Author: Steve Robinson

A crowd of parents, grandparents and taxpayers from the Saco-Biddeford area gathered at Saco City Hall on Wednesday evening to learn more about the controversial education initiative known as the Common Core State Standards. The meeting was organized by No Common Core Maine (NCCM), a group of citizen-activists who raising awareness about Common Core. Heidi Sampson, a member of the Maine State Board of Education, Maine Charter School Commission and NCCM, said more than 70 people turned out to listen for three hours as education experts Jamie Gass and Sandra Stotsky of the Pioneer Institute discussed Common Core and its…

Bruce Poliquin, 59, of Oakland graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics. After college, Poliquin worked in the investment management industry, helping to build Avatar Investors Associates Corporation, a major fund management company. At Avatar, Poliquin helped manage nearly $5 billion in worker pension funds for clients such as Bath Iron Works and International Paper. Following the tragic death of his young wife, Poliquin left investment management and returned to Maine to raise his son. Poliquin entered Maine’s political scene in 2009 with a run for governor. He lost the competitive seven-man Republican primary, but was tapped by…

AUGUSTA – Gov. Paul LePage and representatives from the Maine State Employees Association are working together – yes, together – to minimize the detrimental impact of the partial federal shutdown on Maine’s federally-funded state workforce. LePage Press secretary Adrienne Bennett delivered the shocking news in a press statement late Friday: “It’s true. The Governor had a productive meeting with the Maine State Employees Association this morning. The meeting was called by the Governor to inform MSEA of the developments regarding federally funded state employees with regard to the federal shutdown. The Administration is working to identify the number of employees…

Republican Kevin L. Raye, believed by some to be the front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination in Maine’s Second Congressional District, is a veteran state lawmaker and congressional candidate. The 52-year-old native of Washington County brings to the table a wealth of political, legislative and business experience. At the national level, Raye spent 17 years working for former U.S. Rep. and Sen. Olympia Snowe, including 6 1/2 years serving as her chief of staff. Locally, Raye owns and operates Raye’s Mustard, a four-generation family tradition that produces delicious award-winning mustard. Raye took his first stab at electoral politics in…

AUGUSTA – Maine Democrats are calling the 126th Legislature’s Democrat-backed budget “responsible” — yet again — despite new calls for $40 million in tax increases and an additional supplemental budget. Top Democrats have also assailed $33.7 million in administrative spending cuts — cuts they asked for in their budget. The Unbalanced Budget Following the Legislature’s passage of a Democrat-crafted budget over Gov. Paul LePage’s veto, Democratic leaders repeatedly described their budget as “responsible.” Yet the budget was balanced through a combination of immediate tax increases (on sales, meals and lodging), delayed tax hikes delegated to a Democratically-controlled task force, and $33.7…

At nearly 74,000 pages, the U.S. Tax Code is a bloated, destructive and unwieldy mess. It demands fear and inspires loathing more than respect. Accidentally violate it, and you encounter bureaucratic revenge and pay a debilitating fine; do so willfully, and you also serve prison time. It answers unasked questions: “What happens to citizens when Congress exercises nearly unlimited authority to enact creative and continuous financing schemes to support its insatiable appetite for spending?” And, “Why are not Congress and congressional staff members treated the same way as every other citizen under the tax laws they enact?” To individual Americans…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amid the shutdown turmoil in the nation’s capital city, 33 House Democrats crossed party lines Tuesday night to support a GOP measure to restore funding for veterans benefits for fiscal year 2014. The resolution failed (264 – 164) to get the two-thirds vote threshold required for passage in the House under a suspension of the rules. Reps. Michael Michaud and Chellie Pingree joined House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to help defeat the resolution. The failure of the measure offers little assurance to veterans, whose benefits have been jeopardized by the uncertainty of partisan chaos in grid-locked…

Eliot Cutler, a liberal who is running for governor without party affiliation, took to Facebook on Wednesday to blast partisan “blamesmanship” and blame the partial shutdown of the federal government on “Tea Party Republicans” and U.S. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). “There’s a lot of blamesmanship being practiced in Washington right now — a lot of it deservedly directed, in my opinion, at Tea Party Republicans in the House and Senator Cruz,” Cutler said in a Facebook post from somewhere in Portland. Cutler said the shutdown would have an awful impact on Maine’s tourist-reliant economy and federal workers. “But the shutdown has other…

AUGUSTA – House Republicans rolled out two welfare reforms on Monday targeting Maine’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash welfare program. Both proposals were quickly rejected by Democratic leadership has an attack on poor people. The first bill would require those seeking cash benefits to look for work before obtaining public assistance, while the second would clear up ambiguities in the statutory language governing the ASPIRE-TANF welfare program. Both were introduced by House Minority Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport). [RELATED: As LePage makes final welfare debt payment, Dems lobby for more…] The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 18…

On Friday, U.S. Sen. Angus King told a national magazine that people with whom he disagrees on health care policy are “guilty of murder.” While Maine’s main stream media are typically eager to write about sensational, bombastic, and outrageous comments made by our elected officials, King’s comment mysteriously slipped under their radar. [RECOMMENDED: Maine politician’s outrageous rhetoric draws national attention…] In addition to dozens of articles lauding the roll out of Obamacare and several more castigating Republicans for the government shutdown, here are a few of the stories Maine’s newspapers found more newsworthy than Maine’s junior senator accusing people he…

According to the latest American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, Maine lost an estimated 11,051 residents due to out-migration. Troubling demographic trends have received much attention across the state and from all political persuasions. The latest numbers show that Maine’s demographic winter is far from thawing. So where is everyone going? The above chart shows immigration trends for from and to Maine. A negative number indicates a net loss of Mainers to that state, while a positive number shows net gain. According to the ACS data, the top five recipients of Maine’s outbound migrants were: Florida (4,422), New Hampshire (2,463), South…

The Oct. 1 launch of the federal Affordable Care Act’s health care insurance exchange in Maine was far from smooth. Indeed, the website – healthcare.gov – malfunctioned all day. “Unfortunately, our website is actually having issues,” said a HealthCare.gov service representative who identified herself as Nellie. Technical service was called after attempts to register for the exchange online failed due to computer glitches. “Our website has been down all day,”  said Nellie. “We haven’t been able to do applications all day.” Nellie had no idea when the exchange – a critical aspect of President Obama’s controversial health care law –…

