AUGUSTA – Reps. Matt Peterson, D-Rumford, and Sheryl Briggs, D-Mexico, honored the memory of Joseph Eugene Boivin, a lifelong resident of Rumford, with a legislative sentiment adopted by the House Thursday. Mr. Boivin passed away in January, 2010.
Mr. Boivin was born and raised in Rumford, graduated from Stephens High School, married his sweetheart, Geraldine “Gerry” DuPaul, and had one son and daughter. He was a professional firefighter for over 30 years with the Rumford Fire Department, retiring in 1989 as Fire Chief.
“Mr. Bovin was always up to something good, something designed to serve his neighbors and the town that he loved,” said Peterson. “With his bare hands, his huge heart, and a vision for what our community could be, Eugene, both literally and figuratively, helped to build Rumford into the unique part of the world that we are today.”
During his career, he served six years in the Army National Guard, was elected to the MSAD 43 school board and served as Rumford town selectman. Due to Mr. Boivin’s dedication to his community, including recently volunteering countless hours to help families build their own homes with Community Concepts, he was named Rumford’s Citizen of the Year and received the Volunteer of the Year award by the River Valley Chamber of Commerce.
"When Gene set his mind to something, he did it and he did it with passion and love!” said Briggs. “He has touched so many lives and as I thought about what he as done over the years, he had a hand in just about everything and his presence will be remembered and felt for many years to come."
Boivin is survived by his wife, brother, sisters, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Full remarks from Rep. Peterson can be found below.
House Sentiment for Joseph Eugene Boivin -- Remarks by Representative Matt Peterson
One of the real treats of Legislative service is having the opportunity to hear at every one of our sessions sentiments expressed for outstanding achievements and lives well lived. Nothing is more inspiring than when the House presents a sentiment acknowledging someone from our own community and our own history. It's a privilege today to add a word or two to this tribute to Mr. Boivin.
When you grow up in a small town you become aware of what’s happening all around you -- both good and bad -- even if you cannot understand the details. Activities and people reoccur constantly, and you catch sight of them almost wherever you go, always noticing them out of the corner of your eye. School events, community events, town events -- some folks are always there and always making things happen. As a young person, you become aware when people are up to something -- and Mr. Boivin was always up to something. What he was always up to was something good, something designed to serve his neighbors and the town that he loved. Fire Chief, Selectman, School Board Member, Tireless Volunteer. With his bare hands, his huge heart, and a vision for what our community could be--Eugene, both literally and figuratively, helped to build Rumford into the unique part of the world that we are today.
Maine towns are blessed to have these citizens like this and Rumford was particularly fortunate to have Mr. Boivin who was on just about every corner where there was something that needed to be done, or someone who needed to be helped, or a problem that needed a common sense solution. A life of service, like that of Mr. Boivin, inspires the next generation to pick up the work and continue the service. My world had been and was continuing to be forged by the care and service of Mr. Boivin’s life, and I understand a little better now what his positive energy meant for my town as I was growing up. It is the spirit that is the best of Rumford -- and I want to add my deepest appreciation to his wife Gerry and brother Arthur, who are here with us today, for the great example he was to his friends and neighbors -- and all the people of the River Valley who had a chance to see him in action. He is fondly remembered and will be missed. He touched many lives in many ways -- and I am proud to acknowledge the many ways in which he touched my life, too.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Rep. Matt Peterson remembers Jacqueline Dumas
AUGUSTA – Rep. Matt Peterson, D-Rumford, honored the memory of Jacqueline Marie Maranda Dumas, a longtime resident of Rumford, with a legislative sentiment adopted by the House Tuesday.
“Mrs. Dumas was a real leader in the Rumford area and a part of a family that stretches for generations,” said Peterson. “Mrs. Dumas represented the best in service to her community, as evidenced by her extensive military service, and later her work as postmistress. What is more, she passed on that commitment to service to her family.”
Dumas was born in Rumford, graduated from Stephens High School and went on to proudly serve her country in World War II as a United States Navy WAVE. She also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve during the Korean conflict.
