Hello, this is Representative Nancy Theriault of Millinocket with this week’s Republican Address.
It is both a tremendous honor and humbling responsibility to serve as Maine’s newest State Representative after being elected in a special election to complete the term of the late Representative Kathy Javner.
Representative Javner served the people of House District 29 with compassion, integrity, and a deep commitment to her community.
She earned the respect of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle through her thoughtful approach, genuine kindness, and unwavering dedication to the people she represented.
Her example of public service is one I deeply admire, and I hope to continue that same spirit of listening, caring, and working hard for the people of our district.
As I begin this new chapter of service, I am going to Augusta with a simple goal: to be a problem solver.
I want to work with anyone, regardless of party, who is genuinely interested in making life better for the people of Maine.
As someone who has spent years watching the Legislature from outside, I have also seen things that concern me.
Over the past several years, Democrats have passed three straight state budgets using a parliamentary maneuver that allowed them to avoid the bipartisan cooperation that was once the norm.
As a result, legislators representing half of Maine’s voters were effectively shut out of meaningful negotiations over how billions of taxpayer dollars would be spent.
Those partisan budgets nearly doubled state spending and included tax increases that Republicans opposed.
At the same time, longstanding Republican proposals to reduce waste, combat fraud, improve government accountability, lower taxes, and reduce energy costs were routinely dismissed without serious consideration.
This is not how good government at work.
Now, as Governor Mills prepares to leave office, federal intervention has forced the administration to acknowledge serious fraud, waste and abuse within the MaineCare program—something Republicans have been warning about for years.
After the press reported on a recent visit to Maine from the head of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Mills’ administration hastily released a list of provider sanctions.
These previously unannounced actions, involving 35 providers, all took place within the last year after federal agencies began looking at Maine.
Eight years after Governor Mills took office.
For Maine taxpayers, scrutiny comes eight years too late.
Protecting a program that serves Maine’s most vulnerable citizens and respects taxpayer dollars should never be a partisan issue.
I would like to see Maine return to the longstanding tradition of passing budgets with two-thirds support. That higher standard required Republicans and Democrats to come together, negotiate, and produce budgets that reflected the needs of the entire state—not just one political party.
I also hope that Republican proposals to lower taxes, reduce energy costs, eliminate waste, and make government more accountable will finally receive a fair hearing.
Good ideas deserve consideration regardless of which side of the aisle they come from.
Today, Maine has one of the highest overall state and local tax burdens in the nation.
Most of us know someone who has left Maine in search of greater opportunity or simply to keep more of what they earned during a lifetime of hard work.
Those same costs also make it harder for young families to stay here—or to choose Maine as the place to build their future.
I believe we must do better.
I am hopeful that Maine is ready to move in a different direction—one guided by common sense, fiscal responsibility, and a genuine commitment to making our state more affordable for everyone.
Most importantly, the voices, ideas, and concerns of all Mainers deserve to be heard and respected, regardless of where they live or which party they support.
When people elect a representative, they deserve to know that representative has a seat at the table when the state’s biggest decisions are being made.
That is my hope, and it is my commitment as your State Representative.
Thank you for listening and thank you for the opportunity to serve.
This has been Representative Nancy Theriault with this week’s Republican Address.