Not to be outdone by Sen. Angus King, who has likened conservatives to murderers, Rep. Chellie Pingree on Monday said her Republican colleagues are holding Americans hostage. “Republican House members still holding our economy and lives of Americans hostage to their obsession with undermining health care programs,” Pingree said in a Facebook post. “I’ve set up a page on my website to provide information on how agencies and programs would be impacted if a government shutdown goes into effect tonight,” she added. [RELATED: Maine politician’s outrageous rhetoric draws national attention…] Pingree’s followers on Facebook were not comforted by her efforts…

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 7.3 percent, according to numbers released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decline is due almost entirely to shrinking workforce participation rates. BLS reports: “Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (7.1 percent), adult women (6.3 percent), teenagers (22.7 percent), whites (6.4 percent), blacks (13.0 percent), and Hispanics (9.3 percent) showed little change in August. The jobless rate for Asians was 5.1 percent (not seasonally adjusted), little changed from a year earlier.” A smaller percentage of working-age Americans are actually working than at any time since 1978, according to Bloomberg News. The…

The Michaud for Governor campaign is touting the results of an Aug. 27 poll conducted by Public Policy Polling of Raleigh, N.C. On the campaign’s website, the headline reads: “New Independent Poll Shows Michaud as Frontrunner”. (Emphasis added) The campaign is right on one account: the PPP poll does peg Democrat Mike Michaud’s support 4 points higher than that of Republican Gov. Paul LePage (just 0.8 percent outside the margin of error), making him something of a “frontrunner.” However, PPP is anything but an “independent” pollster. According to Federal Election Commission records, PPP staff, including PPP’s founder, president and CEO…

KENNEBUNKPORT – After a recent outpouring of support for Patrick, a-2-year-old Kennebunkport child battling  leukemia, the First Families Museum decided to donate all tour proceeds from August 17 to aid in Patrick’s treatment. Patrick, whose last name has been withheld, is the son of a secret service man working for former President George H. W. Bush. The Kennebunkport Historical Society hatched plans for the benefit last month, when our 41st President and his security entourage, along with some of his staff, shaved their heads in symbolic allegiance to Patrick. The story of Bush’s gesture of sympathy and support made national…

Following President Barack Obama’s decision to seek congressional approval for a potential military intervention in Syria, Maine’s congressional delegation weighed in on the subject over the weekend. Although King, Collins, Michaud and Pingree are happy that Obama has decided to seek Congress’ approval, they’re not sure how they will vote. Republican Sen. Susan Collins released a statement Saturday calling the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons against its own citizens an “abhorrent” violation of international conventions. Collins said in her statement that she had participated in a conference call with Secretary of State (and sometimes Assad dinner partner) John Kerry,…

According to the Lewiston Sun Journal, unenrolled gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler of Cape Elizabeth has said he would have signed into law a controversial expansion of Maine’s medical welfare program, known as Medicaid or MaineCare, had he been in office. “If Eliot Cutler were governor today, the state’s Medicaid system would cover 70,000 more people,” wrote reporter Scott Thistle in an article posted Sunday. The matter of whether to expand the welfare program, as Maine previously (and ineffectively) did in 2003, has become the focus of much legislative debate as a result of certain provisions within the Affordable Care Act,…

AUGUSTA – As Democratic lawmakers plan a second major push to expand Medicaid next legislative session, Republicans are touting the success of Gov. Paul LePage’s plan to payback nearly half-a-billion in unpaid debt from the same welfare program. The administration announced Tuesday that the liquor revenue bonds, which were intended to supply new funding for the debt payment, have been sold. “With the sale of the liquor revenue bond, Maine hospitals are now just weeks away from being repaid the more than $484 million in welfare debt owed to them,” said LePage in a written statement. “This is good news for…

AUGUSTA – New numbers from the Maine Bureau of Insurance show that the Republican-led health care insurance reform law known as PL 90 has helped rein in small group premiums across the state. The newly available information was released last week and offers encouraging evidence that PL90, a key accomplishment of Gov. Paul LePage’s administration, is helping to keep insurance rate increases at bay while enabling the first rate decreases in decades. The Maine Bureau of Insurance report, which is intended to “illustrate the impact of PL 90 on small group health premiums,” points up the salient parts of the new data,…

SOUTH PORTLAND – The city of South Portland will soon vote on a controversial environmental ordinance so broadly written as to cause the shutdown of critical infrastructure in one of New England’s largest ports. Supporters of the Waterfront Protection Ordinance (WPO) submitted petition signatures to the city in June, and, following the city council’s 5-1 vote against implementing the ordinance, council members voted unanimously to send the measure to voters this November. While some environmental activists claim the WPO is designed to protect the city’s idyllic Bug Light park from polluting corporations, others have stated their intentions plainly: a fossil…

AUGUSTA – Governor LePage dedicated his weekly address to highlighting his efforts to improve employment opportunities in Maine. LePage’s words add to a growing discussion about Maine’s economy, a discussion which seems destined to dominate the gubernatorial race. The talk, titled “There is Good Economic News Worth Talking About,” outlines LePage’s recent work “nationally and within Maine to promote job creation.” LePage draws his examples primarily from recent successes. During this past month, LePage attended the US Manufacturing Summit in Florida to court businesses. There, the governor met with business leaders to promote Maine as a place to conduct business…

Radical out-of-state activists are back in Maine using deceptive astroturf tactics to drum up support for their “animal rights” agenda. Astroturf – or, fake grassroots support conjured from the digital ether by consultants in Washington, D.C. – is becoming more and more popular throughout the nation, as activist groups and corporate entities capitalize on digital technology to shape opinion and advance their interests. In Maine, the latest effort to make it appear as though Maine citizens support the choice policies of out-of-state interest groups comes in the guise of FairBearHunt.com—tagline: Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting. FairBearHunt.com contains no disclaimer about…

BREAKING: The Maine Wire has received word that Rep. Alex Willette (R-Mapelton), Assistant Minority Leader, will be dropping out of the race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. The announcement is expected to come at 5:30 PM Wednesday evening. The announcement that Willette, who was the first to officially enter the race, plans to withdraw will likely clear the way for declared candidates Blaine Richardson and former State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin. The announcement will also free up the libertarian Defense of Liberty PAC to align with another candidate. The Defense of Liberty PAC, chaired by GOP senate candidate (and dancer/actor) Eric…

