Thomas Carter of Montville, ME "Those people have not been hired, and it's making us look like idiots in Augusta," Mills said.

Don't worry, buddy. You guys have looked like idiots for the last 30 years.report abuse

donn of Skowhegan, ME Hey Mills,hold off on that next run for govenor, your last run didnt end that well nor will the next one. Your a liberal Republican calling for more state workers.......report abuse

Anti Liberal of Taxland, ME More evidence that democrats can not effectively run the state of Maine.

How many times are you going to keep these people in office?report abuse

Wright On of Waterville, ME "Sen. Elizabeth Schneider, D-Orono, said she wondered whether the state will be able to get future federal funding if it does not fill those positions."

This statement is the real problem. When setting the budget for next 'year' an organization always looks to see what was spent last year. If last year's budget is not all used up you can't get the same amount in the proposed new budget... So what ends up happening is that the money is spent... On anything and everything until it is used up so that they can justify asking for more.
Personally, I would rather see wasteful spending stop and departments rewarded for 'coming in under budget'.

As far as the crisis of not having enough trained workers at DOL, I am sure that there are not enough workers to handle the load, just like I am sure that there are not enough workers handing out 'Food Stamps, MaineCare and TANF'. As a result the workers in these positions now are looking for other openings within their departments and will move on as quickly as possible, otherwise they will all have workers compensation cases from the stress on the job.

'Augusta' has to figure out how to bring more jobs to the state of Maine- only through good paying jobs will our citizens be able to get back on their feet.report abuse