Maine's Gov. Paul "Flinstone" LePage Exempts Himself from Pension Cuts

Maine's Gov. LePage Exempts Himself from Pension Cuts

Republicans lawmakers across the country have attacked public employees, cutting their wages, slashing their pensions and, in some cases, eliminating their bargaining rights.They all preach the need for fiscal austerity and budget belt-tightening.

In Maine, Gov, Paul LePage is neither practicing what he preaches nor tightening his belt. Even state employees are being forced to pay more in contributions for their pensions, one isn’t: LePage. He exempted himself from the new pension formula, reports Mike Tipping in the Kennebec Journal.

On top of that, Page's pension—unlike those of public employees—isn’t calculated on length of service but is automatic. He will receive three-eighths of his salary when he leaves office, $26,600. A teacher in Maine would have to work more than 25 years to get the same annual pension.

BTW: Over the past eight years, Maine's teachers and public employees already have been subject to more than $150 million in take-backs to their wages and benefits.

Once again in a reprise of government workers who hate other government workers Paul LePage, Republican Governor Of Maine, Calls State Workers 'Corrupt'

Paul LePage, Republican Governor Of Maine, Calls State Workers 'Corrupt':

'via Blog this'

In response, the governor said state government is too big and too costly and that the state workforce is part of the problem. LePage told the crowd that he has control over appointed state workers, but has little authority over middle managers and other unionized state employees.

"The problem is, middle management of the state is about as corrupt as can be," LePage said in remarks first reported by MaineToday Media.

With the remark buzzing around the State House on Friday, LePage sent an email to more than 11,000 state workers to clarify his remarks, praising the majority of state workers but saying that some union bosses and state workers are intent on maintaining the status quo.

Offering no apologies, LePage had a blunt message for those workers who've been "corrupted" by a bureaucratic mindset that's intent on "doing the same thing because it was always done that way" and for the "union bosses" who he said have urged workers to resist the administration's changes.

"If you are dragging your feet because you do not like the direction the administration is headed, then it is time to either get on board or get out of the way," he wrote.

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