Last Wednesday, US News & World Report ran an opinion piece by Peter Roff describing the conflict of interest in the Portland Press Herald’s coverage of Republican Governor Paul LePage. The Press Herald, which abstains from no opportunity to lambaste LePage, is owned by S. Donald Sussman—the same Donald Sussman who is married to Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree. Roff’s opinion piece introduces readers to Sussman, whose substantial political donations (the most lavish in Maine) were first brought to light by reporting from The Maine Wire and a report issued by the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan government accountability Reporting Group.  Sussman is no stranger to…

After spending more than $20 per vote, Maine Democrats eked out a 3 percentage point victory in Tuesday’s special election for Senate District 19. The race pitted former Republican State Sen. Paula Benoit of Phippsburg against Arrowsic Democrat Eloise Vitelli. Both women were vying to replace former Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall, who resigned halfway through his term for a job with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Daniel Stromgren of Topsham ran as a Green Independent Party candidate, grabbing just 357 votes. Vitelli garnered 4,621 votes, while Benoit collected 4,339. From the outset of the special election, the Democrats’ strategy…

BELFAST – As U.S. military intervention in the Syrian civil war seems imminent, Republican candidate for Maine’s second district congressional seat Blaine Richardson has announced his opposition to President Barack Obama’s latest foreign policy endeavor. “As both a candidate for Congress and a Veteran of four American conflicts, I call on President Obama and his administration to stop all American involvement in Syria,” said Richardson in a written statement. “Enough American resources have been spent on wars in the Middle East. We have been tearing fathers, mothers, sons and daughters away from their families here in Maine and sending them…

AUGUSTA – At a Tuesday press conference in the State House, Barclaycard, an international financial services corporation, announced its intention to add 200 new positions over the coming years at its Wilton customer service facility. Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage congratulated the company and hailed the event as a sign that Maine’s struggling economy may be headed in a more positive direction. “We congratulate Barclaycard on its investment and expansion in western Maine,” the governor said in a written statement. “The company is a solid, reputable and dynamic part of the Maine economy, and we look forward to watching them…

A new report published Aug. 19 by the Cato Institute has shed light on the extent of government dependence in Maine. In the Pine Tree State, an average family on welfare receives more than the yearly income for a minimum wage worker, and could potentially receive nearly twice that amount. The report, titled “The Work versus Welfare Trade-Off: 2013,” reprises an analysis first done by the Cato Institute in 1995.  Authors Michael D. Tanner and Charles Hughes created a hypothetical average welfare recipient family and research the total value of benefits such a family could reasonably be expected to receive…

On September 10th, the West Lawn of the Capitol building will witness a formidable assemblage of conservative activists. Christened the Exempt America rally, the gathering will feature 16 speakers, including 8 congressmen and leaders of various conservative and Tea Party organizations. The rally, organized by the Tea Party Patriots, will gather supporters and leaders to ask one simple question: if the Obama administration has already exempted Big Business, Big Labor, and Big Government from the new health care law, why shouldn’t the American people be exempted as well? The rally’s website describes the Affordable Care Act – more commonly known…

AUGUSTA — State Representative Stacey Guerin (R-Glenburn) is encouraging young women in Maine from the high school classes of 2013 or 2014 to participate in the 16th Annual Bill of Rights Essay Scholarship Contest, sponsored by the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) and the National Rifle Association (NRA). The six young women nationwide whose essays are selected will receive an award, a $3,000 
scholarship, and an all-expense-paid trip to NFWL’s 2013 Annual Conference. This 
year, the conference will be held at Washington, D.C.’s Ritz-Carlton from November 20-22.  Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply for the scholarship by writing an essay on one of two…

Two Democrats say Mike Michaud made an intelligent remark during a fund-raiser. This just in. A couple of Democratic legislators told me yesterday that they heard Mike Michaud said something intelligent at his first gubernatorial fund-raiser. The Democratic candidate for governor was cruising soothingly along; speaking about getting Maine of the right track, forging a path together, working together, honoring hard-working Mainers, working together, bi-partisan bliss, civility, lots of free stuff, working together—all the usual—when he seemed to lose his place in the script, stammered a bit and blurted out something which sounded suspiciously intelligent. He said that, of course,…

A new short film by Honest Enterprise is a must-see for fans of economic liberty with 15 minutes to spare. No Van’s Land documents the struggles and triumphs of New York City-based Community Transportation Systems Inc., a commuter van company founded and run by Jamaican immigrant Hector B. Ricketts, as it struggles to provide service and grow in the shadow of harassment and strict municipal regulations. The film by Honest Enterprise, a project of the Charles Koch Institute in Washington, D.C., follows the Ricketts’ story from his immigration to America in 1979 through his time as a business owner.…

Two non-profit groups will receive federal grants totaling more than $500,000 under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, for assistance they will provide signing Maine residents up for health insurance. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) and Fishing Partnership Health Plan (FPHP) are anticipated to receive, respectively, grants worth $475,000 and $66,846. WMCA is a Wilton-based 501(c)3 non-profit “community agency.” According to CMS, it is the lead for a “state-wide consortium of eight community action agencies, collectively referred to as the WMCA Community Action Navigator Consortium.” According to its 2011…

AUGUSTA – Gov. Paul LePage on Friday released his weekly message, which stressed the need for Maine to implement pro-growth, job-creating policies. Read the full text of his message below: Job creation and economic growth are top priorities in our Administration, and Democrats claim that it is their number-one issue. But there is a stark difference in how we would support businesses and strengthen the economy. Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage. Democratic policies over the past three decades have hindered economic stability in Maine. Bad public policies are the direct result of why many businesses are struggling to expand…

AUGUSTA – Maine Department of Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen unexpectedly announced his resignation on Friday. Bowen, 44, is a Republican and former social studies teacher who served in the House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006, representing Camden and Rockport. He was a key campaign advisor to Gov. Paul R. LePage and joined his administration in 2011. Bowen’s surprise departure from the administration he joined in 2011 follows the Aug. 1 resignation of Florida school chief Tony Bennett. Both Bennett and Bowen were members of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), a nationwide non-profit membership organization that has…

A policy expert with the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) has accused a MaineToday Media reporter of inaccurately portraying her comments in order to support his own opinions about Maine’s Medicaid transportation program. “I’m writing to correct the portrayal of my comments to Mr. Joe Lawlor related to his article published August 13th in the Kennebec Journal on Medicaid transportation in Maine,” Kathleen Nolan, director of state policy and programs for NAMD, wrote in an Aug. 15 letter to MaineToday Media Editorial Writer Greg Kesich and Editor Cliff Schechtman. A copy of the letter was obtained by The Maine Wire…

