican Party today, in light of OPEGA hearings, is calling attention to inconsistency in Speaker Mark Eves’ track record in regard to charter school funding for Maine’s public charter schools.
In
2013, Portland Mayor Michael Brennan, an ally of Speaker Eves in
opposing the existence of charter schools in Maine, attempted to
withhold mandatory funding to Baxter Academy in Portland, citing
management concerns.
At the time, Speaker Mark Eves
and Senate President Justin Alfond sent a letter to the Co-Chairs of the
Maine Legislature’s Education Committee, requesting an investigation: “As
presiding officers of the Maine Legislature, we have the responsibility
to ensure that the Maine State Charter Commission is conducting its
business appropriately,” Alfond and Eves wrote. “We want to ensure that
this school is managing its operations and spending Maine taxpayer
dollars appropriately.” http://www.centralmaine.com/2013/03/28/lepage-rips-portland-mayor-for-charter-review/
The
Education Committee Chairs then forwarded the request to the Government
Oversight Committee, saying it was better equipped to conduct the
investigation.
In light of the controversy
surrounding Eves’ hiring at Goodwill-Hinckley and the resulting
political fallout, the Maine GOP believes it is appropriate to point out
that Speaker Eves’ did not always see the withholding of funds to
charter schools (in the case of the Baxter v. Brennan controversy, the
funding was mandatory, not discretionary, in nature), as ‘blackmail’.
In
fact, when facing concerns about the management of a charter school in
2013, Speaker Eves found it entirely appropriate to “ensure that this
school is managing its operations and spending Maine taxpayer dollars
appropriately.” 2013: Speaker Eves did not speak out against the withholding of MANDATORY funding by Mayor Michael Brennan to a public charter school due to concerns about management. 2015: Speaker Eves spoke out aggressively against the withholding of DISCRETIONARY funding by Governor LePage to a public charter school due to concerns about management.
Augusta – Maine Republican Party Chairman Rick Bennett released the following statement after Republicans were declared the winners of both Maine House Special Elections. “Maine Republicans know we need welfare reform, economic growth, and fiscal responsibility in Maine. Our candidates went out and worked hard to carry this message and the voters rewarded our ideas and strategies to move Maine forward.”
“These
results show what we at the Maine GOP already knew – our message, our
principles, and our candidates can win anywhere. A strong ground game
and smart approach from the Maine GOP put these superb candidates in a
position to win, and they delivered victory tonight. Going forward, Democrats should know that their liberal agenda will be challenged at every turn, and defeated.
“Congratulations to Republican Lester Ordway, who won the House District 23 Special Election in Standish tonight.
This district has been held by Democrats for many years, and now will
be represented by a conservative, principled Republican legislator. An
experience educator, Lester will immediately get to work supporting
welfare reform, lowering taxes and creating good jobs and bigger
paychecks for Maine people.
“Congratulations
to Matt Harrington, who won the House District 19 Special Election in
Sanford. This is a district with a strong Democrat voter registration
advantage, but Matt’s hard work and principled positions won the day. A
police officer, Matt knows firsthand the scourge of illicit drugs and
the horrors drug abuse brings our families and communities.
“I
could not be more proud, and excited, for these candidates and our
effective team of professionals and volunteer activists working to make
the Maine GOP an effective force for bringing overdue reforms to our
government. Maine is undergoing a true shift to common-sense
conservative ideals – these two fine gentlemen are proof.”
Members of the Press, We just witnessed another example of Democrats falsely attacking Bruce Poliquin. Congressman
Poliquin’s vote clearly expands funding and access for women’s
healthcare in Maine’s Second District, but to read the Democrat release
and Emily Cain’s statements, you’d think it were exactly the opposite.
I
may need to add a full time staff at Maine GOP HQ just to sit down and
debunk all the falsehoods coming out of Maine Democratic Party HQ this
cycle. Clearly they either have not learned, or they are doing it on
purpose.
I hope you all get a chance to read the release below
and ask Rachel Irwin, Chairman Phil Bartlett and Emily Cain why they
want to deny healthcare funding and access to women across a huge part
of Maine, in favor of selective funding to just a few sites that have
certainly raised concerns with revelations about their abortion- I mean
“healthcare”, practices.
Candidates for Congress and their surrogates silent on their positions on Iran deal
AUGUSTA –The Maine GOP is calling on Democrat Congressional candidates Emily Cain and Joe Baldacci to tell the Maine people whether they would support the controversial Iran deal. “The Iran deal is one of the most important national security issues faced by Congress over the past two decades,” said Maine GOP Chairman Richard Bennett.
“If
Emily Cain and Joe Baldacci want to challenge Bruce Poliquin to
represent the people of Maine’s Second Congressional District, they owe
it to the people to explain their position on the Iran deal,” continued
Mr. Bennett.
“There is no shortage of communications
coming from these two Democrats, but the people of Maine are being
starved of information on their positions on this issue. Let’s hear it,”
said Mr. Bennett.
Maine’s delegation to Congress is
split on the issue, with Senator Susan Collins and Congressman Bruce
Poliquin opposing the dangerous and unpopular deal, while Senator Angus
King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree support it.
