U.S. Congressman Angus King’s View Of IRS Scandal…How About The Scandal In Maine?

“Well, there are really two scandals involved here. … No. 1 is this outrageous idea of targeting one political group versus another and focusing on groups with the name “tea party” and more conservative groups. That’s wrong, and everybody has condemned that. … The second scandal, however is that this designation of tax-exempt status for so-called social welfare groups that turn into political groups, whether they’re supporting the president or Democrats or supporting Republicans, that’s wrong no matter what. This tax-exempt status, 501(c)4, was created years and years and years ago for social welfare organizations, and somehow it’s gotten into being a political vehicle where people can contribute unlimited amounts of money without any identification of who they are, and it’s really a threat, I believe, to our democratic system.”

View Video, click here.

When Angus King was Governor of Maine, this video was hand-delivered to him. This was/ is a threat to the people of Maine.  Why did he not speak out or take action? Take note of who remained in office.

Elected officials seem to think that as time passes their cover ups will vanish. Not so!

Tom Dunn – Affidavit

Bridge 1

Bridge 2

Bridge 3

DOT Chief Resigns

Tom’s Summary – Brennan Criminal Legacy

Bus Trip To DC

Brennan timeline

Published in: on May 18, 2013 at 7:57 pm  Comments (3)  

Points To Ponder As Maine’s 2012 Election Comes To An End

As the November election comes to an end, let’s take a look at the integrity, honesty, trustworthiness and character (or lack thereof) of Maine’s U.S. Senate candidates. Let’s see who ‘says one thing and does another’.

I’ve seen the candidates campaign ads on tv. The same message for decades with a different face. In my opinion, the following are points to ponder before you vote.

Candidate Charlie Summers (Maine’s Secretary of State)
In his tv ads he speaks of losing his wife, having to be mother and father to his children and laying awake at night wondering how he will pay his mortgage to the bank.

Well, Mr. Summers, I (as so many other Mainers) lay awake nights too. I lost a husband (his life taken, covered up), I lost my only child and had to bury her without insurance that I paid Metropolitan Life Insurance for. I lay awake wondering when the Bureau of Insurance will hold MetLife accountable. It’s been three years since they “are still looking into it.” I lay awake nights waiting for Saco Biddeford Savings Inst., and their coherts in Biddeford (inc. Atty. Jens-Peter Bergen on the Kennebunk prostitution “client list”) to be held accountable in the fraudulent taking of my business property and home. I lay awake nights waiting for you, (and former SOS Matt Dunlap), Attorney General William Schneider and Jonathan Wayne (Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices) to investigate election fraud in Biddeford. These are only a few examples of sleepless nights.

Summers wants us to know that we will have him to work for us in Washington. Why isn’t he working for us in Maine? Why is he not upholding his duties as Maine’s Secretary of State?

Candidate Kevin Raye – President of the Maine Senate.
Ignored requests to meet with him to present issues of fraud, waste and abuse. Worked for US Senator Olympia Snowe for 17 years. Birds of a feather….
Andrea Mitchell’s exclusive interview with Sen. Olympia Snowe when she ubruptly decided not to seek re-election and giving possible candidates approximately two weeks to gather signatures. “Having a milestone birthday helps you to focus about whether or not I was prepared to commit for another six years in the United States Senate.” I find it hard to believe that Senator Snowe didn’t know last year that she was coming up upon a “milestone birthday.”

Candidate Angus King
Angus King created 70,000 jobs. Were they generated from his 147 government appointments?

During the tenure of former governor Angus King, I received from a state legislator a list of the key “serve at the pleasure” of the governor positions. I learned from this legislator that he was chastised on the House floor for taking this public. Why the big secret? According to this document, there is a more comprehensive list than what is provided here and is kept within the Office of the Secretary of State. We the people have a right to know whose salaries we are paying! We also have a right to know who the “Confidential Employees” are. Additionally, King (and other state officials) was given the evidence of official corruption in Maine via Tom Dunn’s video which investigation initially began with the Attorney General seeking Tom’s assistance.