The vast majority of Maine residents do not support the Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA), a law created via a 1996 citizens’ initiative to provide taxpayer cash to politicians, according to statistics from Maine Revenue Services (MRS). As any Maine resident who pays taxes knows, line 1 of the Maine Income Tax Return allows tax filers to choose whether they want $3.00 to go to the Maine Clean Election Fund (MCEF), the pot of money that supports MCEA. It states: “Maine Clean Election fund. Maine Residents Only. Check here if you, or your spouse, if filing jointly, want $3 to…

The first students to graduate from one of Maine’s fledgling public charter schools heard from an unusual voice at their commencement ceremony on Friday: Senate President and outspoken opponent of charter schools Justin Alfond (D-Portland). The speaking event followed a public spat between Alfond and Republican Gov. Paul LePage, which began when the Senate President attacked a different public charter school, the Portland-based Baxter Academy for Science and Technology, and was arranged at the last minute. The Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MEANS) at Good Will-Hinckley in Fairfield sent out a media advisory announcing their commencement ceremony on July 26…

Soon the Humane Society of the United States, (HSUS) will initiate their anti-bear trapping, hounding and baiting signature gathering effort.  If they are successful in gathering the nearly 60,000 signatures necessary to place the question on a referendum ballot, the debate will begin in earnest and at certain times will be very emotional on both sides.  Our organization will oppose their efforts. It is extremely important sportsmen and women and the public do not confuse the actions of HSUS with our local animal shelters and the important work they and their volunteers do for our communities. The HSUS is a…

AUGUSTA – Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage on Wednesday hit back at Senate President Justin Alfond (D-Portland) for his incendiary remarks regarding a Portland-based public charter school. “I was disappointed to read your attack on the Baxter Academy of Technology and Science, the newly approved public charter school in Portland,” LePage wrote to Alfond in a July 31 letter obtained by The Maine Wire. “Baxter provides an excellent opportunity for students who are seeking a project-based, technology-rich, college-preparatory education focusing on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).” LePage was responding to comments Alfond made last week regarding Baxter’s decision to…

Everybody can recall that one teacher who had a life-changing impression on them. For some it happened in grade school; others, college. One individual, however, managed to influence individuals not only in the halls of academe, but in magazines, newspapers, television channels, the U.S. Congress, and even the White House. And still, after his passing, he is changing the world. Milton Friedman is considered by many to be the most influential economist of the 20th century. His contributions have had a lasting impact on monetary policies, taxing models, government spending, and education reforms. And yet, even with the proven effectiveness…

Winning 2012’s ballot initiative to legalize same-sex marriage is not enough for pro-gay activists with EqualityMaine. The group is now focusing its advocacy on rural Maine, where voters largely voted against same-sex marriage, in an effort to educate blue collar Mainers about homosexual and transgender issues. As MaineToday Media’s Michael Shepherd reports: After winning same-sex marriage in 2012, a Maine gay-rights group is shifting its focus toward gaining acceptance for couples in rural areas that largely opposed it. The Portland-based advocacy group, EqualityMaine, released a five-year strategic plan recently to outline its overarching goals through 2018, focused on building and…

Senate President Justin Alfond (D-Portland) and House Speaker Mark W. Eves (D-North Berwick) held a meeting of minds and produced a predictably gushing review of the 126th Legislature. Their recent Bangor Daily News opinion editorial is, for the most part, recycled Democrat talking points and back-patting, but there are a few dubious claims worth highlighting. “We are proud to report that with patience, persistence and a willingness to take the high road, Democrats delivered results for the people of Maine.” Maine Democrats are a rather prideful bunch, yes, but willing to take the high road? Were they taking the high road…

Courtesy of Breitbart News’ Matthew Boyle: Popular opposition to the “Lifeline” program, colloquially known since last year as the “Obamaphone” program, appears to be growing. Tracfone Wireless, the company that most benefits from the government subsidy, is now advertising on inside-the-beltway news websites in an effort to save it. “Obamaphone? Obamaphone?” a flashing banner ad running interchangeably with other ads at the top of Politico’s website reads. “Think again. Lifeline. Created by Reagan.” “Impact on the deficit? Zero,” another flashing slide argues. The banner ad takes those who click on it to LifelineFacts.com, an advertising website run by TracFone. “TracFone has…

A long-time Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) board member resigned in June following the federal government’s belated determination that he has a conflict of interest. The board resignation raises several questions about how the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) handles conflicts, including whether political affiliations affect treatment. Donald H. Gean has served since 2006 as a commissioner at MSHA. At the same time, Gean was the Chief Executive Officer of the York County Shelter Programs (YCSP), a 501(c)(3) non-profit. [RELATED: Maine taxpayers pay for MaineHousing malpractice…] Problematically, YCSP receives hundreds of thousands of tax dollars through the…

U.S. Sen. Angus S. King, Jr., an unenrolled Democrat, is the only freshman U.S. senator that has not formed a leadership PAC. Leadership PACs are committees that allow politicians to raise money from special interests and give that money to friends and colleagues. Courtesy of Shane Goldmacher of NationalJournal.com: Ted Cruz waited less than a week after his election to form his. Heidi Heitkamp followed only days later. Then came Tim Kaine and Mazie Hirono and Deb Fischer and Elizabeth Warren. By the time these freshman senators took the oath of office in January, each already had created a fundraising…

Courtesy of ZeroHedge.com, here are 25 remarkable facts about Detroit: 1) At this point, the city of Detroit owes money to more than 100,000 creditors. 2) Detroit is facing $20 billion in debt and unfunded liabilities.  That breaks down to more than $25,000 per resident. 3) Back in 1960, the city of Detroit actually had the highest per-capita income in the entire nation. 4) In 1950, there were about 296,000 manufacturing jobs in Detroit.  Today, there are less than 27,000. 5) Between December 2000 and December 2010, 48 percent of the manufacturing jobs in the state of Michigan were lost. 6) There are lots of houses available for sale in Detroit right now for $500 or less.…

AUGUSTA – Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage is touting the latest unemployment figures, which show Maine’s number of jobless at the lowest rate since November of 2008 – a 15 percent decrease since LePage took office. “About 8,000 more people are working in the private sector now than when I took office,” said LePage. “Our focus on helping to create jobs and improving the economy is putting more Mainers back to work and that is good news for everyone.” The June unemployment rate of 6.8 percent is down from 7.3 percent in June of 2012. “By reducing taxes, limiting the…

