Big savings for Maine. Governor LePage's plan to move regional DHHS welfare and Labor offices together in South Portland will save Maine taxpayers $14 million. A job center will be placed in the same building as welfare - proving a direct link for people to move from welfare to work. Some like Senate President Justin Alfond are attacking these efforts to protect taxpayers and reform welfare. To prove how difficult the move may be for the poor - Senator Justin Alfond rode the Portland METRO for probably the first time ever to where the new DHHS will be.
The idea is not to rip the rug out from underneath a person in need. It is to give a hand up and not a hand out. The new site will house not only services for Maine's poorest but also resources for finding gainful employment. One stop shopping for those in need.
While Senator Justin Alfond would like Maine's public to believe the LePage administration is making things purposely harder for Maine's neediest. The fact is that Maine's tax payers have a right to fiscally responsible spending that LePage has brought during his time in office. LePage is not the monster that Democrats would like us to believe.
Portland METRO by the way has indicated they would "work with whatever happens". A METRO representative said there is plenty of time for the state to work out the perceived issues that Senator Alfond has raised.
Watch the video response by Gov. Paul LePage released on 12/03/2013
For up to date information on Governor Paul LePage find him on Facebook.
How many times has Justin Alfond ever rode the METRO in his life?
ReplyDeleteLePage could try and make everyone happy - this would be short term as he (or any Governor) would have to constantly spend to achieve this goal. Or LePage can make some hard decisions - that will upset some people but benefit the majority - a long term goal. I would rather do with less now if it means I will be better off in the future. LePage has the right idea. An added benefit would be the jobs created building this place.
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