My son has been bullied by Somali children. He has even been beaten up by them. However, the answer is not fighting them with fists. As far as parents not caring except for how much assistance their child is worth...I must disagree with you. It is another case of stereotyping because people are poor. Many of the middle class parents are working too hard to be a major factor in their child's life. And I would wager that upper class parents are also too busy doing what they do to be a major factor in their child's life. It is time to get away from the race card, the immigrant card, the discrimination card, and put the blame where it belongs. As parents we have failed to instill in our children good old fashioned values. While some parents are an integral part of the children's lives there are more who are not regardless of their economic situation.

As far as parenting in the USA classes, who are we to tell them how to parent their children. If they were to tell us to start parenting as they do we would all throw a fit. The point is PARENTS NEED TO PARENT, we need to instill values in our children and be responsible adults. There is an entire generation of children who think they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths and they need to be brought back in line. As a parent you can be sure I "RAISE" my children and not just allow them to grow up as they want.

You still can't buy cigarettes, alcohol, toilet paper, laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo or any other non food item on food stamps.

LePage said Edgecomb's bill "attempts to force action before we have all the facts."

Oh so it is ok for the legislature to have to vote on budgets to cover shortfalls without all the facts but it isn't ok for them to vote on restoring services to children. Give me a break. This governor wants his cake and wants to eat it too.

Is it 2014 yet? This governor needs a major reality check on the correct behavior for a governor and he needs it quick. His name calling, bullying, and temper tantrums have no place in the position of Governor of the State of Maine.

First, to maintain public confidence, it’s critical to avoid the appearance of impropriety. We need to include Charlie Summers in this as well. While it is not illegal nor against the constitution he is running for the U.S. Senate while still holding the office of Secretary of State, which also oversees the elections. It seems to be a very high "appearance of impropriety" for him to accept the signatures from people who are running against him in this election. He should resign from his office, or remove himself from anything to do with the election proceedings for this race.

Some of us are riding the train and barely holding on. I once thought a business man (LePage) would be the change Maine needed to bring jobs to this state and get us out of an economic mess. How wrong I was. He has turned out to be nothing more than another politician that does nothing but lie, hide facts, and try to intimidate others. You can bet that come time for reelection he doesn't get my vote and in the meantime there is not a republican in this state who will ever convince me to vote for them.

Too bad all you guys seem to be able to do is make ASSumptions about other people and their situations. It is people who think they are the only ones entitled to an opinion that make this whole thing a nightmare because they are not willing to OPEN THEIR MINDS and actually HEAR what others are saying.

The government is putting too many caps on too many different things. While I agree drug abuse treatment is to deal with a choice people made earlier in their lives, there is no telling how each person reacts to addiction treatment. The government has capped the amount of pain medication a person needs to 45 days....try living with fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis and tell me 45 days is enough to live a normal life. The government needs to get out of our bedrooms and out of our doctors offices. The do NOT know what is best for a person's health.

And who will LePage nominate for that position...probably another family member....I sure hope democrats raise a stink about the inproprieties of LePage's guys....Poliquin, violating the constitution....Summers, for the appearance of a lack of ethics....etc

Lets see, where to begin....maybe right there in Augusta....cut the salaries, make it so Senators, Representatives, and yest he Governor get a very small stipend to cover travel expenses. Then maybe we get people who actually care about Maine and not just those out to help themselves and their cronies get whatever they want. Let's cut buying new vehicles for the wardens....how many new vehicles do they need each year...I saw at least 12 at one of the ice fishing events I attended. Lets do away with tax breaks for big corporations that really don't do anything for us. My whole point is that you CANNOT cut taxes of any kind at this moment when their are such huge problems with the current budget. Instead of wasting time (paid for with taxpayer money) finding ways to cut taxes maybe the time should be spent figuring out how to solve the current problems and keeping the safety net for children, elderly, and disabled people. I have never said that taxes should be cut...that is the whole point...this administration wants to cut taxes and yet they are proposing cuts to programs that should be left alone just to help their cronies....their tax cuts won't help the elderly disabled person who doesn't pay income tax but do need services. Their tax cuts won't help children who do not pay income taxes......so why take from those programs.

As far at the brother in law getting the job...after the daughter being given a job....it is not the legality of it....it is the appearance of favoritism from someone who claims to want transparency in government. Appearance goes a long way towards a favorable or unfavorable opinion of a person.

Also, if LePage is so for education why did he threaten to close Maine schools on April 1st if he did not get the DHHS budget that he wanted? He is such a hypocrit.

And yet you still have not answered the question....Why is it ok for a man to have a boner with the aid of erectile dysfuntion medication but not ok for a woman to have her birth control?

There should be absolutely no NEW spending nor any NEW tax cuts until the budget issue is fixes. A shortfall in any department is not acceptable to any of us but it seems every time this administration proposes something it ends up hurting the neediest of the needy...the elderly, disabled, and children. If you can't pay for what you propose then don't propose it...maybe this governor and his administration needs to go back to our failing schools to relearn math...1 + 1 does NOT equal 4 more years if you kill the voters because they can't get the help they need. He wants to find a way to keep productive members of society in the state but yet he wants to cut funding to the university system...gee that sounds smart...NOT. This has become the biggest joke of the decade...the governor wants to keep productive people here but he makes it impossible for them to get educated here unless they are wealthy. He wants to fix our schools but yet he cuts their funding time and time again. He wants to reform welfare and all he is doing is putting people on the street...gee I would really want to vacation here...NOT. Is Governor LePage started to suffer from Alzheimers? Does anyone know when his last physical or psychological evaluation was done? And this governor also wants transparency in government and yet his Secretary of State is running for Senator Snowe's seat and is still in the position and is not required to leave the position and he oversees the elections in the state...can we say conflict of interest?????

Oh and for your information....I WAS AND AM responsible enough to take responsibility for my actions. I have been and continue to be 21 years later.....I never asked anyone else other than her FATHER to take responsibility.

And I wasn't going to say it but since you seem to be saying I didn't take personal responsibility then why don't you start attacking the men that walk away from their responsibility instead of just taking out your ignorance on the women. Why don't you start telling these men to keep their peckers in their pants and not have sex since they are too irresponsible to take responsibility.

Every day I read more blogs about women should choose to not have sex. Well it's about time the MEN start getting grief for their actions too. But I guess that is just too much to ask of some of the MALE population. And before I get more grief about that comment...I said SOME...not all....

And why should the woman suffer the consequences alone because the father decides he doesn't want to be part of the child's life and walks away, quits a job to not have to pay child support, and doesn't respond to any requests for help for the child? And BTW parents are responsible for their children until the child reaches 24 and yet as of 18 or 21, depending on the service, the parents have no say. My daughter needs my financial information for financial aid to finish college, is going to be 21 in May, and yet I cannot get any information from the school or talk to her doctor about her medical condition without a signed release. If she cannot pay her bills at school they come to me but not her father because he walked away and stopped having any contact with her once she turned 18 and he no longer had to pay child support. So now all the financial stuff falls on her and me but he gets away scott free. And before any of you say anything....my daughter is the result of failed birth control (condom). So even though I took responsibility for a bad choice and still support my daughter so that she can finish college and support herself, her father walked away and takes no responsibility and would not have paid support if I had not gotten the state to garnish his wages. And so in retrospect, I wish I had had the option of birth control paid for by my insurance as it would have been much cheaper in the long run. Remember any male can be a father but only real men can be daddies. We need more "real men" to stand up and accept the responsibilities for their actions.

Haven't our children lost enough already? It is time to start looking elsewhere to save money and stop taking from the children.

I never thought I would see this day come but Mike I actually agree with you.

