The Coronation is complete, the paper has been signed. Our Legislature has had a single simultaneous movement in Augusta today. Perhaps, the last one for four years, we will see. All the players were there. Former governors: Brennan, Mckernan, King and Baldacci stood side saddle, looking speculative at best. None-the-less, I am sure they support the new Governor of Maine, Paul Richard (not Dick) Lepage.
The new Governor stuck to many of the same talking points of his election. His being a businessman first and foremost.The bloated state of Augusta, how our taxpayers pay for it. His "Red Tape Removal" audit to simplify business in the state. Governor Paul Richard Lepage also said he is "for strong protections for Maine and its people and regulations for business" but they should not make doing business hard, or rather the regulations should cooperate with business. He mentioned we need to find savings for business in utilities costs, licensing and basic cost overheads. Of course no other Governor has tried this. Lepage wants to deliver a competitive advantage to business so it will come to Maine. Easier said than done. Many have tried, we have all but given the state to companies tax free, still no deal. In almost one breath Lepage said I'm bringing back Mckernan's Town Hall meetings. Then "I'm not going backwards."
On the education front the new Governor stated, "Standards must be higher, administrations leaner."
Our available resources must be "spent in the classroom, on the student." To that I say, "Hurray." But wait and see, I will. Paul also stated that you will hear him keep pushing for his 5 year school program. High school graduates would receive an associates degree upon completion of their 5 years. Where we would find the money? I guess, we'll see. The Governor seems all for monthly meetings and said, "we will sit down with teachers around the state once a month, oatmeal and solutions will be on the agenda." Again, we'll see. Gas prices are pretty high right now. Paying for extra travel will be tough.
I did like the 'Labels will not get in the way' speak, sounded like it was right off my pages. Republican, Democrat, Green, Independent, it will not matter; Good Policy is public policy for everyone said Paul. Oh, and I really liked the Profit bit, "Profit is not a problem." It's what grows the private sector he said. I do not remember anyone saying profit was a problem. Though on one of my recent pages this very subject was presented to you in this same way: What I said is, "The problem is that jobs are a byproduct of profit." Jobs are only created to keep up with demand and create more profit. If more can be done by fewer, or for less money, there will be no jobs created. It has always been thus and thus it shall be.
There really is so much more from the speech we could address, and I should go over my notes again. But for now let's just look at the fact that not once was paying for anything mentioned. We are in very, very desperate times. To change any of the status quo involves money and unless our State can come up with some private corporate funding we are fe fi fo fu*k~#. Or, Maybe, and if I was a State worker I would prepare for this one, voluntary pay cuts. Then of course will come the furlough days, the broken contracts, the closing of the state and the desperate plea for federal help. Oh, crap I'm not a prophet, forgot myself. Anyway, we better hold on, it will be very bumpy. For today say "Congratulations Governor Lepage, I wish you the best of luck." We are all in this together, and believe me we're pulling for you.
Have A Great Day, and if not tomorrow is another chance,
All the best, Ms. Paula Page
Showing posts with label Ms.Paula Page. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ms.Paula Page. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Friday, December 10, 2010
A goverment that works together, keeps a country from falling apart.
Good morning shareholders. Today we will discuss our failing systems, and our waring factions.
Let's first envision ourselves in charge of a large corporation. Now, we should hire two groups of people to come up with ideas for our product, the marketing of our product, the distribution of our product, and last but not least, the protection of content and quality of our product. As to the management of the corporation, we shall appoint from among these two groups the best financial officers we may find. These officers shall at their discretion, on our behalf allocate funds appropriate to our cause: which henceforth shall be known as Us. All of the decisions made by the groups shall be made as one group: which henceforth the two groups shall be, The group. We, US, as owners of the company retain and exercise our exclusive right to make and manage all final decisions without exception.
This group of people we hire should have a great range of ideas. They should be able to think independently, though not for themselves as this would not benefit our corporation. This group should be able to meet and work as a cohesive unit where our interests are concerned. The group shall always have to listen to and answer to US, for when they do not there is no longer a corporation, but a mutinous anarchy, which is unacceptable to US.
The unacceptable clause is what brings us here today. Our group continues to call itself groups, i.e. Democrats and Republican, never ceding to the group. Our group has continually run against itself and US. Our group continues to waste money on its posturing, position and ego, with no thought of US. No work is done in the interest of US. Work has become to the group, them; of them, for them, by them. Our company is at risk from being taken over from outside while the group consumes US from within.
