Hey, Maine Dems, 2014 called... they want their failed election strategy back!
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Can you believe it? Maine Democrats on the Legislature's HHS Committee today voted once again in favor of ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion!

They still haven't gotten the memo that Mainers are sick and tired of their failed policies.  That's why voters re-elected Governor Paul LePage with the most votes in state gubernatorial history last year.

Friends, Medicaid expansion is perhaps the best example of Governor LePage's rock-solid leadership.  Early on in 2013, LePage refused to simply go along with what the special interests wanted, what the majority in the legislature wanted, what the liberal media wanted, and even what other Republican governors were doing.

Instead, he brought his case to Maine people and they were all the support he needed.

As even the liberal Bangor Daily News admitted by July 2014, "polls show that LePage and Republicans have effectively convinced Mainers outside their core of support that Medicaid expansion is unnecessary and too expensive."
That's our Governor!

But with Democrats still holding an iron grip on Augusta's special interest establishment, we can't take anything for granted.  We have to make sure these bills meet the same fate as the five Medicaid expansion bills Governor LePage has already vetoed.

Click here to find your lawmakers and remind them to say NO to ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion. 

Tell them to say NO to the hospital debt and massive budget shortfalls it creates. 

Tell them to say NO to putting able-bodied, working-age adults ahead of elderly and disabled Mainers on Medicaid wait lists.

A long term Republican revolution is underway in Maine -- one that is bringing our state more jobs, freedom, and fiscal responsibility, not more debt, dependency, and failure.
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Sincerely,
Jason Savage
Executive Director, Maine GOP

AUGUSTA- The Maine Republican Party’s official youth initiative, #Gen207, released its inaugural “40 under 40” list today.
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Over the past couple of months, Republican activists and leaders had the opportunity to nominate Maine Republicans under the age of 40 who are making a positive difference in their professions or communities, whether in public life, business, education, or other areas.

“The Maine GOP celebrates these extraordinary individuals not because they represent our future. They are moving Maine forward now in significant leadership roles,” said Maine GOP Chairman Rick Bennett. “They are in the forefront of an invigorating wave of young Mainers across the spectrum in the Republican Party. We welcome their involvement and leadership, and we look forward to supporting hundreds more young Republicans as they seek elected office and positions of leadership across Maine.”

“We are thrilled to recognize these #Gen207 40-under-40 award recipients,” said Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine GOP. “These exceptional leaders embody the purpose of #Gen207, to rejuvenate our party by empowering our youngest members.”

Sam Adolphsen of Liberty; Chief Operating Officer at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Jamie Austin of Farmington; UMF College Republican Chair, Intern for the Governor’s Office
Trish Ayer of Winslow; Winslow Town Councilor
Curtis Ayotte of Farmingdale; Staff Assistant to Congressman Bruce Poliquin
Abby Bennett of Oxford; UMaine College Republican Chair
State Senator Eric Brakey of Auburn
Jamie Carter of Augusta; Communications Director for the Maine Senate Republican Office
Rob Caverly of Chelsea; Chief of Staff to Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau
Dale Crafts Jr. of Lisbon; Lisbon Town Councilor
State Representative A.J. Edgecomb of Fort Fairfield
Matthew Gagnon of Yarmouth; CEO of the Maine Heritage Policy Center
Leland Graves of Bangor; UMaine graduate student, former field representative with the Maine Republican Party
Jason Greene of Durham; Androscoggin State Committee At-Large Member
Mayor Nick Isgro of Waterville
Lee Jackson of Old Town; RSU 34 Board of Director; Penobscot County Republican Committee Chair
Luke Jensen of Lewiston; Chairman of the Lewiston Republican City Committee
Ben Kelleher of Prospect; Waldo County State Committeeman
Mayor Jonathan LaBonte of Auburn; Director of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Management
Lauren LePage of Waterville; Executive Director of Maine People Before Politics
Hon. Aaron Libby of Waterboro
Andrew Mahaleris of Augusta; UMaine Student and Treasurer of UMaine College Republicans
Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason of Lisbon
Cynthia Mendros of Lewiston; Lewiston School Board
Isaac Misiuk of South Portland; CEO of Tomorrow’s Majority
Kate Norfleet of Scarborough; State Office Representative for US Senator Susan Collins
State Representative Matthew Pouliot of Augusta
Emily Roderick of Readfield; Kennebec County Republican Committee Chair
Shawn Roderick of Readfield; Assistant Secretary of the Maine Senate
Matthew Roy of Lewiston; Androscoggin County Commissioner
Ashley Ryan of Portland; RNC National Committeewoman
Ashley Sampson of Rome; Executive Assistant for Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau
Ashley Simon of Hampden; UMaine student; member of #Gen207
David Sorensen of Augusta; Director of Policy Research and Media Relations at Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Billy Thompson of Brunswick; Management Analysis at the Governor's Office of Policy and Management
State Representative Will Tuell of East Machias
State Representative Nathan Wadsworth of Hiram
Tyler Washburn of Bowdoin; Sagadahoc County State Committeeman
State Representative Dustin White of Washburn
Hon. Alex Willette of Augusta; RNC National Committeeman
Melissa Willette of Augusta; Senior Legislative Aide for the Maine House Republican Office
Blake Winslow of Presque Isle; Aroostook County Republican Committee Chair