I am not putting the "blame" for this particular issue on the current administration. However, I am putting the "blame" for not coming clean about it earlier on them. They knew there was a budget shortfall, they asked the legislature to make cuts to cover that shortfall, the did NOT give the legislature all the information to make an informed decision. This latest problem is going to create an even larger shortfall as we are going to end up paying the federal government back which in turn is going to create an even bigger problem that will need to be addressed. What was the benefit of holding this information until now? There is now more mistrust then before. And it also appears that now there is proof that the administration will withhold pertinent information if they believe it will benefit what they want to accomplish. So much for transparency in government. Now we have to go and fill an even bigger shortfall (in which we still do not know the exact amount of) instead of being able to do it all at one time. Another waste of time and money.

Change...not a joke. People would more likely accept change if it wasn't accomplished in such a back handed manner. And by that I mean....be open with ALL the facts and not just the ones that you pick and choose.

With no offense meant towards Mr. Lockman, I believe he should look at the current facts that have come to light. The legislature was asked to solve a budget shortfall without having all the information that was needed. With the latest discovery of 19,000 receiving Maine Care benefits after having been declared ineligible there will now be an even larger shortfall as the state will have to repay the federal government. It has also come to light that Ms. Mayhew knew this information at least as early as January and her staff knew even earlier than that. We all know that change needs to happen, however, how can there be fiscal change/responsibility when the legislature is not given all the information required to make an informed decision.

What do we expect from a party who has a person who is Secretary of State and overseer of the elections running for a position in the United States Senate and who will not be resigning his position at this time? It is making me wonder how many of the election changes we put forth to benefit Mr. Summers who is also close to Olympia Snowe? Can we say appearance of impropriety????

The fact of the matter is that the legislature was asked to cover a budget shortfall with incomplete information that was known to Ms. Mayhew. They were asked to take away from eligible people because DHHS didn't have the money to pay for the services. Now many people are going to be without health coverage because Ms. Mayhew didn't open her mouth and reveal all the facts prior to a vote by the legislature. How is what she did any different then what has come to light in other departments? She is accountable and should be removed from the position. And since she knew at the end of January, why does she need even more time to figure out exactly how much this cost the state. That should already be a known amount. And if auditors started uncovering it last summer then shame, shame on Ms. Mayhew and the Governor as he should be supervising his commissioner since he wants to have his hand in everything and be in control of all agencies. What a disappointment that we all should have expected from this administration.

Gary, stores can commit fraud without the people who use the cards. The article you refer to specifically specified stores.... "more than 225 stores found violating program rules, and permanently disqualified more than 350 stores for trafficking SNAP benefits." The fraud comes when they turn in their request for repayment from the food stamp program. No one is saying fraud is not a problem. What we are saying is it is not as rampant as the histrionics lead everyone to believe. It only takes a few to make all look bad and the judgement of some have led to people being over zealous in the accusations.

Thank you Rachel for pointing out what many of us feel. I just wish more would see the big picture and not just the bushel of apples that make the rest of us look bad.

We need an INDEPENDENT person to run for president....this party nonsense is getting old.

How about let's forget who is republican and who is democrat and do what is RIGHT for a change. They work for the people not the parties. The sooner we do away with the party politics the sooner we can get this country and this state on its feet again. Until we do that then all we are going to do is bicker, blame, and stay dead-locked. And until people realize that then we are all in trouble because it will be the same old same old cycle every election. It is time the PEOPLE smarten up and get rid of all party politics

Mike, as you know I am definitely NOT a fan of either the republican or the democratic party. With that said, Senator Snowe was someone who I believe sincerely tried to do what she thought was best for the state of Maine and its people. She was one who crossed party lines on numerous occasions and I appreciate the fact that she didn't just "tow the party line".

The other thing I would like to say....this is a great example of what is wrong in this state and the country...PARTY POLITICS....we seem to be more divided then we have ever been and the only way to solve the problems is to come together and put those "Party Politics" aside.

Maybe we get Governor Baldacci in the Senate....I can just hear the moans and groans of the LePage fans now!!!!

To Mr. Timberlake...how about we cut the farm subsidies the farmers get...it sure hasn't brought down the cost of food. I bet the voters in Turner would sure like that since there are many farms there. In fact, are there any subsidies attached to the orchard? Enough has been taken from the elderly, disabled, and children of this state. It is about time to bring jobs here so people can go to work. Do something useful in Augusta and start fighting for a way to get people to work and then we solve the problem of high welfare enrollments.

This is just another attempt to outrage people. It will not pass and yet it going to get us all fired up about transparency in government. Unfortunately, I think the Governor and this legislative body have bigger issues they should be worrying about. Maybe if they stop with these "stupid" bills and work on solving the actual problems we would all be better off.

Pirate I would but I learned a long time ago that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. The same goes for people...too many are too stubborn to listen to other points of view let alone be able to change their opinion or attitude.

For years, emergency personnel operated with radios and dispatchers. Now comes the technology era and they want to use gadgets instead of people. Well gadgets are only as good as the people operating them and if they are distracted then not only are they endangering the lives of others and themselves but they are also more apt to make mistakes with the technology. The emergency personnel are no different from anyone else and should not be exempt from this law under any circumstances....just my opinion

And Mike, you are consistently saying to come up with solutions and stop getting upset and ranting....I offered other examples of where to cut and you say I lost all credibility because of one sentence....you have no credibility if you will not even have a discussion that proposes other ideas that do not agree with your own. You have all the answers...NOT....you have a clue....ON SOME THINGS BUT NOT OTHERS. Sorry I don't have time to research all your past comments to prove this statement as it is now time for me to do my thing and stop worrying about people who are not willing to listen to others....

My point....DHHS pays for job training and education for recipients....There are no jobs here....Why are we wasting the money to train and educate people....Gee sounds like a place to make cuts....DUH

How about instead of playing the blame game we look at bringing jobs to the state that will hire the people on state assistance??? If there are no jobs then people cannot get a job that offers health insurance. However, if people in government would look at solving the issues instead of putting a bandaid on it then maybe we would get somewhere. Slashing people of MaineCare results in multiple problems that will end up costing the state more in the long term. Long term solutions will not only improve the state's budgetary woes but it will also enable the people to be self sufficient and will stop some of the bickering that is going on in these blogs. It is not a Democratic or a Republican problem...it is a state problem and needs to be cured versus long term treatment plans.

The issue I have with the investigation is that they are blaming Dale McCormick. The records, as I understand them, go back to 1998 which is well before Ms. McCormick took the position. If there is wrongdoing then hold Ms. McCormick responsible for the time she has had the position and call others in that held the position before her to answer for the questionable spending that occurred during their time in the position. Holding Ms. McCormick responsible for what happened prior to her watch is what is making this seem like a witch hunt by Governor LePage and Mr. Poliquin, who should come clean on his own questionable behavior.

Go one step further...if people are receiving benefits and are on prescription medication then test them to make sure their levels are what they are suppose to be and to probe they are not selling their medication. I have a neighbor that sells their pills, smokes pot, and then rats other tenants out for every minor infraction.

Paul...recipients are required to participate in the ASPIRE program which requires them to get education, volunteer to get job training, or do a job search...they are required to participate 30 hours each week. It isn't FREE money as most assume. There are requirements that must be met in order to receive any assistance.

While that would be a nice idea it wouldn't work unless businesses accepted the card. For example, I can pay rent with my EBT card but I cannot pay my CMP bill with it. I have to withdraw the cash and either get a money order or go to an agent that takes the payment. It would be nice if I could just produce the card and pay the bill as then I wouldn't have to make the extra step of going to an ATM. So to make that happen, the state would have to get CMP and phone companies to accept the cards.

Claire, It is typical for the males to consider it the female's responsibility and misunderstand the current issue. Maybe it is time to get men out of politics and elect only women. Then we can make the men have to go to a doctor to get a prescription for the condoms, which makes it more expensive.

