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| Republican Bruce Poliquin | | 5/27/2010 3:43:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Bruce Poliquin |
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JUNE 8 GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY
by Christine Parrish
Feature Writer
"The state is underwater," said Bruce Poliquin, a businessman and real estate developer from Georgetown who has financed his own campaign.
Poliquin had just been asked about his favorite television character, and he chose the series "Sea Hunt," which aired when he was a kid. Lloyd Bridges starred as an ex-Navy scuba-diver who took on villains, salvaged everything from a bicycle to a nuclear missile, and rescued a downed Air Force pilot, dogs and children.
"Yeah, Lloyd Bridges saved people underwater and this state sure needs that," said Poliquin.
Like many of the gubernatorial candidates on the stump, Poliquin wants to bring a business-friendly attitude to the Blaine House, do a major audit of state government to root out duplication and waste, come up with performance measures for state agencies to adhere to, hire professional business managers to head the state agencies, cut the budget back, then cut taxes.
But controlling spending is his number one priority.
"If you lower taxes first without getting at spending first, you are going to have problems," said Poliquin, when asked about his priorities. He said it is the basic foundation on which economic growth can be built: spend no more than what you bring in.
A Thatcherite conservative
"I admired Margaret Thatcher's courage," said Poliquin, referring to Ronald Reagan's British counterpart who also embraced trickle-down economics. "The next governor will face some similar challenges, because Maine has become a complicated and expensive place to do business."
Simplify regulations and permitting
Poliquin said simplifying business regulations is essential to attracting business to the state.
"You need someone from the private sector to do that, someone who knows how tough it is to do business in the state," said Poliquin.
"How will we do it? We'll figure out by putting the heads of agencies, business people, and legislators together to look at business regulations and see what can be done," he said.
"Here is an example: a construction company in Phippsburg wanted to build a road and they needed permits from the Department of Environmental Protection, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Inland Fish and Wildlife, and more at the local level. The agencies didn't communicate well. One blueprint was needed for the Army Corps, a different blueprint for the DEP . . ." said Poliquin, adding that someone who has been through that process will work hard to make it easier for business.
Welfare: Too generous
Poliquin said a lot of our taxes go to supporting social services in Maine that offer welfare benefits that are far too generous and often better than private health insurance, and that residency requirements and time limits should be set on receiving welfare.
Roads and Broadband
"It is a business development priority to fix the roads and bridges," said Poliquin. "Absolutely. They are in great disrepair. But it's a balancing act to fund it. But we need to do the government audit first. Roads come later."
And on other issues . . .
Energy: Favors importing cheap energy from Canada to lower energy costs and favors coastal oil drilling.
Tax reform: Will vote yes to repeal LD 1495, the tax reform bill that passed last year.
Republican Party platform: "I share the core values of the Republican Party, but this platform was divisive," said Poliquin, when asked about the Tea Party-inspired state platform adopted at the Republican convention earlier this month. "Abolish the Department of Education and the Federal Reserve? I don't agree with that."
Social issues: Does not think the governor or the Legislature should get involved in questions of gay marriage or abortion. Believes it should be left to a people's referendum.
Health care: Favors increased competition from out-of-state providers in an effort to lower premium prices. Views Dirigo Health as a well-intentioned failure.
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