Author: Steve Robinson

Steve Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire. ‪He can be reached by email at Robinson@TheMaineWire.com.

By Scott Rasmussen Rasmussen Reports The Republican Party has won a majority of the popular vote just once in the last six elections. That dismal track record followed a party revival in the 1980s, when Ronald Reagan led the GOP to three straight popular vote majorities. To understand what went wrong, it’s important to remember Reagan was an insurgent candidate who defeated the Republican establishment of his era. When Reagan left office, however, the old establishment reasserted control. They consistently nominated candidates for president who opposed Reagan in 1980 and consistently lost elections. The difference is that Ronald Reagan believed…

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By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation Federal employees—who work on average a month less than private-sector workers and get paid more—are lobbying for higher pay. Government unions know that Congress is looking for ways to nip and tuck the federal budget, and they’re counting on being left out of the deal. “The Federal-Postal Coalition—a group representing more than two dozen federal employee unions—pleaded with Congress on Monday to spare their members in any deal related to the ‘fiscal cliff,’” Government Executive reports. Government unions went all out to re-elect the President—the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) spent more than any other outside group on Obama’s…

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By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation Taking down the Twinkie. Clogging Wal-Mart parking lots on Black Friday. Messing with a major airport on the day before Thanksgiving. If unions are trying to be more popular with the American people, they’re doing it wrong. Americans have gone crazy over the possible loss of Twinkies, Ho Ho’s, Ding Dongs, and Hostess CupCakes after the company said it was shutting down because its bakers’ union opted to walk off the job for a strike. People are already asking exorbitant prices on eBay for boxes of the packaged treats. Hostess and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers…

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By Bronson Stocking The Heritage Foundation A letter from 232 multi-industry organizations, in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is calling on President Obama and Congress to restructure the nation’s entitlement programs and put them on a path toward financial sustainability. These organizations recognize that the country’s rising debt poses grave economic risks. In the letter, they cite that near the end of 2008, debt held by the public was around 40 percent of gross domestic product (GDP); this is close to the historical average of about 37 percent of GDP. According to the Congressional Budget Office, though, debt held by the…

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By James Sherk The Heritage Foundation Enjoy Twinkies while you still can. Hostess Brands just went bankrupt. This morning the company announced that it will suspend operations and lay off more than 18,000 employees. The Bakery International Union put them out of business. Hostess has struggled financially for years. The company tried to stay competitive by cutting costs, but these cuts enraged its unions. The Teamsters ultimately accepted concessions; the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union would not. Despite warnings from management—and the Teamsters—the Bakery union went on strike and refused to return to work. Hostess lacked the funds…

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AUGUSTA – The Maine Charter School Commission voted Friday to approve the application from the Baxter Academy for Technology and Science to move to the contract phase that will result in becoming the first public charter school in Maine’s history focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It will be the third charter school approved by the Commission. Baxter Academy aims to be a rigorous, college preparatory high school promoting student ownership of learning through curriculum focused specifically on STEM. Baxter plans to serve students with a strong interest in science technology, engineering and mathematics. Baxter’s intent is to help…

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This is the weekly address by Governor Paul LePage. When Mainers say grace at the Thanksgiving table Thursday, we will offer thanks to the family, friends and community who surround and support us. Maine people have a tradition of caring for their neighbors as they care for themselves and their own families. I’ve seen that spirit of goodwill during the recent recession as many Mainers kindly stepped up to help those less fortunate. This fall, the First Lady and I had the honor to open our own doors for three donation days as part of our second annual Blaine House…

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By Bill Wilson Americans for Limited Government “[T]he only thing that’s worse than cutting national defense is not having any scheduled cuts at all take place.” That’s how Rep. Jim  Jordan, chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, put it recently, in defense of $109 billion of reductions to budget authority that are set to take place at year’s end — much of which would come from the defense budget. He’s right. If Congressional leadership and the Obama Administration cannot keep even the modest spending cuts proposed from sequestration — which would reduce the overall budget by just 1.7 percent…

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AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today reiterated his recommendation that the State of Maine will not develop a state-based health insurance exchange as part of the implementation of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA also referred to as ACA). Because the guidance issued in the August 13, 2012, request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is not legally binding, the State of Maine will not be submitting a Declaration Letter. Instead, Gov. LePage, in a letter to U.S. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, noted that the State of Maine has repeatedly stated that the law…

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After 35 years as president of the indispensable Heritage Foundation, Edwin Feulner will soon be stepping down. By NEAL B. FREEMAN The American Spectator On October 9 in Portland, Maine, Heritage Foundation President Edwin J. Feulner was honored by the Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC). Dr. Feulner was introduced at the event by longtime MHPC Director Neal B. Freeman. Most of you are familiar with the seminal contributions made to conservatism by the late William F. Buckley, Jr. In the early years of conservative revival, Bill Buckley and his merry band were the movers and shakers of American politics—challenging the pervasive…

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Governors and other state officials are deciding whether their state will establish a Health Insurance Exchange. The Department of Health and Human Services has given states until Friday November 16, 2012 to decide. Maine has already decided not to establish an exchange. By Bill Wilson Americans for Limited Government Those governors that are today considering whether or not to implement a state-run health insurance exchange under the new health care law may hold the fate of Obamacare in their hands. Under the law, state exchanges would be responsible for dispersing some $800 billion to private insurance companies. There is no…

