Author: Steve Robinson

Not Ready: Potential Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s book, Hard Choices, appears to be a bomb. Although the former First Lady and U.S. Senator was paid $14 million by mega-publisher Simon & Schuster, sources tell the Weekly Standard that the book “will be lucky to sell 150,000 total lifetime.” In related news, young liberals waiting in line to buy a copy of Clinton’s book struggled mightily to identify her major accomplishments. Also this week: the Washington Free Beacon uncovered audio recordings of Clinton from the early 1980s in which the former prosecutor speaks glibly about how she used a legal technicality to…

In 2010, Independent Eliot Cutler turned Maine’s political establishment on its head. After a late surge, he came within 2 percentage points of beating Republican Paul LePage. This year, he’s running again. Cutler sat down with Maine Wire Editor Steve Robinson to discuss health care, taxes, regulation and more.

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills makes no attempt to conceal her contempt for Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage or her wish to see him defeated this November. Emails obtained by The Maine Wire show just how far the state’s top attorney is willing to go to advance her anti-LePage agenda — even if it means overruling her own assistant attorney general or withholding information about welfare fraud from the media. A STRIDENT PARTISAN Elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2002, Mills, 66, served until a Democratic Majority in the Legislature tapped her to become Maine’s first female AG in 2008. She briefly left…

U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, a Democrat running for governor, said on a campaign tour of southern Maine that his connections with Saudi Arabian princes and Japanese businessmen set him apart from one of his opponents, independent Eliot Cutler. While stumping for Democratic state legislative candidates in Kittery Point, York and Wells on Sunday, Michaud was asked what distinguishes him from Cutler. According to a reporter present for the tour, Michaud said he has met with Saudi Arabian princes about “projects” and has discussed tidal power with Japanese businessmen. From SeacoastOnline.com: At both forums, Michaud was asked the difference between himself and…

By Jonathan McKane  — Maine Democrats and the Maine press are fed up. They are demanding action. And for the first time in decades, they are speaking out against wasteful government spending. Specifically, it is the $500,000 paid to the Alexander Group that has really set them off. Here is a just little of what they are saying: Ben Grant, Chairman of the Maine Democratic Party: “Taxpayers should demand a refund for this waste of money.” Mark Eves (D-North Berwick), Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives:  “It is a sad day when taxpayer dollars are spent so egregiously.” Amy…

Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage has shot his first ever endorsement ad for another Republican seeking election to federal office, Isaac Misiuk, who is running for Maine’s First Congressional District seat against incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree. In the ad, LePage touts his own record reforming state government before strongly endorsing Misiuk, 25, of Gorham. As Mainers, we can continue to move Maine forward, but we must see change in Washington, D.C.,” LePage says in the ad. “That is why I stand behind Isaac Misiuk for Maine’s First Congressional District.” “I know Isaac will work to shrink the size…

AUGUSTA – U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, the Ranking Democrat on Congress’ Veterans Affairs Committee, on Thursday refused to accept any responsibility for the corruption scandal that has resulted in the deaths of at least 23 U.S. military veterans. Asked whether he takes any responsibility for the fraudulent scheme that now involves at least two-thirds of the nation’s VA medical facilities, Michaud, the Democratic candidate for governor, side-stepped the question and instead blamed his opponents, Republican Gov. Paul LePage and independent Eliot Cutler. TMW: “Congressman, Do you take any responsibility for the scandal unfolding at the Veterans Affairs administration?” Michaud: “That is,…

Maine Democrats have little love for Charles and David Koch, two billionaire libertarian brothers, or the money they spend advocating for their beliefs. But Shenna Bellows, the Democratic challenger to Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, once benefited from the Kochs’ generosity while she worked with the American Civil Liberties Union to reform the U.S. PATRIOT Act. In 2008, reports surfaced that the Kochs had given a combined $20 million to the ACLU to defeat the most controversial parts of the PATRIOT Act. According to one analysis, the Kochs may have given more to repeal the Act than any single individual, and…

Gray, MAINE – A confident Gov. Paul LePage stood in sand pit in Gray on Tuesday alongside First Lady Ann LePage to accept an endorsement from the Associated Building Contractors of Maine. “Back in 2010, the state was struggling. The economy was kind of down in the dumps. Jobs were hard to come by and we were having trouble paying our bills,” said James McBrady, general manager of James A. McBrady, Inc., a steel manufacturing company in Scarborough. “We needed a new direction.” “In 2010 the state elected Paul LePage as governor and things turned around,” said McBrady, who serves…

Two young guns in the Maine Republican Party are leading candidates for the state legislature in fundraising, according to the most recent financial disclosures. Incumbent Sen. Garrett P. Mason (R-Androscoggin) and first-time candidate for state senate Eric L. Brakey of Auburn are the top fundraisers statewide, having raised $21,300 and $32,800, respectively, according to campaign finance data. “Our strong fundraising is a direct result of the incredible grassroots support for our campaign,” said Brakey. “Maine people know the career politicians made this mess, and they are ready for bold, new leadership to clean it up,” he said. Brakey, 25, is running…

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Monday, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blasted Senate Democrats for supporting a constitutional amendment that, he says, undermines American’s First Amendment right to freedom of speech. “For two centuries there has been bipartisan agreement that American democracy depends on free speech,” wrote Cruz. “Alas, more and more, the modern Democratic Party has abandoned that commitment and has instead been trying to regulate the speech of the citizenry.” “We have seen President Obama publicly rebuke the Supreme Court for protecting free speech in Citizens United v. FEC; the Obama IRS inquire of citizens what books…

U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, a Democrat, espoused a view of federal deficits and taxation in 2002 that most voters would associate with today’s tea party movement, according to his first congressional campaign website. “[A]ll the economists you could fit in the second district could not convince me that on going large federal deficits are good for the economy,” Michaud wrote in his 2002 Economic Development Plan for Maine’s Second Congressional District. On taxes, too, Michaud toed what would become the tea party line: “It is important that the tax burden faced by American consumers and businesses not restrain the growth of business,” he…