I have also said that there are no jobs here that will hire that actually pay a living wage. They want experience only. Someone with an Associates Degree can't get a job because they have no experience in the field. How do they get experience when employers won't give them a chance. I have offered solutions to look at and it always comes back to the same thing....cut services for people who need them. Do you realize how much money could be found if we had actual employers out there that would work with us and not turn us down. First it was people didn't have the education required. So people went out and got the required education. Now it is people do not have the experience needed. So people now have degrees or certifications that are useless until the business climate changes. Is that being looked at...NO ...Is anyone looking at ways to get business to work with us....NO. What is being done....well let's just stop the assistance to these "lazy" people and let them fend for themselves. I would love to work....I have gotten 3 different certifications within the medical field and yet I can't get the experience needed to get a job. A friend of mind went to school and got an Associates Degree and yet she cannot find a job in the field because she doesn't have experience....that tells me the problem also lays within the business community.

Mark, a man can use the hands God gave him instead of having a caveman attitude like yours. It takes 2 to make a baby and it takes 2 to be responsible....all women want is to make it affordable for them to take care of the contraceptives because men seem to think its not their responsibility and therefore if a child is created it is not their fault. And you wonder why so many need welfare.

And the solutions so far are hurting the very ones that "truly" need it. Why not sit down with those of us receiving help and ask us what would fix the problems. I can tell you lots but instead it is people like me who are going to be left out in the cold because our moronic governor has no clue on reality. Cuts can be made administratively ...cuts can be made in staff that take a paper from the intake area and then go to their cubicle and wait 15 or 20 minutes before calling a client....cuts can be made by following rules set years ago...if you are on TANF and have more children you do not get an increase....better yet....bring jobs to the state that will hire people and not turn us away and say we are looking for someone with experience....how the hell do we get experience if employers won't give us a chance. Get the feds to get off their butts and hold the hearings that most disabled are waiting on to get disability...it is currently a 14 month wait for a hearing date after they take 5 months to deny you twice. There are many ways to bring the system under control but all anyone sees is get people off it and quick. Forget that there are many with very good reasons for getting the help. It is not just media BS...its Lepage BS too...its people who are quick to say well if they are still getting help they must be abusing the system....give me a break. We have tried many times to tell people how to fix the system and yet we are still the ones being dumped and for what....to save money that could be saved in even bigger amounts by bringing jobs that will work with us and not against us.

I thought the issue on contraception was to get insurances to pay for them. And if people buy insurance then why shouldn't the insurance handle this prescription. And like it or not....men don't care what they do as long as they can get between a woman's legs. The only way a woman can guarantee protection is to us it herself or not have sex at all. Typical that a man would think it is the woman's responsibility to not get pregnant. A man's choice of birth control...a condom....a woman's choice of birth control...a prescription. Seems fair....NOT

Here we go again....why do you guys have to be so negative all the time about welfare. There are some out there that do not commit fraud and actually need the help and use it the way it was meant to be used. Give me a break fellas and lets hope none of you ever need a helping hand.

A better solution to the problem with the schools would be to get rid of "No Child Left Behind". That unfunded mandate is what is causing our schools to fail because the teachers have to teach to a damn test instead of teaching to the basics. The tests also do not take into account that some kids just do not test well. There is no help for the kids that just need a little extra boost to actually grasp things. It took me 6 years to get my child into Title 1 for math, now that he is there his test scores went from 208 to 220. We are focusing so much attention on the tests that we are forgetting the basics.

Another thing, parents need to take responsibility for sitting with their child while they are doing their homework and making sure the student is doing it and understanding it. If the child is not understanding it then it is up to the parent to get to the bottom of why. It is up to the parent to go to the school and advocate for their child. It is up to the parent to call a meeting with officials and say what are you going to do to help me (us) get this child where he belongs.

Stop putting the failure all on the teachers and put it where it belongs....the parents, the students, the system, the government and fix the problems versus putting a bandaid on the problems.

Bob....I went to public schools. My children have gone and are going to public schools. The problem is the government interfering with education in the first place. We already have the choice to send our children to another school if our school is failing to meet the standards. The problem is all schools in Lewiston are failing and it is not because of the teachers. It is because of the standardized testing that is pointless. The averages of the tests include the ELL students as well as the students that speak English very well. Stop mandating things and start paying for what the students and teachers need. Remember if a child doesn't learn it is not just the fault of the school. Parents are responsible for teaching their children as well as children are responsible for doing the work and not blowing it off.

I have cousins who attended a religious private school and guess what...they are no smarter then any of the rest of us. The only difference is that their education cost more then the rest of the family's did.

And I say this to the Governor....I will pull myself up by the bootstraps and work when you find a way to bring paying jobs to this state that will allow me to pay child care and still support my family. The jobs here barely pay enough to support one person let alone support a family. Throw into that the fact that most are single parents and if they hold down multiple jobs the state will get involved and say you are not being a good parent. Throw into that the fact that they want parents to be involved with education. Throw into that the cost of rent, insurance for family coverage, electricity, and phone costs and there you get it....there needs to be jobs that actually pay a decent wage brought to this state to apply for.

Most people on MaineCare require a prior authorization for medicines or treatments that are recommended by their physicians. Most of the time these prior authorizations are denied or extremely limited. For example, 8 physical therapy sessions are requested and only 2 are authorized. Smoking cessation products are requested and are denied unless others have been tried and proven not to work. Maybe if the treatments that worked were allowed then more people would be able to get healthy faster or have the ability to stay healthy longer and the red tape that people go through would be diminished and thus saving money. Do you think the doctors do not charge for their time in proving things for getting the prior authorizations? What about the staff processing the requests? Their labor isn't cheap.

Going back to the physical therapy example...2 approved visits result in one being a consultation and one being a follow-up. Sometimes the treatment requires equipment that cannot be found in a home or in a gym. An ultra sound treatment is one example of that. Where multiple uses of this machine may very well move the patient onto the road to recovery it is not available for more then 2 visits because it isn't approved. That leads to more doctor visits, in some cases a worsening of symptoms instead of an improvement of symptoms.

Administratively there are also lots of waste. Multiple mailings that are identical which wastes paper, ink, staff time, postage, etc.

What I am trying to say is that there are a lot of ways to save money without drastically stopping programs. In the past there were programs that showed people who recieved state aid to make healthy meals cheaply and to stretch the food stamp dollar. However, even with these programs there are problems that need to be addressed. The cost of food has risen drastically over the past couple of years and yet the food stamp allotment has stayed basically the same. Most on food stamps use the less healthy items because it is cheaper and can stretch further. It is not always better to "teach them to fish" when the items needed are so expensive. Sometimes it is a choice that people are forced into making because of the cost. Raising the snack tax isn't going to take those choices off the table. It is just going to make people make even worse choices because of the cost.

Dan it seems like you are assuming facts not in evidence...again. We already get it..you don't like Republicans and I seriously doubt you would make the same statement if the Democrats were using the building. This is part of the reason why this country is going to hell.....the partisanship of everyone. Get over it and offer up solutions to the problems.

Dan there have been a great number of times when both Snowe and Collins have broken from party lines and voted with the Democrats. We get it...you do not like Republicans but at least get your facts straight before you make a comment that is not factual.

Hey Mike here is an option for you....Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, or Goofy. If none of the candidates appeal to you then make a statement and vote a Disney Character in. They can't do any worse then a party representative.

Gee Mike....you and I in the same sentence....now that is good for a laugh

As much as I disagree with this administration, I have to say KUDOS to the governor on this one. It is about time they fix the domestic violence laws. I know of one case where a man was charged with terrorizing a woman and 2 children, surprised everyone when he plead guilty and got off with a $200 fine. Like that would be a deterrent.