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By Joel B. Pollak Brietbart.com The Department of Labor has announced that new jobless claims rose by a staggering 78,000 in the first week after the election, reaching a seasonally-adjusted total of 439,000. Over the past year, and in the weeks leading up to the election, jobless claims were said to be declining, dipping as low as 339,000, with the media proclaiming that they had reached the “lowest level in more than four years.” Now, suddenly, the news seems far less rosy. From the Department of Labor press release this morning: In the week ending November 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial…

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AUGUSTA – The hundreds of pounds of food collected by the First Family during their Second Annual Blaine House Food Drive will be filling the cupboards of Mainers in need within the week. Yesterday, a box truck from the Auburn-based Good Shepherd Food Bank picked-up the 1,568 pounds of nonperishable food items Governor Paul R. LePage and First Lady Ann M. LePage received from hundreds of generous Mainers over the past three Saturday donation days. The haul – nearly triple the amount collected last year – included many of the nutritious staple items that Good Shepherd hopes to see donated…

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By Bill Wilson  Americans for Limited Government If a new United Nations (UN) treaty governing small arms passes the U.S. Senate with a two-thirds majority, it will directly regulate gun owners in the U.S., warns acclaimed constitutional attorney Michael Farris. “[I]t is aimed not only at arms dealers — it is aimed at every ‘end user’ of firearms,” Farris wrote in a Facebook update, pointing to provisions in the treaty that define small arms, a requirement that all gun purchasers be put into a federal database, and even new powers in the treaty for the government “to prohibit the transfer of…

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By Rick Manning Americans for Limited Government Analyzing elections when feelings are still raw is usually a bad idea.  Of course that doesn’t stop those with an agenda from opining and pushing specific pet ideas. That is what we have been witnessing in the wake of Tuesday’s massive disappointment.  The media and some talking heads have been all over the idea that changing demographics are the problem and that Republicans have to become Democrats in order to appeal to Hispanics. However, digging into the numbers reveals a little more complex story.  Preliminary analysis of exit polls of people who voted suggest…

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The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry wishes to remind Maine residents who are veterans and were honorably discharged, or who received a general discharge under honorable conditions, that they are eligible for a free, life-time, day-use pass to Maine state parks and historic sites. “We are honored to be able to offer this small token of our gratitude to Maine veterans in recognition of their outstanding service to this country,” said Walter Whitcomb, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which oversees Maine state parks and historic sites. “We are proud and thankful for all that…

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By Steven Bucci The Heritage Foundation For nearly 100 years, America has been celebrating on November 11. Originally it was to remember the end of the First World War that was supposed to be the one that would end them all. Sadly, this was not the case. In 1952, a small town in Kansas started to use the date to remember veterans of all America’s wars. Two years later, President Dwight Eisenhower recognized the brilliant stroke of a small group of “regular” Americans by making it a national holiday. Some cynics today would say we should grow past the parades and…

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This article appeared the morning after the election, detailing the mass of layoffs because of the cost of Obamacare. By Rusty Weiss FreedomWorks Last night’s victory for the President marks the first time since its inception that Obamacare is no longer a what-if; it is the future of health care in America. It also means a near immediate impact on the economy.  With 20 or so new or higher taxes set to be implemented, ranging from a $123 billion surtax on investment income, through the $20 billion medical device tax, all the way down to the $600 million executive compensation limit, Obamacare will…

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By Nina Owcharenko The Heritage Foundation What’s next for Obamacare now? The bad news is that many of the health care law’s serious effects were delayed until after the election. Ten of its 18 new tax hikes have yet to kick in. And there is still so much about the law that we don’t even know. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D–CA) was absolutely right when she famously remarked in 2010 that “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” Thus far, we have seen revelations of increasing costs, higher taxes, and a flood of…

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By Rich Noyes Research director for the Media Research Center Fox News and other media outlets have projected that President Obama has been reelected to a second term. If, in celebrating his victory Obama wanted to give credit where credit is due, he might want to think about calling some of America’s top journalists, since their favorable approach almost certainly made the difference between victory and defeat. Reviewing the 2012 presidential campaign, here are five ways the media elite tipped the public relations scales in favor of the liberal Obama and against the conservative challenger Mitt Romney: 1. The Media’s…

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By Ed Feulner President, The Heritage Foundation Dear friends, I write to tell you to take heart. Yes, conservatives are disappointed that a President who recklessly spent trillions, expanded government and put many of our values and institutions at risk has won a second term. But many of us have been here before. In Washington, there are no permanent victories or permanent defeats, just permanent battles. Now is the time to stand up and declare we will continue to fight against big government and for freedom. We will see unfold over the next four years a crucial battle for the…

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By David S. Addington The Heritage Foundation In urging the delegates to a New York convention to ratify theU.S. Constitution in 1788, Alexander Hamilton emphasized the principal strength of the new Constitution: “Here, sir, the people govern.” The federal government gets its mandate from the American people. You are in charge. Express your will: Vote. You help govern your country through the exercise of your right to vote. As the U.S. Supreme Court has said: “No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make the laws under which, as good citizens,…

