click to hear inspirational comments by Rev. Jill Saxby of the Maine Council of Churches at this morning's Maine Can Do Better event
ME Center for Economic Policy: LePage Budget Would Cost More Than 4,400 Jobs
“The proposed state cuts to Medicaid in FY 2012 will result in the loss of more than 4,400 jobs across all counties statewide, including more than 1,000 in Cumberland County alone,” said MECEP Executive Director Garrett Martin. “Maine has lost more than 4,800 jobs since January 2011 according to the most recent Maine Department of Labor data. The job losses resulting from the proposed budget cuts to Medicaid will further worsen Maine’s employment picture and the prospects for future growth.”
Gov. Paul LePage likes to talk about personal responsibility, but his proposal to gut the state’s health care safety net is irresponsible, through and through.
Dumping 65,000 people off government programs might lighten the state budget in the short run, but it will inevitably shift costs onto hospitals, which will provide uncompensated emergency room care, and then onto businesses and individuals, who will have to pay higher health insurance premiums.
Maine families are the heart of our communities and the true engine of our economy. Giving families the tools they need to succeed in this challenging economy, and seeing that they are rewarded for a lifetime of hard work are things we can all agree on. We can also agree that using our resources wisely now is essential to preventing problems from becoming worse and more costly down the road.
As our leaders confront state spending and revenue decisions, we ask that they keep these priorities foremost in their minds: prevention of future fiscal problems, ensuring opportunity for all Maine families, and preserving retirement security. Read more...
Rally to Save Health Care: 2011
On January 19th, 2011, more than 75 concerned citizens rallied outside of the Maine State House, urging Governor LePage, Attorney General Schneider, Congress, and the Maine Legislature to support the affordable care act!