Controversy
surrounds pieces of the plan, with some saying President Obama still
has not disclosed all of the so-called ‘side-deals’ in the agreement to
Congress, questions surrounding weak inspection authority in the plan,
and the fact that Iran has continued to ramp up anti-American rhetoric
even as Democrats in Congress stand with President Obama in favor of the
controversial plan.
“Whether your answer is yes or no,” said Mr. Bennett. “Maine people deserve to know. Please tell us where you stand.”
The Maine Republican Party is thrilled to announce Lester Ordway of Standish has been nominated as the Republican candidate to seek the open seat in Maine House District 23. Lester Ordway has been serving the community in Standish for years as a member of the Standish Town Council, the SAD 6 School Board and the Standish Planning Board. He currently works as an automotive instructor at Central Maine Community College. Mr. Ordway would bring a variety of experience and a no-nonsense approach to the Maine State House.
“I’ll
be a voice of reason in Augusta,” Ordway said. “I am deeply committed
to the same principles that founded our great state: Freedom, liberty,
personal responsibility, and opportunity for all Mainers. Whether it’s
lowering the tax burden on Mainers, reducing the size of state
government or lowering the energy costs for Maine residents and
businesses, there’s a lot of work to do and I am ready to roll up my
sleeves and get to work.”
Ordway says he plans to hit the ground
running on day one if he’s elected and bringing good paying jobs to
Maine is a top priority.
“We need to bring good jobs to our state
so we can stop losing our children to other states. Maine now has the
oldest population of any state and without good jobs our young people
will continue to migrate out of Maine. We need people in Augusta who
will fight to make Maine a place where our young people can stay and
raise their families,” Ordway said.
“Lester Ordway is the right
man to represent the people of Standish. His service on the town council
and throughout the community leaves no doubt in my mind that he is the
right man to represent us in Augusta,” said Will Hamilton, Chairman
Standish Republican Town Committee. ##
Political power couple has plenty of time to write checks & play politics, but not to provide transparency
Washington D.C. – Reports from the Federal Election Commission show that Rep. Chellie Pingree and her husband, hedge fund manager Donald Sussman, made more than $1.5 million in political contributions to political action committees and Congressional candidates during the same time period that she failed to file mandatory financial disclosure forms with the Clerk of United States House of Representatives.
Rep. Pingree’s
financial disclosure was initially due on May 15, 2015, but the
Congresswoman from Maine’s First Congressional District requested a
90-day extension, through August 13, 2015.
During the time-period
from when Rep. Pingree missed the initial May 15 deadline through
August 13, the day of her extension, FEC reports show Mr. Sussman
contributed more than $1.5 million to political action committees,
hybrid political action committees, soft money accounts, as well as
Congressional candidates and committees.
As of August 20, 2015, a
full week after Pingree’s extended deadline, Roll Call reported that
the Clerk of the U.S. House said Pingree still had not filed her
financial disclosure.
“It is really time for this hypocrisy to end,” said Maine GOP Chairman Rick Bennett. “It is hard to fathom how Rep. Pingree and her husband can find the time to play politics and donate more than $1.5 million to candidates and political action committees, but won’t disclose their finances as required.” “For all of Rep. Pingree and the Democratic Party’s rhetoric about big money in politics and transparency, it is hard to find a clearer portrait of hypocrisy than this,” said Mr. Bennett. ### Links: Roll Call on Pingree missing second deadline: http://blogs.rollcall.com/218/financial-disclosure-deadline-congress/?pos=adpb
The Maine Republican Party is excited to announce Matthew Harrington of Sanford will be running for Maine’s House District 19 seat after being nominated by the Sanford Republican Committee last week. A fourth generation Mainer, Harrington currently works as a police officer in Kennebunk and has spent more than a decade in public safety as a police officer, firefighter and an EMT.
“The hardworking people
of Maine deserve representatives at the state house who will fight for
them and that is exactly what I intend to do,” Harrington said. “There’s
a lot of work to do in Augusta and I’m up for the challenge. We need
good government policy that promotes job growth and lowers the tax
burden on all Maine families. We need to start working together to fight
the massive influx of drugs pouring over our borders and poisoning our
communities. I’m ready to tackle the tough issues facing our state.”
Harrington
has already caught the attention of those already serving in Augusta
like Sen. David Woodsome who serves the people of York County.
“Matt
Harrington is an impressive and dedicated public servant. With
experience as a firefighter, EMT, and a policeman he has demonstrated
that he truly cares about our community and wants to do what is best for
his friends and neighbors,” Sen. Woodsome said. “Matt has also made it
abundantly clear that he is an advocate for efficient, reasonable
government and a lower tax burden. Our region and all of Maine would
benefit from having him in Augusta.”
Maine Democrats love to demagogue ‘big money’ in politics, but this
piece highlights the stark hypocrisy hidden in the shadows behind all
the feel-good rhetoric.
Representative Chellie Pingree, the top
elected Democrat in Maine, (in fact, the only elected Democrat beyond
the Maine Legislature), says one thing and does another when it comes to
campaign finance laws. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2570944
To
make matters worse, Representative Pingree has once again failed to
meet the extended US House Financial disclosure deadline. She has now
missed not only the May 15th deadline, but also the 90 day extension.