In a preliminary report released Wednesday, the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said delays of veterans’ medical care are “systemic throughout” the VA’s Phoenix Health Care System and perhaps at other facilities. “Our reviews at a growing number of VA medical facilities have thus far provided insight into the current extent of these inappropriate scheduling issues throughout the VA health care system and have confirmed that inappropriate scheduling practices are systemic throughout VHA,” the report states. The IG’s report comes weeks after a news investigation found evidence that senior VA health officials were manipulating wait-list tracking…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Rifle Association has endorsed former senate President Kevin Raye in the Republican Primary for Maine’s Second Congressional District, the Raye campaign announced on Friday. The NRA is the foremost advocate for gun rights at the state and federal levels. Their stamp of approval could carry weight with voters in northern Maine, who will head to the polls on June 10 to nominate a GOP contender in the race to fill a congressional seat recently vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud. But just because NRA endorsed Raye doesn’t mean they’re critical of his opponent, former…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Americans for Tax Reform, the Washington, D.C.-based tax reform group headed by Grover Norquist, on Thursday blasted Republican congressional candidate for using what they labeled a Democratic playbook to mislead voters about the group’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge. In a debate on Wednesday, Raye, former President of the state senate, butted heads with former state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin over the ATR pledge, which calls on candidates to promise their constituents that they will not raise taxes. Both men are competing to fill the 2nd Congressional District seat recently vacated by U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud. Poliquin has signed the…

From the Maine GOP: AUGUSTA — The Maine Democratic Party is holding its convention Friday and Saturday, May 30-31, and they have found a keynote speaker who matches standard-bearer and gubernatorial candidate Mike Michaud in obscurity coupled with out-of-touch, liberal views. Michaud was twice named a member of Congress’s “Obscure Caucus” by Roll Call Magazine, which added that he seemed “ticketed for stardom” upon arriving in Washington in 2003, but has become “anonymous.”  One commentator has even suggested that “re-electing him [would] be the equivalent of leaving the seat vacant” and both daily newspapers in Michaud’s congressional district endorsed his opponent in 2012, one of them specifically…

A Portland-based Democratic activist group announced on Thursday its endorsement of several Democratic candidates for Maine’s state legislature. “Each of these candidates has proven themselves as progressive leaders who will fight for a Maine where everyone has what they need, everyone contributes their fair share, and no one is left behind,” Maine People’s Alliance board member Sheryl Lee said in a prepared statement.  An endorsement from MPA could mean financial support through the groups political action committee – MPA Campaign Vote! – and manpower to canvass a district. Democratic candidates who have received the MPA stamp of approval include: Ralph Chapman…

Unilateral Climate Policy: President Obama is prepared to unveil a new regulation on June 2 that will, according to reports, be the most significant climate policy of his administration — and he’s ready to implement it unilaterally, without Congressional approval. According to Vox.com, Obama plans to use the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s existing authority over green house gas regulation to impose strict new requirements on power plants. From Vox.com:  “On June 2, the EPA will propose a rule to cut carbon-dioxide emissions from the nation’s existing coal- and natural gas-fired power plants. The New York Times reports that the rule could require coal plants to…

Two of Washington, D.C.’s most powerful women – First Lady Michelle Obama and Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican – are butting heads this week over the unlikeliest of things: the fresh white potato. At issue is whether public assistance programs, particularly the Women and Infant Child (WIC) voucher program, should subsidize the potato. Michelle Obama, who has made telling other people what they should eat the hallmark of her tenure in the White House, objects to the potato. She wrote in a New York Times op-ed published Thursday (and splashed across the Drudge Report): Right now, the House of Representatives is considering a bill…

U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud strongly supported the construction of a publicly financed East-West highway through northern Maine in an economic development plan published during his first congressional race. “There is probably no single thing that Congress could do that will provide more economic benefit to the Second District than the building of this road,” Michaud, a Democrat, wrote in his 2002 Economic Development Plan for Maine’s Second Congressional District. Then a state lawmaker, Michaud said he would like to see federal funds used to commission a feasibility study on the road and, eventually, to build the road itself. “I will work aggressively to…

The two Republican candidates battling for a chance to become the next congressman from Maine’s 2nd Congressional District shared a heated exchange Wednesday in a debate moderated by Maine Public Broadcasting Network’s Jennifer Rooks. The conflict hinges on allegations that one candidate, former senate President Kevin Raye, has previously supported elements of President Obama’s health care reform and a separate proposal to study establishing single-payor health care in Maine. Former state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, Raye’s opponent, has accused Raye of voting for a plan to implement the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, in widely panned television and radio ads – a…

Republican candidate for Maine’s First Congressional District Isaac Misiuk joined Maine Wire Editor Steve Robinson for a conversation about his race to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree. Misiuk, 25, is the youngest congressional candidate in the country.

AUGUSTA – Maine teachers are growing frustrated with the Common Core State Standards, a controversial educational reform that has quietly wound its way into nearly every American school in the past few years. “Teachers from around the country (including many here in Maine) have expressed concerns about the way the Common Core standards are being implemented and assessed,” wrote Maine Education Association (MEA) lobbyist John Kosinski in a Feb. 19 email to Democratic leaders. “Frustration is quickly growing among teachers,” Kosinski wrote. The email, which was sent to Senate President Justin Alfond (D-Portland), House Speaker Mark Eves (D-North Berwick), Sen. Rebecca…

Stinging Greens: James O’Keefe, conservative guerrilla journalist is at it again, this time with a undercover recording that shows prominent Hollywood film makers negotiating a $9 million payout to make an anti-fracking video on behalf of a Middle Eastern oil tycoon. Hydraulic fracturing – known as fracking – is the process through which natural gas is harvested from underground shale formations. In the movie, an actor posing as “Muhammad” promises to pay Josh and Rebecca Tickell, two well-known producers of environmental documentaries, $9 million to make the anti-fracking movie with the explicit purpose of keeping America dependent on foreign oil.…

By David Trahan — In politics today, it is virtually impossible to expose the true motives of an individual candidate or special interest group; in addition, with technology and the vast media resources available to manipulate film and written media, special interests can use highly paid media consultants to hide their real agenda.  Unfortunately, voters are easily swayed by thirty second television ads and 10 second sound bites.  Compound this problem with individuals so blinded by cult like beliefs they are willing to dishonestly spin the truth and you have a recipe for disaster. The extreme animal rights movement understands…

