Yesterday at a campaign rally, Paul LePage attempted to explain his platform and answer very simple questions from the press about his “plans” for Maine. It did not go well. Take a look below to see some real answers about why LePage’s comeback attempt would hurt Maine’s economy and families:

On how his plan to cut Maine’s income tax is dangerous for Maine:

  • WMTW: “LePage said he wants to eliminate the state income tax, but he has yet to explain how he would replace those funds, which account for 43% of state revenue and balance the budget.”

  • Portland Press Herald: “[LePage] said budget projections show ‘we’re going to have enormous surpluses,’ despite [economist’s] warnings about long-term volatility.”

  • Maine Public: “The central argument in LePage's bid for a third nonconsecutive term is an old saw he used repeatedly during his two terms as governor: Cut or eliminate the state income tax…[which] failed in part because he was unable to convince Republican legislators to partially replace the lost revenue via an expansion of the sales tax.”

On his baseless criticism of Mills’ vaccine mandate for health care workers:

  • Press Herald: “The mandate led to relatively few job losses as the vast majority of health care workers complied, and it was supported by numerous public health associations and the state’s two largest hospital systems, MaineHealth and Northern Light Health.”

  • WGME: “...more than 98 percent of hospital workers have complied with the mandate, and Maine hospitals universally supported it to protect patients.”

  • WMTW: “Maine’s largest medical companies, Maine Health and Northern Light Health, which own two-thirds of state hospitals and employ three-quarters of Maine doctors and nurses, have their own mandates as private employers.”

On his plan (or lack thereof) to make schools safer:

  • WGME: “LePage also says mask mandates are hurting children, although the Governor Janet Mills administration has recommended, but not required them…’We can deal with COVID in a very safe manner if we all do our part.’ He did not specify what he means by ‘doing our part.’”

  • WMTW: “Those mandates for teachers and students have been imposed by local school boards.”

  • Press Herald: “Masks are recommended, not required, by the state, but requirements have been adopted at the local level.”

On his attempt to blame Janet Mills for global economic forces:

  • Press Herald: “The Public Utilities Commission oversees rate increases and experts say rising energy costs are a global trend linked to supply and demand imbalances in petroleum and natural gas markets during the pandemic. This month, Mills unveiled an $8 million plan to provide a one-time, $90 consumer credit for an estimated 90,000 homeowners to help offset higher electricity bills.”

“For eight years as governor, Paul LePage did very little to solve the problems that Mainers were facing and he certainly doesn’t have any solutions now,” said Drew Gattine, Chair of the Maine Democratic Party. “By undoing the damage that LePage caused the people of this state, Governor Mills has shown she’s an excellent problem-solver. We can’t let LePage drag us backward.”

While LePage repeatedly stuck his foot in his mouth at his campaign rally, Governor Mills was in Farmington talking about her plan to expand child care access, yet another problem that LePage left unsolved when he left office.

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