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http://mainefamilypolicycouncil.com/artman/publish/State_House_4/Secret_Augusta_Meeting.shtml


News : State House
Last Updated: Dec 4, 2009 - 5:41:34 PM
Same-Sex Marriage Secret Augusta Meeting Press Release By Christian Civic League of Maine StaffDec 4, 2009 - 3:46:26 PM
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Contact: Mike Hein, Administrator, mikehein@cclmaine.orgThe Christian Civic League of Maine has issued the following press release about the Maine Senate President's upcoming meeting aimed at legalizing homosexual marriage, in defiance of the voters of Maine:
The Christian Civic League of Maine has learned that Maine Senate President Elizabeth H. (Libby) Mitchell (Democrat - Kennebec County) is planning to hold a closed-door, high-level strategy meeting at her legislative office in the Capitol with the leading proponents of homosexual marriage in the state. The meeting is planned for Wednesday, December 9th, and will discuss strategies for winning homosexual marriage following the repeal of Maine's same-sex marriage law. The meeting will be attended by State Senator Mitchell; Zachary L. (Zach) Heiden, Legal Director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union; Betsy Smith, Executive Director of EqualityMaine; and Katherine R. (Kate) Knox, an attorney for the Portland-based law firm Bernstein Shur, Sawyer, & Nelson and lobbyist for EqualityMaine.The Senate President's meeting with the director of legal affairs for the Maine Civil Liberties Union and an attorney for the state's most powerful law firm strongly suggests that the proponents of homosexual marriage will soon mount an effort to win homosexual marriage through the courts, in clear defiance of the expressed will of the people of Maine.The Christian Civic League of Maine calls on the Senate President to open this meeting to the press and to the public. Deliberating on this matter in secret contravenes the most basic principle of our democratic form of government: that all matters concerning the public will be discussed openly and freely. The secretive nature of the meeting is all the more regrettable since homosexual marriage is the most important issue ever to be taken up by Maine's Legislature.The Christian Civic League pledges to continue its efforts to relentlessly oppose any attempt by the liberal establishment to impose the institution of homosexual marriage on the people of Maine.
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CERT. MAIL # 7006 2150 0005 2595 1260
November 22, 2009
Senator Elizabeth Mitchell
3 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Dear Senator Mitchell,
I read the announcement of your candidacy in the gubernatorial race in 2010. The state of affairs in Maine, coupled with the public distrust of government officials and their lack of leadership, the unresponsiveness of our officials and the lack of accountability where fraud, waste and abuse exist are issues that our next governor must face. Many of the gubernatorial candidates are veterans of Augusta politics, or are currently sitting as members of the State Legislature, and have contributed to the public's distrust of government. Their pattern of obstruction of justice, their blatant disregard for the law and their poor, political job performance have resulted in the loss of jobs, homes and children of taxpayers who have paid the salaries of these candidates. The exception to the veterans of Augusta is Donna Dion, former Mayor of the City of Biddeford, who contributed greatly to the corrupt political machinery that exists today.
Some of the issues of concern to the veteran candidates on the campaign trail are health care, creating jobs and putting Mainers back to work, lowering taxes, and out of control spending. For years, attempts were made to bring forward to these candidates the abuse and misuse of Federal and State funding, to no avail. The theft of peoples' homes/businesses/livelihoods by a corrupt banking system and local official corruption, cannot sustain the economy. Supt. of Bureau of Financial Institutions, Lloyd LaFountain, has grossly violated the law, rules and regulations that govern his position, specifically, Title 9-B §211(3), protect consumers against unfair practices by financial institutions.
Speaker of the House, Hannah Pingree, acknowledges that times are difficult financially but adds, "in turbulent times even more, you need someone who understands the political process and how to move Maine forward." Times are difficult financially due to the failure of those in authority to hold officials accountable when they aid and abet the demise of Maine families and misuse taxpayer money. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 4. Misprision of felony. Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. Gov. John Baldacci ordered Maine state departments to curtail spending by $63 million to make sure the budget is balanced. (Sun Journal Nov 20, 2009) The Governor's plan to not fill vacancies in order to reduce state expenditures falls short. The big issue is misuse of taxpayer money and the refusal of the Appropriations committee to further investigate this matter is questionable. Why would this Committee not be interested in misuse of funds? Governor Baldacci was given evidence of where to investigate misuse, or theft, of public funding. He chose to brush it under the rug.
Candidates want to lure tourists and people to relocate to this State, I ask that you go deep into your conscience and ask yourself why people would want to come to a State where its citizens are
abused, harassed, retaliated against, have their homes, jobs, livelihoods, children stolen right out from under their feet, thrown out into the street like wild animals, are maliciously prosecuted for seeking help and everything is just brushed under the rug. It's time to pick up the rug and clean up the mess.
Before you finish your term as President of the Senate next spring, I am requesting a meeting with you and Speaker of the House, Hannah Pingree. The following issues need your intervention and questions need to be answered:
fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer State and Federal funding
Evidence of Medicaid Fraud
H.U.D. Funding; (Disclosure of Federal Funding is NOT a privacy issue -
per Bob Mills, Biddeford City Councilor, disclosure comes under the privacy act)
Unfair and deceptive trade practices by financial institutions
Judicial abuse, official oppression
The State of Maine, and its people, cannot move forward unless, and until, the necessary steps are taken to rectify the fraud, waste and abuse being perpetrated at the expense of honest, decent, and hardworking people of Maine.
I look forward to hearing from you and Rep. Pingree on a date, time and place in which to meet.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Lafortune
P.O. Box 187
Biddeford, Maine 04005
cc: Rep. Hannah Pingree, Speaker of the House
Senator Kevin Raye
Rep. Philip Curtis
others