Mike it is in the TCT issue that came out yesterday. It concerns the 606 people in Lewiston that lose TANF benefits as of May 31. And I have no doubt that we will disagree on it.(lol)

I wish they would give us the details on the new compromise now and not make us wait to see. It is like they are doing things in secrecy and hope to sneak it in. I will say I did not like the tone of the Governor when he blamed the Democrats of stalling. If they came up with a compromise then some of them had to be actually working and he just sounds so negative all the time. Almost like he sees everything as half empty and not half full.

Can anyone tell me how much this investigation is costing the taxpayers of the state? Can anyone tell me where the state is getting the money for this investigation since we are "broke"? Can anyone tell me how Ms. McCormick is responsible for stuff that happened before she took the position?

As far as I am concerned the only questions Ms. McCormick should have to answer is for anything that occurred on her watch. If it happened in 1998 then the person in charge at that time should be held accountable. The way it is going at the moment is like saying my parents are responsible for my choices even though I am in my 40s and no longer live at home.

Mike, I told you all I eat for lunch is peanut butter and strawberry preserves on wheat bread. I save what food I have for my kids and I eat very little. And just an FYI Mayor Macdonald had a piece in the Twin City Times that I bet you and I would disagree on.

And becoming friends with someone doesn't mean you have to agree on everything and if I lived my life on worrying about what others think of me then I wouldn't still be here today because I am not normal in my way of thinking and tend to explode before I can verbalize my legit arguments on something.

I am still waiting, however, for an answer to previous posts on other articles on some thoughts I had that I thought were valid. I.E. If the legislature passes the current MaineCare budget items and Maine does NOT get the waiver then will we end up owing the feds even more money? Would that put us in an even worse position then we are now? Wouldn't it be prudent to know the answers to these questions before deciding if this is the best course for the people of the state of Maine?

I believe we need to change politics in this country. Get rid of the parties and put in people who actually want to work for the people and not tie everything up in party gridlock.

Paul while I might normally agree with you but when a 70 pound kid gets attacked, bullied, threatened, or chased by a group of 20-30 I would not promote going after the biggest kid just to be pounded on by the rest of them. It is time for a reality check. When you report an episode of bullying to the police now a days they talk to the parties involved and come back and say well the 20-30 of them say this so it is their word against the word of 1 so there is not really anything we can do as it will be thrown out of court. It is time to say enough is enough...arrest the little bullies and give them a taste of the big bad world as a community and not just as an individual. The more the justice system looks the other way the worse it is going to get.

And for those that are going to start blaming the influx , think again, the white kids do it too. The difference is the influx runs in bigger packs because they are concentrated in one or two areas... but all kids do it. Let's put the power back in the hands of the teachers, parents, schools, and the justice department. When we say we have a 0 tolerance then let's treat it that way and make the consequences meet the crime. If you want to say they bully because of low self esteem then put the parents on notice too...charge them as well for failing to be responsible for their child. If my children ever acted the way some of the kids today do they would find out that mama is not one to make mad. I have no doubt that my children act differently when I am not around but god help them if mama finds out they did wrong.

Defending themselves is all well and good. However, bullying has changed. It is no longer just one kid bullying another but is now a group of kids bullying one. The odds are too overwhelming for one child to "just defend himself (herself)"

So Mark does that mean if a woman identifies the father, it is proven, and the father pays child support and reimburses the state for the welfare cost then it is ok to give out the welfare? Cuz if that is the case I will argue it with you. As a TANF recipient you have to work with child support enforcement to identify the other parent, find the other parent, and get court ordered child support from the other parent that goes directly to the state of Maine. Failure to comply with those rules results in sanctions which under the federal law, prohibits you from getting benefits for a period of time, and preventing you from any extensions if you get enough of these sanctions. You also have to work with ASPIRE and either get education, job training, or volunteer 30 hours per week. So just to clear a few things up, it is NOT FREE money for the majority. Obviously there are some that slip through, but the majority of the welfare roll is compliant or they wouldn't be getting their money. If they do the problem is then administrative because someone isn't doing their job correctly.

Well then, thank you for your putting it in plain English. In my opinion EVERYTHING should be put on the table including the governor's precious tax cut and we start taking step to tighten everyones belt. DHHS has been cut for years,and yet the problem still exists....lets start by cutting the administrators and their salaries.....education is already down to bear bones so lets only deal with cutting administrative things there. DOT....the roads suck anyway and the bridges are falling apart so what are they doing with their money?????? Investigations for a witch hunt.....come on now get over it....the treasurer of this state should be doing some serious budgeting instead of worrying about a department that actually has money.......duh

Sorry Brenda if you thought I was asking you to answer the questions. That was not my intent. My intent was to point out that those are the questions we all should be asking before we get in more trouble with the federal government. I think the answers to the questions may help guide us in coming up with tolerable solutions for all. Or at least that is my hope.

Here is my question....if the proposed cuts are enacted by the legislature and Maine does NOT get the waiver, where does that leave us? Will we lose federal funds? Will we have to pay anything to the federal government?

The track record of the federal government granting the waiver is NOT favorable. I believe before any legislative action is taken we need to look at these concerns. Losing federal money will make an even bigger problem. Having to pay back the federal government will also create a bigger problem. And I, for one, would like to know what will happen if the waiver is not granted.

I do not like Lepage. I do not like what he is trying to do. However, I do see that some things need to change (whether this is the right thing to do or not remains to be seen) but I do not think our representatives should make a decision without ALL the facts...and I mean the truth, not the interpretation, not the misstatements, not the bully pulpit....the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the whole truth.

Maine needs more people????? I think Maine needs more jobs for the people we already have before trying to lure more people here. Wasn't one of the problems that many think too many come here for the welfare????

Mike, all I need for lunch is a peanut butter and strawberry preserve sandwich. I am that simple. My whole argument is that if Governor LePage is speaking the truth then why not just state the facts, prove them and let people make their decisions. Why does it always seem to come down with threats and bullying and holding this program or that department hostage? If the FACTS support something then he shouldn't have to resort to other tactics.

The only thing I will say on this subject is that it would be nice to hear a State of the State that is factual, not intimidating, non bullying, non threatening. It would be nice if there were no "misstatements". It would also be nice if there is written proof to the words the Governor may speak.

As far as the democrats being combative and using bullying tactics, well, what's good for one is good for another. And yes I know Mike will probably have something to say about this but that's life.

Mike, I do have great disdain for those who seem to think theirs is the only opinion. Insulting, maybe, I do tend to insult people who think they know everything because in effect they are actually showing their stupidity. I.E. Lepage saying he will close schools when he does not have that authority. You were invited to attend...gee sounds like someone was trying to stack the room with LePage supporters so he would have an easy time and be less apt to stick his foot in his mouth..too bad it didn't work that way. He is not just the Governor for the people who support him but he is the Governor for the 61% who don't support him and I would wager to say that he has even less support then he did before. This I know because I have friends who were all for him and now they wish he would just go away. If you think I am angry then you are correct because what he wants to cut affects my family in multiple ways and I have become the "mama bear" trying to protect her children (and in this case protect a parent as well).

I know we each have our priorities but in my opinion if this Governor truly wanted to hear from ALL the people, he would find a way to have 2 meetings for each town he calls "Capital for a Day" so that those that have other commitments and work could attend (and yes, taking care of a special needs child is work, even if you do not consider it so)...he would have the priorities of taking care of everyone in the state and not just his "buddies".

How much money is he spending on this investigation into the MSHA? How much money is he spending to investigate Mr. Poliquin? I bet he is spending more on MSHA then on Mr. Poliquin. He claims to be working closely with the hospitals and yet neither of the Lewiston hospitals were on his tour when he came here....why is that?

How can anyone be proud of a Governor who is a bully? Who threatens children and seniors? Who misstates most things? Who changes things to suit his agenda? And who has his staff spin the words out of his mouth because he wants to break the constitution and end up costing the state more federal money which is what would happen if he closed schools early?