A quick look at her disclosure history shows this is not new for Rep. Pingree.
If
Representative Pingree, the Maine Democratic Party, and their dozens of
allies want to talk the talk on transparency and the influence of money
in politics, it is about time they walk the walk.
As it is, all
signs point to Congresswoman Pingree and her wealthy husband, who has
donated more than $4.5 million to Democrats since 2002, operating as if
the law of the land and the disclosure rules of the U.S. House of
Representatives just don’t apply to them.
Sincerely, Jason Savage Executive Director Maine GOP
What if I told you the Democrat House Majority Leader could
intentionally make untrue accusations on the floor of the Maine House of
Representatives, slander the governor of Maine and 68 sitting
legislators, and be treated like a hero for doing so?
You would probably think to yourself: “Just another Republican blaming the media.”
But bear with me for a moment and let’s take a look at the events of the past 24 hours. Thursday,
the House of Representatives took up one of the more contentious votes
of the session. LD 1378, a bill that would have stripped the current
Governor and all future governors of their authority in the state’s
bonding process. This bill and the ensuing controversy stems from
Governor LePage’s reluctance to release the Lands For Maine Future
bonds.
But, let’s not go down a rabbit hole of whether we agree
or disagree with the Governor or whether we support the LMF program.
Let’s stay focused on the aforementioned falsehoods and the media’s
culpability in the disseminating of such reckless falsehoods. The bill made its way through the House and Senate and was inevitably vetoed by the governor.
The
reconsideration of the veto was expected to be a tight vote and as
usually happens in these cases a fierce debate broke out on the House
floor. During this debate, Rep. McCabe falsely accused House Republicans
of taking bribes and promises from the Governor in exchange for their
vote to sustain the veto. Let me say that again: Rep. Jeff McCabe, the
Democrat House Majority Leader falsely accused the sitting Governor of
the State of Maine of bribing sitting legislators with tax dollars to
get them to switch their votes.
Even after being ruled out of order in the House after an objection from Republican Leader Ken Fredette, who swiftly called out Rep. McCabe for questioning the motives of Governor LePage, Rep. McCabe went on to claim there were promised “many, many things” to members of the House regarding this vote. McCabe’s claims were completely unfounded, and clearly fabricated to attack Governor LePage and Republican legislators. Despite the fact that this fabricated claim was made without a shred of evidence, that did not stop the Democrats and their media friends from striking the match and starting the wildfire. • 1:00: Just moments after this reckless statement is first made on the floor of the House, Mario Moretto of the Bangor Daily News tweets the misinformation to his 2,173 followers. It’s retweeted multiple times. Among those who retweeted this lie: House Speaker Mark Eves’ Office and the Bangor Daily News.
• After tweeting the slanderous statement, Moretto checks with the
Governor’s office who informs him that McCabe’s statement is a complete
and utter fabrication.
Does Moretto find McCabe and ask him about this slanderous statement? No.
And
when pressed by a Republican staffer about this he states as his reason
for not holding McCabe’s feet to the fire the fact that he isn’t
writing about it, so it’s not a big deal. The damage is already done.
When you’re allegedly a “journalist” in this day and age, tweeting is
akin to shorthand reporting, especially when your statements are shared
as fact by your own newspaper and top ranking government officials, such
as the Speaker of the Maine House.
• A short time later, a
column appears in the pages of the Bangor Daily News written by George
Smith. In it, Smith slams House Republicans for not overriding the
LePage veto and you’ll notice one of his main arguments: (drumroll
please) Rep. Jeff McCabe’s slanderous claim, told just hours before on
the floor of the House. Smith writes:
“Some Republican House
members felt threatened by their leadership and the Governor’s staff, as
related by House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe in his own powerful speech
today.”
• After all this, the Bangor Daily News still prints the
lie that their reporter first irresponsibly reported without a shred of
corroboration as though it were a truthful statement.
There you
have it, crystal clear. A road map for how the Democrat House Majority
Leader can make up baseless claims on the floor of the Maine House of
Representatives and instead of being rightfully criticized, be treated
like a hero. This is your media in Maine.
A Democrat leader makes
a false claim, a reporter reports it as ‘fact’, another Democrat leader
and a newspaper shares it with a larger audience as ‘fact’, a special
interest advocate repeats it again to fit his narrative, and for the
next 24 hours, the Democratic Party communications shop runs wild
repeating and promoting a false claim.
Not once does a single
person, from the creator of the falsehood, to the many who hype and
promote it, face any scrutiny or criticism for making defamatory
statements. There is simply no accountability.
Think about this
when you read in the upcoming articles in the Bangor Daily News and
other Maine media, especially when articles seem more based on
conjecture than fact. As we have all seen in recent weeks, an attack
on a Republican, no matter how baseless, quickly saturates the Maine
news, but Democrats are rarely held accountable for false claims such as
this. This is just more proof that Democrats know full well
that they can level whatever false claims they want at Republicans, and
they can count on their allies in the press to run with the attack
instead of holding the Democrat accountable for not telling the truth.
