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Gov. Paul LePage's second letter to State House letters on Madison Paper's announcement they were closing in May. This message follows and earlier one on the same day that was sent to all State House leaders.
Gov. Paul LePage's second letter to State House letters on Madison Paper's announcement they were closing in May. This message follows and earlier one on the same day that was sent to all State House leaders.
Gov. Paul LePage's second letter to State House letters on Madison Paper's announcement they were closing in May. This message follows and earlier one on the same day that was sent to all State House leaders.
Orrice oF THE Governor
AUGUSTA, MAINE
04335-0001
a PLP age
March 15, 2016
‘The Honorable Mark Eves The Honorable Jeff McCabe
Speaker of the House House Majority Leader
Maine House of Representatives Maine House of Representatives
2 State House Station 2 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333 Augusta, ME 04333
Dear Speaker Eves and Representative McCabe,
You and other Democratic leaders came out of our meeting today and immediately whined
to the media that we did not propose constructive solutions for creating jobs and
improving our economy. That is simply not true. The real problem is our common-sense
solutions do not fit within your socialist, job-killing agenda,
‘As you know, we proposed several solutions in the meeting. First, the Executive Branch
needs more authority over the tree growth program. With so much land in tree growth, not
enough wood is being cut in the southern part of the state, which is driving up wood costs
in northern Maine. This program must be better managed to lower the cost of wood.
Second, energy costs must be reduced. We have heard from dozens of companies that
energy costs are making it difficult, if not impossible, to do business in Maine. High energy
costs are a major factor in the mill closings that have put hundreds of Mainers - including
many of your constituents - out of work. To reduce the cost of energy in Maine, we must
remove the 100 megawatt cap on renewables, such as hydropower and biomass, which
would encourage our biomass industry to build co-generation power plants.
‘Third, we need to approve a competing measure that would increase the minimum wage at
a reasonable and manageable rate. The businesses that propel Maine’s economy simply
cannot absorb a rapid increase in the minimum wage. Our job creators would be forced to
lay off workers and/or increase their prices to cover the sudden jump in labor costs, which
would hit elderly Mainers, our youth and those on fixed incomes particularly hard,
Fourth, Democrats must stop picking on their favorite target: the “one-percenters.” By
constantly trying to “tax the rich” and drive them out of our state with the estate tax,
esDemocrats are chasing away the business owners and investors who create good jobs for
Mainers. When they leave, they take their wealth ~ and their jobs - with them.
Finally, we must remove the bureaucratic red tape that entangles business owners trying to
expand and grow their companies, We certainly need strict regulations; however, we don't
need them wrapped so tightly in red tape that companies can’t cut through it to create the
jobs Mainers need and deserve.
By not enacting these simple, common-sense solutions, Democrats are showing a total
disrespect for the small and large business owners in Maine who create good jobs for our
friends and neighbors. Your willful lack of action on these proposals not only makes you
anti-business, it makes you job killers.
Sincerely,
eure heokeg
Paul R. LePage
Governor
ce
Senate President Mike Thibodeau
Senator Justin Alfond
Senator Scott Cyrway
Senator Paul Davis
Senator James Dill
Senator Rodney Whittemore
Representative Larry Dunphy
Representative Bradlee Farrin
Representative Ken Fredette
Representative John Picchiotti
Representative Joel Stetkis
Representative Stanley Short
Representative Thomas Skolfield