Matt talks about the new coalition that promotes and protects workers and their families courtesy photo

“Today we draw the line,” said Maine Women’s Lobby Director of Public Policy Laura Harper, speaking at a press conference announcing the creation of the Maine Working Families Coalition. “With so many Maine people struggling to make ends meet in the worst recession since the Great Depression, we should be working together to find ways to create jobs – not to punish those who have lost theirs.”

The coalition represents a number of civic, service, religious and business organizations from across the state with the shared goal of a balanced approach to growing Maine’s economy that supports both employers and employees. Coalition members assert that economic security for working families is a necessity for future growth of Maine’s businesses and economy.

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THE PRESIDENT: I could not have enjoyed more the meeting that I had this morning, because what these companies represent is a source of optimism and enormous potential for the future of America. What they have in common is that they’re part of a hopeful trend: They are bringing jobs back to America.

You’ve heard of outsourcing. Well, these companies are insourcing. These companies are choosing to invest in the one country with the most productive workers, the best universities, and the most creative and innovative entrepreneurs in the world, and that is the United States of America. (Applause.) That’s worth applause.

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President Brack Obama’s statement on the stalemate of the inaction of the House of Representatives to take up a bill that would extend unemployment benefits for millions and a pay roll tax cut:

We’ve been doing everything we can over the last few weeks to make sure that 160 million working Americans aren’t hit with a holiday tax increase on January 1st. We’ve also been doing everything we can to make sure that millions of people who are out there looking for work in a very tough environment don’t start losing their unemployment insurance on January 1st.

Now, on Saturday, we reached a bipartisan compromise that would do just that — make sure that people aren’t seeing a tax cut the first of the year; make sure that they still have unemployment insurance the first of the year. Nearly every Democrat in the Senate voted for that compromise. Nearly every Republican in the Senate voted for that compromise. Democrats and even some Republicans in the House voted for that compromise. I am ready to sign that compromise into law the second it lands on my desk.

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Workers carol outside the Governor's residence in Augusta. They were reminding LePage that their contract needs to be finalized after 8 months of negotiations.

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way— Workers need a living wage and benefits that stay! Maine workers caroled outside the Blaine House, the residence of Gov. Paul LePage, on December 20,1011.

The state workers wanted to remind the governor that all Maine workers deserve to be treated with respect. Throughout the State of Maine, snowplow drivers, public nurses, public safety workers and other public servants remain without a contract after eight months of bargaining with the LePage administration.

The administration has rejected the workers’ proposals even though they would actually freeze wages for another two years and lower costs for the State of Maine and Maine taxpayers, all while ensuring quality public services for everyone in Maine. The workers are calling on the administration to accept their cost-saving proposals and settle the contract negotiations. Last spring LePage hired a New York City lawyer, at Maine tax payers expense, to come to Maine and resolve the dispute.

Maine's state capitol at night. phoyo by Ramona du Houx

A recent study from Chase Bank shows that during the deepest part of the near depression, Maine’s economic recession and unemployment rates were both far less severe compared to the rest of the country as a whole. This is due in large part because the foundation for Maine’s economy to progress out of the recession was firmly established with the Baldacci administration.

But the Chase Bank study shows that after LePage’s first session with the Legislature, Maine began to lag behind in the economic recovery. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that the state had no bond issues on the ballot this past November, which would have immediately provided thousands of jobs for people in construction, research and development, public safety, and education. LePage and other conservatives flatly refused to discuss a bond package in 2010. According to the most recent Maine Department of Labor data, Maine has lost more than 4,800 jobs since January. And LePage’s proposed cuts would diminish the workforce further.

“The proposed state cuts to Medicaid in fiscal year 2012 will result in the loss of more than 4,400 jobs across all counties statewide,” said MECEP Executive Director Garrett Martin.

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Gov. LePage smiles for the camera when he met with Rep. O’Brien, Mr. Akers, Mr. Tibby and Mr. Lachowitz, later he would say it was, "bullshit." photo from the Governor's office

The events that led up to the Governor of Maine’s outburst about Maine’s workers need some explaining:

On December 3, 2011 the Governor met with out-of-work Mainers and Rep. Andrew O’Brien in an unscheduled meeting. Three unemployed Mainers, who had participated in a rally arranged by the Maine People’s Alliance which prompted the LePage administration to hold the meeting, described the meeting as a positive conversation. Rep. O’Brien was invited to the meeting because for months he had been requesting an interview with LePage to talk about the Governor’s insulting comments which had implied that the jobless were lazy or not looking for work.

At the unscheduled talk LePage declined requests to hold a public meeting with unemployed workers and refused to guarantee that he would not seek to apply new cuts and restrictions to unemployment insurance for those affected by the economic downturn.

When Capitol News Service reporter Mal Leary questioned the Governor after the closed-door meeting LePage-with other witnesses present- told Leary what he actually thought about the events that transpired.

“It’s all a big play and I think it’s bullshit,” said LePage pausing for a minute then adding slowly and deliberately, “Bull …. shit.”

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“Don’t be a Grinch,” the president said in New Hampshire to Congress. “Don’t vote to raise taxes on working Americans during the holidays.”

A tax cut that reaches 160 million Americans and government aid for the long-term unemployed will expire at the end of the year – and $165 billion will be drained out of the economy in 2012 – unless Republicans in Congress agree with extending unemployment benefits, the payroll tax cut, and a middleclass tax cut.

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The Senate has passed President Obama’s veterans jobs bill in a 94–1 vote.

“Today, Republicans and Democrats in the Senate did the right thing and passed tax credits that will encourage businesses to hire America’s veterans. Tomorrow, our nation will commemorate Veterans Day and honor the service and the sacrifice of all who have worn the uniform of the United States of America. No veteran who fought for our nation should have to fight for a job when they come home, and I urge the House to pass these tax credits as well so I can sign them into law. I also urge Congress to pass additional jobs proposals in the weeks ahead to help the millions of other Americans who are still looking for work,” said President Barack Obama.

Today First Lady Michelle Obama announced that the International Franchise Association (IFA) which represents 1,100 franchises has committed to hiring 80,000 veterans and military spouses by 2014. 5,000 jobs of this commitment are promised to wounded warriors.

Mrs. Obama also announced that the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) – which Dr. Jill Biden helped launch at the Chamber of Commerce last summer and which includes nearly 100 companies and organizations – has committed to employ 20,000 military spouses. Together the commitment by the International Franchise Association and the Military Spouse Employment Partnership represents 100,000 veterans, wounded warriors and military spouses who will be hired by 2014. In Maine the initiative is know as Jobs Now for Maine Vets.

“When we think about what we’re announcing today, 100,000 new jobs committed and 550,000 searchable jobs online, those aren’t just numbers. There are millions of Americans all across this country who are working hard every day to find new ways to honor military families’ service,” said First Lady Michelle Obama

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Jobs Now for Maine Vets, a new private-sector job training initiative, kicked off with a video presentation to business leaders at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards dinner. Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber announced the initiative as a partnership between his organization and the Maine Manufacturing Extension PartnershipMEP

Speaking to an audience of more than 400 business leaders at the Bangor Civic Center, Connors stated that workforce development would be a key issue for the Maine State Chamber in the coming year. As part of its commitment to strengthening Maine’s economic growth, the Chamber is co-sponsoring the Jobs Now for Maine Vets initiative. He called upon businesses throughout the state to join the Chamber in supporting the program.

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