PORTLAND (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage says lawmakers’ failure to approve his bill to increase funding for the state’s nursing homes could force more facilities to shut their doors.
After visiting a nursing home in Portland on Wednesday, LePage criticized lawmakers for nixing his $5 million bill earlier this month.
The Republican governor said nursing homes won’t receive a funding boost until 2015, but lawmakers approved a $4 million measure that will boost reimbursements rates starting in July. The supplemental budget will also increase funding by $5 million in the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2016 and $5 million the following year.
Democrats say that LePage is politicizing the issue and trying to get cover for vetoing the budget that will help the nursing homes.
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