Candidate US Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
Pingree runs her campaign on veterans issues. Her debate with Maine Senator John Courtney (another good ole boy network member) on Maine Watch she said she was there for individuals who need help with veteran issues. Well, not so. E-mails to her go unanswered and there is no getting past her aide (gatekeeper) Jim Pineau, despite his lies to the Maine Director of Veterans Services.

Candidate Danny Dalton
Republican Charlie Summers, independent Angus King and Democrat Cynthia Dill squared off in a three-way debate at the Franco-American Center. The three other independent candidates, Steve Woods of Yarmouth, Andrew Ian Dodge of Harpswell, and Danny Dalton of Brunswick, were not invited to the live debate.

Dalton, 56, is a former intelligence specialist with the Army and Air Force who went on to travel the world as a federal agent and civilian contractor chasing down terrorists and drug smugglers.
After Dalton left the security business, he continued to gather intelligence from his old contacts, at his own expense. When he tried to share the information with the federal government — including the specific location of Taliban commanders — he again got nowhere, he said.

Eventually, Dalton said, he tried to share some of his information and complaints with Maine’s senators, Snowe and Susan Collins. He met with their staff members but said his leads and complaints still went nowhere.

He decided to run against Snowe as a way to expose the waste and dysfunction and the failure of the two-party system.

And so much to be said about term limits. Maine Senator Barry Hobbins is termed out as senator, so now he runs for the House!

Will Maine’s history repeat itself in Washington? Will it be different this time around? I think NOT!

 

NOTE:  My attempts to send this to J. Scott Moody, Maine Heritage Policy Center comes up with “Error The address “J. Scott Moody” in the “To” field was not recognized.

This is not the first time I cc blogs to this agency. The e-mail address is the one noted on The Maine Heritage Policy Center website.  What’s up with this Scott Moody? The same happened with Lance Dutson prior to his move to campaign for Secretary of State Charlie Summers.

[new post] Maine U.S. Senate Candidate Angus King’s Involvement In The Wind Industry

Are wind farms saving or killing us? A provocative investigation claims thousands of people are falling sick because they live near them.
By JAMES DELINGPOLE

The symptoms they claim to have suffered may vary – including dizziness; increased blood pressure and depression – but the theme remains the same.
(Do not miss the comments)

PPH reports “King calls new wind ad false, asks TV stations to stop running it. The ad, purchased by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, features members of an anti-wind group that claims King made “millions” off the Record Hill wind project in Roxbury. The complaint comes as the King campaign appears to be weighing a new tack following recent polls reporting gains by Democrat Cynthia Dill and Republican Charlie Summers.”

Charlie Summers campaign says “King’s attack ad from 1994 shows he ‘says one thing, and does another.’

As the November election heats up, let’s take a look at the integrity, honesty, trustworthiness and character (or lack thereof) of Maine’s U.S. Senate candidates. Let’s see who ‘says one thing and does another’.

During the tenure of former governor Angus King, I received from a state legislator a list of the key “serve at the pleasure” of the governor positions. I learned from this legislator that he was chastised on the House floor for taking this public. Why the big secret? According to this document, there is a more comprehensive list than what is provided here and is kept within the Office of the Secretary of State. We the people have a right to know whose salaries we are paying! We also have a right to know who the “Confidential Employees” are.

Related:

Maine’s Corrupt 2012 Election Marches on….

Maine Secretary of State Charlie Summers wins election and Julie Flynn Gets to Count Her Boss’ Votes.

This evidence speaks for itself and (former) Governor King’s threat to one of the people “shocks the conscience.”

Will Maine’s history repeat itself in Washington?

Published in: on September 25, 2012 at 12:05 am  Leave a Comment  

[new post] How Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services Defrauds the Federal Government

You Tube Video

MAINE CPS DEFRAUDS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE HEATHER SIROCKI, Maine has been caught defrauding the federal government for hundreds of millions of dollars over the last twenty years, by double billing the feds for child services through Human Services and through the Education department fraudulently!! By billing the feds for medicaid services for Inelegible inmates, and for exagerating or even making false diagnosis of children, so they could bill Regular foster care at the much higher medical rate of theraputic foster care, stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from trusting tax payers, and as a result, inflating child abuse statistics for gain!! The IG is investigating.