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By Bruce Poliquin  Maine State Treasurer Maine state government’s credit rating is an objective measure of our State’s economic and fiscal health.  A strong credit rating is important to all Maine families for three primary reasons: 1. It gives confidence to investors who purchase our bonds (when they loan the State money) that those investments are safe and secure.  That helps us to sell bonds again when we need money, for example, to build roads and bridges. 2. It lowers the interest payments to our bondholders that Maine taxpayers must pay. 3. Entrepreneurs compare state credit ratings when deciding where…

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AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage has released a new video highlighting recent education reform, noting that the LePage Administration increased funding for public schools in 2011 by $63 million. In recent weeks, election advertisements have targeted education efforts claiming the Administration has undermined public schools in Maine. “Thankfully, we are coming to an end of the ‘mean season.’ I look forward to working with legislators who want to put our students first,” Governor LePage said. I encourage any legislator who wishes to put Maine students ahead of politics; ahead of union rhetoric and partisan talking points; and most importantly, to give…

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The Next President and the Supreme Court was posted on The Heritage Foundation’s blog. By Edwin Meese III Every vote counts. And this year, it could count double. One vote could decide both the immediate election and the course of constitutional law for decades to come. Just ask the senior federal officials responsible for our security immediately after 9/11 who were sued years later by Javaid Iqbal. During the investigation into the attacks, FBI officials identified Iqbal as a suspect of high interest and detained him in New York. He sued alleging that high government officials, including Attorney General John Ashcroft, personally…

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By Diana George Chapin In her March 14, 2009 Wall Street Journal column, Peggy Noonan recalled in “There’s No Pill for This Kind of Depression” the six-months’ passing since Lehman Brothers fell and the “great recession” began. With the heart-pumping drama of September 2008 replaced by the “drip-drip-drip of pink slips, foreclosures and closed stores,” Noonan began asking her perceptive colleagues what, in their view, the distress of the financial crisis had rendered. Those she interviewed provided a range of sensible insights, but perhaps none more decisive than a powerful Wall Street authority. “Five weeks ago, when I asked a…

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This was posted on Rasmussen Reports on Saturday, Nov. 3 Too close to call: That’s where we’re at. With eight states, all carried by Barack Obama in 2008, likely to decide the winner. The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll finds President Obama and Mitt Romney tied nationally with 48% support each. Our Electoral College Projections show that the president can reasonably assume he has 237 votes locked up to Romney’s 206. The winner needs 270. Eight states, with a total of 95 Electoral College votes, remain toss-ups and will determine whose sworn in as president in January: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia…

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By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation The October jobs report essentially agrees with the rest of the current data on the economy—the economy is growing slowly, too slowly to bring down unemployment rapidly. In fact, the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in October and the economy created about 171,000 jobs, roughly equal to the usual number of new workers in the labor force. The October report partly reversed the mysterious drop in the unemployment rate in the September jobs report. At the time, J.D. Foster, Heritage’s Norman B. Ture Senior Fellow in the Economics of Fiscal Policy, predicted that September’s jobs…

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Feds delay approval process by responding at last minute AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today released a video to inform Mainers about the political games being played in Washington, D.C. which directly impact the State of Maine. The Governor’s announcement, available on www.maine.gov/governor, relates to the untimely manner in which the Federal Government has responded to Maine’s State Plan Amendment (SPA) that will allow legislatively-approved changes in Maine’s Medicaid program to be implemented. Additionally, Governor LePage reached out to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to discuss the matter by phone today and sent a letter. The…

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By Bruce Poliquin Maine State Treasurer Ten short years ago little was discussed about our accumulating public debt. The media wasn’t interested in government’s addiction to spending money it doesn’t have.  Many years of this financial recklessness by career politicians has caught up with America. During each of the last four years alone, Washington has spent roughly $1.5 trillion more than collected from us in federal taxes.  Today, our national economy is suffocating under a growing $16 trillion mountain of debt.  The annual interest paid by taxpayers on this and other public liabilities has reached $450 billion, 13% of all federal government…

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MoneyRates.com has ranked Maine second in its report, “Worst States to Make a Living 2012” By Richard Barrington Senior Financial Analyst, CFA You probably know that there are plenty of challenges to making a living in today’s economy. What you may not know is how significantly the place you live can impact some of those challenges. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average wages range from a low of $33,930 in Mississippi to a high of $53,700 in Massachusetts. Unemployment rates range from a low of 3.3 percent in North Dakota, to a high of 12.6 percent in Nevada. Tax…

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The Maine Heritage Policy Center released the 2012 Maine Piglet Book today, detailing hundreds of millions of dollars of wasteful government spending. A new version of a similar publication released in 2009, the 2012 Piglet Book highlights government’s big-spending habits, as well areas where leaders can save taxpayers big money. Download the Full Maine Piglet Book (PDF) The Maine Turnpike Authority, the Maine State Housing Authority, “Welfare for Politicians” and stipends given to UMaine employees are just a few of the examples of excessive government spending highlighted in the 2012 Maine Piglet Book. The Piglet Book reports that the University of Maine…