In a victory for the free market, Adam Lee of Lee Auto Malls announced Friday that he will no longer pay any employees less than $10.00 per hour. It was not immediately clear how many of Lee’s employees would be impacted by the publicly advertised pay increase and Lee did not respond to inquiries. Lee did not disclose the reason for making internal wage decisions public. “We believe it is important for successful Maine businesses to pay enough so that the lowest-paid employees are still earning a living wage,” he said in the statement.  Lee has previously testified in favor…

“Help Wanted” signs are popping up across the state as tourism season begins in earnest and the economic activity is reflected in April’s unemployment report. Maine’s jobless rate fell in April to 5.7 percent — its lowest point since September of 2008 and better than the national average of 6.3 percent, according to employment statistics released Friday. “Rates for other states were 4.4 percent in New Hampshire, 3.3 percent in Vermont, 6.0 percent in Massachusetts, 8.3 percent in Rhode Island, and 6.9 percent in Connecticut,” the Maine Department of Labor said in a press release.  In real terms, the U.S. Bureau…

Renowned tax reform activist Grover Norquist slammed Republican congressional candidate Kevin Raye on Friday over comments the candidate made about the so-called Taxpayer Protection Pledge at a Wednesday debate. The pledge in question was conceived of by Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform, a Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates explicitly against tax increases. By signing the pledge, candidates promise voters, in writing, that they will refuse to raise taxes in any form whatsoever. Raye’s only GOP primary opponent, former state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, emphasized during the debate that he had signed the pledge and Raye had not. “This is a very clear…

By Ken Frederic — I find it at once sad and disturbing that many potential voters are easily persuaded by a headline, bumper sticker, or couplet. With the oceans of information readily available today, responsible citizens should be dismayed that others are voting with no idea what they’re doing. Among the many examples are the misconceptions and misrepresentations of the Maine Clean Elections Act as lessening the influence of money in elections or the likelihood that interest groups or large donors will persuade a legislator to vote in favor of bills that benefit them at the expense of the people…

A York County grand jury has indicted four individuals – including a New Hampshire woman – on charges that they allegedly lied to the state of Maine in order to obtain tens of thousands of dollars in welfare benefits. The indictments were released May 7 by the York County Superior Court. Sources say all four indictments stem from crimes committed against the state of Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services. Courtney L. Cochran, 36, of Springvale was indicted on one charge of theft by deception of more than $10,000 and four charges of unsworn falsification, i.e. making false statements to…

A new report released Thursday has identified numerous problems with Maine’s various welfare programs and identified several potential avenues for reforming the system. The report was produced by the Alexander Group, a consulting firm hired by the LePage administration to conduct a review of Maine’s welfare system. The 228-page analysis of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and General Assistance programs follows an earlier report from the group which focused on Medicaid, known in Maine as MaineCare, and proposals to expand the medical welfare program. Although the report is mostly technocratic policy…

Sen. Troy Jackson (D-Aroostook), candidate for Congress in Maine’s 2nd district, found himself on the receiving end of campaign attack directed by the League of Conservation Voters. While the LCV says they are targeting Jackson because of key votes his made in the past, Jackson said his environmental record is comparable to that of his opponent, Sen. Emily Cain (D-Penobscot). He says what really explains LCV’s attacks against him is a $25,000 donation S. Donald Sussman made to LCV. Sussman, who is a major supporter of Maine Democrats and majority owner of the Portland Press Herald, has also contributed to…

Maine’s congressional delegation does not fare well in the Republican Liberty Caucus’ 2013 Liberty Index – a comprehensive measure of elected officials votes on matters relating to economic and personal liberty. “I was disturbed when I read the scores and learned how out of touch our Maine congressional delegation is with the will of the American people when it comes to free enterprise, smaller government, lower taxes and personal liberty without government intrusions,” said Maine RLC State Chair Vic Berardelli. “And it crossed party lines with disappointing scores whether Republican, Democrat or independent.”  Republican Sen. Susan Collins scored the highest of…

Wasted: The Internal Revenue Service is spending $10 billion per year on illegitimate payments under the Earned Income Tax Credit program, according to a report released Tuesday by a federal watch dog. From the Washington Times: “Despite a 2010 law requiring agencies to crack down on improper payments, the IRS is still deeply in arrears, the Treasury’s Inspector General for Tax Administration said. In 2013, the agency paid out between $13.3 billion and $15.6 billion in bad payments, accounting for up to 26 percent of all EITC payments. The EITC is one of the government’s chief poverty-fighting programs. It is a refundable tax credit paid to the…

The Republican Liberty Caucus has unanimously endorsed former Maine State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin’s bid to become the next congressman from Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, according to a statement released Monday. “It is time that the career professional politicians more interested in being Washington insiders step aside for new voices who will represent the people who want smaller government, lower taxes and less interference from government in the conduct of their family affairs and their personal lives,” RLC National Chair Matt Nye said in a prepared statement. “Our Board members from all parts of the nation found Bruce Poliquin to be…

Should teachers’ unions set Maine’s education policy instead of local school boards and elected officials? Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud appears to have given conflicting answers on that question, leading some to suspect he’s been less than truthful with education stakeholders in order to garner their support for his 2014 gubernatorial campaign. Asked about the role collective bargaining should play in crafting education policy for Maine schools, Michaud appears to have given two different, even opposing answers to the Maine School Management Association (MSMA) and the Maine Education Association (MEA) — two major stakeholders in Maine’s education policy world. According…

One week after the Maine People’s Alliance was enveloped in a media firestorm for a controversial attack it made on a wheelchair-bound Republican lawmaker, new evidence has surfaced suggesting the attack was not accidental as the group has repeatedly claimed. The kerfuffle began when the MPA, a radical left-wing political group based in Portland, sent mailers to the district of Rep. Dale Crafts (R-Lisbon Falls) criticizing him for having “no spine” and for failing to “stand up” to Gov. Paul LePage’s bullying. Crafts has been paralyzed for 26 years as the result of a motorcycling accident. After The Maine Wire…