Related:  Prevent Truth Decay
GOVERNOR LEPAGE LEAVES OUT IMPORTANT ISSUE IN HIS WANT TO WEED OUT EXCESS AND ABUSE AT DHHS – ACCOUNTABILITY

[new post] MAINE’S CORRUPT 2012 ELECTION MARCHES ON…….

Republican Charlie Summers, independent Angus King and Democrat Cynthia Dill squared off in a three-way debate at the Franco-American Center on Monday evening.

The top rivals hope to win the seat of U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Andrea Mitchell’s exclusive interview with Sen. Olympia Snowe when she ubruptly decided not to seek re-election and giving possible candidates approximately two weeks to gather signatures. “Having a milestone birthday helps you to focus about whether or not I was prepared to commit for another six years in the United States Senate.” I find it hard to believe that Senator Snowe didn’t know last year that she was coming up upon a “milestone birthday.”

“Summers pitched his experience as a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Summers said he didn’t believe the government in the U.S. was broken, only without leadership.

“King pitched the things he accomplished during his eight years as Maine’s top executive, his independence and focused on trying to be a politician who would do things differently than the status quo of the two-party system. “The system isn’t working,” King said.

“Dill pitched her lifelong commitment to progressive values. Dill said neither Summers or King had it right. “You’ve got one candidate who says the system is broken. But let’s face it, it is broke, but it’s not broke for guys like him. It’s broke for the rest of us. Dill said she was the only candidate in the race standing up for working families and small businesses.”

The economy, job, taxes are the main themes for candidates. These Maine candidates are/have been in political positions. They speak as all other “has been” politicians who could have made a difference, but wouldn’t. Angus King was Maine’s governor, Charles Summers is a former member of the Maine State Legislature and Cynthia Dill currently sits in Maine’s legislature.

How do these people expect the economy to grow with such corruption under their control? They all have the same answer “there’s nothing I can do.” Well they are paid to do something! They didn’t do anything to help the abuses inflicted upon Mainer’s while in office then, do you expect they will when elected? Rather than listen to their scripted speeches, take a serious look at their honesty and trustworthiness. Their character speaks volumes!  Do you realize the votes in congress affect the entire country?

The three other independent candidates, Steve Woods of Yarmouth, Andrew Ian Dodge of Harpswell, and Danny Dalton of Brunswick, were not invited to the live debate. They were invited to participate in an online forum. Angus King is running as an independent. It’s unfair that these three independent candidates we not invited to the debate.

Mainers do have a choice!

Related, click here, click here.

[new post] U.S. Senate Candidates Angus King, Charles Summers Face Off In First Debate In Front Of An Invitation-only Audience

The 90-minute event was sponsored by the Maine Manufacturers Association, the Maine State Chamber and the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce.

If Angus King and Charles Summers are running for a U.S. Senate seat, why is their public debate by “invitation only”?

Whoever takes over the seat of Senator Olympia Snowe – nothing will change!

People must look beyond the “record” of the candidates. Look at their character, integrity, honesty, job performance. This election goes beyond the “economics and jobs” issue.

When Maine constitutional officers violate their oaths, duties, obligations of their office and the law, how can they justify their run for congessional office? If they refuse to uphold their duties as state officials, do you believe they will uphold their federal duties?

I want Secretary of State Charles Summers to justify his run for Congress.

As former Governor of the state of Maine, do you believe that Angus King will uphold the law when he threatens a law abiding citizen for seeking his help?

Invitation-only audiences speaks volumes!

Wake up Mainers!  Electing these people affect the entire nation.