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By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation On this Halloween, a truly frightening specter is looming. No amount of garlic, crosses, or exorcists can help us—only Congress and the President can chase this ghoul away. It’s Taxmageddon. A horrifying combination of expiring pro-growth tax policies from 2001 and 2003, the end of the once-temporary payroll tax cut, and just a few of Obamacare’s 18 new tax hikes, Taxmageddon will be the largest tax increase EVER to hit Americans. It’s nearly $500 billion in one year, starting January 1. That’s two months away. The number $500 billion is rather large and abstract, so The…

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Democrats had advance warning of bill’s unconstitutionality  AUGUSTA – Rep. Sharon Treat (D-Hallowell) has left Maine taxpayers on the hook for $680,000 worth of legal expenses stemming from a bill she advanced in 2007 that was recently struck down as violative of the U.S. Constitution. Treat sponsored LD 838 in the 123rd Legislature, which was merged into another bill, LD 4, and passed in June of 2007.  The combined bills, pushed aggressively in the Legislature by Treat, tried to stop private businesses from obtaining information about the prescribing practices of doctors.  It was a popular initiative, but one that was…

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AUGUSTA – On September 28, 2012, the United States District Court for the District of Maine ordered the State of Maine to pay $678,189.64 in attorney’s fees as a result of IMS v. Rowe. The case involved an “Act To Amend the Prescription Privacy Law” passed in 2007, under the former Baldacci Administration, which subsequently the Courts found to be unconstitutional. “An Act To Amend the Prescription Privacy Law” prohibited prescription information records which contain patient or prescriber-identifiable data from being used for most commercial purposes. The law was modeled after similar laws in New Hampshire and Vermont. Before the Legislature…

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(Cartoon courtesy of NetRightDaily) Paying Obamacare penalties would be less expensive than providing health insurance By Joel Allumbaugh Director of MHPC’s Center for Health Reform Initiatives A case study from a real business in Maine, a commercial concrete company serving the construction industry, shows that providing health insurance benefits under Obamacare would result in an annual increase of almost $30,000. Due to the requirements mandated by Obamacare, this small business would face a 27% increase in the cost of providing health insurance benefits. The business now pays a total of $109,022 a year to provide health insurance for its employees.…

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Maine’s education policies are more in line with traditional union interests than nearly every other state, according to a new report, “How Strong Are U.S. Teacher Unions? A State-By-State Comparison.” The Maine Education Association is ranked 7th nationally for its influence over state policies, based on the study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute for Advancing Education Excellence in Washington, D.C. “At the time we calculated our data, Maine policies were more aligned with traditional union interests than in nearly every other state,” the report states. “As recently as March 2012, the state did not support performance pay, there were…

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By David Azerrad The Heritage Foundation When it comes to explaining how their policies would help the poor and the disadvantaged, conservatives can all too often be likened to a football team that drives all the way to the one-yard line and then just kneels down. Rock-solid principles and policies drive them forward, but they fail to take that last extra little step and explain how these policies would help allAmericans—especially those at the bottom who most need a hand up and a way out. And because of this, the left’s grotesque claims that capitalism allows the 1 percent to fleece the…

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AUGUSTA – Maine’s First Family greeted and expressed their gratitude to the generous Mainers who dropped by the Blaine House Saturday with donations of nonperishable food items. Governor Paul R. LePage and First Lady Ann M. LePage welcomed the public at their residence in the first of three Saturday donation days as part of their Second Annual Blaine House Food Drive. In addition to accepting the donations on behalf of the Good Shepherd Food Bank and offering their heartfelt thanks, the two led tours of the residence and invited the public to enjoy light refreshments. Additional donation days will be…

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Weekly Address by Governor Paul LePage Those who know me know I enjoy reading history – presidential biographies are my favorites. Recently, I spent a few evenings with Bill O’Reilly’s book “Killing Lincoln.” I have read many books on President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination; however, O’Reilly captures this American tragedy, as no other author has. It really is a thrilling read and I recommend the book. I think there is a lot to be learned from history and I like to think the mistakes and mishaps of the past will not be repeated. But I am not sure this is the…

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   Maine officials keep a close eye on Hurricane Sandy   AUGUSTA –Governor Paul R. LePage has signed limited Emergency Declaration that will allow power crews from other states and/or Canada to help Maine prepare for Hurricane Sandy. The declaration will help Maine power providers pre-place their crews by extending the hours their crews can drive. The Declaration was issued today in advance of Hurricane Sandy in order to expedite power restoration for thousands of households in the State that could potentially be without electricity as a result of the pending storm. The Governor and the Maine Emergency Management Agency continue to monitor the…

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The Maine Heritage Policy Center’s released today its newest “Fix the System” report on Maine’s welfare system, which shows that while recent reforms by the LePage administration have improved the state’s system, more must be done to move Maine out of welfare dependency. See the entire report here. The report uses updated numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Health and Human Services and other sources to show exactly where Maine’s welfare system stands. According to the report, Maine is the only state in the country to rank in the top 10 of three major areas of welfare: Maine ranks…