You think I need to wake up but here is my thoughts...THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT THREATENING AND BULLYING ARE NOT GOING TO BE TOLERATED.

Mike, first my name is Tina not Claire so maybe you need to go back to school and learn to read again. I live with my choices and do what's best for my children, one of whom is in college and one who is special needs. Do you have the money it costs to hire childcare for a special needs child? I sure don't. Leave him with a trusted friend???? Be real it is not their job to take care of my child it is mine. You put many down, you have put down not only myself but Dan as well as others. You come across as you know best and yours is the only opinion worth having here. This is a blog to give everyone a chance to comment. However, when I originally made the comment about having a meeting at a more convenient time why couldn't the governor hold two meetings...one during the day and one in the evening. I am sure I am not the only one who would have liked to attend the meeting but couldn't because of other commitments...like a night time job. I don't assume anything about you but you assume alot about other people. I think you need to get off your holier than thou pedestal and come back to the real world.

I think LePage is blowing more smoke....he cannot close the schools as then he will lose federal money and that will create more of a problem. He needs to stop threatening people and doing his job...if the state is in that bad of shape then maybe he should forego his salary and his appointees should do the same...as we all know Poliquin has an income outside of state government and I have to wonder how many others are the same.

Mike until you walk in my shoes then dont think you know what I go through. Finding night time child care for a special needs child who cannot handle change of any kind in his routine is something many of us face on a daily basis. If the governor were truly interested in hearing what the public had to say he would hold two meetings...one during the day and one at night. As it is you would defend him if he had a gun to the heads of the people of this state and think you were the only one with all the answers. Well I have bit my tongue long enough....Mike you know nothing about the lives of the people you put down all the time. You find a way to try to act like you are bigger than anyone out there, smarter than anyone out there, and better off then anyone out there. Well let me say this....people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones and those that defend Governor LePage to the level that you do had best make sure their closets have no skeletons because at some point all LePage is doing is going to come back and bite every citizen in the butt. And one other thing...as a parent it is my job to be home with my child when they are home and to help them with homework, to feed them, to prepare them for bed and to see that they have quality time with family so they learn values. I do not go out and leave my child with babysitters. I plan my life around my child's. I do not just up and go and leave him with whoever. I am a PARENT FIRST. So maybe you think I need to change my priorities and at some point I might but until my child is an adult he will ALWAYS come first.

First it is not a McCormick jam...if you look at the dates of the list of vendors it goes back to 1998 which is long before she took the job. How can a person be held accountable for something they were absolutely no part of. Mr. Poliquin is allegedly doing something that is against the rules and yet he doesn't seem to be held accountable to the same standards or investigation. This is a prime example of Governor LePage wanting his hands in the cookie jar and getting rid of anyone he cannot control. He can't do basic math and yet wants control of the MSHA. He can't tell the truth but yet he wants to control another agency. Let's put all who allegedly violate the rules, laws, and/or policies under the microscope and not just those that Governor LePage doesn't like. In all fairness, if there is a misappropriation of money from the MSHA it should be an independent auditor asking the questions and not a LePage "yes man"

I just watched LePage's visit to Lewiston. It was a joke. He used numbers which he is known for making up. He threatened to not pay hospitals and to close schools if the legislature doesn't act. We don't need more bullying by someone who has trouble telling the truth and doing the math.

The problem with education, as I see it, is that the government is too involved with tying the teacher's hands and letting them actually teach. Too much time is spent trying to prepare for this set of tests or that set of tests because they are mandated by the government. The tests are not set up to be beneficial to the different types of learning styles the children have. I say take the tests away and let the teachers teach. Remember, some kids can pass a test and demonstrate proficiency in something but when it comes to applying that knowledge in a real world situation they cannot function. Then you have the kids that do not test well but if you let them show you how to do it in a simulated real life event they will shine. So my advice is to get government out of our schools and let the teachers do what they are trained to do...obviously our government officials are not good in math since they can't seem to balance a budget and constantly underestimate the needs of various departments of the state.

Dale may have been caught with her hand in the cookie jar or she may not have been. I believe it is a witch hunt to get another Lepage person into a position of authority. But for the latest...Mr. Poliquin needs to take care of his own skeletons in the closet before making accusations towards others.

OK Mr Know it all...you know all and no one else can have an opinion

Well Mark....how about this....I don't have hours in my life where I can research what every candidate has for a plan. It is up to them to make sure people are aware of their plans and what they intend to do....regardless...it doesn't matter at this point as I will not vote during the primary (or caucus as is the case here) so I will let others determine who they think is the best candidate and then I don't have to waste so much time that I don't have. All I have heard to this point is petty bickering and bashing and it does not interest me to have my time wasted with the nonsense.

I would like to see the numbers on how many of these "noncategoricals" are actually college students who were on Mainecare because they come from a low-income household and have aged out of the program due to turning 21. Whatever that number is, should we cut these childless adults at this time and punish them for improving their lives and leave them with no coverage?

Mark the problem is I cannot see anyone needing to raise that much money for an election campaign...if people want to give money to something then there are plenty of worthwhile charities they can give to....politicians who want to be elected to office should do it the old fashion way....walk around and meet people one on one....we do NOT need to see all the ads on tv and in the press....besides they all lie anyway so why should they waste money just so more people can hear their lies. And I have better things to spend my money on then to write a check for a moron.

Mark I don't care who it is....there isn't a plate of food in this world worth the kind of money they charge. I am so tired of politicians....Maybe it's time to elect Minnie and Mickey Mouse to run things.

Maybe you ought to look into how much money the state has given to relatives or companies run by relatives of people in high positions in Augusta....if you are going to go after fraud then maybe the state should look in the mirror and go from top to bottom....we are talking millions given to companies which could solve the current problem and buy officials time to do a complete investigation of fraud committed.

My definition is this ALL QUALIFIED....get it through your head that you cannot minimize other people's opinions....you seem to not have any answers because you always try to manipulate what is said because you DO NOT have your facts straight or you would be able to discuss things without putting others down....and now that i think of it....you are not worth my time or energy because Mr. Mark knows all when he really knows nothing

No Mark I am saying it is a position that should have been opened to ALL qualified individuals and that a hiring process should have been used to fill the position...then if she was the MOST qualified individual for the position there would be no question about her being "given" the job

my problem isnt with the actual job...my problem is it was given to a family member which seems a bit underhanded and not transparent....if my understanding is correct it is an assistant job which should have been open for all QUALIFIED applicants to apply for and not handed to a family member.....

you may know plenty of people that make that kind of money right out of college but our teachers sure don't and they are responsible for our children...kind of lopsided don't you think

How about making the federal government actually pay for their mandates? Join forces with other states and say " WE WILL NOT PAY FOR YOUR MANDATES AND WILL DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR PEOPLE" I bet that would save lots of money especially in education. The feds tell the states to do things on a daily basis and then they do not pay for it....let's start at the very top and make them fund what they tell us to do.

