WATERVILLE — A philanthropist and business executive who was a member of one of the most influential families in Maine has died at the age of 65. The Harold Alfond Foundation says Peter G. Alfond died on Monday night of complications from malaria that he contracted on a trip to Africa. He was the son […]
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Legislature approves bill to create presidential primaries in Maine
AUGUSTA — The Legislature has sent Gov. Paul LePage a bill that would move Maine back to a statewide presidential primary in 2020. It’s a move LePage has said he supports, but at least a handful of state lawmakers are questioning whether all taxpayers should have to foot the $1 million to $2 million bill […]
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Lawmakers get first look at moving Maine back to presidential primaries
AUGUSTA – Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee got their first look at a bill that would move Maine back to a statewide presidential primary vote. The bill, LD 1673, sponsored by Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, has received broad bipartisan support in its tentative form, including from Republican Gov. Paul LePage. The […]
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LePage asks Legislature when it is going to ‘wake up’ on paper industry woes
AUGUSTA — In a pair of blistering missives to State House leaders Tuesday, Republican Gov. Paul LePage charged lawmakers with doing little to help the state’s sagging pulp and paper industry and asked when the Legislature is going to “wake up.” He also labeled Democratic lawmakers as “job killers” and accused them of misleading the […]
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Maine Senate cans bill allowing brewers to sell beer ‘to-go’
AUGUSTA — A bill that would have allowed Maine craft brewers to more easily sell their products to go was squashed like an aluminum beer can under foot by the state Senate on Tuesday. At issue is whether businesses that make beer should be allowed to sell it more easily from a brewing facility without […]
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Justin Alfond says Paul LePage statement on refugees ‘morally repugnant’
AUGUSTA — A leading Maine Democrat has said a statement made by Republican Gov. Paul LePage regarding a ban on Syrian refugees to Maine and the U.S. in the wake of the Paris terror attacks is “morally repugnant.” Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, the state Senate minority leader, said LePage was taking advantage of a tragedy […]
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Lawmakers hone focus on ‘glaring loophole’ in Maine clean elections law
AUGUSTA — A bipartisan group of state lawmakers continues to hone its focus on reforming the Maine Clean Election Act in an effort to keep those running for state office from forming and managing political action committees. The system is ripe for corruption and fraught with ethical pitfalls because candidates accept donations for their leadership […]
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Maine Democrats fill legislative leadership posts
AUGUSTA — Despite seeing their majority shrink by 10 seats after last week’s election, Maine House Democrats on Wednesday re-elected the two returning members of the past session’s leadership team to key posts for the next two years. Rep. Mark Eves of North Berwick won two more years as House speaker, and former assistant majority […]
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LePage tells Democratic leaders to butt out of Alexander Group contract controversy
AUGUSTA — In a strident letter delivered Monday, Republican Gov. Paul LePage told Democratic legislative leaders not to “stick their noses” into executive branch business. The letter was a response to one sent to the governor last week by Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, and House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, in which the lawmakers […]
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GOP lawmakers cry foul after Dems refuse to reconvene Legislature to address nursing home funding
AUGUSTA — The top Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate are criticizing Senate President Justin Alfond and House Speaker Mark Eves for refusing to call the Legislature back into session to discuss a highly politicized attempt by the governor to funnel more money into the state’s nursing homes. A day before the Legislature […]