The Maine Democratic Party relies heavily on union funding and contributions from national Democratic committees, according to its campaign finance filings for 2014. Unions – including private-sector unions and government workers unions – have contributed $431,500 to the Maine Democrats so far this year. The Democratic Governors Association has given $104,236, the House Democratic Campaign Committee has given $40,000 and the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee has given $20,000. S. Donald Sussman is the largest individual donor to the Maine Democrats, hacing donated $50,000 this year. ABDC PAC, a political action committee affiliated with Senate President Justin Alfond (D-Portland) had given…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday released a list of President Obama’s most egregious abuses of power to date. “Of all the troubling aspects of the Obama presidency, none is more dangerous than the President’s persistent pattern of lawlessness, his willingness to disregard the written law and instead enforce his own policies via executive fiat,” Cruz told the Federalist Society as he unveiled “The Legal Limit Report No. 4,” according to the Daily Caller. Read the report below:

PORTLAND – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joined Maine Gov. Paul LePage Wednesday for a campaign stop at Becky’s Diner in Portland. Christie, who heads up the Republican Governors Association, traveled up to Maine as part of a fundraising effort for both the Maine Republican Party and LePage. The RGA has named Maine’s 2014 gubernatorial contest as a top five race in the country, and Christie vowed today that the group would be willing to spend considerable time and money to help reelect LePage. “Paul’s not only a colleague of mine, but he’s become a really good friend of mine,”…

When a group of left-wing millionaires and billionaires held a secret meeting in Chicago last week, big time political players from Maine’s Democratic Party were in attendance. S. Donald Sussman, his daughter, Emily Sussman, and Daniel Hildreth are listed as attendees of last week’s event at the Ritz Carlton, where progressive power players are believed to have crafted a dark money spending strategy for the 2014 elections. Although media reporters are strictly prohibited from attending all Democracy Alliance events — Politico reporters have been physically removed in the past — a partial member list was left behind and recovered by…

AUGUSTA – Republican leaders say funding for nursing homes across the state has been jeopardized by Democratic lawmakers refusal to take action in the 126th Legislature. Although the Legislature did pass bipartisan legislation that provides funding for nursing homes, that money does not become available under current law until July of next year. That’s not soon enough to prevent the closure of some homes, according Senate Republican Leader Mike Thibodeau of Waldo and House Republican Leader Ken Fredette of Newport. The top Republicans in  the Legislature want to convene a special session of the Legislature, but Senate President Justin Alfond…

The Maine Republican Party is calling on U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud to denounce the activities of the left-wing Maine People’s Alliance, a controversial advocacy group funded through anonymous donations. Maine GOP Executive Director Jason Savage’s call follows the MPA’s attack on Rep. Dale Crafts (R-Lisbon). In mailers distributed throughout Crafts district, MPA accused the lawmaker have having “no spine” and failing to “stand up” to Gov. Paul LePage. Crafts, paralyzed from the waist down for the last 26 years due to a motorcycling accident, uses a wheelchair. The offensive mailer drew widespread condemnation from Republicans and Democrats across the state,…

By David Trahan – Don’t be fooled by the group calling itself, “Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting” when they tell you this November’s referendum is an attempt to end baiting, trapping and the use of dogs for hunting bears.  This ballot initiative has nothing to do with bears. Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting is a front for a well-known national an anti-hunting organization: The Humane Society of the United States, or HSUS. When you see their ads, likely taped many years ago and in another state or when you hear them attack the credibility of Maine’s bear biologists know that their…

Senate President Justin Alfond (D-Portland) is taking his lead from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) — both Democrats have decided the path to reelection involves villanizing two wealthy American entrepreneurs. “We all have targets on our backs,” Alfond said in a recent fundraising pitch. “The national Koch Brothers-funded national (sic) Republican Party has picked Maine as one of its top targets for flipping control of the Legislature. They’re still angry that you helped us take back the majority in 2012, and they will stop at nothing to take it back.” “Together, we’ll make sure that the 2014 election is decided…

The Maine governor’s race is a dead heat between Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, according to a Critical Insights poll released on Tuesday. The poll found 37 percent of likely voters support Michaud and 36 percent support LePage. Independent candidate Eliot Cutler trails with 18 percent. According to the poll results, unenrolled voters are breaking for roughly even, though Michaud has a slight advantage. One-third of unenrolled voters said they support Michaud, 30 percent support LePage, 29 percent support Cutler and 8 percent don’t know. While Democrats and Republicans support their party’s candidates by large…

The Marxists Internet Archive, a Website that hosts the works of socialist philosopher Karl Marx, has removed some of his writings from the public domain following a property rights complaint lodged by a United Kingdom-based publisher, according to a story in the New Yorker. From the New Yorker: “For nine years, Lawrence & Wishart allowed the Marxists Internet Archive to host the copyrighted material alongside thousands of other translated texts by Marx and Engels, many of which are in the public domain. But the company recently began preparing a digital edition of the fifty-volume set for university libraries. (The e-book…

Democrat Shenna Bellows has raised more than $750,000 for her Senate campaign — a fact her campaign has attributed to broad grassroots support. “Even having raised ¾ of a million dollars in total, our average donation this quarter was only $52.53,” Bellows’ campaign manager Katie Mae Simpson said in an April 10 press release. But according to a review of Federal Election Commission filings, the campaign’s “average donation” statistic may be a misleading indicator of how the campaign has gotten its money. FEC records show that many of Bellows most significant donors have made multiple donations. As a result, the difference between Bellows’…

BOOTHBAY – The parents of one Boothbay Region High School student are outraged following a Social Studies teacher’s Tax Day screening of a MoveOn.org video that disparages Republicans and calls for higher taxes on the so called rich. The video, which was published at MoveOn.org on April 15, features Robert B. Reich, a professor of public policy at University of California at Berkeley, criticizing wealthy Americans for not paying enough taxes. Reich also has some harsh words for U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) over his latest federal budget. “Believe it or not, Republicans want to make all of this worse…

Democracy Alliance: A secretive group of left-wing billionaires will meet this week in Chicago to plan strategies for advancing a progressive agenda and thwarting conservative politicians, WatchDog.org reports. S. Donald Sussman, a billionaire Democratic donor who is married to Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, is reportedly a member of the George Soros-led group. A New York Times article last year said Sussman would be funding a “consortium” of left-wing groups aimed at defeating Republican Gov. Paul LePage this fall. No word as to whether Sussman is attending the Chicago event. — Democrats Face Midterm Challenge: Pew Research’s Center for the…