After World War II she married Paul R. Dumas, Sr., and had two sons. Dumas worked at Oxford Paper Company, was a translator and transcriptionist for the Department of the Navy in Washington D.C., taught English to French-speaking students in Quebec, and was a United States Postmistress in Coburn Gore.
“I am pleased to join in this sentiment today, and wish the best for the Dumas family in this time of remembrance,” said Peterson. Dumas is survived by three grandchildren, her son and daughter-in-law.
“Mrs. Dumas was a real leader in the Rumford area and a part of a family that stretches for generations,” said Peterson. “Mrs. Dumas represented the best in service to her community, as evidenced by her extensive military service, and later her work as postmistress. What is more, she passed on that commitment to service to her family.”
Dumas was born in Rumford, graduated from Stephens High School and went on to proudly serve her country in World War II as a United States Navy WAVE. She also served as a member of the United States Army Reserve during the Korean conflict.
After World War II she married Paul R. Dumas, Sr., and had two sons. Dumas worked at Oxford Paper Company, was a translator and transcriptionist for the Department of the Navy in Washington D.C., taught English to French-speaking students in Quebec, and was a United States Postmistress in Coburn Gore.
“I am pleased to join in this sentiment today, and wish the best for the Dumas family in this time of remembrance,” said Peterson. Dumas is survived by three grandchildren, her son and daughter-in-law.
Rep. Matt Peterson urges use of free tax preparation services
AUGUSTA – State Rep. Matt Peterson, D-Rumford, is encouraging residents to use free tax preparation services provided by the Western Maine CA$H Coalition and AARP Tax-Aide programs.
CA$H Maine, a collaboration of eight statewide coalitions, is comprised of 50 nonprofit and for-profit partners, and AARP Tax-Aide, a program of the AARP Foundation, is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service.
“Many Mainers qualify for refunds that they are not aware of,” said Peterson. “I urge people to take advantage of this wonderful service.”
Last year, CA$H Maine and AARP Tax-Aide helped Maine residents get back more than $13.9 million in federal and state refunds, including $3.62 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
Free tax preparation is provided by CA$H Maine and AARP Tax-Aide tax sites throughout the state. It is available to taxpayers with low- and moderate-incomes and gives special attention to people age 60 and older. Consultations with IRS-certified professionals are available by appointment.
To find a site in the local area and make an appointment with the Western Maine CA$H Coalition, call 778-7954. You can also find information at http://www.211maine.org/#CASH2009.
CA$H Maine, a collaboration of eight statewide coalitions, is comprised of 50 nonprofit and for-profit partners, and AARP Tax-Aide, a program of the AARP Foundation, is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service.
“Many Mainers qualify for refunds that they are not aware of,” said Peterson. “I urge people to take advantage of this wonderful service.”
Last year, CA$H Maine and AARP Tax-Aide helped Maine residents get back more than $13.9 million in federal and state refunds, including $3.62 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
Free tax preparation is provided by CA$H Maine and AARP Tax-Aide tax sites throughout the state. It is available to taxpayers with low- and moderate-incomes and gives special attention to people age 60 and older. Consultations with IRS-certified professionals are available by appointment.
To find a site in the local area and make an appointment with the Western Maine CA$H Coalition, call 778-7954. You can also find information at http://www.211maine.org/#CASH2009.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Running For Re-election
In January, I filed my Declaration of Intent with the Maine Ethics Commission, the first step in my run for re-election for District 92 of the Maine House or Representatives, under the Maine Clean Election Act. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you and with your support, I hope to return to Augusta for the 125th Session of the Legislature and continue to serve you in this capacity.
State and local economies are severely challenged as the entire nation climbs back from the brink of a second Great Depression. Early signs of recovery are encouraging -- but economists are warning that jobs are always the last things to recover when we have a major economic upheaval like what we have experienced over the last eighteen months. The state’s budget has suffered and until our economy and particularly jobs start to recover, we will continue to face many difficult choices in Augusta. Next year promises to be as difficult in terms of the budget as this year, and I have certainly learned a great deal about the issues over the last two years of service.