As a minor shareholder in Us I cannot make our decisions, but suggest, I must. An emergency meeting of the shareholders should convene at once. Our board should look at the complete removal of the entire group. We cannot afford to argue amongst ourselves as the group has done, for our resources are running low. In an attempt to save US, we must cut the group from our guts and move forward. Better more capable people are available, people who will not lose sight of US. People who understand that the group is part and parcel US. The cost of a complete impeachment and removal of the group is far less than the cost of continuing business as usual, for all usual business is a considerable loss for US.
Thank you for your consideration on this matter before US.
Ms. Paula Page
Let's first envision ourselves in charge of a large corporation. Now, we should hire two groups of people to come up with ideas for our product, the marketing of our product, the distribution of our product, and last but not least, the protection of content and quality of our product. As to the management of the corporation, we shall appoint from among these two groups the best financial officers we may find. These officers shall at their discretion, on our behalf allocate funds appropriate to our cause: which henceforth shall be known as Us. All of the decisions made by the groups shall be made as one group: which henceforth the two groups shall be, The group. We, US, as owners of the company retain and exercise our exclusive right to make and manage all final decisions without exception.
This group of people we hire should have a great range of ideas. They should be able to think independently, though not for themselves as this would not benefit our corporation. This group should be able to meet and work as a cohesive unit where our interests are concerned. The group shall always have to listen to and answer to US, for when they do not there is no longer a corporation, but a mutinous anarchy, which is unacceptable to US.
The unacceptable clause is what brings us here today. Our group continues to call itself groups, i.e. Democrats and Republican, never ceding to the group. Our group has continually run against itself and US. Our group continues to waste money on its posturing, position and ego, with no thought of US. No work is done in the interest of US. Work has become to the group, them; of them, for them, by them. Our company is at risk from being taken over from outside while the group consumes US from within.
As a minor shareholder in Us I cannot make our decisions, but suggest, I must. An emergency meeting of the shareholders should convene at once. Our board should look at the complete removal of the entire group. We cannot afford to argue amongst ourselves as the group has done, for our resources are running low. In an attempt to save US, we must cut the group from our guts and move forward. Better more capable people are available, people who will not lose sight of US. People who understand that the group is part and parcel US. The cost of a complete impeachment and removal of the group is far less than the cost of continuing business as usual, for all usual business is a considerable loss for US.
Thank you for your consideration on this matter before US.
Ms. Paula Page
Monday, December 6, 2010
How sweet the sound of salary cuts. The Truth?
The State of Maine announced that pay cuts to staffers have been made. While there is a truth to this, it appears that only the Secretary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House have taken a pay cut. Great news, right? Please consider this: their respective salaries had been approximately $115,000 each, per year.This cut will apparently will save us $70,000 a year. Yet, this secretary and this clerk will each make $80,000 a year. This is the new approximate salary for these positions. How many secretaries and how many clerks make $80,000 per year? Not Very many I'm sure. Here are a few statistics:
* a Secretary to a chief executive- 25th% avg. pay is $57,357 nation wide, the high pay or 90th% is $86,629.
* a Legal Secretary 3- 25th% avg. pay is $43,255 nation wide, the high pay or 90th% is $61,957
* a Clerk at paralegal level- 25% avg. pay is $41,261 nation wide, the high pay or 90th% is $59,786
(* according to my salary.com)
These stats lead me to think that the pay rate for the state workers is very high compared to the rest of the nation. That though a pay cut may have taken place, it is not nearly enough.
Also, all of the Administration, top to bottom should be subjects of a massive pay cut immediately. This is the most sensible place to start. Then as the State of Maine begins to work down the list of cuts, we will have any savings from payroll cuts to reallocate if necessary.
I also believe that John Baldacci's state hiring freeze should remain in effect. The truth really seems to be that the state has always been able to create jobs for the state with our money. But, more people working in state offices does not pay the bills. State jobs drain off money for education and infrastructure. This resession has shown that all companies can do more with less, corporate profits are way up, employees way down. Pay rates, down even further.
Well that is all for now, Ms. Paula has a headache, bye
* a Secretary to a chief executive- 25th% avg. pay is $57,357 nation wide, the high pay or 90th% is $86,629.
