Current Maine law allows the state to delay payments to our struggling hospitals for MaineCare (Medicaid) for up to 12 months. A new bill, LD 331, would require 75% of the bills be paid within 90 days. 

Last week in Augusta, Rep. Bill Pluecker, Rep. Ann Matlack and Rep. Vicki Doudera voted against the measure to pay Maine hospitals in a timely manner. Senator Pinny Beebe Center also voted against it. With so many hospitals failing and closing around our state, we should ask them why they voted in opposition to this reasonable proposal. 

Another common sense bill, LD 1586, failed along party lines. This measure would have required all school budget referendum validations include the exact dollar amount; taxpayers and voters deserve to know what they're approving and how much it will cost them. Democrats voted against this commonsense transparency bill, blocking all of usfrom seeing ta school budget's true cost. What are they hiding?

Democrats and so-called “independents” have been holding the balance of power in Augusta for most of the last 50 years; they have grown the budget and strained our financial system. They are experts at spending, taxing, creating news fees and fines, and performing gimmicks, such as raiding every fund available, to make ends meet. 

When people show you who they are, believe them. Maine people deserve better. 

Paula Sutton lives in Warren

Paula Sutton
Warren, ME