By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Gov. Paul LePage and several of his commissioners were in Presque Isle Aug. 25, taking part in a Capitol for a Day/Town Meeting event at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
Adrienne Bennett, the governor’s press secretary, holds the mic while Jim Cyr, a Caribou resident, asks a question of the panel during a Town Meeting with Gov. Paul LePage on Aug. 25 in Presque Isle.
The evening wasn’t without controversy, however, as protesters lined the steps of the Campus Center prior to the event, holding signs questioning the current administration’s management of such things as health care, logging issues and homelessness. The atmosphere was tense on occasion, once discussion began, with Adrienne Bennett, the governor’s press secretary who served as moderator, playing strict disciplinarian, reminding speakers to wait their turn before addressing the panel.
About 100 people were in attendance. Notably absent, however, were local town and city officials. Among those attending were Bob Clark and Alain Ouellette, both of NMDC, and Larry Clark, director of the Presque Isle Industrial Council — none of which took part in subsequent discussions.
Included in the night’s topics were such things as transportation, health care, logging and education.
LePage began by noting the state was “healthier today than it was the first of the year.”
“It’s not so much change but speeding up the process of getting things done,” said LePage.
When asked about the possibility of having school buses and snow plows serviced at the Maine Military Authority at Loring, LePage said such repairs were “up to the local school/community.”
“They have a right to go where they want,” said the governor.
Joining LePage for the gathering were: Walter Whitcomb, commissioner, Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources; Pattie Aho, acting commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection; George Gervais, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development; Bruce Poliquin, state treasurer; David Bernhardt, commissioner, Department of Transportation; and Chandler Woodcock, commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; and Mary Mayhew, commissioner, Department of Health and Human Services.
A concerned senior citizen questioned the future of the Aroostook Regional Transportation System, noting “we’re so far removed from (the rest of the state), how will someone managing the system downstate know what’s going on,” she said.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
State officials joined Gov. Paul LePage for a Town Meeting at UMPI’s Campus Center in Presque Isle Aug. 25. Pictured from left are: Pattie Aho, acting commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection; George Gervais, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development; Bruce Poliquin, state treasurer; Gov. Paul LePage; David Bernhardt, commissioner, Department of Transportation; and Chandler Woodcock, commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Mayhew noted the system was designed for non-emergency medical transportation and that the federal government was telling the state it needed a new design to the transportation system in order to qualify for funding.
“Our goal is to improve the system, with the intent to establish quality criteria and structure, with the end result for users being improved access,” said Mayhew.
A male speaker asked about the use of fencing to help prevent deer and moose accidents.
“We’re attempting to create new signage in high-density areas for deer kills. Sometimes fences work, or they can herd animals around to another point,” said Woodcock.
A father of seven from New Sweden, who’s a contractor, said he knew firsthand of the fraud involved with maintenance projects he’s done for ACAP and USDA and questioned what the state planned to do to alleviate the problem. He used as an example a couple who divorced in order for the wife to qualify for home repairs, yet the pair remained a couple.
“We’re investigating fraud. We just don’t have enough people. It will take time,” said LePage. “The last administration didn’t want to prosecute fraud. We do. When we find it, we will prosecute to the extent the law allows.”
Mayhew indicated the limited resources the department has will be used for those “most in need.” She said a task force has been established to “look at areas vulnerable to fraud and ways of identifying fraud.”
Alice Bolstridge questioned the current health care system.
“I’ve lived with both systems — U.S. and Canada — if you want to see inferior health care, go where the government controls it,” said the governor.
Another audience member asked about proposed health care changes that would allow insurance companies to require patients to travel great distances for their health care.
“Under LD 1333, 39 hospitals in Maine and not a single one is earmarked to close. We’re doing everything we can to attract doctors to Maine,” said LePage, noting that federal reductions in reimbursements have left many doctors unable to take new patients on MaineCare.
“One thing Mainers can do is get a primary care physician, to lower costs. One of the biggest abuses is people going to the ER,” he continued.
Virginia Joles, communications director for Maine Public Service, asked about insurance premiums for employers.
“Cost to employers has increased 20-50 percent. There’s a significant disparity between northern and southern Maine. As past president of LEAD, we want to keep businesses in northern Maine, but how do we keep them here if benefits are better in southern Maine?” asked Joles.
LePage noted that under the proposed plan, younger people would pay less money.
“The plan is spread out so the system could absorb changes. In 2013 we’ll be operating at 100 percent and will see significant changes in the system. The average consensus in Maine is those under 40 don’t participate because they’re healthier. Those who buy are 35 and up; they use more, that’s why it’s so high,” he said.
The governor supported creating a “high risk pool” to “keep premiums lower.”
When asked how he’d reduce out-migration, LePage said work needs to be done to “fix the infrastructure of Maine,” beginning with reducing the number of students who need remedial work upon starting college.
“Over 20 percent of students entering UMS need it. Until we ensure teachers have degrees to teach (specific subjects like English, math and science), we’ll continue to slip,” he said, noting the good work UMFK is doing in working with the local school system to teach early college courses “giving students an early taste of a college environment.”
Shelly Mountain asked what was being done to employ more Maine loggers and limit Canadian workers, noting that Canadian loggers benefit more from working here, since what they earn goes in their pocket because they have government-funded healthcare.
LePage said he didn’t think local loggers were “at a disadvantage to Canadian loggers,” indicating there was work to be had lower in the state if loggers really wanted the work.
“I’m a big supporter of Maine loggers. The big issue is logs being sold to Canada, leaving a shortage in Maine mills. Other parts of the state have to have Canadian loggers because they’d have no one to cut without them,” said LePage. “Call my office. We can put them to work.”
Mountain questioned why the Dover area needs loggers when here in Aroostook loggers are losing their trucks due to lack of work.
“I don’t know. The mills are looking for lumber. When Millinocket comes back, there’ll be a tremendous need,” said the governor.
Jim Nesbitt expressed concern over shoreland zoning law changes. Aho indicated the “laws desperately need clarification and streamlining and are currently undergoing a thorough review.”
“I agree with you. Many cases have overly restrictive guidelines placed on the property owner,” said Aho, adding it’s a matter of “property rights vs. environmental issues.”
Wayne Sweetser questioned Whitcomb on plans for the future of Aroostook agricultural communities.
“There’s tremendous growth potential. We are the bread basket of the Northeast. We need to emphasize that up and down the East Coast,” said Whitcomb, acknowledging the truck license issue that was voted down would have been detrimental to agricultural communities throughout the state. “Someone had a bad day when they suggested that. Everyone unanimously opposed what was proposed and it went away.”
LePage said work is being done to address tax concerns for farmers.
“A lot of farmers are being forced out of their homes. We’re trying to get it so farms are assessed as farms, homes as homes,” he said.
Hayes Gahagan suggested lower energy costs to farmers would help make them more competitive.
“We need to put energy projects on the map to create energy for long-term use,” said LePage.
LePage responded to a question about pension reform and explained what the state has accomplished over the past few months.
Audience member Jim Cyr spoke about spending issues and how “scary it is when you realize the expenditures are made without scrutiny.”
“Many of the projects happening in Maine are not needed. There’s no oversight. How will you change that?” asked Cyr.
LePage said he planned to use the bully pulpit and veto process.
“The education piece — unfortunately the federal government controls — pays more than you realize. We’re changing core standards, addressing teacher issues. We want to make changes. The biggest devil we have is in Washington. We can’t make any changes without permission,” said LePage.
