DEMOCRATS CALL ON GOVERNOR TO HELP SOLVE STATE’S BUDGET PROBLEM

Escalating mismanagement at DHHS leaves more than $100 million budget hole

AUGUSTA—Top Democratic lawmakers today called on Governor Paul LePage to work with the Legislature on solving the state’s budget deficit. Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson and House Majority Leader Seth Berry urged Governor LePage to propose a supplemental budget or give lawmakers the information needed to write a budget.

 
“We know the people of Maine don’t care who does what—who writes a budget and who doesn’t—and, frankly, I don’t either. Because what really matters, and what we all want is to get our work done and solve the biggest challenges facing our state. But we can’t do it alone,” said Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash. “Today, we call on Governor LePage to take personal responsibility and help fix our state’s budget problem.”

 
Earlier this week, Governor Paul LePage told Republican and Democratic leadership that the Department of Health and Human Services is running more than $100 million over budget. LePage has neglected to provide any additional details about the shortfall and told lawmakers he will not be offering solutions to fix the budget hole.

 
In recent months, the LePage administration lost $20 million in federal funding for Riverview Psychiatric Center by ignoring federal law, squandered $28 million on a “lame duck” contractor for MaineCare transportation services, and doled out nearly $1 million for a no-bid contract to a political consultant. It also shredded CDC documents on the scoring of funding contracts.

Since Governor LePage took office, the Department of Health and Human Services has been mired with controversy costing taxpayers more than $30 million dollars, including overpayments to 70,000 SNAP recipients to the tune of $4.8 million, a $14.3 accounting error, and a $10.6 million computer error.
“The LePage administration has squandered and lost taxpayer dollars because of mismanagement, no management, and incompetence,” said Rep. Berry of Bowdoinham. “They’ve covered their tracks by withholding information from key lawmakers and have even gone so far as to shred documents.”

 
In December, the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee requested all state departments provide operating budget information by January 3. To date no information has been provided.

“Whether the deficit is because of mismanagement, incompetence, or a simple unwillingness to offer solutions, we still have a hole to fill at DHHS. Governor LePage’s refusal to solve a budget problem is not leadership of any kind,” added Jackson. “Governor LePage fashions himself a businessman but what CEO would have a $100 million dollar shortfall and just sit on his hands? It is time for him to put together a supplemental budget. It’s what every other governor has done, and it’s what he should do.”

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