Against this challenging backdrop, I have been honored to serve the people of District 92 and have done so to the very best of my ability. During the year of campaigning before the last election and in the sixteen months since I was elected, I have spent thousands of hours in meetings, sessions and one-on-one conversations -- listening to my neighbors in District 92 and trying my best to represent your interests and your values in Augusta. As soon as the session in Augusta is over, I will be back going door to door to meet and talk with as many citizens in the River Valley as possible in order to better represent you in the next session.
I am pleased with some of my accomplishments in the last session -- including being the prime sponsor of a bill that will that will lead to comprehensive changes in our long term care system to serve seniors and people with a disability -- giving them more options to remain in their own homes. I also sponsored and was able to get enacted the bill that makes mixed martial arts legal and regulated in our state. That second bill will bring new business and new jobs to our state. In this next session, I want to focus on things that will help us turn around the sluggish economy in the River Valley and bring down our unemployment rate. That is the only way we can really turn the corner on our state’s budget. I have been spending many hours meeting with business and community leaders to find economic development solutions that are right for our towns. With the support of my friends and neighbors in the River Valley, I will continue this important work.
Once again, I will be running as a “clean” candidate meaning I will abide by strict campaign financing limits and leverage the resources of the state’s Clean Election Fund against the dollars that I raise locally. I need at least sixty of my River Valley neighbors who live in District 92 to contribute $5 to my campaign in order to qualify for state matching funds for the campaign. Beyond the early seed money that I have already collected, I cannot accept more than $5 from anyone. In addition, they must be registered to vote in District 92, and the funds must be drawn on a personal bank account since I cannot accept funds from any business.
Once I have gathered the sixty contributions, they must be certified by the Secretary of State. It is a somewhat complicated process for the candidate and for my Treasurer, Wayne Gallant, who has agreed to serve in that capacity again this year, but it is fairly straight forward for you. You can easily make a $5 contribution online by visiting the following link:
Click here to contribute
I must have at least sixty qualified contributions from registered voters in the District by April 21st.
It is a very humbling experience to serve in Augusta. Having lived in Rumford all my life, I am deeply tied to the fabric of this community -- with those roots extending back for generations. Our community and our whole state is constantly changing, and I want to make sure that these changes are for the better. I look forward to continuing to earn the support of all the citizens of the River Valley as the Representative from District 92.
State and local economies are severely challenged as the entire nation climbs back from the brink of a second Great Depression. Early signs of recovery are encouraging -- but economists are warning that jobs are always the last things to recover when we have a major economic upheaval like what we have experienced over the last eighteen months. The state’s budget has suffered and until our economy and particularly jobs start to recover, we will continue to face many difficult choices in Augusta. Next year promises to be as difficult in terms of the budget as this year, and I have certainly learned a great deal about the issues over the last two years of service.
Against this challenging backdrop, I have been honored to serve the people of District 92 and have done so to the very best of my ability. During the year of campaigning before the last election and in the sixteen months since I was elected, I have spent thousands of hours in meetings, sessions and one-on-one conversations -- listening to my neighbors in District 92 and trying my best to represent your interests and your values in Augusta. As soon as the session in Augusta is over, I will be back going door to door to meet and talk with as many citizens in the River Valley as possible in order to better represent you in the next session.
I am pleased with some of my accomplishments in the last session -- including being the prime sponsor of a bill that will that will lead to comprehensive changes in our long term care system to serve seniors and people with a disability -- giving them more options to remain in their own homes. I also sponsored and was able to get enacted the bill that makes mixed martial arts legal and regulated in our state. That second bill will bring new business and new jobs to our state. In this next session, I want to focus on things that will help us turn around the sluggish economy in the River Valley and bring down our unemployment rate. That is the only way we can really turn the corner on our state’s budget. I have been spending many hours meeting with business and community leaders to find economic development solutions that are right for our towns. With the support of my friends and neighbors in the River Valley, I will continue this important work.
Once again, I will be running as a “clean” candidate meaning I will abide by strict campaign financing limits and leverage the resources of the state’s Clean Election Fund against the dollars that I raise locally. I need at least sixty of my River Valley neighbors who live in District 92 to contribute $5 to my campaign in order to qualify for state matching funds for the campaign. Beyond the early seed money that I have already collected, I cannot accept more than $5 from anyone. In addition, they must be registered to vote in District 92, and the funds must be drawn on a personal bank account since I cannot accept funds from any business.