I don't have a vendetta against Somalis...I just want to see a story that is the whole truth and not just the rosy parts. And I have had a child beaten up by Somali boys and girls and absolutely NOTHING was done about it and I wish everyone would stop being so afraid of that great big "D" word...it goes both ways and if it had been my child beating on a Somali child you can guarantee something would have come of it. For those of you who have blinders on and think that all is rosy with the Somali population try really talking to them because even they will tell you there are problems because of the two different groups of Somalis here....the Somalis and the Somali Bantu.....take of the shades and see reality

And Jake....read the entire thing before you accuse me of racist stories....my point on this was to the sun journal and to tell the WHOLE story not just the rosy pieces of it. I gave specific examples and in my experience the bullies have been Somali children and I CAM BACK UP WHAT I SAY WITH PROOF....and if you also read the entire blog I said why not write about the young person who left Lewiston and came back and opened his/her own business. My point being.....this story is not newsworthy and it only shows one piece of the puzzle not the entire puzzle. And Jake I also lived in downtown Lewiston until I got my children out of there....It was older kids that were the problem there and yes most of them were white....however.....the kids in the incidents I spoke about were only elementary students and not very old.....they were at an age when the parents should have had control over them and didn't. And I truly believe that since my experience with the population is both positive and negative that I have the right to call sun journal on one sided story telling....Like i said....even the Somali population will tell you that there are 2 groups here and they do not get along.....and yet there is no mention of that in this article....and in my opinion...a newstory tells the WHOLE story not just a one sided version of the story.

try telling that to the parents of the children that have been bullied by them....it is documented with housing and the police. talk to the people who moved out of Hillview. 20 Somali kids would attack one white child and we were told it is there word against yours and there are more of them. video tape of their behavior on the bus caused two-thirds of the bus to be suspended from riding the bus for a week because they made it unsafe for the driver and other children. they look at our rules and think it doesn't apply to them. I know of at least 12 incidents that were reported by one family to the police in the course of 1 year and I am sure there were many other. And these incidents all occurred in one area and involved the same children over and over. My point is this....I wish the sun journal would tell the WHOLE story and not just the rosy part of the story. What about telling how there are 2 populations of Somali here.....Somali and Somali Bantu and they don't even get along with each other. I have made friends with many Somali and even they will tell you there are problems within the Somali population. I would just like to see a complete report and not an edited report

I wasn't going to comment but after thinking about this issue I have decided I need to comment. Whether we choose to accept Mr. Macdonald's apology is for each of us to decide. However, one thing is clear. Mr. Macdonald is our mayor-elect and we need to work together to get Lewiston through the next 2 years. If we do not agree with Mr. Macdonald there are ways to express that without causing a bigger rift within the city. Anyone that has followed the posts over the last week or so would know that I find Mr. Macdonald's way of articulating things less then tactful. People would also know that I, in no way, agree with Mr. Macdonald on many of his issues. We can choose to do one of three things....1) keep on bickering over every little thing....2) try to work as one team to create positive change for all citizens of Lewiston.....or 3) sit back and do absolutely nothing and leave it for another mayor in 2 years.

Whether we like Mr. Macdonald, his ideas, or his views isn't it best that we work as one for what is best for Lewiston????

Abdi I will be the first to admit that I do not usually agree with the Somali viewpoint. However, in this case I do agree to some extent with you. But I also believe that it was not just Somali he was talking about but all low income people of all ages, race, religion, and disability. I also agree that he never really answered any questions put to him in debates...his answers were vague or "I do not have enough information to answer that". There are issues that need to be addressed regarding people who receive assistance and issues that need to be addressed regarding people who do not receive assistance. The way to solve all of these issues is as one unit and not multiple groups of people who refuse to work together. It is time to unite this city for the good of all and not divide it further than it already is.

And how many voters wanted to spend yet even more money that we do not have to have a "do over"....it was not a referendum of the issues it was a referendum of people's fears because people did NOT articulate what they were really talking about and everyone made ASSUMPTIONS.....Macdonald used the word "welfare" when he was talking about subsidized housing....he used the words "those people" which others took to mean Somali ....and why is it you cannot see that others have a view and opinions and you cannot learn from them.....you are so much a Macdonald man that I will enjoy the entertainment when he puts his foot in his mouth yet again leaving you to state his view with your words because he won't be able to do it in his own words

He was elected on the issues???? he was elected because it was a two man race where one of the candidates unfortunately died. People didn't want the expense of another election process....70 votes is nothing...and he showed his true colors last night when he started by threatening campaign workers from the Paradis campaign. Great show of sportsmanship...NOT.....give him a chance you say????? we have no other choice at this point and he will divide this city more than he will unite it if he doesn't let go of his anger and focus.....

People handle grief in different ways. I see no problem with Mrs. Paradis being at the polls last night. It was probably her way of supporting her husband even after his death. It might have been her way of coping with everything going on in her life at this time. It might have been her way of thanking people that had supported her husband over the years....

Tell me one thing Mike.....if subsidized housing and "welfare" are state and federally funded then how in the world is Macdonald going to make changes to programs the city has absolutely NO control over. Again.....maybe he should have run for a seat in Augusta.....you really are not hearing what I am saying....But he needs serious help in articulating what he is saying or he is going to cause more problems then he can solve.....and yes laughing makes me feel good....it's better than being depressed over something I alone cannot change.

Mike how can anyone be positive when our mayor-elect is so negative. And let's just hope that we can recover in 2 years if he doesn't start being more positive. And remember he is the one that said Lewiston would be the laughing stock...and we will if he doesn't change his attitude. I sure won't be letting my son listen to him as he is not being a "good sportsman" at this time. And for the record.....I have always said that NEITHER candidate was right for Lewiston and that Mr. Macdonald would serve us better in either Augusta or Washington but then again I have no reason to know what Mr. Macdonald really thinks as it seems his supporters articulate better than he does. Now Lewiston can be known for both Governor LePage and Mayor-elect Macdonald.....now that IS funny

And what I said was that he would serve us better in either Augusta or Washington instead of just being a "ceremonial figurehead"....and I also said it would be better if he articulated himself like his supporters articulate for him if he wanted to be elected. And as for mayor of Lewiston I say does he really want to win based on no living opponent...how is that to say he actually has the support of the majority...redo the entire election!!!!!

then take it from able bodied adults and the rich and leave the elderly, veterans, disabled and children alone

I just read the proposed budget cuts and I am so angry right now that all I can say is Governor LePage come walk a mile in my shoes before you propose cutting children's behavioral health services.....why don't you cut your salary or the salary of family members you have in state positions before you take from a group of people that have the greatest need. I really wish he would speak to real people and not the rich.

Well, I will say this.....I vote when I can and I cannot in good conscience vote for someone who is going to draw more negative attention to the matters that face this community. I have asked in another post for information on how to talk to Mr. Macdonald as I have questions that I would like to hear his answer to and no one has yet to respond to the question. Until I can hear his answers to my questions I feel uninformed enough to not be comfortable with voting for him. If and when I get the answers then I will decide how I will vote and not before then. His misuse of words is a large problem in my mind and I would like to clarify things I have heard out of his own mouth and not from what I read in print taken out of context or interpreted by others.

Mike

I am one of the people getting some assistance and I am NOT abusing the system. There are reasons I get help that are no one else's business. However, when you talk of abusers and people with their hands out I will take offense. And have you actually HEARD the words spoken by Mr. Macdonald.....I have...we don't need someone who is going to divide this city more than it already is. "The Somali girls are smart and want to learn, the others are just lazy"....wow talk about alienation. The problem is when people refuse to work together to change things. And I have been treated the way Mr. Macdonald is being treated because I do have ideas and when I have voiced my ideas in community meetings I have been told people do not want to hear them. So again I will say....use the words he means because he doesn't mean "welfare" change....he means a stop of the influx of the people who are draining our resources.....We had a mayor try to do that once and all he succeeded in doing was getting a bunch of grief from others. More still came....more will still come. Wouldn't it be better to make sure everyone knows exactly what he is talking about? Because I for one feel like I have been pushed aside by Mr. Macdonald and his supporters because they are not willing to open their minds and hear what the people who have no choice but to live with assistance have to say. We are the ones in the trenches. We are the ones who have no choice about where we go. We don't get to go home to a nice neighborhood every night. We live it night and day. Listen to what we are saying....we are on the street....we know where the problems are....some of us might even have ideas on how to solve things....but instead we just get called "those people", "lazy" and told to go back to where we came from or told to get out.....well I am where I came from....I am not lazy....I won't get out....and I am not those people.