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=304087&ac=PHnws


Baldacci's budget fix frustrates candidates


Some say the governor's action fails to make needed structural changes in state government.
By MATT WICKENHEISER, Staff Writer © Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. :ap -->December 21, 2009
Gov. John Baldacci has proposed a plan that plugs a $438 million hole in Maine's current two-year budget.
The midpoint for that biennium is July 1, 2011. Before that, in November 2010, voters will elect a replacement for Baldacci, who is barred by term limits from running for re-election.
So whoever is elected out of what today is a broad field of candidates will have to contend with how Baldacci's proposed budget cuts affect state government.
A number of those candidates commented on Baldacci's plan, which also must be worked on and approved by the Legislature.
Many, regardless of party, were unhappy that the budget plan didn't make structural changes in state government.
"What is missing from the budget is any thoughtful analysis – public analysis – of which programs are worth preserving and which are not," said Sen. Peter Mills, a Republican candidate from Cornville. (Peter Mills' sister is Maine's Attorney General.)
Methods to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and agencies within state government are lacking, Mills said, and the directive to establish them "really has to come from the chief executive." (The only people who have knowledge "to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and agencies within state government are people who have had DIRECT CONTACT with such agencies.)
Rosa Scarcelli, a Democratic candidate from Portland, also noted what she saw as a lack of a measuring stick for programs.
"As a result, we really have no idea if we're cutting good programs or services and leaving bad ones on the books, or are we just guessing?" said Scarcelli. "This is why we need better fiscal management so we know what's working and what needs to be cut."
Matt Jacobson, a Republican candidate from Cumberland, said he was disappointed in the proposal because of the "fundamental dishonesty" inherent in the process. First, he said, the revenue projections the budget is based on appear flawed. And Jacobson, like several candidates, took issue with the plan to rely on $35 million in federal money for Health and Human Services.
"We've budgeted for the federal government to come and give us more money. There is no bill before Congress to come and do that," said Jacobson, adding that he believes that a federal health reform bill would actually add to Maine's costs, but there was no recognition of that in the proposed budget fix.
Scarcelli also opposed using federal stimulus money to plug holes or "support programs that are likely unsustainable." The one-time money, she said, should be used for one-time purposes.
Bruce Poliquin, a Republican candidate from Georgetown, said to rely on possible federal assistance was irresponsible and the "financial equivalent of keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the best."
"This was maybe a once-in-a-generation opportunity to really restructure how we govern ourselves, and our elected officials really missed the boat," Poliquin said.
A number of candidates said they were unhappy with what they saw as budgetary tricks to move money around. Eliot Cutler, an independent candidate from Cape Elizabeth, called the plan "really problematic."
"This budget just pushes the snowball down the road," Cutler said.
Making transfers between cash pools, delaying payments to towns and transferring money from one fiscal year to the next and then back again are all examples of "gimmicks," he said.
Cutler pushed one of his proposals: examining which programs in state government should be cut by using a process similar to the federal government's method for determining which military bases to close.
That would take politics out of the process, he said, and provide clear direction of what needs to be taken out of state government.
Lynne Williams, a Green Independent candidate from Bar Harbor, said she has proposed basing the annual budget on a five-year moving average. The average would be based on actual income, not unpaid taxes or fines – just what the state takes in. And that average would be the ceiling for the next year's budget.
"What that does is it evens out the...cyclical, up-and-down nature of the thing," Williams said.
