Author: Steve Robinson

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…

In 2013, minimum-wage increases were associated with increases in unemployment and decreases in job growth, with teenagers hit especially hard, according to a new research paper from the American Action Forum. “[T]he analysis finds that in 2013, a $1 increase in the minimum wage was associated with a 1.48 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate, a 0.18 percentage point decrease in the net job growth rate, a 4.67 percentage point increase in the teenage unemployment rate, and a 4.01 percentage point decrease in the teenage net job growth rate,” writes AAF researcher Ben Gitis. “Consequently, high state minimum wages…

It Begins: Is Obamacare going to be used to recruit voters into the Democratic Party? In La Mesa, Calif., a couple received a voter registration card – pre-marked with an “x” in the box next to Democratic Party – after signing up for Covered California, the state’s Obamacare exchange. The letter and voter registration card came directly from Covered California. The couple has always registered to vote Republican. — White House to Target Bovine Flatulence: From DailyCaller.com: “The White House has proposed cutting methane emissions from the dairy industry by 25 percent by 2020. Although U.S. agriculture only accounts for about 9…

From House Communications Director David Sorensen:  AUGUSTA – The Maine House of Representatives late Monday afternoon voted 77-57 in favor of LD 1794, a politically-motivated bill to nullify a contract between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Alexander Group, a Medicaid consulting firm hired to reduce costs in the MaineCare system. Six House Democrats joined Republicans in opposing the unprecedented measure.  They were Reps. Terry Hayes of Buckfield, Brian Jones of Freedom, Bryan Kaenrath of South Portland, Stanley Short of Pittsfield, Steve Stanley of Medway, and Arthur Verow of Brewer. “I’m glad that several of our Democratic…

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife wants Maine fisherman to know about an important policy change. Here’s their from Friday: AUGUSTA, Maine — While many Mainers may be lamenting the length of this year’s winter, ice fisherman should be relieved to know that come April 1, the traditional start to Maine’s open water fishing season, you can still legally ice fish on many waterways throughout the state. No matter what the weather was like, ice anglers used to have to put away their ice fishing traps and ice augers come April 1. But thanks to Old Man Winter’s refusal…

Maine Democrats, including U.S. Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Michael Michaud, have mischaracterized a liberal think tank’s report to attack Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s economic policies. “First of all what the governor’s talking about – him creating jobs, actually the private sector’s jobs in the state of Maine – Maine ranks 50th in the country as far as the creation of private sector jobs,” Michaud said in February. “So that is not is factual, what the governor says.” Michaud’s claim, which has been echoed by Democrats in Augusta and liberals around the state, has its roots in a report from the Maine…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Republican Party will conduct a 2016 presidential election straw poll during the party convention in April, a party spokesman announced Friday.  “The #Gen207 Presidential Straw Poll provides a casual outlet for Maine Republicans to voice their opinions on the 2016 election. It provides an opportunity to see where the party appears to be headed,” said Ashley Ryan. According to the GOP press release, the following potential candidates will be included in the straw poll: Kelly Ayotte – New Hampshire Senator Jeb Bush – Former Florida Governor Ben Carson – Neurosurgeon and author Chris Christie – New Jersey Governor Ted Cruz – Texas Senator…

Abortion advocates with NARAL Pro-Choice America on Wednesday announced its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud’s gubernatorial campaign. Michaud, a Democrat, developed a pro-life reputation while representing the more conservative voters of northern Maine, but he earned the support of the pro-abortion super PAC as the result of his “evolution” on public policies regarding the termination of pregnancies. “[Michaud’s] evolution on the issues of reproductive freedom and abortion access comes as a result of taking the time to hear the real stories of women and families who have grappled with these personal decisions in his state,” said NARAL President Ilyse Hogue…

Maine Wire Editor Steve Robinson joined Howie Carr on Wednesday to talk about Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s welfare reform bills. Robinson told Carr: “There’s no limit to the imagination of liberals when it comes to figuring out how welfare reform will hurt people.”

