Posted on 07/28/2011 11:37:18 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
Fraud and Abuse Prevention team aims to stop welfare abuse
Augusta, Maine – Governor Paul LePage and Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that officials from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Office of the Attorney General are intensifying their focus on preventing and prosecuting fraud and abuse in public assistance programs.
Recently, the Fraud and Abuse Prevention Team was formed to analyze current systems and existing resources available within state government to deter fraud before it happens and to assure that all illegal activities within Medicaid, Food Supplement, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other programs are being properly investigated.
“People who receive benefits that they are not entitled to continue to drain existing resources that should be used for those who are truly in need,’’ said Governor LePage. “The work of this group reinforces the message that we take fraud and abuse very seriously and that those who abuse the system will face significant consequences.”
The nine-member team will focus on both recipient fraud and MaineCare provider fraud, with DHHS’ Division of Audit and Office for Family Independence working collaboratively with the Financial Crimes & Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General’s Office.
From January 2010 to March 2011, prosecution of MaineCare provider fraud by the Attorney General’s Office resulted in six convictions, more than $4 million in restitution ordered and, in one case, 42 months of jail time for the perpetrator. During that time there were 15 civil fraud settlements with over $5 million in state dollars recovered.
In the last several months recipient fraud cases have resulted in harsher sentences, including a one year sentence against a woman who received benefits by lying to DHHS about her household income.
(Excerpt) Read more at content.govdelivery.com ...
LePage's first act was an executive order ending Maine’s status as a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants. It was meant as a warning to those considering Maine as a gift horse.
As many now know, the Republican governor worked his way up from being homeless at age 11 with the $.50 piece in his pocket his father gave him not to tell of his abuse to the doctor, and a runaway who then took to the streets sleeping where he could, attended school, worked in the lumber harvesting industry, run a thriving city as a popular mayor, grew a big business, Mardens; and has strong family values. The Left has continued to attack, but LePage has said he will run Maine like a business. LePage is not afraid to get rid of those he has appointed if they are not professionally [ story] and morally astute [ story]. The Governor opens his office on Saturday mornings available to those citizens who seek his help on any issue.
LePage the annual Fishermen's Forum in Rockport said: "..his adminstration wants to see the groundfishing industry return to the state of Maine; and is supporting a number of steps, including the elimination of a tax on diesel fuel used on groundfishing boats and vowed to cut what he says are unnecessary regulations.."
Tucker Carlson recently did a blog [Daily Caller] on LePage while the governor sat munching on popcorn. http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/25/from-the-streets-to-the-governors-mansion-paul-lepage-embraces-fiscal-conservatism-for-survival/
Media Matters readers call Governor Lepage "a joke and a half.."
Two days ago, the head of Maine's Republican Party says he may have uncovered more than 200 cases of voter fraud. He is asking state officials to investigate. Charlie Webster says out-of-state and international college students are at the core of it.[re: same day voter registration]
LePage's “Open for Business” sign presented to him by supporters erected in Southern ME along I-95, was stolen recently and has not been recovered. Some on the Left have joked it was stolen in retaliation to the famous [grant funded $66,000] Labor Murals LePage had removed from the Dept of Labor and Commerce building lobby [other offices shared] and placed in storge til a suitable home/museum was found.
They are mouchers and looters and haven't contributed to society in any positive manner.
Drug testing should be mandatory, and anything they can do to prevent this multi-generational “livin’ on the dole” lifestyle less attractive is fine by me. If they don’t like it, move to Mass. with all the other Massholes.
The state of Maine is 1 of only 10 states in last weeks U.S. Department of Labor report to actually see a decline in jobless claims....a good sign that Maine is moving in the right direction despite a very difficult national economic picture.
Link: http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/page8/2011/070911.html
Jobs Bill
The AP offered a small amount of coverage to a broadly supported bill to provide incentives for job creators and venture capitalists to invest in Maine. LD 22 will increase the Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit from 40 to 60 percent and create a refundable 50 percent tax credit for venture capital funds making eligible contributions. This bill was passed unanimously by the legislature and signed by Governor LePage.
Education Reform
During the election, Governor LePage promised to create a program in which high school students could take introductory level college courses while still in high school so that in five years of high school, they can graduate with a high school diploma AND an Associate’s Degree or two years of transferable college credits-all for free. The Governor recently signed an executive order beginning this process and is on target to fulfill yet another of his campaign promises.
Link: http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/MEGOV-c5294
Brent Littlefield who is our advisor at Maine People Before Politics and the Senior Political Advisor to Governor LePage was on WVOM FM’s Ric Tyler and George Hale show discussing Governor LePage’s recent trip to Washington, DC. The Governor appeared on the national Neil Cavuto show on Fox News in addition to giving a speech on health care reform.
As Brent pointed out, our Governor and Legislative Leaders have accomplished more in six months than opponents would have you believe: the largest tax cut in state history, major welfare reform and a reduction of more than 40% in unfunded pension liabilities. George Hale was leftalmost speechless.
Watch Governor LePage on the Neil Cavuto show here: http://video.foxnews.com/v/1064114247001/gov-lepage-were-fixing-problems-in-maine/
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So with all this positive change does Maine still keep re-electing the “evil twins” (Snowe and Collins) to the Senate? Congrats to Paige though, he’s definitely one of the good guys in public office today.
I live in the Portland area, and I can tell you they’re giving him “the Full Alinsky” treatment. They positively loathe this man. Grated, he has made some gaffes, as he is not a professional politician and doesn’t suffer fools or mince words. I remember when he said about the Maine NAACP to “get over themselves”, heads were a’ poppin’. Sometimes the truth hurts, a lot.
Grated: “Granted”
He may not have been ‘Mr Right’, but he was Mr right now.
I see changes in attitudes in augusta. The Dems have not only lost the Gov’s seat, they lost control of both houses in the last election.
Now the dems no longer want the Republicans to ‘reach across the ailse’ (concede), the want the rep to die. They do not losing gracefully.
For you Mainer’s, check my tag.
This is going to be a tough nut to crack, getting welfare bureaucrats to diminish their "client" base.
I've got a feeling that if anyone can do it, Governor LePage can.
Love the tag line...;-)
Isn't it just like a mean-spirited Republicans to come after the poor people who need public assistance just when they need it the most?.
I know you're being sarcastic, but I swear this is exactly the kind of stuff posted after every article about the Governor. Unbelievably pathetic.
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