I know most won't want to hear this but I will say it anyway. The law is the law for all who are here whether they are natural born or immigrant or displace refugee. That is the way this country works. The police officer did his job. Driving that area is already difficult because of the amount of traffic on the road and the traffic pattern. Anything in the road makes it just that more of a hazard for all in the area at the given time.

To those that are making comments about the hard working individuals....I was at a local business on Lisbon St. yesterday when two men walked in to send $10,000 home and they were not sending it to some place in the United States.

Our economy is in dire need and yet people are making money here, whether it be through hard work or entitlement programs and not spending the money here....they are sending it elsewhere. Makes a person stop and think doesn't it?

After reading the comments and responding to some of them I have come to the conclusion that some will just never get it. Whether we agree with Mr. Macdonald or not one thing is painfully obvious....there is a right way and a wrong way to create change. There is a unified way to come up with solutions to the problems and a divided way to come up with solutions. If we have learned one thing over the years it is this....WE MUST WORK AS AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.....if you go around alienating parts of a population then all you succeed in doing is dividing this city.

Here is another thing programs are not the problem...people are the problem....saying that welfare is the biggest problem is like my son saying his bad grades are the school's fault instead of his....it's like saying the Christmas tree is the reason my light bill is high...things don't cause problems PEOPLE CAUSE PROBLEMS. Until we change people nothing gets solved.

Yes Mr. Macdonald and his supporters are angry....so am I but I will NOT let my anger dictate how I see things. Anger is nothing but an emotion that leads to bad reactions.

Why can't people see that? Why can't people see that reaction is never a good solution to problems? Why is it that a few "bad apples" make an entire population look bad? And why is it that people just can't open their eyes and see that NO ONE PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE have the solutions if they alienate all other groups of people.

Again the point is lost. Where are the numbers of the actual people using the "welfare" as a way of life? Do you realize that there are time limits and requirements to receive "welfare"? Most people get "welfare" for only a short period of time. Those that get it for longer have "good cause". Again, the choice of words is the issue. Welfare is what you get through DHHS and includes financial assistance, food stamps, and MaineCare. Housing assistance is what you receive through the Maine State Housing Authority. There is a big difference between assistance and welfare. Words have to be chosen carefully. And to blame "Welfare" as a major contributing factor facing downtown Lewiston is incorrect. It is not the fault of "welfare". It is the result of people who either don't care, have given up, or don't have the knowledge of how to make changes i.e. lack of education which our failing school system is not helping.

However, downtown Lewiston is only a piece of the puzzle. Lewiston encompasses many neighborhoods not just "downtown" Lewiston. When people get off the turnpike in Lewiston they do not suddenly appear in "downtown" Lewiston. They arrive in the city of Lewiston. If Lewiston only encompasses the "downtown" area then where do the rest of us live.....do we have a different zip code?

If you want to solve the problems of this city then you have to involve the entire city. You have to bring ALL of us together and not pit one section of the city against the others.

Remember another thing....there was a time when people wouldn't go to Little Canada but now that area has welfare recipients as well as subsidized housing. There is welfare and subsidized housing off Sabattus Street. There is welfare and subsidized housing off Main Street. This is the city of Lewiston and not the city of "Downtown" Lewiston. Word choice is important and that is the lesson people need to learn if they want to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.

Let's take the time to look at this unbiasedly....Mr. Paradis has some good ideas that have been tried time and time again. Mr. Macdonald is making promises that can not me kept at the local level. They are BOTH wrong for this city. We need fresh blood in our local offices that can see the problems, work as a team play to create solutions to the problems, and can be the "face" of Lewiston that the residents can be proud of. They both have presented what they want to accomplish while in office....neither have presented their goals for many of the issues important to most of us....what will they do about our failing school system, how are we going to bring this community together, how are we going to keep our tax base lower without hurting those that depend on services out of necessity not choice.

Now let's look at a few other things....Mr. Paradis is basically status quo....Mr. Macdonald wants to use the "bully pulpit" to create change...Mr. Paradis has been in local government before.....Mr. Macdonald has not served in public office but has been a public servant....

What do I want to teach our children....to stand up for themselves, to work hard, to be the best they can be, to get along with others even if they disagree, to think before they speak, and to be a team player.

This is a scary election for many reasons...we either get more of the same or we get scared into reacting instead of proacting. We get soft spoken old ideas that haven't worked or we get bullied into fighting each other over ideas that CANNOT be implemented at the local level.

The one thing this election has done for this city....it has started a dialog of the people to hear multiple sides of the things on our minds. The one thing it has not done is create an air of let's work together as one to create change.

Neither candidate is the right person to lead Lewiston. In fact, this years entire pool of candidates were not right for Lewiston. We need new blood, we need new energy, we need new ideas, we need to be creative not destructive. We need to live for the future without going back to the past. We need candidates who will actually get out and talk with ALL residents of Lewiston, not just family, friends, and comfortable neighborhoods. We need to work with our local businesses and not against them, we need to work with our residents not against them, we need to put personal biases aside and become one. This is suppose to be a city with diverse cultures and beliefs. It's time we act like a city not a group of individuals with differing agendas.

Although I agree with some of your comments there are some I would not agree with. If you look at those actually receiving assistance of some sort, the majority of the US citizens are NOT lazy and using the system as a way of life but as a means of survival. There is a small percentage that will abuse the system and I have no problem with stopping that abuse. However, when people make comments about subsidized housing, welfare, Section 8, and poor people they seem to group all of us together. If others have a problem with the few that abuse the system then state that. If others have a problem with "Immigrants", "visitors", and "displaced refugees" receiving assistance then state that. Do not put us all in one group. Mr. Macdonald appears to be angry with ALL who receive assistance in some form and that is NOT what this city needs. This city needs to be able to work as one to create solutions to the problems not create more rivalries. I agree the displace refugees are a large group receiving assistance, sometimes to the detriment of the US citizens. As I stated in previous comments, it took me 3 years to receive any housing assistance and where I moved to was 70% displaced refugees. I took my housing assistance and moved to another neighborhood where the majority of the residents are elderly, disabled, or young families trying to start their lives. There is much about my situation that I did not put into my earlier comment and I will not put it in here. The one thing I know is this, regardless of how I personally feel about welfare, housing assistance, and the situations of the "poor", it is my opinion that since Mr. Macdonald clearly cannot contain his anger and refers to the "poor" as "those people" he is clearly not the person this city needs to solve the problems. As well, the job description of the mayor has nothing to do with welfare reform and since the only thing I have heard from Mr. Macdonald is how he will change welfare in this city he obviously does not belong in local government. Maybe he would be better suited for Augusta or Washington if welfare is what he wishes to change. I just hope that if Mr. Macdonald does become mayor of this city that he doesn't hurt the programs for the people who really need the assistance, the elderly, the veterans, and the disabled not to mention the children of this city. Putting a moratorium on any type of housing assistance will directly impact this group of people. And if you allow this group to receive assistance then the other groups will use that great big "D" word that everyone is so scared of. Maybe a better way to create change is to fix our schools that are consistently failing to meet standards; maybe bringing businesses that actually pay a living wage to this city will change things; maybe stopping the blame game and creating a group that work as a TEAM would change things. The other thing I do know is this....UNTIL ANY PERSON WALKS A MILE IN MY SHOES OR AN ELDERLY PERSON'S SHOES THEN GROUPING US ALL IN THE GROUP BEING CALLED LAZY AND SYSTEM ABUSERS is NOT going to bring this city together and create change that will make this a place people are proud to live in and call HOME.