Published in: on September 12, 2012 at 11:59 pm  Comments (5)  

[new post] Congressional Testimony: Dottie Lafortune to Bill Windsor of Lawless America in Maine

View YouTube 

[new post] GOVERNOR LEPAGE LEAVES OUT IMPORTANT ISSUE IN HIS WANT TO WEED OUT EXCESS AND ABUSE AT DHHS – ACCOUNTABILITY

The Maine Wire reports the first of a series of exclusive interviews with Governor Paul R. LePage.
“We are trying to make sure that we have a solid safety net for our children, our elderly and our disabled, LePage said. We are trying to attack those who are abusing the system.”

“He is trying to weed out excess and abuse at DHHS while maintaining vital services for those who truly need it. But Democrats like Rotundo insist that claims of welfare abuse are merely anecdotal, even as many cases of fraud are now being investigated. Senator Craven, another Lewiston Democrat who supported massive increases in state spending under Governor Baldacci, frequently joins Rotundo in insisting that there is no widespread abuse of the welfare system in Maine. Whenever someone relates a story about welfare fraud or abuse, they claim the stories are merely anecdotal and, therefore, don’t prove anything.”

“If those are all anecdotal, then where’s the money going?” LePage said. “Why are we spending so much money?”

“How did Maine get into a position where it spends so much more the national average? The biggest mistake that Maine ever made was electing an independent governor in 1993, LePage said, referring to Angus King. When King took office, the state had a surplus in the budget. When he vacated the Blaine House, King left a one-billion-dollar shortfall for incoming governor John Baldacci, LePage said. That shortfall was carried through Baldacci’s term, and LePage is determined to get rid of it.”

Governor LePage is leaving out an important issue in his want to weed out excess and abuse at DHHS – ACCOUNTABILITY.  He must demand an investigation into the  “miscalcuations” of monies given to corporations that were not licensed at the time of receipt of Medicaid funding. This is one example, how many more got away with it?
LePage refers to the state having a surplus in the budget when Angus King took office. When he vacated the Blaine House, King left a one-billion-dollar shortfall. When King took office, he immediately issued a hiring freeze, however, Attorney Michelle Robert was hired for a position in the A.G.’s Office – perhaps a pay-back for playing games with Judge Robert E. Crowley, Saco Biddeford Savings Institution, their law firm Smith Elliott & Garmey (Attys Roger Elliott & Harry Center)?
King obviously used the surplus to create 147 positions.  Since Maine didn’t have these administrative costs prior to Angus King, why do we need them now? Is this not also excess and abuse of taxpayers who pay for Maine’s government?
LePage wants to know where all the money has gone?

A FULL STOMACH HAS NO CONSCIENCE!

I will be adding documents associated with the links below. Check back often.

Gov. Angus King letter

Attorney Mark Lawrence (former President of the Maine Senate) was appointed District Attorney by Governor John Baldacci to fill the vacancy created when Michael Cantara became Commissioner of Public Safety. He ran for congress, 2008 election, and lost.  He was later nominated by Congressman Michael Michaud for position of Maine U.S.A.G. I wrote Congressman Michaud and asked that he justify his nomination of Mark Lawrence for said position. No response.  Lawrence was no longer named as a possible nominee. He has opened his own law firm.

Lawrence campaign contributors

Gov. John Baldacci campaign contributors, click here and here.

 

Printed in the Clarion Edict.
 
The articles in the last edition of the Clarion Edict are excellent! They are very informative and inner-twine with each other. It is refreshing to know that the people have a place in which to have their voices heard.

I want to expand on the article by Joseph Nugent “Maine U.S. Attorney Office Non-Feasance.” Why do public officials keep passing the proverbial buck and look the other way? Joseph Nugent asked “who is going to do something about corruption? Why is it happening? Who is profiting from it? Why is no one doing anything about it? How long is this type of wrong doing going to be tolerated? And who will ultimately enforce the law, maintain the public trust and protect our faith and confidence in our system of government?”

The duties of the Attorney General are established by the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated, Title 5, sections 191 – 205. These statutes direct the Attorney General to discharge various responsibilities, including investigating and prosecuting homicides and other crimes. In addition to these statutory powers, the Attorney General is vested with certain other powers deriving from the Office’s common law powers. The leading case on the powers and duties of the Attorney General is Superintendent of Insurance v. Attorney General, 558 A.2d 1197 (Me.1989). The essential principle stated by the Court in this landmark decision is that the Attorney General possesses constitutional and common law authority, independent of the agencies represented by the Office that may be exercised by the Attorney General in the public interest.