Once I have gathered the sixty contributions, they must be certified by the Secretary of State. It is a somewhat complicated process for the candidate and for my Treasurer, Wayne Gallant, who has agreed to serve in that capacity again this year, but it is fairly straight forward for you. You can easily make a $5 contribution online by visiting the following link:
Click here to contribute
I must have at least sixty qualified contributions from registered voters in the District by April 21st.
It is a very humbling experience to serve in Augusta. Having lived in Rumford all my life, I am deeply tied to the fabric of this community -- with those roots extending back for generations. Our community and our whole state is constantly changing, and I want to make sure that these changes are for the better. I look forward to continuing to earn the support of all the citizens of the River Valley as the Representative from District 92.
Monday, March 1, 2010
HCBS Presentation to AFA
One of the struggles in this legislative session is to find the balance between making the cuts necessary to balance the budget without undermining the safety and health of Maine's citizens and particularly our most vulnerable citizens. The Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee, which I sit on, has been grappling with these issues almost daily since Governor Baldacci unveiled his budget proposal on December 18th. I have been working consistently on approaches in the area of long term care -- and particularly home care for Maine seniors and people with a disability -- to find targeted cuts that will book savings without adversely impacting our neighbors.
Last Thursday I made a presentation to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee on an alternative approach to booking savings that will produce precisely those targeted cuts. Below is a copy of my remarks to the Committee:
I am pleased to transmit a letter to my colleagues on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, signed by a majority of my colleagues on the Health and Human Services Committee, which outlines some possible approaches to targeted budget cuts in the home and community based services system. I apologize if I left an impression of some mystery about this initiative the last time that we met, but at that point there will still significant discussions taking place with my fellow Committee members as well as the esteemed Chairs, and I wanted to continue that dialogue rather than end it arbitrarily.
Let me begin by reaffirming what has been the consistent position of this Committee and one with which I concur completely -- long term care services are vital and should receive the highest priority of consideration if additional resources are available for the coming fiscal year. The early signals from the Administration are that institutional settings are a priority in terms of budget restoration. If that is the decision of this Committee -- you must also restore the funds for home and community based services as an integral part of the long term care system. Failure to do so would make the system fall even father out of balance and deny people the services they really want -- because by an overwhelming majority, Maine people want to stay independent and in their own homes. We have an unacceptably large number of people, already on waiting lists for home based services, we cannot afford to cut these services unless those cuts are proportionate with reductions to institutional services (both nursing facilities and residential care). If cuts must be made, however, they should be targeted to have the least impact on the direct services that keep people independent and in their own homes.
My goal has been simple. Find the budget savings, but do so through targeted cuts rather than across the board reductions that we are sure will produce unintended consequences. We should make these targeted cuts in order to preserve the present level of service hours for consumers, as well as create a wage floor to insure that the system is not balanced on the back of already underpaid direct support workers. If we create systems savings through such a redesign and consolidation -- those resources should be reinvested in the system in order to move the 1200 people on waiting lists into services. After all, waiting lists are a euphemism for denial of service.
To achieve these targeted cuts, I am proposing two things. First, that we reduce the external administrative contract costs of the present home based care system from over 10% (the number seems to be somewhere between 11% and 13% depending upon what you count) to something on the order of 7%. This can be accomplished by consolidating a variety of eligibility determination elements, case management, skills training and service brokerage now carried out by multiple separate agencies into a more consolidated and transparent navigation system. More than 40 other states have such consolidated intake systems -- in various different configurations. Only Maine and New Mexico have intake systems with as many discrete contractors. I am not suggesting that I have all the answers about how to implement such a consolidation, although I do have a number of ideas based on my examination of best practices nationally. Rather, I propose that if we must make cuts, we reduce the external contract budget, suggest elimination of the existing contracts and charge the Department with the task of redesigning a consolidated intake system and bid out the contracts as necessary to manage that system.
