TRANSCRIPT: Poliquin’s Convention Speech
Bruce Poliquin’s speech at the 2010 Maine State Republican Convention, as prepared for delivery
POLIQUIN: On January 5, 1995, Governor John McKernan left the Blaine house. It’s been 15 years since a Republican has held the Governorship of our great state.
But, this year, we Republicans have the best opportunity in a generation to take back Augusta. The wind is at our backs.
It’s time to restore the sound Republican principles of free enterprise, personal responsibility, accountability, limited government, and fiscal discipline. The people of Maine want it, and they deserve it.
I’m fortunate to be able to close our Convention. It’s given me the opportunity to hear the other candidates. They’re all good men. We all love Maine.
But, this race is not about who loves Maine the most. It’s about who has the management skills, and successful experience in finance to address Maine’s serious economic, fiscal, and job-related problems.
Our politicians in Augusta have so mismanaged our state government that we have one of the worst business climates in the country.
That’s why our young workers and their families flee the place they love because they can’t find good jobs.
That’s why an increasing number of our retirees change their state residencies to avoid the stifling taxes.
Left behind is a population growing older, poorer, and more dependent on state services.
A classic example of the gross fiscal mismanagement in Augusta is our annual budget crisis.
Each year our politicians use budget gimmicks and borrowing to balance the books.
They take one-time stimulus money from Washington. Then pump the funds into our already bloated programs instead of making the tough decisions to reform them.
Our politicians raid the highway fund, and the 9-1-1 fund for additional sources of revenue.
And, now, they’re instituting furlough days, and encouraging us to gamble more to balance the budget.
This might be comical if it wasn’t our money.
So far in this race, we’ve heard campaign ads promising to lower taxes and create jobs. I think my opponents are blinded by political rhetoric, and can’t see the real problem.
Before one job is created, before one tax dollar is cut, our state government must come under new and competent management.
Simply spending more money to recruit businesses hasn’t worked, doesn’t work, and won’t work. Our state government already spends $200 million per year doing that, and we’ve netted roughly 50 jobs during the last 10 years.
Artificially cutting taxes, or shifting the tax burden, are only political games — empty promises. They’ll do nothing to solve the root causes of why Maine can no longer compete with other states for good jobs.
As Governor, I’ll introduce competent management to state government to tackle our serious problems. I’ll work tirelessly to permanently reduce the cost and complexity of living and doing business in Maine.
This will then attract business investment and good private sector jobs, and keep our kids here.
The sequence in how this process is managed is very important.
First, I’ll bring a new positive attitude to the Blaine house regarding business development and jobs. Businesses are not the enemy. They employ our people and provide opportunities for better lives.
Then, as Governor, I’ll lead the effort to look in the mirror and ask ourselves the fundamental question: “what services should our state government provide, and what can we afford?”
Maine will then become one of those states that spends only what it takes in.
Once we have our fiscal house in order, I’ll work to lower taxes in a meaningful way. This will help our struggling families and create incentives for businesses to invest here and create jobs.
Finally, as Governor, I’ll then do something that doesn’t cost anything — simplify our business regulations. Making it easier to do business here will also create incentives for companies to come to Maine and create jobs.
My plan is one of proper management of state government.
Any candidate who tells you that they can create jobs by simply cutting your taxes, but without bringing competent management to state government, is not telling the whole story, or doesn’t understand the problem
This is going to be hard. But, Maine is a small state. We’re all just two phone calls away. We can fix our problems and bring long-term prosperity to our people. Maine can become a great place to work, as well as a great place to live.
I’m the only candidate who’s been on this stage who has the management skills and successful financial experience to solve our serious problems.
I’ve been in the private sector my entire professional life — starting, investing in, managing companies, and creating jobs. My businesses have created good work for hundreds of Mainers, and injected $millions into our state economy.
I know what it’s like to balance a budget and sign the front side of a paycheck, because I’ve done it.
I understand how our economy works, because I’ve lived in it.
I have extensive experience in finance, and I’ve been successful with my financial dealings.
I know how tough it is to start and run a business in Maine.
One company I helped build was an asset management firm. It safely managed $5 billion in worker pension funds for companies like bath iron works and international paper. Every day, our management team was entrusted with more money that our state government spends in a year. No other candidate in this race, on either side, has that unique experience in dealing with the fiscal mess in Augusta.
Another company I run is a housing construction business in Midcoast. I negotiated for 2.5 years with 4 state agencies and 3 at the local level before I could proceed. 2.5 years before I could hire one worker. As Governor, I will bring that experience of navigating the web of business regulations to Blaine house, and be ready to fix them.
I understand Maine’s real-world economic, fiscal, and job-related problems. I have successfully dealt with them my entire professional life.
I am here to ask for your support, and for your vote.
A vote for Bruce Poliquin is a vote for competent management in Augusta.
A vote for Bruce Poliquin is a vote for successful financial experience in Augusta.
A vote for Bruce Poliquin is a vote against political business-as-usual in both Augusta and Washington.
And, a vote for Bruce Poliquin gets us one step close to winning in November.
Thank you, and god bless Maine.