Maine’s legislature passed its two-year budget earlier this month, and it includes two allegedly temporary tax increases—one in the state sales tax (from 5 to 5.5 percent) and another in the leisure tax (from 7 to 8 percent; levied on lodging, bars, and restaurants) as a way to close the state’s $880 million budget gap. Maine’s governor, Paul LePage, vetoed the budget on Monday because of the tax increases and an $18 million cut to proposed education spending. Legislators quickly overrode that veto on Wednesday. The tax hike is set to expire in June 2015. [RELATED: GOP joins Democrats to override LePage’s budget veto, pass tax hikes…] That…

We have just concluded the first legislative session in Augusta since Democrats retook the majority from Republicans who held it for a brief two years after decades of one-party rule. The results are in and the difference is clear. Although I applaud several bipartisan initiatives, such as energy reform and workforce development, there were too many missed opportunities, too many close calls and too many hard blows to Maine’s economy. With liberal politicians back in control of the state Legislature, we saw tax increases where two years ago we saw tax cuts. We saw liberals throw more money at the…

The town of Deer Trail, Colorado is considering providing hunting licenses — and even cash bounties — for residents who can shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles, otherwise known as drones. Courtesy of TheDenverChannel.com: Deer Trail resident, Phillip Steel, drafted the ordinance. “We do not want drones in town,” said Steel. “They fly in town, they get shot down.” Even though it’s against the law to destroy federal property, Steel’s proposed ordinance outlines weapons, ammunition, rules of engagement, techniques, and bounties for drone hunting. The ordinates states, “The Town of Deer Trail shall issue a reward of $100 to any shooter who…

House Majority Leader Seth A. Berry (D-Bowdoinham) and Assistant Majority Leader Jeff M. McCabe (D-Skowhegan), both of whom ran taxpayer-funded campaigns in 2012 — ostensibly to reduce “dirty” money’s control over Maine elections—are hosting an event for their supporters, with top spots selling for up to $5000 a pop. Both Berry and McCabe received money from the Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA). Touted by supporters as a way to “reduce the influence of big money in government” and “eliminate corruption, and the appearance of corruption,” the MCEA provides public funding for candidates to run in State Senate, State House of…

  BANGOR – The Bangor Daily News published a July 5 letter to the editor that criticized an environmentalist non-profit for cancelling a lecture by climate expert David Dilley, but not before removing allegations that University of Maine officials were involved in the decision. Written by Dilley’s wife, a retired teacher and Hiram resident, the letter recounts how the Steuben-based Eagle Hill Institute made a last-minute decision to cancel a lecture by Mr Dilley, CEO of Global Weather Oscillations Inc. Dilley, who has 40 years of meteorological and climatological experience, researches natural, non-anthropogenic causes of climate change. According to the letter, Dilley was…

In what is becoming de rigueur for newspapers owned by S. Donald Sussman and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, the Portland Press Herald is out with a new smear campaign targeting Republican Gov. Paul LePage. The smear story is entitled, “Portland schools: LePage wrong about military recruiters”. A fairer headline might read: “Portland schools: U.S. military, LePage, Alfond, Eves, entire state senate wrong about military recruiters”. The media’s latest anti-LePage drumbeat began with an uncontroversial proposal (L.D. 1503) – a bill, prompted by military officials’ complaints, that would ensure uniformed recruiters have unrestricted access to Maine’s high schools. That proposal, however, was…

With its bloated welfare roles and generous provision of jobless benefits, Maine is seen by many as the ultimate Nanny State. The state’s newest online tool will do little to counter this reputation. The Maine Department of Labor on Monday unveiled a smart phone application that will help prevent fall injuries by aiding in the proper use of ladders. Yes, the state is now helping citizens learn proper ladder use. Worry not: the app was developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, meaning taxpayers did not directly subsidize this Nanny State endeavor. Here’s the press release: AUGUSTA- Maine employees…

PORTLAND – Portland Public Schools officials are disputing Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s claims that the city’s high schools restrict uniformed military recruiters’ access to students — this, despite Senate President Justin Alfond’s (D-Portland) stated belief that there is a problem. Portland High School Principal Deborah Migneault, according to a NECN.com report, denied LePage’s claims, saying that military recruiters have a table set up outside the guidance office. However, Alfond, who represents Portland, has said that he communicated with school district officials, learned that the LePage Administration’s claims were accurate, and that’s why even he supported the bill. [RELATED: Maine GOP…

Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage. (Click here for audio) Playing politics is easy; governing effectively is hard. As Chief Executive, I take my responsibilities on behalf of the people of Maine seriously. Our Administration has worked hard to change the attitude within government and has brought more transparency to government than any recent administration. We work with citizens and businesses to solve problems. We strive to be efficient and responsible with taxpayer dollars. And we only introduce public policy that benefits Mainers and our state. There are nearly 500 new bills that will become law in October or earlier…

ReasonTV’s Nick Gillespie explains the top three reasons Social Security is in need of immediate reform.

AUGUSTA – Republicans and Democrats across the state are squabbling over Gov. Paul LePage’s record number of vetoes in the wake of a final round of rejected legislation. While Democrats claim LePage’s record 83 vetoes in the current session have scuttled too many worthwhile bills, Republicans say Majority Democrats are ignorant of how to operate in divided government and have pushed too many far left proposals. In a fundraising email to Democrats, Maine Democratic Party Field Director Jonathan Hillier drew attention to LePage’s veto of bills to increase the state’s minimum wage, impose stricter environmental regulations, and expand welfare programs.…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Republican Party is calling on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Michael Michaud to denounce Democratic lawmakers for their anti-U.S. military vote Tuesday night. “Mike Michaud must either stand up and rebuke this offensive anti-U.S. military action by Maine Democrat legislators, or explain why he thinks it is okay to take a hard line against our honorable servicemen and servicewomen,” said Executive Director of the Maine Republican Party Jason Savage. [RELATED: Maine Dems take stand against U.S. military recruiters, call high-ranking military official liar…] “If Mike Michaud wants to be Governor, he no longer has the luxury of just…

AUGUSTA – Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives on Tuesday defeated a proposal that would have ensured the nation’s military recruiters unhampered access to Maine’s public schools. Although Democratic critics of L.D. 1503 claimed that military recruiters’ access has not been limited, a top military official described the problem in detail in a May 22 email to Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen. “In the Northern portion of the State we are very fortunate,” wrote Battalion Command Sergeant Major Richard L. Hannibal. “Almost all of the schools allow our recruiters full access.” In predominantly liberal Southern Maine, however, Hannibal described recruiters’…

