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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWay to kick off your 2014 campaign, moran: Maine Gov. LePage: 47% Of Mainers Don’t Work
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) claimed last week that nearly half of Mainers who are able to work do not do so.
"About 47 percent of able-bodied people in the state of Maine don't work," LePage said at a conservative meeting, according to a recording posted by the Bangor Daily News. "About 47 percent. It's really bad."
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It is not clear where LePage is getting such a figure. Maine's unemployment rate is actually below the national unemployment rate. In August, it was 7.0 percent, according to official state labor statistics, with 65.3 percent of all Mainers currently part of the labor force.
LePage is one of the most vulnerable governors in the country in 2014 and is no stranger to controversial statements. Earlier this year, he used a crude metaphor involving Vaseline while denouncing a Democratic lawmaker.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/10/22/maine-governor-claims-47-percent-of-able-bodied-mainers-dont-work/
Now if only independent candidate Elliot Cutler wasn't running. In 2010 Cutler and the Dem had a combined 57% of the vote, but asshole won with 38%. In 2014 Rep. Michaud is winning and a recent poll shows him just edging out LePage with 33% of the vote- Cutler gets 24% and asshole get 30%. He has a horrible approval rating, but he could still win.
tecelote
(5,122 posts)It's ranked one of the worst to do business in by Forbes.
Yet, it is not racist and is one of the most liberal states in the country.
A great place to live. The coast has thousands of islands and the north country is some of the wildest in the lower 48. Even atheists call it God's country. It's so beautiful.
Looking at it from afar, many see La Page and think that the Tea Party is thriving but the opposite is true. This state is running a three party system and Independents are a power there. La Page won because Liberals were split.
I'll bet if you could get the IQ's of voters registered, La Page would lose by 95%.
haele
(12,660 posts)He could also be getting his "number of people who don't work" from the census and included non-disabled kids (who don't work), trust fund babies (well off enough not to need to work), and stay-at-home parents. Bet you can get to 47% easily if you include those three categories.
Sorry about your indie spoiler. Too bad he couldn't spoil the republican vote.
Haele
mainer
(12,022 posts)Since Maine is, i think, the whitest state in the country?