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“Maine experienced an 11 percent decline in students from 1992-2009; however, the number of public school personnel increased by 35 percent. Perhaps more noteworthy during that period is the number of teachers in Maine public schools increased by 3 percent while the number of non-teaching personnel increased by 76 percent.” “The School Staffing Surge: Decades of Employment Growth in America’s Public Schools” is a new report by The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. See it here. By Benjamin Scafidi The Friedman Foundation America’s K-12 public education system has experienced tremendous historical growth in employment, according to the U.S. Department of…

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By Michael Moroney The second presidential debate started off with a question from Jeremy, a college student who wanted to know what each candidate would do to improve the economy to help young people get jobs when they graduate. Both candidates’ answers were lacking, but President Obama seemed to have missed the question entirely. Instead of addressing the student’s concerns, he focused on his plan for creating more manufacturing jobs–like the union jobs he helped save in Detroit. For a president who was propelled to the White House on the hopes and dreams of America’s youth, Obama has helped young people…

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By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation Last night’s debate between President Obama and Governor Romney was supposed to focus on foreign policy. It turned into a wide-ranging conversation on everything from the Middle East to American teachers. Heritage Foundation experts were live blogging analysis throughout the night. Below are some highlights from their reactions. A Heavy Focus on the Middle East Both men agreed that the Middle East was changing quickly, but said little about the new face of terrorism. Governor Romney charged that events in Libya, Syria and Egypt demonstrated that the Obama Administration’s policies were unraveling and leaving the region…

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By Bruce Poliquin Maine State Treasurer Because of a new law passed by the state legislature, local school districts across Maine are now able to seek competitive bids in providing health insurance for teachers, staff and their families. Industry professionals estimate possible savings of up to 15% for the second most expensive item in school budgets behind salaries: health insurance for school employees. Expected substantial savings could be used to reduce rising local property taxes. Property taxes fund 79% of the average Maine municipal budget. As shown on the graph below, property taxes have more than doubled over the past 20…

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Court upholds law to break school union’s “virtual monopoly” on health insurance The Maine Education Association’s longtime monopoly on health insurance for Maine public school employees has been broken, opening the door for school districts to seek lower-cost health insurance plans—and reduce local property taxes. See Appeals Court decision here. According to the most recent data, the Maine Education Association Benefits Trust paid Anthem an annual premium of $370 million and kept $87 million in a reserve fund, plus paid Anthem $900,000 a year to administer the plan. The MEA Benefits Trust has maintained a stranglehold on health insurance costs,…

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AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage applauds the end the lawsuit filed by the Maine Education Association (MEA) to withhold health insurance claims data from school districts that have requested it to pursue more affordable coverage. MEA filed filed a motion to dismiss the suit on Wednesday. “School systems can now generate savings from their health insurance programs to reinvest in the classroom instead of wasting time and money fighting frivolous lawsuits,” said Governor LePage. “Last year, I challenged the MEA to increase their professional development spending by offering to match any increase in funding. That challenge remains unanswered. Perhaps now the…

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Click to download the MERI Report on 125th Legislature. The Maine Economic Research Institute has released its report card on legislators who vote to improve Maine’s economy—and those who don’t. “Roll Call 2011-2012: A Report on the 125th Maine State Legislature from an Economic Point of View,” grades legislators according to the votes they made on issues that affect Maine’s business environment. Legislators such as Senator Justin Alfond (D-Cumberland) and Rep. Emily Cain (D-Orono) 33.61 scored poorly, earning them the grade of “very weak” supporters of Maine’s business environment. Alfond got a 24.13, while Cain scored a 33.61. Any legislator with…

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By Robert Rector and Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation It’s been a pretty big year for welfare—and a new report shows welfare is bigger than ever. The Obama Administration turned a giant spotlight on the welfare system in July when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proclaimed it had the authority to gut the work requirements from the welfare reform that had helped lift so many people out of poverty after 1996. This morning, a new report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) shows the staggering reality of the growing welfare state—echoing Heritage’s own research that reveals welfare spending is approaching the $1 trillion…

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Governor Paul R. LePage invites Mainers to the Blaine House on Monday, October 22 to raise awareness about domestic violence and abuse in Maine. At 5:30 p.m. a formal lighting ceremony, which will cast a purple hue onto the Blaine House, will take place. Purple is the official color that acknowledges domestic violence awareness. Additionally, more than 40 purple candle lights will be lit in the windows of the Blaine House to recognize Mainers who have been lost to domestic violence. Governor LePage will deliver welcoming remarks and speak about the important role men have to make domestic violence and…

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By Pem Schaeffer Maine Wire columnist On Sunday, October 7, The Maine Wire published my column,  “Maine’s colorful political chameleons: Angus King and Alan Caron,” in which I applied the idea of chameleons while discussing Alan Caron, Angus King and the conceit of political independence.  I used the metaphor “highly specialized political animals” and observed: “The thing about chameleons, though, is that they don’t change on the inside; they simply change their outer appearance to optimize their circumstances of the moment.” As I wrote the column, I didn’t recognize just how well varying one’s colors would describe Caron’s conduct in today’s…

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By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation During last night’s debate between President Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney, Heritage’s policy experts were live-blogging their analysis of the ideas discussed. Below are some of the highlights of our experts’ reactions to the major points made. “Getting Tough on China”: The Truth About Trade President Obama said during the debate that he signed three trade deals. Not true. Obama was left three free trade agreements on his desk when he took office. Those deals and many others were initiated, negotiated, and signed by President Bush. The one trade agreement that Obama has prioritized, the…