Last November, South Portland voters defeated the “Waterfront Protection Ordinance,” which aimed to stop the reversal of a pipeline that will carry Canadian tar sands oil from Montreal to South Portland harbor.  In response, defying voters, the city council passed a 6 month moratorium, and the debate continues.  If not for the actions of the city council, oil could start flowing immediately, and South Portland, Maine could establish itself as a vital oil transportation hub, bringing with it development, jobs, and economic growth. The opposition to the reversal of the pipeline is based the false premise that stopping the flow…

The following op-ed originally appeared in the the Downeast Coastal Press, a weekly newspaper based in Cutler, Maine. By Rep. Larry Lockman By the time this column appears in print, the 126th Maine Legislature of 2013-2014 will be in the home stretch toward statutory adjournment on April 16. It’s crunch time in Augusta. The House was in session just two days a week when we reconvened back in January. During these last three weeks before adjournment, the House will be in session Monday through Friday, with double sessions and evening sessions when needed. As we wrap up our work, I…

AUGUSTA – Democrats on the Health and Human Services Committee gutted two of Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s welfare reform proposals on Wednesday, voting against two of the bills and turning two others into study resolves. “It is incomprehensible that Democrats on the Health and Human Services Committee would vote to reject these common-sense proposals,” LePage said in a statement. L.D. 1815, sponsored by House Republican Leader Ken Fredette of Newport, would have required welfare applicants to apply for three jobs before receiving cash benefits. Democrats voted this proposal down because it would provide unnecessary hardship for poor families. L.D. 1842,…

A poll released Wednesday by opponents of Medicaid expansion found support for the proposal decreases significantly when voters are made aware of certain facts about the proposal. The poll, which was released by Americans for Prosperity Maine and the Foundation for Government Accountability, measured respondents’ support for Medicaid expansion before and after they were asked questions informing them of key facts related to the proposal. “The results of this poll confirm why supporters of Medicaid expansion have been so hostile toward efforts to educate Maine patients and taxpayers about the true costs of this ObamaCare scheme,” said AFP Maine State Director Carol…

From House GOP Communications Director David Sorensen: AUGUSTA – Maine House Republicans spoke out strongly against LD 1710, a Democrat-sponsored bill that would crush a major sector of Maine’s economy and an increasingly-prolific provider of good jobs.  The measure passed its initial vote in the House, 78-63, with bipartisan opposition. The bill would impose massive fines and grant claw-back provisions on call centers that move any operations out of the state.  These investment-prohibitive measures would likely prevent any new call center jobs from coming into the state, according to the industry. “This will kill the Maine call center industry,” Jason Levesque, owner…

On Tuesday the usual cast of welfare industry characters came out to attack the bipartisan effort to fix Maine’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash welfare program. Their shrillest complaints centered on the Parents as Scholars (PaS) program, a program Gov. Paul LePage has placed on the chopping block. While liberal Democrats point to PaS as a shining example of social safety net success, all they have as evidence is anecdotes. Compelling anecdotes, yes, but anecdotes nonetheless. The liberals’ PaS argument highlights an interesting nascent double-standard in the welfare reform debate. When conservatives argue in favor of welfare reform…

AUGUSTA – The talk was all about welfare Tuesday as the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee debated four bills that would reform Maine’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. All four bills were introduced by Republican Gov. Paul LePage, though two were originally introduced by House Minority Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport). “Maine’s welfare system is broken and something must be done,” Fredette said in his testimony before the HHS committee. His testimony focused on L.D. 1815, An Act To Require a Work Search for Job-Ready Applicants for Benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, which was…

The U.S. Supreme Court heard cases regarding the Affordable Care Act’s infringement on the religious conscience of American business owners Wednesday. State Sen. Emily Cain (D-Penobscot), a Democratic candidate for Congress in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, took the opportunity to let her supporters know that she stands with Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on issues of religious conscience. “Inside the Supreme Court, oral arguments are being heard in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius,” Cain campaign manager Levi Knapp wrote in an email. “In both cases, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will argue that no employer or politician should be…

