Yesterday in an interview with Fox News, Paul LePage tried to assert that Governor Mills only cares about one part of the state. The remarks are not only flatly untrue, they also ignore LePage’s own extensive record of failing Maine’s rural communities.
When LePage was governor, he:
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Oversaw an economy where rural Maine consistently lagged behind the rest of the state in lowering unemployment
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Vetoed or refused to sign multiple bills to expand broadband access in rural areas
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Pushed funding cuts for rural hospitals
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Opposed funding to help revitalize rural communities and create jobs
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Appointed a commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development who admitted that rural development was something “I haven’t thought about.”
“I've had the good fortune to work with Governor Mills on a number of projects to improve the lives of rural Mainers across the state,” said Rep. Danny Martin (D-Sinclair). “From expanding broadband access to funding rural hospitals and supporting rural small businesses, my House colleagues and I have collaborated with her administration to deliver a number of big wins for Maine’s most rural zip codes. When LePage was governor, I watched as those same areas suffered due to his failed leadership.”
Since taking over from LePage in 2019, Governor Mills has fought for rural Maine communities. She has made expanding rural broadband access a major priority of her administration, creating the Maine Connectivity Authority, using COVID-19 relief money to connect rural students to broadband, and proposing a voter-approved bond that has connected about 14,000 Maine homes and businesses to date. In addition to extending broadband access, Governor Mills has expanded opportunity in rural Maine by increasing funding for rural hospitals, investing in rural Maine businesses, and devoting significant state attention to long term rural economic development.