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Maine People Before Politics posted this story on Tuesday, Oct 16. See it here. State Legislator has spent more than $8,500 in so-called “Clean” taxpayer election funds at bankrupt convenience store he co-owns Taxpayer funding of elections has become a flashpoint in Maine.  Multiple lawmakers have been tripped up by the rules regarding election funding and the use of tax money to pay for campaigns under “clean” elections laws. Now a new analysis of taxpayer-funded campaigns and expenditures has turned up a new series of questionable expenses – all from John Martin, one of the most famous and longest serving…

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By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation Tonight’s presidential debate is the last one that will include questions on domestic policy. The previous presidential and vice presidential debates covered a host of issues, but there are key questions still to be answered. Heritage experts submitted five issues below—with questions—that it is important to discuss before the debate moves on to foreign policy exclusively. Join Heritage tonight at 9 p.m. ET—you can watch the debate live on our Debate 2012 page. Heritage will have the live stream of the debate and a live blog of experts’ analysis; follow Heritage’s tweets and chime in. 1.…

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AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage released today a new video highlighting Maine’s energy future. The Governor speaks directly to Mainers during a three minute video, titled Energy: Maine’s Economic Barrier, which is displayed on the Office of the Governor website. Recent reports conclude that millions of dollars are wasted and jobs are on the line due to government mandates, such as Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. A report from London Economics International found that Maine’s RPS could inflate residential customers electricity prices by $12 million per year. The Maine Heritage Policy Center and Beacon Hill Institute also confirms, by 2017, the RPS mandate…

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This is from “What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls”, posted online in Rasmussen Reports. The math is pretty simple: The Big Three areFlorida, Ohio and Virginia. It is virtually impossible for Mitt Romney to win the White House without winning at least two of the three, and right now he’s ahead by two in Virginia and has widened his lead in Florida to four. If Romney wins all three states, he is likely to win the election. President Obama can keep his job if he wins two out of the three, and the president is still holding on in Ohio where he leads…

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Governor Paul R. LePage has announced the promotion of two staff members, Michael Cianchette and Carlisle McLean, to senior legal positions within the Office of the Governor. Cianchette has been promoted from Deputy Legal Counsel and Policy Advisor to Chief Legal Counsel. McLean has been promoted from Senior Natural Resources Policy Advisor, to General Counsel/Senior Natural Resources Policy Advisor. “I am extremely proud to appoint both Michael and Carlisle to senior legal positions within my Administration,” said Governor LePage. “Both individuals have been tremendous assets on staff, and I have the utmost confidence that each will serve the people of…

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Do you think public education is important? Then join the Maine chapter of StudentsFirst for lunch in Portland or Bangor so that you can share your ideas and concerns! The mission of StudentsFirst is to build a national movement to defend the interests of children in public education and pursue transformative reform, so that America has the best education system in the world. Governor LePage has signed two important bills into law that will help develop an excellent teaching force. One will recruit more talented individuals into the teaching profession through alternative certification programs and one will recognize great teachers and support…

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By Governor Paul LePage Weekly Radio Address October 13, 2012 Millions of Americans were jobless and business bankruptcies reached their highest level since the Great Depression; incomes dropped and unemployment benefits were exhausted. Fifty years ago our economy was in trouble and President John F. Kennedy was candid with his words. He said the “state of our economy is disturbing.” This look back to 1961 mirrors the hardships Americans face today. Our recovery has been anemic and incomplete, millions of Americans are without jobs, and the U.S. has out-of-control debt which is creating uncertainty for the future state of our…

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In this debate over tax reform, Angus King said he is dating Simpson-Bowles, but not married to them. “I only paid 15%,” he said of his tax rate. Charlie Summers said, “We cannot afford to pay more taxes in this economy,” and Cynthia Dill said she supports a financial transaction tax to make Wall Street fat cats pay more. King, Summers and Cynthia Dill are seeking election to fill U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe’s seat. Former governor Angus King calls himself an independent candidate. Summers is the Republican candidiate, and Dill is the Democratic nominee. The debate was held Wednesday, Oct.…

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The Tax Foundation credits LePage Administration efforts AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage is pleased to announce Maine’s rating of “most improved” in tax rankings. The Tax Foundation released recently its 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index comparing tax rates and policies across states. Maine saw the greatest improvement in its tax ranking this year, moving from 37th to 30th on the list. The positive momentum is attributable to the LePage Administration’s efforts to reduce the tax burden on Maine residents and businesses, according to the Tax Foundation. The Index specifically identifies the repeal of the individual alternative minimum tax for individuals…

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By Rob Bluey The Heritage Foundation Vice President Biden and Representative Paul Ryan squared off last night for a spirited and intense 90-minute debate at Centre College in Danville, KY. Topics ranged from foreign to domestic, touching on serious issues that Heritage policy experts grapple with every day. While many commentators were critiquing style, a team of 19 Heritage experts cut through the malarkey and focused on substance. They reacted instantly to the debate last night, providing policy research on the multitude of questions raised by moderator and ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz. Below are some of the highlights of our experts’ reactions…

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While talking about Social Security and Medicare, Charlie Summers calls out Angus King for his veto of an increase in funding for the Meals on Wheels program. “I think it was the right thing,” King said. King, Summers and Cynthia Dill are seeking election to fill U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe’s seat. Former governor Angus King calls himself an independent candidate. Summers is the Republican candidiate, and Dill is the Democratic nominee. The debate was held Wednesday, Oct. 10 in front of 350 people at a breakfast meeting of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston.