From House GOP Communications Director David Sorensen: AUGUSTA – The Maine Legislature’s Labor, Commerce, Research, and Economic Development (LCRED) Committee on Monday afternoon held a public hearing on LD 1835, Governor Paul Lepage’s proposal to create “Open for Business Zones” that offer tax incentives, reduced energy costs, right-to-work, and training programs to attract large employers to Maine. “This is a bold and innovative proposal to bring lots of well-paying jobs to Maine, and I think Mainers would agree that it’s time to give ambitious ideas a chance,” said Rep. Amy Volk (R-Scarborough), ranking House Republican on the LCRED Committee.  “The testimony offered…

State payroll data for 2013 is now available to the public at www.MaineOpenGov.org. Here are the top ten recipients of overtime pay last year: 10. Richard Reaser II – Department of Public Safety, State Police Trooper – Base Salary: $57,463.19, Overtime: $44,370.51 9. Lance M. McCleish – Department of Public Safety, State Police Corporal – Base Salary: $58,121.51, Overtime: $48,364.15 8. James H. Urquhart – Department of Public Safety, State Police Sergeant-E – Base Salary: $66,689.86, Overtime: $48,590.22 7. Marcia N. Gilpatrick – Department of Public Safety, Emergency Communication Specialist – Base Salary: $59,485.88, Overtime: $48,794.98 6. Tadeusz Kajkowski –…

AUGUSTA – After heavy resistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last year, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is moving forward with an initiative to curb welfare fraud and abuse. The USDA’s Associate Administrator of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has told DHHS Commissioner Mary Hayhew that the state can add photo identification to Electronic Benefit Transaction (EBT) cards so long as certain federal guidelines are met, according to a letter obtained by The Maine Wire. Although Jessica Shahin of the USDA related several concerns about the initiative, the letter indicates that adding photo…

AUGUSTA – Republican leaders gathered at the State House on Monday to call on Democrats to support an effort to reform the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash welfare program. Gov. Paul LePage and House Minority Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport) emphasized their own struggles with poverty as they introduced four bills aimed at reining in welfare abuses and orienting the TANF program toward work. “Welfare reform has been a priority in my administration and it’s time that we really start taking it seriously here in Maine,” said LePage. [RELATED: Maine Welfare Cash Spent in All 50 States, Puerto Rico…

Former Maine Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat, condemned the Maine Democrats’ Medicaid expansion mudslinging campaign during a Thursday morning segment of WGAN’s Ken and Mike Show. The Maine People’s Alliance, a Democratic political activism non-profit, launched a website (157Mainers.com) that suggests Republican Gov. Paul LePage and many GOP legislators are killers for refusing to support an expansion of Medicaid. On the basis of two thoroughly debunked articles, MPA claims that 157 Maine people will die unless Medicaid eligibility is expanded to 100,000 able-bodied adults. The Maine Democratic Party, several Democratic elected officials, and the Democratic Maine Center for Economic Policy…

AUGUSTA – Public hearings have been scheduled for a full slate of welfare reform proposals introduced by House Republican Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport) and Gov. Paul R. LePage. Hearings on four bills will be held on Tuesday at 1:00PM in the Health and Human Services Committee room. The bills to be heard include Fredette’s proposal to enact a frontend work search for those who apply for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash welfare program. Based on similar laws enacted in other states, the bill would require welfare-seekers to prove that the have applied for three jobs before receiving benefits.…

The Maine State Controller’s office has released state payroll data for 2013. Here’s a list of the top ten highest paid state employees: 10. Sheila G. Pinette – $163,480.96 – Department of Health and Human Services, State Health Officer and Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 9. Leigh I. Saufley – $177,244.62 – Judicial Department, Maine Supreme Court Chief Justice 8. Hugh T. Corbett – $188,154.45 – Maine Military Authority, Executive Director 7. Stephen D. Sears – $188,154.45 – Department of Health and Human Services, Public Service Coordinator III 6. Judy A. Burk – $194,774.00 –…

From David Sorensen, House GOP Communications Director: Popular bill to let teens work in bowling alleys, theaters shot down by nanny-staters in House AUGUSTA – A bill introduced by the Department of Labor with the support of the Maine School Management Association to expand work opportunities for high school students was rejected with a party line vote of 85-58 in the Maine House on Wednesday morning.  Not a single party testified in opposition to the bill during its public hearing before the labor committee. The bill, LD 1698, would simply allow teens to work in movie theaters and bowling alleys…

From David Sorensen, House Republican Communications Director AUGUSTA – The Maine Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) Committee agreed early Wednesday morning to approve L.D. 1807, the Governor’s bill to restore $21 million to the state’s rainy day fund, with a clean vote. Late last week, Democrats in a party line committee vote added an $18 million spending amendment to the Governor’s bill.  Republicans quickly warned that the added measure would not find bipartisan support. “Working together last night, we were able to convince our Democratic colleagues to restore the rainy day fund and allow the Governor to release the bonds without adding…

Gov. Paul LePage was featured in the Republican Governors Association’s “American Comeback” video series.

The Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP), a Democratic think tank, is spreading misinformation about the Medicaid expansion proposal currently under consideration in the Legislature. In a brief entitled, “Debunking Myths About Health Reform Dollars for Maine,” MECEP’s Christy Roix Daggett says Republicans only oppose Medicaid expansion because of “overall ideological opposition to President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.” “Fierce and unremitting political and legal battles over this 2010 law have spread many myths. As Maine lawmakers once again debate accepting federal health care dollars to expand Medicaid, dubious claims cry out for careful consideration in light of the facts,” says…

AUGUSTA – A proposal to expand Medicaid pursuant to the Affordable Care Act passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday, but failed to garner the two-thirds support needed to override Gov. Paul LePage’s inevitable veto. The vote, 97-49, comes after backers of the proposal failed to get a super majority in the Senate to approve the bill, introduced by Sens. Roger Katz (R-Kennebec) and Tom Saviello (R-Franklin). The Katz-Saviello proposal (L.D. 1487) faces further enactment votes in the House and Senate before LePage can veto it. Unless something has changed in the Senate, it is expected to die there. But…

AUGUSTA – Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Energy Office Director Patrick Woodcock outlined an energy policy at the State House on Tuesday that contrasts sharply with a Democratic initiative to provide rebates for solar power equipment. “The United Way last month received 1,300 calls looking for emergency assistance for heating. The Aroostook Community Action Program is directed callers right now to towns, to churches, to non-profits, to avoid the bitter cold,” said Woodcock. “These are the ramifications of a failed energy policy,” he said. Woodcock said Maine pays some of the highest energy bills in the country and cannot rely on…

AUGUSTA – For the first time since 2006, the Maine Republican Party will contest every state Senate and House of Representative seat. That’s 151 candidates on the House side and 35 for the Senate, with many sitting lawmakers running for reelection. “Having candidates in every seat not only speaks to the urgency Republicans feel in the need to put Maine’s economy back on track and protect the individual freedoms of Maine people,” said Maine GOP Chairman Rick Bennett in a press release. “It also speaks to the strength of our party organization as we evolve and grow into a full-time,…

PORTLAND, Maine – Entrepreneurs from northern New England gathered at at the Portland Sports Complex this weekend for a chance to sell their wares in stores and shops across the country. The 30th annual New England Made Giftware & Speciality Foods Show brought together products from 275 Maine companies with more than 2,000 buyers representing small mom and pop stores as well as retail giants like L.L. Bean. For store owners, the trade show offered an unparalleled panorama of unique New England products – from Moxie flavor jelly and moose dropping earrings, to handcrafted jewelry, driftwood home decor, and locally…

AUGUSTA – Maine’s unemployment rate stood at 6.2 percent for the first month of  2014, according to labor statistics released by the Maine Department of Labor on Monday. The rate of unemployed Mainers dropped from a revised December 2013 rate of 6.4 percent to 6.2 percent in January — down from 7.0 percent one year ago, according to MDOL. The state continues to see a workforce participation rate (61.2 percent) higher than the national average (58.8 percent). MDOL reports the following: “The U.S. unemployment rate estimate was 6.7 percent, little changed from 6.6 percent in December and down from 7.7…

Writing for Forbes.com, Chris Conover thoroughly debunks the studies Maine Democrats have used to call Gov. Paul LePage and GOP lawmakers murders for not agreeing to expand Medicaid. Conover points up myriad problems with the Harvard/CUNY and American Journal of Public Health studies and how both have been taken out of context for use by Democratic political groups, including the Maine People’s Alliance: What the Harvard/CUNY researchers failed to report is that the Sommers study showed that the only statistically significant mortality decrease occurred in New York (by 22.2/100,000). In contrast, an apparent increase in mortality in Maine (by 13.4/100,000) and an…

