MOST OF OUR STUDENTS CAN’T VOTE. WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR THEM.

Education policy impacts every educator and every student. The future of our jobs, our public schools, and the education for each student will be in the hands of those elected into office, including the Governor. Below is a side-by-side comparison of the two major candidates for Governor and where they both stand on key education issues. The data is based on both candidates’ voting records and previous actions when each held office.

RACE FOR GOVERNOR

Janet Mills

VS.

Paul LePage

SCHOOL FUNDING

Mills

N
Signed state budgets that led to historic increases in funding for public schools, including passing 55% state funding for the ’21-’23 school years, after 17 years of MEA advocacy1
N
Opposes voucher programs that take money away from public schools2

LePage

M
Consistently shortchanged funding for schools and repeatedly proposed cuts in state aid for schools. In some of his budgets, schools were underfunded by nearly $200 million3
M

Strong advocate of voucher programs which siphon more funding from public schools4

RETIREMENT SECURITY

Mills

MAJOR PENSION IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING:

N
Increased cumulative Cost of Living Adjustment for all retirees5
N
Lifted the base amount for the Cost of Living Adjustment, helping keep up with inflation6
N
Signed budget that increases state share of retiree healthcare from 45% to 55%7
N
Increased income tax exemption on your pension8

LePage

MAJOR CUTS TO PENSIONS INCLUDING:

M

Pushed teacher and ed tech retirement costs to local cities & towns, increasing property taxes9

M
Increased retirement age to 6510
M
Cut, capped, and then froze the Cost of Living Adjustment11
M
Refused to support increases to state share of retiree healthcare costs12

SALARY & BENEFIT INCREASES

Mills

N
Signed into law the bill that increased the minimum teacher salary to $40,00013
N
Increased State aid to schools, giving districts more money to boost pay and benefits14

LePage

M
Refused to support increases to the minimum teacher salary15
M
Reduced funding for schools, forcing cuts in pay, benefits and layoffs16

FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS

Mills

N
Signed into law free meals for all public school students17
N
Increased State funding for meal program so costs didn’t
shift to local taxpayers18

LePage

M
No progress was made during LePage’s 8 years as
Governor to address student hunger in our schools19

STABILITY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Mills

N
Maine Department of Education stable, with just one
Commissioner of Education, Pender Makin20
N
Fully funded revenue sharing program, sending hundreds of millions more to local communities21
N

Maine Department of Education and Governor’s office
regularly meet with MEA leaders to listen to educator
concerns

LePage

M
Revolving door of leaders at the Maine Department
of Education with at least 6 different Commissioners,
including LePage himself22
M
Reduced revenue sharing to cities and towns, leaving less
money for schools23
M
Consistently criticized MEA and educators, even saying
teachers are a “dime a dozen,” and if you want a good
education you need to attend private school24
Citations

1) LD 221,An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2021, June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce; signed by the Governor on June 30, 2021 Found here. 

2) MEA candidate questionnaire, June 2022

3) see “How Are School Districts Preparing for LePage’s Proposed Education Cuts,” Maine Public Radio, March 27, 2017
“Gov. LePage calls for $35.5 million in spending cuts,” Mainebiz, December 28, 2012
LD 1032, An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds, and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013”(Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Patrick Flood, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2011 Found here.

4) See “LePage bill for school choice hits resistance,” Kennebec Journal, May 9, 2013
“LePage bill lifts cap on charter schools, lets public money go to religious schools,” Bangor Daily News, May 20, 2013

5) LD 1995, “An Act To Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending  June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce, signed by the Governor on April 22, 2022 Found here.

6) LD 1995, “An Act To Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce, signed by the Governor on April 22, 2022 Found here.

7) LD 1733, “An Act To Provide Allocations for the Distribution of State Fiscal Recovery Funds” (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Senator Catherine Breen, signed by the Governor on July 19, 2021, found here.

8) LD 1995, “An Act To Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce, signed by the Governor on April 22, 2022 Found here.

9) See “LePage’s teacher retirement proposal draws fire,” Kennebec Journal, March 19, 2013
“Legislature considers repealing LePage budget change on teacher retirement costs,” Portland Press Herald, April 5, 2017

10) LD 1032, An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds, and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Patrick Flood, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2011 Found here.

11) LD 1032, An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds, and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Patrick Flood, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2011 Found here.

12) During his 8 years as Governor, the state share of retired teacher health care was maintained at 45% and never increased. In fact, in the state budget he signed in 2011, LD 1032, language was included in the budget to cap and further diminish the amount the state pays, although the specific language was not implemented.

13) LD 1001, An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds, and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2019, June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Drew Gattine, signed by the Governor on June 17, 2019, found here.

14) LD 1001, An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds, and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2019, June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Drew Gattine, signed by the Governor on June 17, 2019, found here.
LD 221,An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2021, June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency)(Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce; signed by the Governor on June 30, 2021 Found here.
LD 1995, “An Act To Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce, signed by the Governor on April 22, 2022 Found here.

15) During Paul LePage’s 8 years as Governor, the minimum teacher salary in Maine remained at $30,000 as established in 2006 by then-Governor John Baldacci. The minimum teacher salary was increased to $40,000 with the passage of LD 1001, signed by the Governor in 2017.

16) see “How Are School Districts Preparing for LePage’s Propised Education Cuts,” Maine Public Radio, March 27, 2017
“Gov. LePage calls for $35.5 million in spending cuts,” Mainebiz, December 28, 2012
LD 1032, An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds, and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013”(Emergency)(Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Patrick Flood, signed by the Governor on June 20, 2011 Found here.

17) LD 221,An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2021, June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce; signed by the Governor on June 30, 2021 Found here.
LD 1995, “An Act To Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce, signed by the Governor on April 22, 2022 Found here.

18) LD 1995, “An Act To Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce, signed by the Governor on April 22, 2022 Found here.

19) ”Gov. LePage’s legacy: Maine now third in nation for extreme food insecurity,” Maine Beacon, September 11, 2017
“Senate overrides LePage veto of bill to provide summer food for free, reduced lunch students,” Bangor Daily News, February 11, 2014

20) Please see: https://www.maine.gov/doe/about/leadership/makin

21) LD 221,An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2021, June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023” (Emergency) (Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Representative Teresa Pierce; signed by the Governor on June 30, 2021 Found here.

22) See, “Nominee for education commissioner held up, so LePage says he’ll stand in,” Portland Press Herald, February 11, 2016.

23) 2016-2017, State of Maine, Biennial Budget Briefing, January 9, 2015 Governor Paul R. LePage, page 14, found here.

24) ”LePage calls classroom teachers ‘a dime a dozen’,” Portland Press Herald, August 19, 2017
“Democratic State House leaders ready to face LePage,” Portland Press Herald, November 13, 2012