By Walter J. Eno – It is difficult to imagine that the governor of a state of this nation could be subjected to greater contempt, criticism and ridicule than that directed against Maine Gov. Paul LePage by the Portland Press Herald and its affiliates. When the governor took the oath of office, he did not surrender his sacred and invaluable right of character and reputation. The most obvious reason that LePage has been a convenient punching bag is that he is a Republican, and a conservative to boot. But party differences about goals and political strategy don’t tell the whole…

The Maine State Senate is one of the top 5 electoral battlegrounds in the country, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. The Senate is currently comprised of 19 Democrats, 15 Republicans and one independent who is not seeking reelection. Any change to the Majority would greatly impact the policy ambitions of both parties.  Maine Republican Party Chairman Rick Bennett said the WSJ article conveys to a national audience what Republicans in the state have known all year: the Senate is up for grabs. “Republicans are in a great position to make gains in the November elections in the…

AUGUSTA – Some Democratic officials are seeking to distance themselves from the controversial left-wing Maine People’s Alliance after the group made an untoward attack on a handicapped Republican lawmaker. “We’ve only been out of the session two days. And it’s not beginning in a positive way. In fact, it’s pretty disturbing,” wrote Reps. Brian Jones (D-Freedom) and Denise Harlow (D-Portland) in a letter to several other elected officials. “‘Our’ allies sent a mailer attacking the Republicans for their votes against Medicaid expansion,” the pair of lawmakers wrote. They asked like-minded colleagues to sent an email to Ben Chin, MPA’s director…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Wire Editor Steve Robinson and Maine Gov. Paul LePage both joined Howie Carr from his Augusta studio on Friday. Listen to the segments below. Robinson and Carr discuss the welfare system and the latest jobs report: LePage and Carr talk Maine politics and the upcoming election:

Our nation’s founders painstakingly created one of the most lasting documents in human history — the United States Constitution. For 225 years, our “unalienable rights” of life and liberty, combined with limits placed on the power of the federal government, have served as the cornerstones of America. Members of Congress take an oath to “support and defend the Constitution.” There is no more important duty. If honored with this profound responsibility, I will research every issue in order to make the best decision for the people of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District while ensuring to uphold the Constitution. An important part…

The Maine People’s Alliance, a left-wing advocacy group based in Portland, has attacked Rep. Dale Crafts (R-Lisbon Falls) for voting against proposals to expand Medicaid. A mailer distributed in Crafts district by the MPA describes Crafts’ ailments: “No Spine – Failed to stand up to Gov. LePage’s bullying”. Crafts, who is also a member of the Lisbon Town Council, is bound to a wheelchair.

AUGUSTA – The final chance to expand Maine’s Medicaid program pursuant to the Affordable Care Act fell short on Thursday when supporters of the proposal failed to garner enough votes to overcome Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto. In a 94-53 vote, Majority Democrats under the leadership of House Speaker Mark Eves (D-North Berwick) failed to persuade enough of their Republican colleagues to switch their votes on what has been the most controversial issue of the 126th Legislature. Although the latest iteration of the idea, L.D. 1578, now goes to the history books, the debate over Medicaid expansion is far from…

Heading to “Veto Day” at the State House, a newspaper headline asks, “Are LePage’s 179 vetoes leadership or extremism?” Perhaps both – leadership on his part and extremism on behalf of Democratic lawmakers. The high veto rate is a symptom of a disease that infected the 126th Legislature. Critics of Gov. Paul LePage would have you believe that this disease was obstructionist conservatives who want state government not to exist. But a competing theory, and, perhaps a better one, is that Democrats desired the obstructionist talking point and pursued it by sending LePage bills they knew he would veto. To…

Young Americans are distrustful of Washington, D.C., and disillusioned with President Barack Obama, and the electoral consequences for Democrats nationwide could be severe. That’s the implication to be drawn from a comprehensive poll released Tuesday by Harvard University. Researchers with the John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Institute of Politics at Harvard interviewed 3,058 18- to 29-year-olds regarding their views on politics and social media. The results show young voters swinging away from Democrats since President Obama’s reelection in 2012 – a factor Harvard officials reportedly attributed to youth disillusionment with Obama. Overall, the survey shows young Americans tend to…

A Rasmussen poll released Tuesday shows Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic challenger U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud tied in the 2014 Maine governor race. The survey of 830 likely voters found LePage and Michaud both have the support of 40 percent of voters, while independent candidate Eliot Cutler is the choice of 14 percent of voters. Six percent of respondents said they are supporting another candidate or are not sure. Of all the polls published this year, this latest one finds the strongest support for LePage, who was elected in 2010 with 38 percent of the vote. While the top line…

AUBURN – Former presidential candidate and Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul has endorsed Republican state senate candidate Eric Brakey of Auburn. “I have seen Eric’s commitment to limited government and more personal liberties through his work on my campaign,” said Paul in a prepared statement. “I think he would make a great State Senator and am proud to endorse his campaign.” The endorsement of a nationally renowned libertarian figure bolsters Brakey’s libertarian credentials locally. He has previously served as chairman of the Defense of Liberty PAC, a freedom-focused group that advocates for pro-liberty causes and candidates here in Maine. “I…

The Maine Wire got a look at the cross-tabs behind the latest Rasmussen poll. To the extent polls tell us anything meaningful about voters’ attitudes, this poll is interesting. In case you missed it, the top line message is that Sen. Susan Collins has a mammoth 36-point lead over Democratic challenger Shenna Bellows. But the details of the poll show even worse news for Bellows and some other interesting things about Mainers’ current political attitudes. Namely, a majority of Mainers dislike the Affordable Care Act and prefer a more limited government. First, bad news for Bellows: Bellows doesn’t have a…

One week after she received historic endorsements from labor unions at Bath Iron Works, a Rasmussen poll released Monday shows Republican Sen. Susan Collins with a 36 point lead on Democratic challenger Shenna Bellows. The Local S6 and S7 of the Machinists union, the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association and the Independent Guards Association all announced endorsements of Collins on Thursday, just prior to the Maine Republican convention in Bangor. According to Collins’ campaign staff, this is the first time those unions have ever endorsed a Republican candidate. Earning the support of typically Democrat-supporting labor unions is a sign of Collins’…