The second element is to follow the consensus recommendation of the stakeholder group that met as part of the legislatively directed and Department managed LEAN process. That group recommended that the existing 7 home care programs (4 state funded and 3 MaineCare funded) be consolidated into just 3 new programs -- 1 state funded, 1 MaineCare state plan program, and 1 MaineCare waiver. Consolidating these programs will also necessitate transforming the provider delivery network, since current providers are largely configured to deliver a particular type of program or serve a particular population. This consolidation of programs and the provider network can also create opportunities for administrative economies, especially if the budget reflects a standard provider rate of $14 per service unit with a $9 wage floor for the direct care workers.
One esteemed colleague on the HHS Committee said to me “I want systems change, just not this much systems change.” I understand that the timeframes are tight, and the Department has resisted this approach. However, there are many good models, all of which have been approved by CMS, which could be easily adapted to our situation. Asking the Department to undertake this administrative task on a short time frame is surely demanding, but no more demanding than the burden that will be placed on providers who will be forced to do more with less, or consumers who will need to maintain their health and independence with significantly reduced support resources. No matter what, Maine people will have to dig deep. I think it is reasonable to ask the Department to go the extra mile here in order to preserve the health and independence of Maine seniors and people with a disability, as well as the economic viability of thousands of struggling families who depend upon direct care worker paychecks.
These or even more radical changes are inevitable given the budget projections we are already hearing about for the next biennium. Not only is it good policy to get underway sooner rather than later, but I think these proposals may actually improve the performance of the system from the perspective of those who receive these services. Given the inevitable change in administration after the November elections, I think that the Legislature should become more directly involved in overseeing this redesign process, through a subcommittee or other mechanism that we should discuss and explore together. Whether we use this system redesign process to book budget savings in the upcoming fiscal year, or to move people who are being denied services off of waiting lists, the Legislature must increase its involvement and oversight of this systems redesign process as we face a transition of Administrations. We must prepare for the future which will include more budget pressures.
My position on this matter grows from direct experience as a consumer in this system, as well as my work for the last several years looking at best practices in home and community based services. This initiative will take an enormous effort and a will on the part of many to embrace change. Frankly, it’s intimidating. Every existing provider or element of the system will face redefinition of roles under this proposal. Yet, I believe that this approach is in the best interest of our seniors and people with a disability who receive these services, as well as the dedicated direct care workers who provide the essential hands on support that keeps those citizens as healthy and independent as possible. It is also another way that we demonstrate our commitment to Maine taxpayers to insure the most efficient use of their hard-earned money, even as we serve some of our most vulnerable citizens.
The attached spreadsheet is for illustrative purposes only -- to give you a feel for how this initiative would work. The budget numbers provided by the Department during our deliberations frequently diverged as different elements were included or excluded, so I determined the best way forward was to lay out the concept and approach and work with your more experienced staff in getting the numbers exact. I look forward to working with you and your Committee staff to perfect this approach, should it be needed. Thanks for your patience as we developed this approach.
Last Thursday I made a presentation to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee on an alternative approach to booking savings that will produce precisely those targeted cuts. Below is a copy of my remarks to the Committee:
I am pleased to transmit a letter to my colleagues on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, signed by a majority of my colleagues on the Health and Human Services Committee, which outlines some possible approaches to targeted budget cuts in the home and community based services system. I apologize if I left an impression of some mystery about this initiative the last time that we met, but at that point there will still significant discussions taking place with my fellow Committee members as well as the esteemed Chairs, and I wanted to continue that dialogue rather than end it arbitrarily.
Let me begin by reaffirming what has been the consistent position of this Committee and one with which I concur completely -- long term care services are vital and should receive the highest priority of consideration if additional resources are available for the coming fiscal year. The early signals from the Administration are that institutional settings are a priority in terms of budget restoration. If that is the decision of this Committee -- you must also restore the funds for home and community based services as an integral part of the long term care system. Failure to do so would make the system fall even father out of balance and deny people the services they really want -- because by an overwhelming majority, Maine people want to stay independent and in their own homes. We have an unacceptably large number of people, already on waiting lists for home based services, we cannot afford to cut these services unless those cuts are proportionate with reductions to institutional services (both nursing facilities and residential care). If cuts must be made, however, they should be targeted to have the least impact on the direct services that keep people independent and in their own homes.