* a Legal Secretary 3- 25th% avg. pay is $43,255 nation wide, the high pay or 90th% is $61,957
* a Clerk at paralegal level- 25% avg. pay is $41,261 nation wide, the high pay or 90th% is $59,786
(* according to my salary.com)
These stats lead me to think that the pay rate for the state workers is very high compared to the rest of the nation. That though a pay cut may have taken place, it is not nearly enough.
Also, all of the Administration, top to bottom should be subjects of a massive pay cut immediately. This is the most sensible place to start. Then as the State of Maine begins to work down the list of cuts, we will have any savings from payroll cuts to reallocate if necessary.
I also believe that John Baldacci's state hiring freeze should remain in effect. The truth really seems to be that the state has always been able to create jobs for the state with our money. But, more people working in state offices does not pay the bills. State jobs drain off money for education and infrastructure. This resession has shown that all companies can do more with less, corporate profits are way up, employees way down. Pay rates, down even further.
Well that is all for now, Ms. Paula has a headache, bye
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Lepage helps with breakfast out of the trunk
In a bid to prove cost cutting can happen in Augusta, Paul Lepage helped to free the legislative pastries from the trunk of a meeting organizer's car. He could have hired an intern, or better a caterer, but took this weighty mission upon himself. Ms. Paula's hope is that someone is paying for the pastries out of their own pocket, for the rest of us in the state are paying $3.49 out of our pockets for a loaf of bread. Subsidizing the meals of politicos at the state house in these tight times is unacceptable.
As the State of Maine heads into an era of eliminating programs, cutting off funding, and consolidating, we the people of Maine should not have to fund any food programs for politicians. Cutting should start right at the source. All meals and lodging, all trips, any and all expense account reimbursements should cease. The regular people of Maine pay for gasoline to drive day in and day out. We pay for all our meals out of pocket. And as far as the expense of flying to meetings, junkets, training, or Washington, most of this is excess that can, and should be, taken care of on the nearest computer.
On another note, upon Lepage's suggestion, the house has installed Bruce Poliquin as Treasurer. Let's see if he can keep Robert Nutting's hands out of the treasure. Nutting is the 'republicon' Speaker of the House, freshly back from a four year stint at the Waterville Walmart pharmacy. Nutting filed chapter 7 bankruptcy for his pharmaceutical company, to avoid repaying the State of Maine 1.6 million dollars. Speaking of Waterville notice a trend here? Lepage, Waterville, Poliquin, Waterville, Robert Nutting, yes, yes, Waterville. But How does Charlie Summers fit in? He moved here in 1983 from Kewanee, Illinois. Charlie gets to have his name on your license for he has been appointed, I mean anointed to the position of Secretary of State. Well it turns out that Charlie was an aid to Olympia Snow, and Olympia's first husband paid for King Paul to attend Husson College. Ahhh... the sweet beauty of the blossoming 'Republicon' reign in Maine.
Well good day, for now. Ms. Paula Page
As the State of Maine heads into an era of eliminating programs, cutting off funding, and consolidating, we the people of Maine should not have to fund any food programs for politicians. Cutting should start right at the source. All meals and lodging, all trips, any and all expense account reimbursements should cease. The regular people of Maine pay for gasoline to drive day in and day out. We pay for all our meals out of pocket. And as far as the expense of flying to meetings, junkets, training, or Washington, most of this is excess that can, and should be, taken care of on the nearest computer.
On another note, upon Lepage's suggestion, the house has installed Bruce Poliquin as Treasurer. Let's see if he can keep Robert Nutting's hands out of the treasure. Nutting is the 'republicon' Speaker of the House, freshly back from a four year stint at the Waterville Walmart pharmacy. Nutting filed chapter 7 bankruptcy for his pharmaceutical company, to avoid repaying the State of Maine 1.6 million dollars. Speaking of Waterville notice a trend here? Lepage, Waterville, Poliquin, Waterville, Robert Nutting, yes, yes, Waterville. But How does Charlie Summers fit in? He moved here in 1983 from Kewanee, Illinois. Charlie gets to have his name on your license for he has been appointed, I mean anointed to the position of Secretary of State. Well it turns out that Charlie was an aid to Olympia Snow, and Olympia's first husband paid for King Paul to attend Husson College. Ahhh... the sweet beauty of the blossoming 'Republicon' reign in Maine.
Well good day, for now. Ms. Paula Page
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