Bangor’s recent resurgence is an example of the great things that are happening in our state.  We have this beautiful new arena, the tremendous waterfront concert series, fantastic restaurants – and now – best of all, Bangor has 1700 Republican activists under one roof ready to work for a great victory in November. An interesting piece of history makes it especially fitting that we gather here for our convention.  One hundred-sixty years ago, in June of 1854, citizens from across Maine gathered in this city to plan the creation of a new political party.  A party dedicated to one ideal…

A federally funded report published Sunday in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Climate Change suggests that corn-based ethanol is worse for than environment than traditional fossil fuels. The study contradicts an essential tenet of belief among modern day environmentalists and President Barack Obama’s administration, who have both pointed to corn-based biofuel as a cleaner alternative to oil. According to this study, the federal government’s generous subsidies for ethanol producers may, in fact, be supporting an industry that actually increases greenhouse gas emissions. From the Associated Press: A $500,000 study paid for by the federal government and released Sunday in the peer-reviewed…

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Shenna Bellows holds some controversial views about Bath Iron Works’ existence as a military contractor, according to a video of her speaking alongside a renowned liberal conspiracy theorist at a meeting of Peace Action Maine in Portland. The video shows a Feb. 15 meeting Bellows, the former head of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, attended for unknown reasons. Late in the meeting, Bellows is offered an opportunity to address the group about “peace issues,” because she’s trying to oust Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins this fall. Before she speaks, Bellows turns to David Swanson, the keynote speaker…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Republican Party announced Monday that North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory will speak at the 2014 convention in Bangor on Saturday. “We are thrilled to have Governor McCrory coming to our Convention,” said Maine GOP Chairman Rick Bennett in a press release. “I am especially looking forward to discussing some important issues with Governor McCrory on stage, and giving everyone in attendance a chance to get to know the man who is leading the ‘North Carolina Comeback.’” McCrory, a former mayor of Charlotte, won the 2012 gubernatorial election by a large margin and has been an active…

AUGUSTA – The state of Maine will begin putting photo identification on the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards used to disperse welfare benefits this month, according to a Friday press release from Gov. Paul LePage’s Department of Health and Human Service. “Placing photos on the Maine EBT card supports this Administration’s efforts to strengthen the integrity of our public assistance programs,’’ said Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew. “The photo will also help our staff to verify the identity of the benefit recipient and will be helpful in cases where cards have been illegally sold or when multiple cards are in the…

PORTLAND – J. Scott Moody, CEO of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, announced his resignation on Thursday at the center’s monthly policy luncheon in Portland. Moody, who has been with MHPC in various capacities for nearly a decade, will be stepping down at the end of April to lead Virginia-based State Budget Solutions, a national think tank that helps states develop fiscally responsible budgets. He has served as CEO of the think tank since July of 2012. “It’s been an honor and privilege to be CEO of MHPC,” said Moody. “Having been with MHPC for 9 years, I’ve been able…

AUGUSTA – The jobless rate in Maine fell again to 5.9 in March, from 6.1 percent in February and 6.8 percent on year ago. “The number of unemployed declined 6,700 over the year to 41,800,” according to a press release from the Maine Department of Labor. “The share of the population that is employed reached 61.8 percent, well above the U.S. average of 58.9 percent. March was the 78th consecutive month the employment to population ratio was above the national average.” Maine’s unemployment rate continues to be lower than the national average of 6.7 percent and the New England average of…

The hidden cost of federal regulation is taking its toll on Americans’ wallets, and the Obama administration has done more to expand the dense web of regulation than any before it. That’s the gist of a Wall Street Journal editorial designed to showcase an area of government intervention that seldom gets its due in the nation conversation. From WSJ: The Federal Register finished 2013 at 79,311 pages, the fourth highest total in history. That didn’t match President Obama’s 2010 all-time record of 81,405 pages. But Mr. Obama can console himself by noting that of the five highest Federal Register page…

After raising more than $121,000 in the first three months of 2014, former state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin has released his campaign’s first television ad, a biographical spot designed to introduce the candidate to voters in Maine’s northern congressional district. The one-minute ad highlights Poliquin’s roots in Oakland, his scholarship-funded education at Harvard, and his early days working in the investment world. Unlike his previous campaigns for governor in 2010 and U.S. Senate in 2012, the video shows that Poliquin is now embracing his personal life story. Namely, the tragic death of his young wife and his subsequent role as a…

The United States had just 86 million full-time private-sector workers in 2012, compared with 148 million recipient of welfare benefits, according to U.S. Census numbers highlighted by CNS News. Terence P. Jeffrey writes: In 2012, according to the Census Bureau, approximately 103,087,000 people worked full-time, year-round in the United States. “A full-time, year-round worker is a person who worked 35 or more hours per week (full time) and 50 or more weeks during the previous calendar year (year round),” said the Census Bureau. “For school personnel, summer vacation is counted as weeks worked if they are scheduled to return to…

A poll out Wednesday morning shows Republican Gov. Paul LePage with a slight lead over both opponents in his reelection bid. LePage leads the gubernatorial contest with 38.6 percent to Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud’s 37.3 percent. Independent Eliot Cutler won 20.3 percent of voters. Statistically, the race is a dead heat between LePage and Michaud. But the poll also offers more bad news for Democrats: With one in five likely voters supporting him, Cutler is going nowhere. The poll was conducted by Pan Atlantic SMS Group, a Portland-based market research firm. The sample size was 400 Maine residents even…

The Republican Governors Association slammed Democrat U.S. Rep Michael Michaud on Tuesday – Tax Day – for voting more than 99 times to increase taxes or impose new ones while serving in congressman for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. “There are some, like Congressman Mike Michaud, who inexplicably believe that if they take more and more money from hard working families and job creators, somehow the economy will be better off because the government gets bigger,” Gail Gitcho, RGA communications director, said in a press release. “Then there are some, like Governor Paul LePage, who believe the more money Mainers have…

Former state Senate President Kevin Raye announced on Tuesday that his congressional campaign raised more than $82,000 in the first quarter of 2014, giving the Republican candidate more than $202,000 cash on hand. Of the more than $285,000 Raye has raised so far in the campaign, more than $164,000 has come from residents of the 2nd Congressional District, the campaign said in a press release. The press release rippled with subtle and not so subtle barbs aimed at his opponents, former state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin. “Raye received contributions from 197 Second District residents between January and March, while his primary opponent…