John Richardson, a Democratic candidate from Brunswick, said he sees the need for the cuts but would have done it differently. He would have set targeted budget numbers and asked state workers to reach those numbers. They are on the front lines and intimately understand their jobs, he said. (Really?)
"They hold the keys to a better way of doing business," Richardson said. (the ones I've contacted should be REMOVED from their jobs!)
Richardson and others also said any budget proposal also needs to include thoughts on growing the state's economy. (The economy CANNOT grow when our elected officials allow the theft of business properties, in concert with the judicial system, and put decent, honest, hardworking people OUT OF BUSINESS! It is no longer "taxation without representation.....it goes one step further......."taxation by citation."
"The single biggest tax we're missing in the state is income tax," said Les Otten, a Republican candidate from Greenwood.
The state, Otten suggested, has been focused on trying to maintain jobs in the public sector, not create jobs in the private sector. The state needs to look at what's standing in the way of job creation, Otten said, including tax policy, health insurance costs, the lack of an energy policy and burdensome rules and regulations.
Steve Rowe, a Democratic candidate from Portland, raised the importance of maintaining the investments in critical state programs.
"While we must live within our means, we must also meet our constitutional commitment to protect the public, educate our children and care for our most vulnerable," Rowe said. (Steve Rowe, former Maine Attorney General, didn't meet HIS constitutional commitments as Attorney General. We can expect him to do so as Governor?????????)
Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell of Vassalboro, a Democratic candidate, said the Legislature would closely examine the budget proposal and hold extensive public hearings. Throughout years of budget cuts, the Legislature has tried to maintain investments in research and development, energy, education and targeted work force development. That's still the case, she said.
It's important to look at the recession in the national and international light, she said, and figure out how to help small businesses here succeed and how to generally make the state prosper. (She hasn't responded to my correspondence regarding the state of affairs in Maine. Neither has Speaker of the House, Hannah Pingree (her mother sits in the U.S. House of Representatives.)
"We've got to position ourselves so we're stronger coming out of this recession than we were going in," she said. (Ignoring the serious concerns/corruption within the State of Maine will NOT make us, or this country stronger! She must justify her run for governor.)
Staff Writer Matt Wickenheiser can be contacted at 791-6316 or at:
mwickenheiser@pressherald.com

Sent via Chellie Pingree’s web page on Tuesday December 29, 2009

Hi Chellie,
Thanks for your e-mail request for a campaign donation. Last May, I went to your web page and requested a meeting with you. At least three months later, I got a call from your Portland office. I briefly described my issue and then forwarded supporting documents. Several days after, I got a reply from your office, telling me that I needed to hire an attorney. I didn't need to contact your office to learn this tidbit of information. As you well know, justice costs a lot of money in this country. Last year I lost approximately $400,000 worth of property, including my home of 32 years and a business of 20 years. I have no resources left to tap into to get my justice. In the last year, I have provided to several Federal Agencies, nearly enough evidence to prove that my property was taken fraudulently. When I contacted your office last May, I was hoping that you would be able to help me with these Federal Agencies, as you advertise on your website, rather than give me the brush-off. I'm a little confused, when I met you during your campaign, you seemed like a sincere person, but as we all know, actions speak louder than words. I apologize if losing everything that I have worked for in the last 40 years seems important to me, but maybe because it is. I know that what happened to me is happening to many Mainers, I call it property theft. Will our public officials' paychecks have to stop before we get their attention? Will they become better listeners when they are thrown into the street, like some of us have? I hope you'll understand if I'm unable to contribute to your campaign at this time.

Thank You Leon Bard

P.S. The person that is responsible for taking my property is a Republican.