BATH – A Democratic candidate running in a special election to replace Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall (D-Sagadahoc) in Senate District 19 told the Bangor Daily News on Monday that he believes low taxes and small government are harmful to society. According to BDN, Will Neilson of Arrowsic, a former Republican who announced his Democratic candidacy on Monday, said, “I’ve become convinced that the ideas of low taxes and small government are actually harmful to society as a whole.” Bath City Councilor David Sinclair and workforce development specialist Eloise Vitelli have also announced that they will run as Democrats in the…

From the Office of the House Republicans AUGUSTA – In a surprise turn of events Tuesday, several House Democrats flipped their votes on LD 1503, a bill that would have allowed military recruiters the same access to Maine public schools as civilian career recruiters and would have further allowed them to wear their uniforms while visiting schools. Education Committee Democrats initially voted against the bill and Democrats narrowly killed a similar bill on the House floor.  However, passionate debate by House Republicans, many of them veterans, persuaded Democrats to reject their committee’s majority report and vote in favor of LD 1503, 115-28, on June 4. Democrats then…

AUGUSTA – House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette (R-Newport) said in a statement on Tuesday that Democrats were jeopardizing the $100 million transportation bond by maneuvering to politically weaken Republican Gov. Paul LePage. “Democrats are proving once again that they are willing to jeopardize the passage of a jobs initiative that enjoys broad, bipartisan support just so that they can get their way on contentious spending initiatives,” said Fredette. “Every Mainer knows that our roads need repairs and that our state needs jobs.  The problem is, over the years, our roads and bridges have fallen victim to a liberal spending addiction…

In choosing not to accept the federal Medicaid expansion, Gov. Paul LePage and key legislators in Augusta have acted prudently. Certainly, the prospect of receiving millions more dollars in federal assistance to prop up the state’s ailing program was hard to resist. But for MaineCare, the priority must be to make the program affordable for the long haul — so that 10 or 15 years down the line, Maine still can offer the most vulnerable a health care safety net. When it comes to Medicaid reform, Washington would do well to make Augusta’s priority its own. For all its “promises”…

AUGUSTA – Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage on Wednesday said President Barack Obama’s decision to delay the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate validates criticisms that the controversial health care overhaul, also known as ObamaCare, will be devastating for businesses. “I have said all along that ObamaCare will drive up costs and bury both businesses and families in more government regulation,” LePage said in a statement. “It is good to see Washington finally recognize more major problems with this law,” he said. “It is time Congress and the President repeal ObamaCare and give each state the flexibility we need.” “It is…

AUGUSTA – Maine Gov. Paul LePage released a video on Thursday explaining why he could not support the Legislature’s two-year budget. “My fellow Mainers, I am not a politician,” he said. “I am blue collar governor and I represent the hard-working people of Maine.” LePage said that Maine’s “elite” will never vote for him, but that’s fine in his book. “I’m not worried about the next election, I’m worried about the next generation,” he said. The hard-talking governor, who has faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans over a style of communicating that is, to say the least, politically incorrect,…

More than 60 organizations in 35 states, including 11 national groups, on Sunday began a week-long campaign to inform union members about their legal right to leave their labor union. National Employee Freedom Week (NEFW) is a project of the Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI) and the Association of American Educators. The groups involved in the project, including the Maine Heritage Policy Center, are taking advantage of NEFW to help union members understand whether and how they can leave their union. The national campaign follows NPRI’s successful efforts at the local level to help Las Vegas area teachers leave the…

AUGUSTA – The Maine State Legislature on Wednesday voted to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of the $6.3 billion legislative budget. In the House of Representatives, 114 members voted in favor of overriding the governor, while 34 voted to sustain his veto. In the Senate, the vote fell 26 to 9. “Let’s be honest, our state government has outgrown our economy and our ability to pay for it,” said Senate Minority Leader Michael Thibodeau (R-Waldo) in his floor testimony. “Absolutely no one in this chamber, nor in the other chamber, nor the governor, is advocating for a state shutdown,” he…

AUGUSTA – Maine Gov. Paul LePage on Monday officially vetoed the Legislature’s proposed budget for the next two years, citing cuts to education spending and tax increases he calls unacceptable. The Legislature approved the budget proposal (L.D. 1509), which includes a sales tax rate increase of 10 percent and meals and lodging tax rate increase of 14.3 percent, on June 13. According to Maine law, LePage had ten days, or until Wednesday, to sign or veto the bill. In a letter to lawmakers in the 126th Legislature, LePage explained the reasoning behind his veto, focusing on cuts to education spending…

BATH – A Republican contender to become the next state senator from Sagadahoc County has emerged following a top Democrat’s decision to accept a position in the U.S. Small Business Administration. Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall (D-Sagadahoc) announced his resignation at the beginning of June, triggering a scramble among both political parties to find a replacement. Last week, former State Sen. Paula Benoit of Phippsburg said in a statement that she is “strongly considering” a run for the seat she once held. “I have been touched and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and encouragement by many from Sagadahoc County.…

AUGUSTA – Maine Gov. Paul R. LePage announced Thursday that he intends to veto the Legislature’s budget proposal and called on Democratic leaders to join him in negotiating a 60-day continuing resolution (CR) to fund state government so a better budget can be crafted. “This budget makes us all victims,” said Maine State Director of Americans for Prosperity Carol Weston during a rally in the Hall of Flags at the State House. “Even though you work harder, you’ll bring home less,” said Weston, who introduced the governor. “This budget needs a veto.” Standing before an enthusiastic crowd of several dozen supporters,…

The Bangor Daily News published an editorial on Monday that urged the Maine Legislature to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a Medicaid expansion bill. The editors, in their zeal to blast a governor they clearly dislike, substituted facts for Democrat Party talking points and snide down-talking. “We didn’t expect him to be open to the idea of extending health insurance to tens of thousands of Maine’s poorest,” the editors oozed. Medicaid is not health insurance. It is a welfare program. It is also a broken and dysfunctional welfare program that has strained Maine’s budget for more than a decade.…

AUGUSTA – The Maine House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to sustain Gov. Paul R. LePage’s veto of the controversial expansion of Medicaid proposed under President Barack Obama’s sweeping healthcare overhaul. Medicaid expansion was originally mandated under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), more commonly known as Obamacare. However, the 2012 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court found the mandate unconstitutional, giving states the freedom to choose whether to expand the welfare program, which is known in Maine as MaineCare. Following House lawmakers 97-52 vote to sustain the governor’s veto, House Democrats immediately proposed a reconsideration and, after some parliamentary squabbling…

