Just over a month ago, a pair of conservative advocacy groups released an undercover video of an actor attempting to apply for MaineCare benefits at a Department of Health and Human Services office in Biddeford.

The two organizations, the Maine Heritage Policy Center and Americans for Prosperity-Maine, held a press conference promising “explosive” and “shocking” evidence of potential welfare fraud: a frontline DHHS employee at times seemingly sympathetic to efforts by the undercover actor to shield his assets in order to get MaineCare benefits.

MHPC and AFP received significant criticism for promoting the video, which ended with the actor getting sent away without benefits. Democrats called it a “new low” that further eroded the credibility of MHPC, a group with significant influence among Republican lawmakers in Augusta.

Interestingly, Democrats didn’t have many harsh words for their reliant foil, Gov. Paul LePage. In fact, several applauded LePage for his measured, reasoned response to the controversy.

In fact, the governor’s reaction caught a number of people off guard.

LePage thanked the video’s controversial director, James O’Keefe, but he emphasized that fraud had not occurred. Unlike MHPC-AFP, which said the DHHS employee in the video was complicit in the potential malfeasance, the governor defended the woman, saying she was new on the job and lacked proper training.

He credited the DHHS supervisor for stepping in and asking the right questions.

The governor dropped several hints that he supported the MHPC-AFP call for a “cultural” overhaul at DHHS and greater scrutiny of potential for fraud. That includes a so-called “secret shopper” program similar to what LePage used while running Marden’s, the discount retail chain.

But despite agreement between MHPC-AFP and LePage on welfare reform, there was a clear divergence in rhetoric; the message LePage delivered that day was clearly different from the message of MHPC-AFP.

If anyone thought LePage’s moderate tone signaled a shift in the close relationship between LePage and MHPC-AFP, or in their common vision, however, recent events prove otherwise.

Two weeks ago, the LePage administration fired four program managers from DHHS, bringing the total firings to eight since January. Asked about the dismissals at a town hall meeting in Presque Isle, LePage said, “The state of Maine has to change its culture. If you want to change, we will work with you. If you don’t want to change, sayonara.”

LePage also told the audience he wanted to increase the number of fraud investigators at DHHS from 11 to 33.

Last week, LePage told The Capitol News Service he was considering a new agency to monitor and evaluate the performance of state departments, including DHHS.

On Tuesday, MHPC released an email with the subject line “MHPC’s welfare work inspires change.” The group trumpeted its release of the first video and a second, less-publicized recording as the catalyst for LePage’s actions. The group thanked the governor for taking the “secret shopper” idea a step further.

It’s well-known that Gov. Paul LePage is often in lock-step with the MHPC.

Tarren Bragdon, MHPC’s former CEO, was a lead member of the governor’s transition team. Additionally, LePage has championed, and in some cases signed into law, many of MHPC’s key initiatives, including an overhaul of the state’s health insurance regulations, reforms to the public employee pension system and other budgetary policies.

LePage’s recent actions and statements indicate he continues to agree with the group’s idea’s for reforming government. So what to make of the differences in public presentation on the video sting? Was the moderate response by the normally bombastic LePage an aberration? A response to that particular situation?

Or was it calculated: a good-cop-bad-cop maneuver between LePage and the MHPC-AFP that ultimately benefited LePage’s image and mission?

Or, is it possible it was simply LePage showing signs of fitting into those leadership shoes he worked so hard to earn last November?

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