By. Prof. John Frary – Last week Rep. Deborah Sanderson (R-Chelsea) surprised herself and her friends by becoming a sudden national sensation. Sanderson’s fame began in Maine’s front yard with a March 13 Portland Press Herald report by Joe Lawlor entitled “Medicaid expansion vote has real-life impact for low-income Mainers.” The Chelsea Republican appeared in the middle of the story: “Rep. Deb Sanderson, R-Chelsea, said adding that many Mainers to a government program would be too expensive for the state, and some may prefer subsidized private insurance through the health insurance marketplace”.  (This comment and the following were part of a…

Kerry Gives Putin Monday Deadline: Secretary of State John Kerry has given Russian President until Monday to alter course in Ukraine or face “serious” consequences. Will the latest Obama administration redline be as meaningful as the others? — Jim Fossel on Open for Business Zones: “This is exactly the kind of reform Maine’s economy needs to make our economy more competitive. Making it easier to do business here is what will attract businesses, not recycling a plethora of big-government ideas… It would be nice if the governor had willing partners in the Legislature, from both parties, who were interested in sitting…

By Michael Ciampi, M.D.  — As the Maine Legislature and the public debate Medicaid expansion, there an aspect of the equation that has not been mentioned, but needs to be considered. Because the Medicaid system is so inefficient, because it puts so much administrative burden on doctors, and because their payment rates are so low, most private doctors have made the difficult decision not to accept Medicaid patients.  They came to the realization that they were actually losing money for each patient they saw who was covered under this government program.  If you are losing money with each patient, you cannot…

More than one-third of individuals covered under the Affordable Care Act’s proposed expansion of Medicaid have criminal histories, according to U.S. Department of Justice. In 2011, President Barack Obama’s DoJ estimated that “at least 35 percent of new Medicaid eligibles under the Affordable Care Act have a history of criminal involvement.” According to Forbes writer Avik Roy: “They arrived at this number by noting that approximately 10 million Americans are either in jail or released from prison each year; if approximately 60 percent of these individuals are uninsured enrollees in the appropriate income range, and the Medicaid expansion was originally…

A report from an Obama appointee puts the lie to Maine Democrats’ charge that Gov. Paul LePage and Republican lawmakers are killers for opposing a Medicaid expansion bill. “Adjusted for demographic, health status, and health behavior characteristics, the risk of subsequent mortality is no different for uninsured respondents than for those covered by employer-sponsored group insurance . . . The Institute of Medicine’s estimate that lack of insurance leads to 18,000 excess deaths each year is almost certainly incorrect,” Dr. Richard Kronick wrote in an August 2009 Health Services Research paper. (Emphasis added) Kronick was appointed by the Obama administration to…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Senate approved a Medicaid expansion proposal Wednesday, but the vote, 22-13, fell short of the two-thirds total needed to surmount an inevitable veto from Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Absent something extraordinary, Medicaid expansion now has no path to become law. The bill under consideration, L.D. 1487, was introduced by Republican Sens. Roger Katz (R-Kennebec) and Tom Saviello (R-Franklin). Dubbed a compromise, the legislation includes last year’s Democrat-backed Medicaid expansion bill plus a provision that would outsource management of the state’s Medicaid program to private companies. Every Democrat voted in favor of the Katz-Saviello proposal along with…

Maine has exceeded the Obama administration’s  enrollment goal for the HealthCare.gov insurance exchanges thanks, in part, to the Republican reluctance to expand Medicaid pursuant to the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Nationwide, a total of 4.2 million people have selected a plan on the Obamacare exchanges — a number which still significantly trails the Obama administration’s initial goal of having 7 million enrollees by the end of March. According to numbers released by the Department of Health and Human Services Tuesday, 25,412 Mainers have selected health insurance plans at federally run exchange website. The HHS brief does not…