It seems to me that this is again an example of let's play the blame game instead of working as one to find a solution to the problems. Are there problems with the system? Yes. Are there problems in how programs in this state are run? Yes. Are there solutions to these problems? Probably but not until we all stop blaming others and working together. Maybe it's time to get rid of the party system in this state and change the rules to say that if you do not do your job without using the blame game then you will be removed from that job/office without cause. It seems that politicians are focusing on programs that help the poor, the disabled, the people who rely on mental health services and those that need help for whatever the reason. I say that before any politician is allowed to run for office then that person needs to walk in the shoes of the people in the above categories. Let's see if that changes their tune some. I would love to see someone in politics live on the $674 that a disabled person gets each month, including paying bills in full, paying for medications, paying for necessities, paying for food and not getting help when they need it because there are no funds for the programs. Maybe there is mismanagement of money in the programs but the solution will NOT be found blaming someone else. The solution will only be found when we work together as a team.

I agree that Pettingill school would be ideal but it shoud house the pre- kindergarten children and not the seniors. Many seniors cannot get out to college street but they can get to the Multi-Purpose Center. Busing the students to the Multi-Purpose Center would create more traffic congestion in the downtown area then the area can handle. Has anyone looked at why we have such an increase in the student population? Has anyone looked at getting resources to help defray the costs of educating an immigrant population that this city was ill-equipped to deal with? Has anyone asked the parents of these young children how they would feel to have their children bussed to an area that doesn't have a great reputation for safety or even cleanliness for that matter? I think the city and the school department needs to take a good long look at several issues. I also think the school department needs to take a look at other schools as well. For example, Martel 5th graders are still housed in modular classrooms and have been for too long. My daughter was in the modular classrooms at Martel and is now a junior in college and last year my son was in those same modular classrooms. As much as I would like to see everyone able to put their child in a pre-kindergarten classroom, there are programs that serve that age group, Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care for one, but we are currently not serving our older school children in a way that they need or deserve. Just look at test scores and I say focus on the older children and let the other programs do what they were started to do.

Congratulations to this young man for his accomplishment. However, I must ask why the SunJournal focused on this person. I would bet that many of this year's graduates were the first in their families. I would also bet that many are going on to promising careers. And yet, the media focuses on one individual whose story, although a positive accomplishment, is not new nor newsworthy. I, for one, am tired of seeing such one-sided reporting.

I would like to know why the article focused on just Longley? What about the schools that the principal and staff transferred to? Are those schools improving or did their test scores suffer? Are the students at Longley the same ones that weren't meeting standards when the government grant was applied for? I do not believe there is a single school in Lewiston that is not failing to meet the standards. Why should Longley be the only school to receive extra assistance? For once I would like to hear ALL the facts and not just some of the facts.

Mark you seem to think you have an answer for everything. Unfortunately it seems that you and I have different opinions. Bills in Augusta mean nothing until the legislature votes on them. I don't believe everything the media says nor would I, but I live in the real world. The governor wants to reform welfare and some of his ideas are good but some are bad and in my opinion, Governor LePage is not interested in hearing what real people who have received assistance have to say. He appears to be looking at a few bad apples and labeling everyone. He wants to eliminate red tape for business and that is a good thing, however, if he keeps making choices that show the world he will put his foot in his mouth, he will be alienating the business world. Follow the social networking sites and see what others are saying about Maine. Maine has always been a high taxation state and yet he wants to give tax breaks to the richest and take things away from the working class. Businesses do NOT care about murals when they are deciding where to open. They care about the taxes it will cost them, the work force they have to choose from, and the ability to make money. As far as the Governor being in contact with his office every day...it is my understanding that he isn't even leaving until Sunday. And in none of the times I listened to the campaign talks did I hear Governor LePage state he had a planned vacation. I used to think he was what Maine needed. I used to think it was refreshing to him "tell it like it is". But I also believe the Governor of our state should be a role model to ALL people and not just the inner circle. Now I am afraid to let my son listen to the Governor any time he speaks because I am afraid of what will come out of his mouth next. That is NOT who I want representing my state. And I have spoken to many people who have supported Governor LePage and they feel the same way...he is NOT who anyone thought he was. While I appreciate that he has a difficult job to do and that this state is in desperate need for change, I also know that how he makes (or attempts to make) changes for Maine is just as important as the changes he is trying to make. I also know that the way he has handled things up to now would not be tolerated in the business world if he were the employee. At this time he is an EMPLOYEE of the people of the State of Maine and should be acting accordingly.

This would be a first and it's sad that Governor LePage has not listened to the people of Maine. We elected him to do a job and he seems to be more interested in menial things, name calling, and taking vacations. And speak of his vacation, his staff has arranged for the Jamaican government to provide security at whose expense? and for what reason? I think the people of Maine deserve a process for recalling their elected officials. We put them in office and we should be able to remove them from office without waiting until the next election. This state cannot take an official for a full term when they do not seem to be interested in doing the job we elect them to do. Governor LePage should know that going on vacation in this economy with the work that still needs to be done is not only wrong but irresponsible.

It's about time the judicial system started putting their foot down when it comes to sentences people receive. Maybe if people had to face the consequences for their actions they would be more apt to make good choices and not bad. As far as this woman goes, if she gets that impatient waiting to pick up her children from a school how is she with them at home. If she can run over another person's child and hit multiple vehicles in her impatience then what is she doing when her children act up at home. She is also charged with driving with an expired learner's permit...how many laws will she be allowed to break before she has to face the real consequences for her actions. The fact that she happens to be Somali should not make a difference. It's about time ALL people who live in this state start obeying the laws of this state and accepting the consequences for their actions. Maybe then we can get the youth of today under control. And just a quick observation......how long before this woman and her lawyer claim the judge is discriminating because she is Somali????

We have and are raising a generation of children who for some reason feel they are entitled to do what they want, when they want and how they want and don't think they have to face the consequences of their actions. So many children today threaten to call the police or report parents to DHS for child abuse. I feel it is time that we take a look at our parenting and start taking responsibility for the way we have raised our children. For years we were told not to spank our children because it was abuse and to use time outs as consequences. Well it's sad but I believe it's time we go back to the old school. Spanking a child's butt is not abuse. Taking away tv, movies, games, and other activities are not abuse but a natural consequence for a child's action. It's time this generation of children learn that there are rules for everything and consequences for their actions. In this day of computers, cell phones, and other devices, we need to be aware of what are children are doing at all time. Do you realize that as parents we are financially responsible for our children and their actions until they are 24? As far as threats made on the computer, its a daily occurrence and in most cases the police do not do anything about threats made on social networking sites. This I know from experience as my son received a death threat in September and nothing has come of it except that I moved my family to keep my 10 year old safe. To Dax's mother....stay strong and support your son as he will have a long road to recovery but also make sure you stand up for his rights and dont let the threats that turned into a reality go unnoticed. To Dax.....as hard as it may be you have to work diligently so that you can recover from this horrendous attack. Things may look bleak at times and you may struggle to overcome the emotions and pain but it is possible. My thoughts and prayers are with this family. As far as the attacker goes....he isn't worth my time.

This article is almost funny. Report fighting???? To who???? Police who ask the complainant what we expect them to do???? Landlords when we see property being damaged???? I think we need to have better resources to deal with ALL children not just the Somali children. Talk about going back to segregation. Maybe if these "Somali" soccer teams were open to ALL children we could encourage better relationships between the cultures. Maybe then we could stop the bullying, threatening, name calling, assaults, and everything else that is wrong with the youth of today. I know of many children on these soccer teams who were reported for bullying others...still they played. Wouldn't it have been great to have one of the adult coaches force them to play with the victim of the bullying???? Or maybe make the person doing the bullying sit and watch while the victim actually played on the team???? It gets to be old news when we read about the "good" Somali adults are doing with their own population but what about doing good with ALL populations. We don't get to hear about all white teams that keep the children out of trouble because that would be discrimination. White people can't refuse to let a Somali child play on a team but no effort is being made to include white children on Somali teams...talk about a double standard. Remember hate and discrimination go both ways and its time to stop the segregation that Martin Luther King fought so hard to stop so many years ago. We do not need to go back to the past but rather strive for an equal resolution for today's youth.