AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage is citing letters of support from Maine’s hospitals and other interests for his plan to pay off the state’s $484 million Medicaid debt to the hospitals with revenue from a restructured liquor sales contract.

The governor is making public letters of support, in advance of Monday’s hearing on the issue, from hospitals across the state for his proposal. He’s also received letters of support from contractors, energy marketers and others.

LePage says the plan will create jobs for the upcoming construction season.

Legislative Democrats say they want to settle the hospital debt and that the state’s been doing that in stages.

Democrats are uncomfortable combining the liquor contract with the hospital debt, and have constitutional questions about bonds that would be used to pay the debt.


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