The State Court Administrator, established by M.R.S.A. Title 4, Chapter 1 ξ 17, subject to the supervision and direction of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, is responsible for administration and management of the court system, including investigating complaints with respect to the operation of the courts. Maine’s Court Administrator is James T. Glessner.

Why are the unlawful interferences by officials rubber-stamped by Maine’ judicial system? Why do state government agencies in place to protect consumers, fail to do so? The power of the agencies, etc. is supported by the corruption of the courts. Why do they get away with this? Because they can. The lack of oversight and accountability that exists in Maine government agencies/departments/committees/commissions, including the Judiciary, pose a real problem for small business owners and residents.

It is disgusting and appalling, through past administrations, that there has always been the excuse, including the Attorney General’s Office – top law enforcement agency in the State, that “there’s nothing we can do.” This being the case, it is my opinion that the state has 2 choices: 1) replace the person in charge of an agency or 2) if an agency is not servings its purpose/mission, eliminate the agency. This would be fiscally responsible. Paying salaries of employees who fail in their job performance is a misuse of taxpayer money. It is imperative that Governor LePage initiate investigations into the job performance of the Attorney General’s Office and Administrative Office of the Courts as this is a matter of public interest and trust.

As long as we have family connections, “revolving doors” in Augusta and legislators who leave their common sense at the door when entering the chambers, public and judicial corruption in this state will continue.

As Mr. Nugent reported, lack of action by Attorneys General Steven Rowe and Janet Mills occurred during the (former governor) John Baldacci administration. If “you wonder why public and judicial corruption is going unfettered here in our State”, connect the dots. The masquerade party ongoing in Augusta is known by more people than our officials realize. The political players dance from one elected position to another, wheel and deal with connections they’ve made, ignore the pleas for help from their constituents who pay their salaries, then eventually climb the ladder to a higher position. Then family members join the party. The individuals we thought would be great representatives of the people, and we voted for, have lost their way. They sold their souls and the future of their children, grandchildren and the American people for the sake of comfort and wealth. They have elected to take the path of corruption which, eventually, will effect them.

U.S. Attorney for Maine Thomas Delahanty II, a longtime Superior Court justice, is related to Judge Robert Crowley.

Maine’s Ruling Family – the Mitchell-Baldacci family.

Baldacci – Business As Usual.  Source: LANCE TAPLEY

Baldacci swears in judges with area roots.  ”The swearing-in ceremony for five Maine judges seemed more like a family reunionthan an official event.”

Senator Barry Hobbins, click here, Kennebec Journal, Cutts Island Group.  

 Re Radio Address – Sen. Hobbins on Government Transparency, March 19, 2011:
“Democrats have long believed that people should know who, how, where, and what is being governed.” Hobbins “wants to work with Governor LePage moving this state forward, but he wants to do it with transparency and openness.” He stated, “Governor, I hope you will join me.”

Hobbins brought up one case in point, the Governor’s announcement of the formation of a Business Advisory Council, “however, in the Executive Order, the Governor added language exempting the Council from Maine’s Right to Know Law.” “As a founding member and former chair of Maine’s Right to Know Committee, Hobbins felt “a responsibility, a stewardship, for transparency in Maine government” and “in response to the Executive Order, he wrote a letter to the Governor asking him to re-evaluate his decision exempting the Advisory Council from the Freedom of Access Act. To date, he had not received a response from him or anyone in his administration. Hobbins stated he “will remain dogged in his efforts to allow the people of Maine access to the state’s business. Transparency is essential to an open society. A cloud of suspicion forms over elected officials and governments where the truth is shrouded in anything but openness. Sunshine Week and the Freedom of Access Act were borne out of this—this need to know, the need to hold elected officials accountable.”