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In this video, Charlie Summers states why he is opposed to Obamacare. Angus King defends Obamacare, while Cynthia Dill says she wants to go beyond it and implement a single-payer system. King, Summers and Cynthia Dill are seeking election to fill U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe’s seat. Former governor Angus King calls himself an independent candidate. Summers is the Republican candidiate, and Dill is the Democratic nominee. The debate was held Wednesday, Oct. 10 in front of 350 people at a breakfast meeting of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston.

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Chris Busby, editor of The Bollard and a blogger for the Bangor Daily News, wrote a piece for the BDN based on Crash Barry’s report about inappropriate, racist and offensive tweets sent by the son of Angus King. See the tweets in Barry’s report here. (WARNING: They are explicit and highly offensive.) But Busby wrote that he and the BDN “have come to a different conclusion than I have regarding whether it is appropriate to bring this issue to light.” This is an excerpt from Busby’s report in The Bollard, titled “Nasty, brutish and short: the tweets of Angus King’s son.” By…

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These are excerpts from The Tax Foundation’s “2013 State Business Tax Climate Index.” See entire report here. By Scott Drenkard and Joseph Henchman Maine vaulted from 37th to 30th best overall tax climate in The Tax Foundation’s 2013 edition of the State Business Tax Climate Index. The Index enables business leaders, government policymakers and taxpayers to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare. Maine had the most sizable rank improvement this year, as a repeal of the alternative minimum tax and a change in treatment of net operating losses launched the state from 37th to 30th best overall. Maine made changes…

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In this video, Charlie Summers and Angus King clash over King’s financial interest in an engineering firm that has been serving the natural gas industry for almost 40 years. King was a critic of natural gas last year, claiming that hydrofracking is dangerous to the environment, but he now supports using more natural gas. He received $25,000 last year as a member of the board of directors of Woodard & Curran, an engineering firm in Portland that offers its natural gas utility clients “a one-stop source for all of their engineering and environmental requirements.” King authored an op/ed piece for…

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By Bruce Poliquin Maine State Treasurer Last week, Maine students joined those in 40 other states in finally having the choice to learn at publicly funded charter schools that provide flexible curriculums and more accountability than traditional public schools. The first two charter schools ever allowed in Maine opened with 106 deserving students marking the historic events: 46 high school students from 27 school districts gathered at the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS) at Good Will-Hinckley along the Kennebec River in Fairfield; and 60 students in grades K-6 celebrated the new Cornville Regional Charter School in Somerset County. After 18…

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The Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. has released the “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors: 2012,” and Governor Paul LePage is only one of four governors in the country who has received an “A.” The report is Cato’s signature state fiscal policy study. See the report  here. The report uses statistical data on spending and taxes from 2010 to 2012 and awards the governors grades A to F, based on two spending variables (per capita and actual change in spending), one revenue variable (dollar value of tax changes) and four tax variables (changes in the personal and corporate income tax rate,…

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Obama.com owned by bundler in Shanghai with business ties to Chinese government A breaking story on Brietbart.com reveals that the Obama.com website is owned by a U.S. citizen living in Shanghai, China and may provide the opportunity for foreign or fraudulent donations. The website is managed by a small web development firm, Wicked Global, in Maine. Greg Dorr of Wicked Global lists on his LinkedIn page his additional employment with Peace Action Maine and Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights. This story was written by Wynton Hall on Brietbart.com. In an explosive report set to send shockwaves through official Washington, the Government Accountability Institute (GAI) released a 108-page GAI investigation into the threat of foreign…

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By Pem Schaeffer Maine Wire columnist A few weeks back, I wrote on the subject of partisanship here on The Maine Wire. In so many words, I suggested that Angus King is a skillful political opportunist wearing an “independent” overcoat because it offers the best chance to fulfill his personal ambitions—much the same as embracing wind power offered the best chances for milking the government subsidy cash cow. I stand by that view. (You can read King’s manifesto here.) Directly related to this discussion, Alan Caron, a journeyman on the stage of Maine non-profit politics for many a year, recently…

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This week heating oil increased by about 10 cents compared to this time last month. At nearly three dollars and 70 cents per gallon, many Mainers will experience another tough winter season trying to make ends meet. As your Governor, I do not want to see anyone left out in the cold. The price of energy is on the rise and it is time elected officials be willing to address the issue both in Augusta and Washington, D.C. Politics should not play a role in heating your home, but it does. Reducing Maine’s dependency on foreign oil is part of…

