Efficiency

Efficiency Icon 2The size and expense of Maine’s government is a hurdle we must overcome in order to move our state forward.   Improving our tax policies is a huge part of getting us over that hurdle.  The idea of reforming our tax policies has merit but to merely vote a tax out with no long-term plan to cut government spending is irresponsible. It is not tax reform and it does not address the underlying problems in our state budget process.

Patching up our state budget every two years is not an efficient or smart way to plan long term economic strategies for our State.  The process is broken and needs to be fixed.

We need to work together to renew Maine and become a leaner, more efficient State.

Let’s talk about one area we can all work together to become literally “leaner” and save money at the state level.  We can become a healthier state that can afford an efficient and state of the art health care system – but we must get healthy.

Regardless of how your health care is delivered; who delivers your health care; what type of care you are receiving; or why you are receiving health care, if we are healthier people we will pay less for that health care.
 
Heart disease and diabetes due to obesity is an epidemic in Maine.  One in four high school students and one in every three kindergartners in Maine are overweight.  Obesity and overweight rates for Mainers are climbing at alarming rates.  Nearly two-thirds of Mainers today are considered overweight or obese.
 
Maine taxpayers and employers are paying thousands of extra dollars in medical care, worker’s compensation and lost productivity per Maine worker per year due to workers who are overweight, obese and lack physical activity.  The direct and indirect costs on the State of Maine of these three risk factors are in the billions of dollars.
 
Considering a new health care structure in Maine is a complex issue involving many moving parts that include fundamental changes in how medical providers are paid, how consumers are insured, how businesses pay their employees and how Mainers take responsibility for their own health.
 
The health care problem requires an innovative, comprehensive response from our government, education and public health systems, and the private sector.  Without dramatic change, our health care system will continue to crowd out spending on other priorities such as energy independence, tax reform, education, and highway improvements.   
 
The one thing we can afford to do – today – is take better care of ourselves.  If we spend more time being physically active and spend less on cigarettes, alcohol, soda and junk food, everybody will spend less on health care.
 
People need to take personal responsibility for their health.  People need to take care of themselves so others don’t have to.  We need to promote wellness first instead of rewarding sickness.

3/5/10 Otten Newsletter

posted Fri, 05 Mar 2010 7:58 PM

This campaign is about private sector jobs.
The more I travel throughout the state the one constant message I hear is that Maine needs private sector jobs.

This campaign is about jobs. Your job. Your husband’s job. Your...
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