My goal has been simple. Find the budget savings, but do so through targeted cuts rather than across the board reductions that we are sure will produce unintended consequences. We should make these targeted cuts in order to preserve the present level of service hours for consumers, as well as create a wage floor to insure that the system is not balanced on the back of already underpaid direct support workers. If we create systems savings through such a redesign and consolidation -- those resources should be reinvested in the system in order to move the 1200 people on waiting lists into services. After all, waiting lists are a euphemism for denial of service.
To achieve these targeted cuts, I am proposing two things. First, that we reduce the external administrative contract costs of the present home based care system from over 10% (the number seems to be somewhere between 11% and 13% depending upon what you count) to something on the order of 7%. This can be accomplished by consolidating a variety of eligibility determination elements, case management, skills training and service brokerage now carried out by multiple separate agencies into a more consolidated and transparent navigation system. More than 40 other states have such consolidated intake systems -- in various different configurations. Only Maine and New Mexico have intake systems with as many discrete contractors. I am not suggesting that I have all the answers about how to implement such a consolidation, although I do have a number of ideas based on my examination of best practices nationally. Rather, I propose that if we must make cuts, we reduce the external contract budget, suggest elimination of the existing contracts and charge the Department with the task of redesigning a consolidated intake system and bid out the contracts as necessary to manage that system.
The second element is to follow the consensus recommendation of the stakeholder group that met as part of the legislatively directed and Department managed LEAN process. That group recommended that the existing 7 home care programs (4 state funded and 3 MaineCare funded) be consolidated into just 3 new programs -- 1 state funded, 1 MaineCare state plan program, and 1 MaineCare waiver. Consolidating these programs will also necessitate transforming the provider delivery network, since current providers are largely configured to deliver a particular type of program or serve a particular population. This consolidation of programs and the provider network can also create opportunities for administrative economies, especially if the budget reflects a standard provider rate of $14 per service unit with a $9 wage floor for the direct care workers.
One esteemed colleague on the HHS Committee said to me “I want systems change, just not this much systems change.” I understand that the timeframes are tight, and the Department has resisted this approach. However, there are many good models, all of which have been approved by CMS, which could be easily adapted to our situation. Asking the Department to undertake this administrative task on a short time frame is surely demanding, but no more demanding than the burden that will be placed on providers who will be forced to do more with less, or consumers who will need to maintain their health and independence with significantly reduced support resources. No matter what, Maine people will have to dig deep. I think it is reasonable to ask the Department to go the extra mile here in order to preserve the health and independence of Maine seniors and people with a disability, as well as the economic viability of thousands of struggling families who depend upon direct care worker paychecks.
These or even more radical changes are inevitable given the budget projections we are already hearing about for the next biennium. Not only is it good policy to get underway sooner rather than later, but I think these proposals may actually improve the performance of the system from the perspective of those who receive these services. Given the inevitable change in administration after the November elections, I think that the Legislature should become more directly involved in overseeing this redesign process, through a subcommittee or other mechanism that we should discuss and explore together. Whether we use this system redesign process to book budget savings in the upcoming fiscal year, or to move people who are being denied services off of waiting lists, the Legislature must increase its involvement and oversight of this systems redesign process as we face a transition of Administrations. We must prepare for the future which will include more budget pressures.
My position on this matter grows from direct experience as a consumer in this system, as well as my work for the last several years looking at best practices in home and community based services. This initiative will take an enormous effort and a will on the part of many to embrace change. Frankly, it’s intimidating. Every existing provider or element of the system will face redefinition of roles under this proposal. Yet, I believe that this approach is in the best interest of our seniors and people with a disability who receive these services, as well as the dedicated direct care workers who provide the essential hands on support that keeps those citizens as healthy and independent as possible. It is also another way that we demonstrate our commitment to Maine taxpayers to insure the most efficient use of their hard-earned money, even as we serve some of our most vulnerable citizens.
The attached spreadsheet is for illustrative purposes only -- to give you a feel for how this initiative would work. The budget numbers provided by the Department during our deliberations frequently diverged as different elements were included or excluded, so I determined the best way forward was to lay out the concept and approach and work with your more experienced staff in getting the numbers exact. I look forward to working with you and your Committee staff to perfect this approach, should it be needed. Thanks for your patience as we developed this approach.
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