Despite winning re-election to a second term last November and receiving more votes than any gubernatorial candidate in the past three decades, Gov. Paul LePage believes the public is still “misinformed’ about him and his policies. Maine’s Republican governor has scheduled several town hall-style meetings “to set the record straight” by discussing his agenda for reducing the state’s tax burden, energy costs and improving the economy.

Twenty-seven people attended the governor’s most recent forum at the Boothbay Region Elementary School gymnasium on July 6 in Boothbay Harbor. LePage discussed his failures and successes in battling the state’s bureaucracy and Legislative Democrats to improve Mainers’ prosperity. He told the audience that he faces daily opposition from Democrats who control the House of Representatives and the state’s print media, which he labeled as “dishonest.”

LePage said he didn’t respect the journalism produced in Maine’s daily newspapers.

“My reason for doing this is to give the public the unedited version of who I am,” LePage said. “I’m not nearly as bad as you read every day. They have a built-in bias, and, it’s not just here in Maine. It’s all over the country.”

LePage began the forum outlining his second-term agenda. The governor believes the state still suffers from 40 years of one-party rule in Augusta. According to LePage, past Democratic majorities have resulted in Mainers’ paying higher than market rates for electricity and a greater tax burden than other states.

LePage believes higher electrical rates and a combination of high state income, property and sales taxes drive commerce away from Maine.

“Look at the No. 1 and No. 2 state economies: Texas and Florida, no income tax. That’s not a coincidence,” he said.

LePage also said the state’s tax code makes it difficult to compete with neighboring New Hampshire, a state with approximately the same population as Maine’s. New Hampshire has the seventh highest state property tax, but no sales or income tax, according to LePage.  Maine has the ninth highest property tax along with a sales and income tax.

“It shows you a whole lot of unnecessary spending is going on in Augusta. In Maine, we have a big spending problem,” LePage said.

The governor also blamed Legislative Democrats for halting attempts in securing lower energy costs. He believes the state has access to more alternative fuel sources such as natural gas, hydro and nuclear, but the state places limitations on these sources which drives up electrical costs.

“Solar and wind have no restrictions. I have no problem with them except they cost at above-market prices, and that’s not right,” he said.

LePage also urged lawmakers in both parties to work with one another in solving the state’s economic challenges. He praised former Saco legislator Barry Hobbins, who lost a Democratic primary election in June, Eagle Lake Democrat John Martin who has served in every legislature except one since 1965, and Windham legislator and former Secretary of State Bill Diamond “who all put their constituents above partisan politics.”

“One day, they’d fight you all day long if they disagreed, but the next, they’d work with you on something we agreed on,” LePage said. “The current Democrats oppose you every inch of the way just because you’re on the other team.”

LePage also critiqued the two local legislators’ performance: State Rep. Stephanie Hawke (R-Boothbay Harbor) and State Sen. Chris Johnson (D-Somerville).

“Stephanie is a fine state representative, but I wouldn’t give a nickel, wooden or otherwise, for your senator,” LePage said.

In past forums, LePage answered between 20-30 audience questions, according to LePage Press Secretary Adrienne Bennett, but in Boothbay Harbor, only four were asked. Carl Jordan, 61, of Boothbay, is a Republican and fan of the governor. He prefaced his question by stating, “I know this is a softball for you, but how did the state pay off the hospital debt and what are you doing to prevent it from happening again?”

LePage explained the $750 million hospital debt began in 2002 when the state expanded Medicare benefits above federal guidelines. The state paid off a third of the debt by better managing liquor sale revenues, according to LePage. The remaining portion is being paid through federal reimbursements and a state bond.

“If the state expanded Medicare again, we’d have to ask you to start drinking double to pay for it. We simply can’t afford another round of Medicare expansion,” LePage said.

The other three questions were asked by a who’s who of local Republican politics. Boothbay GOP town chairman Dawn Gilbert, Boothbay Harbor GOP town chairman Bill Coll, and Lincoln County Republican Chairman John O’Connell of Boothbay Harbor asked the remaining questions.

Gilbert praised LePage for his energy plan and asked when rate payers may see a decrease. The governor said Maine has access to inexpensive Canadian and New Hampshire nuclear power, but Democratic legislators oppose using it.

“We’ve got a nuclear power plant to the north and south of us. I understand why people have concerns about nuclear power, but if something happens we’re going to be in the middle of it, anyway. So why not take advantage of the cheap 6 cent per kilowatt price,” he said.

Coll asked about a defeated legislative proposal to charge excise tax on a new automobile’s purchase price instead of the manufacturer’s sticker value.

“Republicans in the legislature fought for it, and the Democrats opposed it. It just didn’t make sense why they’d do that. I’m not sure if it will come back again,” LePage said.

O’Connell asked him about his tax reform agenda for his second term. LePage wants a further reduction in state income tax from 7.15 to 5 percent and to eliminate the death tax. He proposes increasing taxes on tourists through higher sales and property taxes to offset any potential revenue decrease.

The Boothbay Harbor town hall meeting lacked any controversy of previous ones. Prior to the event, Bennett requested the audience participate in a respectful conversation with the governor. Participants were required to submit questions prior to the public forum.

Jordan was the first to ask his question. He moved to Boothbay 16 years ago with his wife. Jordan sells concrete retaining walls for Haley Construction Co. in Sangerville. Jordan said, overall the governor has done a good job.

“I came tonight to hear what he had to say,” Jordan said. “He is straight forward and blunt, and generally has the state’s best interest at heart.”

The governor’s next town hall meeting will be at 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 13 in Greenville.