Maine
LePage speaks at second day of the Maine GOP convention
Former Gov. Paul LePage was among the many highlights spoke throughout second day of the Maine Republican Conference.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Former Gov. Paul LePage wasted no time criticizing Gov. Janet Mills when he took the stage on the Maine Republican Conference on the Augusta Civic Middle on Saturday.
“Maine folks have had sufficient,” LePage stated. “We’re prepared for change.”
Lots of of Maine Republicans confirmed their help for LePage on Saturday morning.
He criticized Mills’ COVID-19 response, citing among the strongest lockdowns and mandates within the nation, and stated Maine’s financial system took a beating due to it.
“Maine’s financial restoration after the pandemic was useless final in america,” LePage alleged. “We’ve got had the worst restoration in any state in America.”
LePage reportedly cited the U.S. Bureau of Labor when making this assertion, however in line with the division’s web site, within the final yr Maine had higher financial restoration than seven states and Washington, D.C.
He informed supporters that, if re-elected, he would re-instate all well being care staff and first responders who misplaced their job due to Mills’ vaccine mandate on Day 1.
“She provided no flexibility. It was both the shot or the pink slip. Even California. Let me repeat, even California provided options and choices as an alternative of the shot,” LePage informed the group.
This assertion didn’t match info offered by the California Division of Public Well being, which states that California permits for staff with accomplished main collection vaccination and up to date an infection to defer booster dose by as much as 90 days from an infection.
Maine Democrats responded to this weekend’s conference in a press convention after LePage spoke to supporters.
“I believe probably the most ridiculous and least credible lie from his speech and their message from their complete occasion this weekend is that Maine was higher off when LePage was governor,” Drew Gattine, chair of the Maine Democrats, stated.
Democrats touted Mills’ response to the pandemic and the truth that she put more cash within the state’s wet day fund. Additionally they criticize LePage’s method to well being care.
“With merely one stroke of his pen, Medicaid enlargement would have allowed LePage to offer entry to over 90,000 Maine folks, however he refused,” Sen. Mattie Daughtry, D-Cumberland, stated.
Daughtry cited LePage’s 2018 Medicaid enlargement veto.
Again on the Augusta Civic Middle, former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin spoke to Republicans. Poliquin’s speaking factors included inflation and immigration.
“We’re Republicans. We imagine in immigration. But it surely needs to be authorized,” Poliquin stated.
He stated extra essential than immigrants coming to the U.S. helps Individuals in want.
“I say we deal with Maine and deal with Americans first,” he added.
The previous congressman will face a main challenger in newcomer Liz Caruso on June 14. She stated the D.C. elite must go.
“We should ship somebody with iron convictions and god-fearing principals who will struggle like their life is determined by it, as a result of it does,” she stated.
Caruso stands sturdy on free speech, gun rights and medical freedom by, “accumulating signatures and testifying for the veto of LD 798 the elimination of college vaccine exemptions and in addition the ban of the COVID mandate.”
The conference wraps up Saturday night time, as Republicans sit up for November.