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The MaineHousing Board of Commissioners is investigating $7 million paid in no-bid contracts over seven years to just two computer consultants. And the computer systems are still not done. The Maine Wire was the first to report the story. See it here. Treasurer Bruce Poliquin and MaineHousing Board of Commissioners members Linc Merrill, head of the board’s audit committee, and Peter Anastos, chair of the MaineHousing board, spoke at the State House on Wednesday, Oct. 3 about the federal investigation into MaineHousing’s failure to properly manage a housing assistance program under former executive director Dale McCormick. The Office of the Inspector…

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Maine State Treasure Bruce Poliquin sets the record straight about the media’s repeated claims that the resignation of former executive director of MaineHousing, Dale McCormick, was the result of a politically motivated “witch hunt.” Treasurer Poliquin and MaineHousing Board of Commissioners members Linc Merrill, head of the board’s audit committee, and Peter Anastos, chair of MaineHousing’s board, spoke at the State House on Wednesday, Oct. 3 about the federal investigation into MaineHousing’s failure to properly manage a housing assistance program under former executive director Dale McCormick. The Inspector General at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development has recommended that…

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Treasurer Bruce Poliquin (right) and MaineHousing Board of Commissioners members Linc Merrill, head of the board’s audit committee, and Peter Anastos (left), chair of the board of commissioners, spoke at the State House on Wednesday, Oct. 3 about the federal investigation into MaineHousing’s failure to properly manage a housing assistance program under former executive director Dale McCormick. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development has recommended that MaineHousing return almost $200,000 paid for housing assistance in units that failed inspection. HUD is also questioning whether the $111,000 that MaineHousing spent on a…

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In this video, Peter Anastos, chair of MaineHousing Board of Commissioners, speaks about hiring a new executive director at MaineHousing and the board’s investigation into more than $7 million paid to two computer consultants. He also mentions how the former executive director, Dale McCormick, deviated from MaineHousing’s mission by donating to social programs and spending $1 million on a failed carbon-credit scheme. Treasurer Bruce Poliquin (right) and MaineHousing Board of Commissioners members Linc Merrill (left), head of the board’s audit committee, and Anastos spoke at the State House on Wednesday, Oct. 3 about the federal investigation into MaineHousing’s failure…

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By David Sorenson Over the years, Angus King and his friends have built up a tall tale about King as a straightforward, calls-it-like-he-sees-it kind of guy; someone who has nothing to hide and will always be frank with Mainers.  One needs only to look at his history with taxes – both ours and his own – to see that this tall tale needs to be chopped down to size. King Campaigned Against Higher Taxes in 1994 “My Position On Taxes Is Simple: We Don’t Need To Increase The Already Too-Heavy Burden On Maine People.” (Angus King, Independent For Governor: Making A…

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Nominate an unsung hero to be a 2013 recipient, one of the highest civilian honors AUGUSTA – Governor Paul LePage and The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation today announced they are now accepting nominations for the Citizen Service Before Self Honors, which recognizes and honors those ordinary Americans who become extraordinary through their indomitable courage and selflessness. Citizen Service Before Self Honors are unique, because they are presented to unsung heroes by our nation’s most honored heroes—the fewer than 85 living recipients of our nation’s highest award for valor—the Medal of Honor.  The recipients comprise the congressionally chartered Medal of Honor Society, which is one of the most…

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By Amy Payne The Heritage Foundation During last night’s debate between President Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney, Heritage’s domestic policy experts were live-blogging their analysis of the ideas discussed. Below are some of the highlights of our experts’ reactions to the major points made. Competing Tax Plans  Most of the time on taxes was spent on Romney’s tax plan. Romney’s plan, like most tax reform plans, would lower tax rates and make other changes to the tax code to encourage growth. The economy will not recover fully until we have tax reform. Obama repeated the falsehood that Romney’s plan would…

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by Jack Rafuse Reuters – October 3, 2012 Gasoline prices are at all-time highs. As a result, energy policy concerns echo in boardrooms and family rooms across the U.S. At a recent House Energy Committee hearing on “The American Energy Initiative,” Harold Hamm, the top energy adviser of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, warned that President Obama’s proposed repeal of the energy tax provisions for oil and natural gas producers (including a manufacturing tax deduction that all U.S. manufacturers receive) would decrease drilling activity by 40 percent. Can the U.S. afford that? President Obama wants to end the right of major…

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A new website, “ColleensWorld.com,” features dozens of online posts made by State Senate candidate Colleen Lachowicz, which include several references to her “love” and “enjoyment” of “stabbing” “poisoning” and “killing things” in the online fantasy game Word of Warcraft. The site also quotes Lachowicz as saying in an online post, “The insanity has gone on long enough. Individuals like me and others can not respond like a funded and organized government effort. Now if you’ll excuse me, I may have to go and hunt down Grover Norquist and drown HIM in my bath tub.” Grover Norquist, a national leader in…

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“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – John Dalberg, Lord Acton By Harold A. Clough Before this Legislature leaves the stage, let’s remember one of its most enduring legacies. It restored honesty and accountability to state government by uncovering and cleaning up a quagmire of corruption and malfeasance. Under the control of the Democratic Party for decades, the corruption was allowed to fester unchecked. The old adage about absolute power was never more true, and the people of Maine were paying the price. In 2010, Maine voters elected Republican majorities to the House and Senate for the first time since…

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