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Rep. McKane ‘Stunned’ that Democrats Vote Down ElderCare Support to Protect State Employee Travel

AUGUSTA – State Rep. Jon McKane said he was stunned today when the Maine House voted along party lines to reject his proposal to take 10 percent of the funds for state employee travel and use the money to help 60 elders living in seven small group homes in Lincoln County.

“Frankly, I am stunned that the majority party would put travel for state employees over the well-being of our elderly,” said Rep. McKane (R-Newcastle). “The residents of these homes are over 90, and money is so tight that staff is being laid off and the heat has been turned down. The people of Maine would be shocked to know that the legislative Democrats think that their travel perks are more important than the health and safety of impoverished senior citizens in our ElderCare Network.”

State Rep. Josh Tardy, leader of the House Republicans, said he was appalled by the outcome. “The majority party constantly preaches compassion and concern for our most vulnerable citizens,” he said. “But when asked to give up a tiny portion of their travel budget to help out Maine seniors in a time of crisis, they turned a cold shoulder.”

Rep. McKane’s bill, LD 416 – “An Act to Provide Funding to the ElderCare Network” – was shot down today by an 89-55 vote. It would have taken about $300,000 from the state employee travel budget, or 10 percent.

Maine spends about $3 million a year on travel for state employees, Rep. McKane said. “We send them to Las Vegas, we send them to Honolulu and we send them to countries all over Europe, South America and the Far East,” he said. “These trips may be important, but they do not rise to the level of need that ElderCare does.”

Founded 12 years ago. ElderCare provides residential living primarily for low-income elders in Lincoln County – Maine’s oldest county. Rep. McKane said there are no other homes in Lincoln County that take elders on state assistance. The network consists of seven small homes and the 60 residents are mostly 90 years old and older.

“The residents could be any one of us,” he said. “They are good citizens who contributed to our communities and gave to others when called upon. ElderCare provides this critical residential service for 60 percent of the cost of private competitors, but if ElderCare doesn’t find financial help in the immediate future, its residents will be looking for new homes within a year and future residents will have to look elsewhere. They are just barely staying afloat, and this money could have done a great deal of good.”

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