#Gen207 is hosting a “40 Under 40 Celebration” on June 13th in Freeport, Maine. Please join us for a fun evening at Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen and Topside Tavern in Freeport as we celebrate the “40 under 40” winners.
This is a great opportunity for young Republicans across Maine to network.

​#Gen207 “40 under 40” Celebration
Saturday, June 13th, 2015, 4-6 pm
Linda Bean's Maine Kitchen and Topside Tavern, 2nd Floor
57 Main St. Freeport

To attend, please visit: mainegop.com/celebration or call 622-6247.
MEDIA NOTICE: To attend the #Gen207 “40 under 40” celebration, please email Jason Savage, Maine GOP Executive Director at jason@mainegop.com or call 622-6247 and ask for Jason.
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AUGUSTA- The Maine Democratic Party and Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) continues to defend the status quo in Augusta.

Here’s the real truth behind their talking points

"It's a huge giveaway to the wealthy." FALSE
Leave it to Democrats to suggest that letting ALL MAINE PEOPLE keep their money is a giveaway to the wealthy. The current income tax treats income tax taxes everybody as if they were wealthy, with the top rate starting at $21k.

The Democrats object to moving anyone off the income tax rolls. In their so-called Better Deal, they rejected the Governor’s proposal to exempt individuals with income less than $9,7000 and started taxing income at $5,200. If they consider people making more than $5,200 a year wealthy, we might need more than a Constitutional amendment to set them straight.

What we’re proposing is to let people decide how to spend their own money and to stop penalizing work and investment in Maine. What Democrats are saying is that they know better than you do how to spend your money.

"It jeopardizes funding for education and other vital services." FALSE and IRRESPONSIBLE

Democrats used the same tactics when we passed the tax cut in 2011 and it hasn’t come to fruition. Education funding in Maine has far outpaced inflation while our student population has declined. We need to focus on growing our private sector economy, not growing government spending. If Democrats are ready to get serious about education reform, let’s have that conversation rather than dragging our kids and our vulnerable populations into false political posturing.

"It will trigger property tax increases." FALSE Eliminating the income tax is a state-level tax proposal. It would have no impact on property taxes. Let’s be clear, we’re not linking the elimination of the income tax to eliminating any specific programs or other revenue-generating options.

"It will make an unfair tax system even less fair." FALSE
Subjecting Mainers to one of the largest tax burdens in the country is unfair. Creating an economy where young people flee for lack of opportunity is unfair. The status quo is unfair.

​The Property Tax Fairness Credit and the Sales Tax Fairness Credit proposed in the latest budget proposal are examples of the types of tools available.

"It is a failed prescription for growing Maine's economy." FALSE –

New Hampshire’s economy is exceedingly healthy with this prescription. They have faster GDP growth, higher incomes, and a consistently lower unemployment rate. The status quo is a demonstrably failed prescription for Maine’s economy.

BOTTOM Line:

LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE. By passing the Constitutional amendment through the legislature, we allow the people of Maine to decide how they will be taxed. They will have to approve it by referendum.