Today, Paul LePage will campaign with New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu in Westbrook, where he will likely try to tout New Hampshire’s economy and its economic recovery, all while disparaging Governor Mills. There’s only one problem—on measure after measure, Maine has dealt with and recovered from the pandemic on par with or better than New Hampshire.
Here’s a look at the facts:
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Contrary to LePage’s claims, Maine’s economy recovered to its pre-pandemic levels better than New Hampshire’s according to CNN Business’s “Back to Normal” Index. Under Governor Mills, Maine has recovered a higher percentage of pre-pandemic jobs than New Hampshire.
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Mills’ and Sununu’s public health responses to the pandemic had a lot in common. According to Maine Public, the two governors “implemented many of the same restrictions on business operations” and worked together, along with Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, to figure out how best to reopen businesses.
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Like New Hampshire, Maine’s unemployment rate is below the national and New England averages.
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Governor Mills has also built Maine’s rainy day fund to a record high, and delivered unprecedented inflation relief for Maine people.
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Under Mills, Maine’s GDP has grown at the 11th fastest rate in the country. While the state’s GDP growth was consistently ranked near bottom of all states under LePage
“Governor Mills has overseen one of the strongest responses to COVID-19 in the nation, saving Maine lives and livelihoods as a result,” said Drew Gattine, Chair of the Maine Democratic Party. "LePage's own economic record is doing him no favors, so it's no surprise that he's looking to other states for answers -- even though New Hampshire has fared worse than Maine by a number of measures."