Rhetoric Heats Up On The Eve Of Governor's Address

by Rob Poindexter– January 23rd 2012 11:12pm – Read more Local News

Meanwhile, the political rhetoric is heating up.  As the governor prepares his address, Democrats are challenging LePage to change his tone and focus on solutions.  “We ask the governor to put aside the rhetoric and the attacks and work with us toward the practical solutions that will put people back to work,” Portland Democrat Justin Alfond told reporters Monday.

House Minority Leader Emily Cain and her fellow Democrats are asking the governor and their Republican colleagues to start making good on their promises.  “In the last year, our state has lost 4400 jobs,” Cain said, “while the governor and his allies have campaigned on job growth, they’ve yet to deliver.”

LePage Spokesperson Adrienne Bennett dismissed the Democrats words as nothing more than extreme political rhetoric.  “And that’s not going to move us in the right direction. What’s going to move us in the right direction is us working together,” Bennett said.

Democrats are also critical of the governor’s proposed cuts to MaineCare.  LePage says those cuts are needed to close a $220-million budget gap.  “The governor and Republicans in charge have made it harder for working families in Maine,” Cain said, “especially if you are living paycheck to paycheck, are older, or live and work in rural Maine.”  Cain added, “When our economy needed a shot in the arm, the governor and Republicans in the majority held public investment hostage; stalled our work on proven energy efficiency programs; tried to limit voting rights; made health care more expensive for many Mainers; and ignored critical workforce training initiatives that would help get more Maine people back to work.”

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Andre Cushing says the attacks on the governor are not helpful.  “To me, any time you throw dirt you lose ground,” the Hampden Republican said.  “I think it’s unfortunate that what has been a very good session in the last year is marred by people throwing stones at a governor who is quite frankly frustrated that we can’t have the bipartisan effort that is necessary to get the job done here in Maine.”

Democrats are also hoping for a comprehensive bond package that invests in things they say they already know work.  “For example, roads, bridges, ports,  and rails,” Cain said.  “But also research and economic development as well as our classrooms and higher education systems.”

That is something the governor has been opposed to in the past.  “And he’s acknowledging that we have had a financial problem for decades and he is finally the one who has set forth a plan to fix this,” Bennett said.

The governor’s State of the State address is Tuesday night at 7:00.  You can see the governor’s address in its entirety Tuesday night on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.

http://www.wabi.tv/news/27000/rhetoric-heats-up-on-the-eve-of-governors-address