President Barack Obama has tried to raise taxes 442 times since taking office, according to a new report from American’s for Tax Reform. “History tells us what Obama was able to do. This list reminds us of what Obama wanted to do,” said Grover Norquist, president of ATR. The list of proposed tax increases, not including the 20 tax increases enacted under the Affordable Care Act, is as follows: 79 tax increases for FY 2010 52 tax increases for FY 2011 47 tax increases for FY 2012 34 tax increases for FY 2013 137 tax increases for FY 2014 93 tax increases for FY 2015 The…

Democratic gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud published a YouTube video in which the candidate makes false claims about the wage gap between Maine men and women. “Women in Maine continue to earn 21 percent less than men do for doing the same work,” Michaud says in the video. “Yet governor LePage and other politicians around the country continue to turn a blind eye toward the problem.” Michaud’s claim that men and women earn different wages “for doing the same work” is not supported by data from the U.S. Department of Labor or the Maine Department of Labor. The wage…

Two new reports about the impact of the Affordable Care Act are casting a shadow over the much-ballyhooed Obamacare milestone of 7 million HealthCare.gov enrollees. The first, from RAND Corporation, a nonprofit think tank, looks at the composition of newly insured Americans and adds much needed context to statistics widely touted by liberal Democrats. “We see that of the 40.7 million who were uninsured in 2013, 14.5 million gained coverage, but 5.2 million lost coverage, for a net gain in coverage of approximately 9.3 million,” researchers Katherine G. Carman and Christine Eibner write. Setting aside the collateral damage of 5.2…

The following is a speech prepared by Rep. Sharri MacDonald (R-Old Orchard Beach) to be given on the floor of the Maine House on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 in support of a compromise amendment she introduced to salvage her bill, L.D. 1822, which would prohibit the use of TANF benefits for alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and posting bail. Democratic majority lawmakers attempted to move the bill before the amendment was prepared and, when the amendment was before the House, moved to prevent a discussion of it.  Rep. MacDonald never got a chance to give this simple speech explaining her compromise welfare…

BANGOR – A Democratic state senators medical practice pulled in $1.8 million in Medicare reimbursements in 2012, according to provider payment data recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Sen. Geoffrey Gratwick (D-Penobscot) and his partner Sidney Block, both rheumatologists, billed Medicare for $795,261 and $1,017,461, respectively, in 2012. The most common treatment Block and Gratwick provided at their Bangor office was Abatacept (a.k.a. Orencia) injections for rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid data, Gratwick administered 15,675 billable units of Abatacept on 21 patients, netting his practice $250,800 in Medicare reimbursements. Meanwhile, Block provided…

AUGUSTA – Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday vetoed a controversial Democrat-backed proposal to expand Maine’s medical welfare program, Medicaid, pursuant to the federal Affordable Care Act. The governor delivered the following message to the Legislature explaining his veto of L.D. 1487: Dear Honorable Members of the 126th Legislature:             Under the authority vested in me by Article IV, Part Third, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Maine, I am hereby vetoing LD 1487, “An Act To Provide Fiscal Predictability to the MaineCare Program and Health Security to Maine People.”             Maine cannot afford to expand Medicaid to 100,000 able-bodied adults.…

Sen. Troy Jackson, a Democratic candidate for Congress, tried to get special legislation passed to help one of his constituents subvert environmental regulations, a non-partisan investigative report revealed Wednesday. The bill, which was allowed into the current legislative session by the Democrat-controlled Legislative Council, would have undone part of a legal agreement between the constituent and the state designed to protect an Aroostook County lake, according to Pine Tree Watchdog, an investigative reporting outlet run by the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting. The Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee killed the bill on April 4, but reporters Naomi Schalit and…

From Republican House Communications Director David Sorensen: AUGUSTA – The Democratic majority in the Maine House of Representatives late Tuesday prevented a vote on a compromise amendment on the last remaining welfare reform bill, LD 1822, which would prevent the use of welfare funds to buy certain prohibited items such as tobacco and alcohol.  Rep. Sharri MacDonald (R-Old Orchard Beach) introduced the compromise amendment. “This is a sad day for the taxpayers of Maine and for anybody who believes reaching a compromise should be a goal in government,” said House Republican Leader Ken Fredette of Newport.  “We Republicans tried our best to…

As Maine’s liberals take to social media to accuse Republicans of waging a “war on women” this National Equal Pay Day, data from the State House shows women in the Senate Democratic offices make less than their male counterparts. Conversely, women in the Senate GOP office make more than men. In the GOP state senate office, two male employees make on average $52,812 per year, while the 4 female employees make an average of $57,806 annually, according to wage data obtained by The Maine Wire. However, a tremendous pay gap exists in the Democratic senate office and in the office of Senate…

Liberals across the country joined President Barack Obama to celebrate National Equal Pay Day on Tuesday — an occasion for drawing attention to the wage gap that exists between men and women. Obama established National Equal Pay Day with an executive proclamation on Monday, calling upon all Americans “to recognize the full value of women’s skills and their significant contributions to the labor force, acknowledge the injustice of wage inequality, and join efforts to achieve equal pay.” The problem of wage inequality is so prevalent that even in the offices of Maine’s Democratic U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Michael Michaud, men are better…

Health insurance premiums under the Democratic health care law are skyrocketing, according to a survey of insurance brokers conducted by health care analysts with Morgan Stanley. Scott Gottlieb, at Forbes.com, writes: The average increases are in excess of 11% in the small group market and 12% in the individual market. Some state show increases 10 to 50 times that amount. The analysts conclude that the “increases are largely due to changes under the ACA.” The analysts conducting the survey attribute the rate increases largely to a combination of four factors set in motion by Obamacare:  Commercial underwriting restrictions, the age…

A poll released by the Democratic polling firm Public Policy Polling of Raleigh, N.C. shows Democrat U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud with the lead in Maine’s 2014 gubernatorial election. Of the 538 Maine voters questioned, 44 percent said they would vote for Michaud, while 37 percent said they would vote for incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Fourteen percent said they would vote for independent candidate Eliot Cutler, while 5 percent said they were unsure. The poll does not report a margin of error. The Democratic poll, which was sponsored by the liberal group MoveOn.org, suggests Michaud has a comfortable lead in…