The Democratic activist group Maine People’s Alliance is calling Gov. Paul LePage and Republican lawmakers killers for opposing a bill to expand Medicaid. “157. Number of Mainers estimated to die this year if Gov. LePage and the Legislature fail to accept federal health care funds,” screams the landing page of a new MPA-funded website, 157Mainers.com. Within hours of the website coming online, the Maine Democratic Party, the Maine Center for Economic Policy (a Democratic think tank) and liberals across the state rushed to endorse the harsh message on social media. The website links to a HealthAffairs.org blog post which estimates adverse…

Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart blasted Fox News for reporting on welfare abuse. For Stewart, it is beyond the pale to suggest welfare is spent on anything other than food. Fox News host Eric Bolling jabbed back at Stewart by citing reports of welfare cash being spent on alcohol and strip clubs. Technically, Stewart and Bolling are both right: Food Stamps can only be spent on food, but the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program offers a cash benefit that can be spent on anything and is also loaded onto an EBT card. In January, The Maine Wire’s exclusive investigation revealed…

Since Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 mysteriously vanished over the Indian Ocean, investigators have uncovered little to suggest why. The Internet has responded with numerous conspiracy theories, but no one really knows what happened. Where is the plane? Its passengers? Why did it disappear without a trace? Here are 9 odd facts about the missing flight, courtesy of Breitbart New’s Ben Shapiro: “The Plane Probably Sank in Shallow Waters. According to Bloomberg News, the plane “seems most likely to have gone down [in waters] about 50 meters (165 feet) deep.” So why hasn’t it been found? The black boxes have almost undoubtedly survived,…

Solidarity: It’s common knowledge that Maine Democrats march in lockstep with labor unions. But Senate President Justin Alfond (D-Portland) showed just how strong that commitment really is on Tuesday morning when he told Ric Tyler he’d rather Maine workers remain unemployed than take a job that doesn’t require them to pay fees to a union. — Math Is Hard: Putting their impeccable math skills on display for the world to see, staffers in the Senate President and House Speaker’s offices crafted an eyebrow raising press release regarding the Maine Chamber of Commerce’s decision not to endorse Medicaid expansion. The headline…

The top Democrat in the Maine Senate espoused a controversial idea regarding employment on Tuesday morning’s broadcast of WVOM’s George Hale and Ric Tyler Show. The exchange came about is regard to Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed Open for Business Zones (OFBZ). The zones would be located at the now-defunct Loring Air Force base in Limestone and Brunswick Naval Air Station in Brunswick. “I don’t see why our chief executive thinks that the best strategy he can come up with around the economy is to pay workers less,” said Senate President Justin Alfond (D-Portland). Host Ric Tyler responds: “One of…

AUGUSTA – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) on Monday released a poll showing a majority of its Maine members oppose Medicaid expansion and believe it will lead to higher state taxes. “The survey, released Monday morning by the Maine affiliate of the nonpartisan, nonprofit National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), finds that 93 percent of its Maine members believe Medicaid expansion would lead to higher state taxes within five years,” the House Republican Office said in a press release. “A total of 88 percent of respondents opposed the proposal to add over 70,000 able-bodied adults to the state’s medical welfare program under…

A Portland Democrat said on Monday she would “rather be Santa than Scrooge,” referring to her party’s unwavering support for growing Maine’s welfare system. Rep. Diane Russell (D-Portland)’s comment followed an exchange between Maine Democratic Party Chairman, Republican Party Executive Director Jason Savage, and The Maine Wire Editor Steve Robinson: Just as food stamps are not “grocery insurance” -> RT @Stevie_Rob: @ChairmanGrant Medicaid isn’t health insurance. #MEpolitics — Jason Savage (@jsavage207) March 10, 2014 @jsavage207 @Stevie_Rob You got me. Meant to say “health care.” Glad you’re all so United in denying it, & the jobs it creates. #mepolitics —…

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce (MSCC) will remain neutral with regard to Medicaid expansion legislation (L.D. 1487) introduced by Sens. Roger Katz (R-Kennebec) and Tom Saviello (R-Franklin).  The decision follows a vote of the MSCC board in which only a plurality of members, 18, voted to endorse the legislation, while 9 voted against and 10 abstained, according to an email MSCC President Dana Connors. Connors’ email appears here in full: I wanted to take a moment to update you on recent board meetings regarding proposed legislation to expand the MaineCare program.  After several meetings and many hours of thoughtful discussion,…