By Paul Blair — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has friends in Portland, Maine. They’ve taken his call to impose government overreach and will not be stopped by science, threats to local small businesses, or any possible costs to consumers.  The quest? Stopping the use of those pesky Styrofoam cups and containers. On Wednesday, the Portland City Council’s Transportation, Sustainability, and Energy Committee will consider a recommendation that polystyrene (or as it is commercially known, Styrofoam) be prohibited in Portland. The ban is being modeled after a 1990 ban enacted in Freeport. Facing a national economy struggling to regain footing, massive…

AUGUSTA – Reporters from three of Maine’s largest newspapers will no longer have access to Gov. Paul LePage or his communications staff following his administration’s decision to stop indulging a news service that nowadays seems more like an extension of the Democratic Party. LePage Press Secretary Adrienne Bennett broke the news to the Portland Press Herald’s top political reporter Steve Mistler  on Tuesday. Mistler, she said, was speechless. Mistler declined to comment on this story and attempts to reach his editors for comment were unsuccessful. “We’ve been monitoring this for a long time,” said Bennett. She said that over the…

AUGUSTA – Maine Gov. Paul R. LePage on Tuesday applauded a regional effort that seeks to bring Canada’s competitively priced hydroelectric power to Maine and New England. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont have launched an initiative to secure cleaner, cheaper power options by importing large amounts of hydro into New England. According to a statement from the Governor’s Office, the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) will evaluate the expansion of large hydro and create a strategic plan to be presented to New England Governors later this year. Gov. LePage has long said he would like to…

Snowmobile registration fee hike just one in series of recent increases on Mainers AUGUSTA – The Maine House of Representatives voted Monday in favor of yet another fee increase measure. The bill, L.D. 1263, imposes a 13 percent increase on resident snowmobile registration fees with a $5 hike, from $40 to $45.  This fee hike comes on the heels of Democrat-led increases to ATV registration fees, registry of deeds fees, and municipal agent fees for passenger vehicle registrations. “We all want to make sure the trails are properly groomed,” said Assistant House Republican Leader Alexander Willette (R-Mapleton).  “The problem is that state government keeps demanding…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Legislature voted on Monday to enact legislation intended to repeal Republican-backed health insurance reform known as Public Law 90 (PL90), helping members of the Democratic Party meet a top promise of the 2012 campaign season. Gov. Paul LePage signed the comprehensive reform legislation (L.D. 1333) into law in May of 2011 following bipartisan approval in both the House and Senate, including support from three Democratic senators. Democrats and liberal activists began campaigning against PL90 before its effects could even be measured, dubbing it the “Republican rate hike law.” Despite evidence suggesting the law is lowering health…

AUGUSTA – On Thursday night, the Maine Senate voted 23-12 to pass a bill that would expand Maine’s Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The bill will now head to Gov. Paul LePage. “This is a disaster in the making,” said Sen. Jim Hamper (R-Oxford), the ranking Republican on the Health and Human Services Committee. “On two occasions in the past decade, Maine has expanded Medicaid beyond its ability to pay. Now we are about to do it again.” Senate Minority Leader Michael Thibodeau said Maine should not be expanding Medicaid, a welfare program…

By Pierre Lemieux – The history of New England and Québec have been intertwined through wars, commerce, culture, and migrations. Until the end of the 20th century, people drove through the border between Québec and, on the other side, Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine without even (in most cases) showing identification papers. The scope of north-south migrations over more than a century is witnessed by the large number of French Canadian surnames in these states. History has witnessed many famous travelers crossing the border. Henry David Thoreau published his A Yankee in Canada after an 1850 trip to Québec. From 1662 to 1665,…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Legislature on Thursday night gave final approval to a controversial $6.3 billion budget for 2014-15 that includes significant tax increases and virtually no spending reductions. The lawmakers’ budget will land on Gov. Paul LePage’s desk more than five months after he presented his own plan. Despite strong indications that LePage intends to reject the budget bill (L.D. 1509), the new spending and tax increases contained therein will likely become law, as enough House and Senate Republicans are expected to join their Democratic colleagues in voting to override the governor’s veto. Senate Minority Leader Michael Thibodeau (R-Winterport)…

AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, the Maine House of Representatives reaffirmed that taxpayer dollars can be used to pay for politicians’ post-election parties. In a 60-85 vote that fell sharply along party lines, House Democrats approved a major substantive rule change (L.D. 1543) that will affect how candidates for public office can spend funds provided to them under the Maine Clean Elections Act (MCEA). The Senate approved the bill under a suspension of the rules and without holding a roll call vote. The rule change, which was called for by the Maine Ethics Commission in April, will prevent candidates from spending…

AUGUSTA – Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives voted Monday to enact a bill that would raise by 15 percent the registration fee for residents and non-residents who own an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) . L.D. 911 was sponsored by Rep. Sheryl Briggs (D-Mexico) and is intended to support the ATV Recreational Management Fund. According to the fund’s authorizing legislation, the money raised through fees is used for a host of ATV-related causes: The fund may be used to conduct research on issues related to the management of ATVs; assist in the formation of nonprofit ATV groups; make grants-in-aid to…

AUGUSTA – The Maine Ethics Commission has launched a preliminary investigation into the lobbying activities of the Maine State Director of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a powerful anti-hunting lobbying organization. The investigation follows a legislator’s complaint that Katie Hansberry, HSUS’s Maine State Director, has not filed basic lobbying paperwork despite having conducted extensive political advocacy throughout the current legislative session. “We will be requesting a response from Katie Hansberry,” said Maine Ethics Commission Executive Director Jonathan Wayne. “She disclosed that she was new in her position and might not have been aware of the filing requirements.”…

By Pem Schaeffer — Dr. Thomas Sowell, the prolific scholar and author at the Hoover Institution, sometimes writes columns he calls ‘Random Thoughts.’  He passes along seemingly unconnected thoughts on a variety of subjects, so he can cross them off his ‘to do’ list. Sowell is brilliant, and to the dismay of many, a black conservative, which makes him persona non grata in most serious discussions about social and political policy. Especially in enlightened places like Maine.  Would that I could spend an internship under his tutelage. Here’s hoping he won’t take offense at my borrowing of his ‘random’ theme. Random…