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Senator Hobbins should understand the peoples’ plights including, but not limited to, the decades of seeking justice, the decades of frustration due to the unresponsiveness of elected officials, the lack of transparency in Maine government, the lack of official accountability and the taxation without representation. Hobbins asked Governor LePage to join him in moving this state forward, but he wants “to do it with transparency and openness.” I’m asking Senator Hobbins to join me, and the people, in reining in an out-of-control government and to “do it with transparency and openness.” I, we, remain dogged in our efforts for fairness and truth. Senator Hobbins has long been a member of “there’s nothing I can do club.”

Top 25 Biddeford-Saco political players and coaches according to All Along the Watchtower. The list is not surprising to those of us in the know whose names are included:

Donna Dion and Jim Grattelo (former Mayors/councilor of Biddeford). Biddeford, I’ll See You In Court -Click here, First Amendment Case – click here, Click here.

Biddeford Police Chief Roger Beaupre. – I learned that there is an unwritten rule in Chief Beaupre’s Department. That rule “none of his police officers are to speak with me.” Why’s that? They might learn a little about the law, their constitutional duties or maybe a secret about their own chief.

William Kany – Saco-Biddeford Savings Institution.

Senator Barry Hobbins.

The Honorable Mike Cantara – Michael Cantara is a bar certified attorney. A former Biddeford mayor, Cantara was later elected to become York County’s District Attorney before being tapped by Governor John Baldacci to serve as Commissioner for the Maine Department of Public Safety and later as a Maine District Court Judge, where he serves today. Attorney Mark Lawrence (former President of the Maine Senate) was appointed District Attorney by Governor John Baldacci to fill the vacancy created when Cantara became Commissioner of Public Safety. Official corruption was brought to D.A. Cantara back in the 1990′s. However, my complaint against Atty. Michelle Robert (who was appointed to the A.G.’s office by Governor Angus King, despite his pledge of a “hiring freeze”) was dismissed by Cantara because Michelle Robert was “his friend and colleague.”

Judge Michael Cantara’s Stall Tactics On Reagan’s Foreclosure Case

Also Pro police brutality and elder abuse.

Of importance to “all in the family” is the creation of 147 positions in government by (former governor) Angus King.

 
With further regard to Nugent’s concerns about the Maine U.S. Attorney General’s Office, malfeasance and non-feasance extends into Washington, D.C., including members of Congress.

In February 2007 a complaint was filed with the O.I.G. against two U.S. Attorneys on their failure to perform their duties as Federal Agents and their failure to uphold the law. The complaint was forwarded to the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys, per correspondence of Roger M. Williams, Special Agent and dated April 12, 2007. This was during the tenure of (now former Attorneys General) Alberto Gonzales and Michael Mukasey. Involved in this cover up is H. Marshall Jarrett, the longtime chief lawyer in the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility, who was appointed by President Obama to head the Executive Office for United States Attorneys.

U.S. Congressman Robert Torrecelli. Torrecelli did not take action. When Torrecelli left Congress ), Eric Shuffler later became speech wirter for N.J. Governor Jon Corzine.

On December 5, 2008 I attended a Judiciary Committee Field Hearing in St. Albans, VT, chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy, re: “Community-Based Solutions to Drug-Related Crime in Rural America.” 

I submitted documentation and a demand for a full investigation into drug related crimes and violations of law, rights and due process. I am quite disappointed that I was not afforded the opportunity to speak with Senator Leahy after traveling hours to Vermont. His only response to me was that he would read my documents on the plane. The evidence/documents presented to him demands a full investigation into the cover up of drug-related crimes, including a death, and extends from New Hampshire to Washington agencies, ie., DOJ, FBI, US Attorneys Executive Office, H. Marshall Jarrett, Counsel – Office of Professional Responsibility, NH U.S.A.G. Thomas Colantuono (left his position) and N.H. Asst. U.S.A.G. Mark Zuckerman, and others. I never received a response from Senator Leahy regarding this matter.