Medicaid Expansion Back Again: Lawmakers in Augusta will likely consider a bill to expand Medicaid this week, although there is some uncertainty which bill will be considered. While recent focus has centered on the compromise proposal introduced by Sens. Roger Katz (R-Kennebec) and Tom Saviello (R-Franklin), Majority Democrats may move House Speaker Mark Eves (D-North Berwick)’s non-compromise expansion as a standalone item. The Katz-Saviello proposal has failed to attract more Republican supporters – quite the opposite, actually. — Union Slams Obamacare Costs: Unite Here, a national union that represents 300,000 low-wage hospitality workers, has said the Affordable Care Act will…

The Maine Questioner, “A Voice in the Wilderness”, is pleased to share with you an interview we had recently at our offices in Bangor with Thermal A. Phollie, PhD, esteemed Senior Climatologist at the National Institute of Confabulation. MQ  Good morning, Professor.  We are so pleased that you agreed to take time from your busy schedule to meet with us. TP  Thank you for the invitation. You may just call me “Doctor”. Yes, we have been very busy, especially in my field of expertise, the Department of Elucidations. We have been flooded lately with requests to speak to various citizens’…

The following editorial was published in the March 4-10 edition of the Downeast Coastal Press. It is reproduced here, with permission, in full.  — A controversy surrounding conservative Rep. Larry Lockman erupted last week after liberal pundit and blogger Mike Tipping published a series of public statements on hot-button issues made years ago by the Amherst Republican who is serving his first term in the House. Lockman can defend himself (see his nearby op-ed), but to pull intemperate moments and inartful wording out of context to embarrass a political foe raises a more salient question. The controversy is either an exposé of…

The following op-ed originally appeared in the March 3 edition of the Downeast Coastal Press, a weekly newspaper based in Cutler, Maine.  – By Rep. Larry Lockman (R-Amherst) – I appreciate the opportunity to address the controversy swirling around liberal blogger Mike Tipping’s recent post detailing my long paper trail as a commentator on social and political issues. As your readers know, I am a passionate advocate for the issues I believe in, and I’ve been writing opinion columns for Maine newspapers for nearly 35 years. Make no mistake: Tipping’s blog wasn’t prompted by anything I wrote 20 or 30 years ago. This political fight…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Maine Sen. Susan Collins introduced a bill Wednesday to crackdown on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s abuse of Americans’ Constitutional rights. The Maine Republican’s Taxpayer Protection Act of 2014 follows the high-profile scandal of the Barack Obama administration in which high-level IRS employees targeted nonprofit groups aligned with the tea party movement for heightened, and some would say illegal, scrutiny. “Mr. President,” Collins said Wednesday night in her Senate testimony, “It has been said that the power to tax is the power to destroy. The American people cannot and will not tolerate any abuse of that power.” The legislation Collins is…

$800 Million or a Big Mac?: Critics of a plan to expand Maine’s Medicaid program pursuant to the Affordable Care Act held a press conference at the State House on Wednesday. Republican leaders Sen. Michael Thibodeau (R-Waldo) and Rep. Ken Fredette (R-Newport) reiterated their concerns about the cost of the program, while The Maine Heritage Policy Center’s Joel Allumbaugh highlighted the virtue of free market-based reforms like the GOP’s Public Law 90. — 27 U.S. House Democrats support GOP Measure to Delay Obamacare Penalty – Guess who didn’t?: When more than two dozen Democratic representatives in Washington, D.C. join with…

Warning the Granite State: House Minority Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport) has been a strong voice against Medicaid expansion here in the Pine Tree State, but the Republican leader took to the pages of New Hampshire’s Concord Monitor and Union Leader this past week to warn our neighbors against their own Medicaid expansion scheme. Several weeks ago it was almost a certainty that New Hampshire was going to expand Medicaid, but now, like in Maine, the momentum appears to be shifting. — Media Mutt Growls at Tipping: Al Diamon, Maine’s top media critic, says Mike Tipping, a progressive blogger for the…