AUGUSTA – Great Schools for ME, a project of the Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC), on Monday released a set of case studies touting the successes of customized learning in Maine. “Maine has a rich history of customized learning,” said MHPC’s Education Policy Analyst Amanda Clark. “These case-studies provide a look at educational opportunities available to Maine families beyond the traditional public school system.” Customized learning, said Clark, is an educational model that allows students and parents to choose an education that best meets their needs and interests. Such options include home schooling, charter schools, town academies, online learning and…

By Rep. Lawrence E. Lockman (R-Amherst) For compelling evidence that Maine’s public schools are long overdue for an overhaul, check out the May 10 Kennebec Journal story about Cony High School students who were disappointed at the C grade their school received from the state department of education. Members of the student council gave their school much higher marks on a report card that graded the school in 10 different categories, none of which included academics. The most disturbing aspect of this sad story is the enabling role played by grown-ups who should know better, including members of the local school…

AUGUSTA – Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday delivered a set of recommendations to the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee as it enters the final weeks of negotiations over the next biennial budget.The combination of spending reductions and new revenues adds an interesting twist to discussions underway in the Appropriations Committee, where sources say the general consensus is that a sales tax increase is inevitable. Senate Minority Leader Michael Thibodeau (R-Winterport), Sen. Andre Cushing (R-Hampden), Sen. David Burns (R-Whiting), Sen. Doug Thomas (R-Ripley) and a vocal minority of House Republicans suggested options for reducing spending and raising revenues. The purpose of the event, according…

From the House Republican Office  GOP rallies to convince Dems to vote for bills to ensure recruiter access to schools AUGUSTA – The House on Tuesday took up two bills concerning military recruiters in public schools.  The first, LD 1502, requires that public high schools allow recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to students who elect to take it.  Under the bill, recruiters, not school staff, would take the time to administer the test, which would remain voluntary for the students. That bill was rejected mostly along party lines, 74-68.  Majority Democrats on the Education Committee had previously…

By Julie Norsworthy On Friday May 17th my sons and I entered the Cross building for our first experience in the political world. I was there to testify in support of L.D. 1529. The boys were with me for a hands on lesson in government. It was a lesson for us all. There were many bills being addressed that day. We sat there listening to the Maine Principles Association, the Mane Education Association, and others who were opposed to anything that represented a change to the current public school system, opposing anything holding the professional educators accountable. They each got up…

The Washington D.C.-based Heritage Foundation’s Daren Bakst reports that the agriculture bill currently under debate in the nation’s capital has less about farms than expanding food stamps: Congress is once again taking up the farm bill — and continuing to treat agriculture like it was 1933, not 2013. The result: billions of taxpayer dollars going to waste. This is unacceptable. It’s time for lawmakers to make reforms that reflect the reality of modern-day agriculture. Even calling it the “farm bill” doesn’t reflect reality. Both the Senate and House versions are projected to cost close to $1 trillion over 10 years.…

WESTBROOK, Maine – The Westbrook schools have hired an attorney to help navigate a legal dispute with an equipment consultant who has accused the district of violating the terms of a service contract. A Westbrook school official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the legal matter is ongoing, said the district has hired a law firm to help settle its dispute with Specialized Purchasing Consultants (SPC), a New Hampshire-based consulting firm that serves as a middleman between photocopier vendors and clients, such as school districts. SPC President Skip Tilton also confirmed the existence of a legal dispute. “They…

House Speaker Mark W. Eves (D-North Berwick) has been the driving force behind the Maine Democrat’s relentless campaign to expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. Speaker Eves wrote a Feb. 26 opinion editorial in the Sun Journal, for example, arguing that expanding Medicaid eligibility is morally and financially proper. And, in his very first floor speech of the 126th Legislature, Eves descended from the rostrum to deliver a resounding call to expand Medicaid. In addition to his public service, Speaker Eves has served since October of 2011 as the Director of Business Development for…

AUGUSTA – Democratic lawmakers announced on Wednesday an alternative to Gov. Paul LePage’s five month old budget proposal that includes more than $400 million in tax increases. Senate President Justin L. Alfond (D-Portland) and Speaker of the House Mark W. Eves (D-North Berwick) proposed their tax increases during a State House press conference. The plan is outlined in a letter from the Taxation Committee to the Appropriations Committee. According to the letter, the Democrats’ final budget recommendations include delaying two tax code changes enacted by the 125th Legislature: a reduction in the income tax and an increase in the amount…

UPDATE: The Maine Wire has learned that a member of the Messalonskee Middle School “Leadership Team” – a group of teachers and students run by Principal Mark Hatch – intends to voice objections to this story during Wednesday night’s school board meeting. Please be sure to follow The Maine Wire’s coverage of this very important debate unfolding in communities all across the state.  Teachers at the Oakland area schools are objecting to a controversial new teaching system they claim has turned their students into guinea pigs in a failed educational experiment, but administrators contend that Mass Customized Learning (MCL) is…

Maine could face a drastic surge in Medicaid spending for long-term medical care if nothing is done to address a broken estate recovery system, according to a report released on Thursday by the nonpartisan Center for Long-Term Care Reform (CLTCR). The current system, according to CLTCR President Stephen A. Moses, allows individuals to artificially self-impoverish – i.e. hide their wealth – in order to be eligible for taxpayer-funded long-term care coverage under MaineCare. “Maine should look at this problem through the windshield and not the rearview mirror, because you’re speeding headlong toward a brick wall of fiscal reality,” said Moses during…

WATERBORO, Maine – Training, Education, and Accountability in Christian Homes (T.E.A.C.H.), a Waterboro-based group of York County families who home school their children, gathered at the South Waterboro Bible Chapel on Friday for a World War II workshop. More than 75 students of all ages participated in the day-long event which featured interactive learning exhibits, musical performances, costume contests, and conversations with five WWII veterans. “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn,” said Heidi H. Sampson, member of the Maine Board of Education and T.E.A.C.H. leader. That quote, which is variously…

The lone dissenting voice on the five-member Commission to Study the Conduct of Elections in Maine has warned state officials that Maine’s election system is vulnerable to fraudulent voting. “I believe that the testimony and evidence presented reveal a clear and present danger to our voting process in Maine,” wrote former Bangor Mayor N. Laurence Willey in a memo to the Democratic co-chairs of the Veterans and Legal Affairs (VLA) Committee. The commission voted 4-1 in February on their report, which stated, in part, that there is “little or no history of voter impersonation or identification fraud.” That statement was…