AUGUSTA – A host of Republican lawmakers have endorsed Isaac Misiuk in his bid to oust incumbent Democrat Rep. Chellie Pingree, the Misiuk campaign announced Monday. The list of endorsees includes Senate Minority Leader Mike Thibodeau (R-Waldo), Assistant Leader Roger Katz (R-Kennebec), House Minority Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport) and Assistant Leader Alex Willette (R-Mapelton). “I am excited to have the support of so many members of the Maine State Legislature,” said Misiuk. “These endorsements show that our party is united in creating a better future for generations to come.  I look forward to spending the summer campaigning with our state legislators, listening to the concerns of…

By Gov. Paul LePage – Spring is late this year throughout much of the country, and in northern states plenty of people are still firing up wood-burning stoves. Some use the stoves just to add a cheery glow to their homes, but millions of others burn wood to keep warm. If the Environmental Protection Agency has its way, new regulations will make life harder for those who most need wood stoves. And the EPA’s proposed rules will hit stove manufacturers hard. I’m concerned about the EPA’s plans because in Maine, where I’m the governor, wood-burning stoves play an integral role in the state’s economy. Maine’s…

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican and 2016 presidential hopeful, will speak at the 2014 Maine Republican Party convention. “I can’t think of a better national figure to speak at our convention to the issues of individual liberty and economic prosperity than Senator Rand Paul,” said Maine GOP Chairman Rick Bennett in a press release. “I admire the principles Senator Paul stands for, and as I hear from Republicans across our state, I know that a groundswell of support for these principles is rising.” According to the press release, Paul will speak in the early afternoon on Saturday, April 26…

AUGUSTA – Republican efforts to reform Maine’s welfare system have likely failed this year following the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives’ rejection of four bills aimed at modifying the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash welfare program. On nearly party line votes Thursday evening, all four TANF reform proposals supported by Republican Gov. Paul LePage were defeated. The only provision supported by Democrats was a ban on welfare spending in smoke shops — a clever political maneuver that will allow liberal representatives to claim in November that they did vote for reform. “I’m appalled that liberal legislators would reject these…

A Maine native and resident of Lyman will soon return from testing the capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s latest line of joint high speed vessel off the coast of Western Africa. A 1982 graduate of Massabesic High School in Waterboro, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Roger Hooper graduated from Southern Maine Community College in 1997 and has served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years – 12 years on active duty and 18 years as a reservist. In Hooper’s early days in the Navy, communicating with family back home was mostly done through letters. But thanks to the new technologies, he…

A true David and Goliath story is unfolding in Maine’s First Congressional District. This fall, a relatively unknown young Republican will challenge incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, who has held the seat since 2008. Isaac J. Misiuk, 25, of Gorham was born in Beverly, Mass., and grew up in South Portland. A second year political science major at the University of Southern Maine, Misiuk is the Vice-Chair of the Cumberland County Young Republicans with a private sector background in retail sales and management. He is running for a congressional seat not held by a Republican since James B. Longley,…

From Senate Republican Communications Director Jim Cyr: AUGUSTA – Maine Senate Democrats voted today to reject a bill that would provide more heating options to Maine residents. The bill, L.D. 1838, “An Act To Expand Affordable Heating Investments with Maine’s Public Resources,” would increase the amount of timber that could be sustainably harvested on public land.  Under the law, the Efficiency Maine Trust would use the extra revenue from the increased harvest to help Maine residents install alternative heating systems in their homes. Democrats who opposed the bill stated they would rather see the timber revenue used to maintain trails…

From House Communications Director David Sorensen AUGUSTA – House Republican Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport) and Assistant Leader Alex Willette (R-Mapelton) held a press conference Thursday to announce the introduction of a compromise amendment to move welfare reform forward. “Republicans want to implement reforms for the benefit of Maine taxpayers who support our welfare system and the neediest who depend on it,” said Fredette.  “We are willing to work with our Democratic colleagues in order to make that happen.” Fredette’s amendment is to LD 1822, the bill to prohibit welfare funds from being used for tobacco, alcohol, gambling, and posting bail.  It…

BANGOR – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ reelection campaign announced Thursday that the Republican has raised more than $877,000 in the first quarter of 2014, bringing her cash-on-hand total to more than $3.6 million. “We continue to be delighted by the outpouring of support for Senator Collins’ re-election,” said Sam A. Ladd III, Finance Chairman for the Collins for Senator Campaign. “From all over Maine, and from every state in our nation, supporters have made it clear that we need Susan Collins’ common-sense leadership in the Senate, now more than ever,” said Ladd. Collins, who has served in the Senate since…

By Chris O’Neil – A few years ago First Wind had a brilliant scheme: form a joint venture with Nova Scotia utility giant Emera, then blitz Maine with an astonishingly aggressive wind power buildout. This was actually Plan B, after an embarrassing failed attempt to go public in 2010. In 2012 they got hitched with Emera even though Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court was still deciding whether the JV was legal. The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) had to impose 50 conditions to the law so that the JV could proceed.  Clearly motivating that special PUC treatment was a public desire to…

AUGUSTA – The top Republican senator on the Legislature’s Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee says Democrats’ complaints about the executive director of the Workers’ Compensation Board are part of an “orchestrated” campaign of character assassination aimed at the LePage administration. Appointed by Republican Gov. Paul LePage in 2011, Paul Sighinolfi’s leadership on the board has led to the largest decrease in workers’ comp rates since 1998, saving Maine employers more than $15.2 million. But the director is now taking criticism from Democratic lawmakers over a staffing decision he made more than two years ago. The present kerfuffle has…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Ethics Commission met Tuesday to discuss a complaint filed against a Maine state legislator alleging a violation of legislative ethics. “We received a complaint alleging a violation of legislative ethics,” said Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the Maine Ethics Commission. “The commissioners did meet today regarding an ethics complaint,” he said. “The Commission voted unanimously (5-0) not to pursue the ethics complaint or any additional investigation. Although all persons involved, including the filer of the complaint, the subject of the complaint, and the commissioners, are prohibited by statute from talking about the complaint until it has…