Is it not surprising that public officials keep passing the proverbial buck and look the other way? Where are the checks and balances? There are none. Governor Paul LePage must exercise his authority, per the Constitution of Maine, Art V, sec.12, and take care that the laws be faithfully executed. His enforcement of the law can restore the public’s trust, faith and confidence in our system of government.

As The Plot Thickens, Connect The Dots.

PREVENT TRUTH DECAY

Printed in the Clarion Edict.

The PPH (12/13/11) reported that the “Maine Medicaid deficit is mostly the result of a series of technical budgeting miscalculations, according to a report prepared by the LePage administration.” Miscalculations?

The state Department of Health and Human Services is facing a $221 million budget deficit for this fiscal year and the next says DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew.

In a press release (12/12/11) Governor LePage’s “plan protects and preserves services for Maine’s most vulnerable while addressing Medicaid’s out of control spending” while the “Democrats would rather ignore the problem altogether.” Surprised? Not I.

Governor LePage defended the cuts in his radio address, “drawing a response by Democrats who labeled them “irresponsible and shortsighted.””

As the lawmakers are trying to dissect the causes of a projected $220 million budget shortfall in the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, let’s shine some light on past history with DHS and Medicaid. We find ourselves in the same situation when (former) Kevin Concannon was Commissioner of DHS during the tenure of Governor John Baldacci (D). On September 17, 2003 PPH reported “State finds $37 million DHS snafu. The state has uncovered a $37 million budget problem at the Department of Human Services, just months after state officials and a consultant found millions of dollars in accounting mistakes in a separate program at the DHS.The latest problem involves a series of errors in the Medicaid program that occurred over a period of years and finally came to light this year.” Is this a mere “miscalculation?” In March 2003, Kevin Concannon left DHS and was appointed by Governor Vilsack to serve as the Director for the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS). A consultant was hired to help figure out what happened to the money. Gov. John Baldacci said that there was “no inkling of any wrongdoing or any malfeasance in the latest DHS incident, but he and a top aide detailed several costly errors that add up to $37 million.”

Is this deja vu all over again? The LePage administration has introduced a supplemental budget addressing the Medicaid shortfall which will affect the safety net of Maine’s most vulnerable and needy. As both parties dicker over the reasons for the shortfall, it’s time for oral extractions. Maine could have prevented truth decay had our politicians taken action on the evidence presented to them regarding the fraud, waste and abuse of Medicaid funding.

I repeatedly requested a full investigation into Medicare and Medicaid payments that were paid out in excess for prescription drugs, that were not needed, medical equipment that was not needed and stays at a local hospital and nursing home against the will of my mother, all at the expense of the taxpayers.The abuse that has gone on in this case goes beyond all bounds of decency and the refusal of our elected officials to stop this abuse is a disgraceful PUBLIC SCANDAL.

Governor John Baldacci had years to work on health care issues to include Medicaid funding and elder abuse which continues today. However, he chose instead to further his personal agenda with the help of his campaign contributors, ie. North Country Associates, at the expense of taxpayers and the precious lives of our family members. It is critical that this information be reported, as the mainstream media has failed to do so, and share the truth with the public to avoid futher decay. Our representatives only report what they want us to hear.

What are the real truths and facts that lie behind closed doors beyond sight of the public view? As Governor LePage revamps the DHS, it’s imperative that he dismiss the ”problem” people left over from the Baldacci administration. This raises reasonable questions about the impact on Maine people. “The Governor has made difficult and painful decisions to correct an ongoing deficit that has been neglected in the last decade” and is looking for solutions. He could start by investigating the “miscalcuations” of monies given to a corporation that was not licensed at the time of receipt of Medicaid funding (1998), the unnecessary prescribed medications and the holding of elderly patients against their will in order to profit and gain financially and recoupt the funding. If health care institutions don’t keep records of patients, how do they receive Federal funding? There is a smell to this!

I brought these serious concerns regarding possible Medicaid fraud to Senator Susan Collins. As Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Senator Collins thanked me for contacting her and that was the end of that!

There is need for a citizens review board to oversee DHS agencies and hold officials accountable for wrongdoings to prevent any further moral or truth decay.

“Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.” Thomas Jefferson

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