AUGUSTA — House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, on Tuesday called on the state’s attorney general to take action over a closed-door meeting of a newly formed blue ribbon commission on public education. At least four lawmakers in leadership roles in the Republican and Democratic caucuses at the State House participated in the breakfast meeting […]
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Posted inMaine
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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Posted inMaine
Maine lawmakers mixed on Obama’s upcoming executive orders on guns
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers had mixed reactions Monday in advance of new executive orders from President Barack Obama on federal background checks for gun purchases. While the details of Obama’s latest attempts to initiate tighter gun control in the U.S. have not been released, Republicans expressed their concerns the president would overreach and infringe on […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine political spokespeople David Sorensen, Jodi Quintero take new jobs
There’s some change on the Maine political media relations front this week, with two mouthpieces — one Republican and one Democrat — taking new jobs. Republican Gov. Paul LePage has hired David Sorensen, who was the spokesman for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for the past year, as a policy adviser, while […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Mark Eves expands case against Gov. Paul LePage
AUGUSTA — Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves expanded his federal lawsuit Wednesday that alleges Republican Gov. Paul LePage pressured a school for at-risk youth where Eves was president into firing him. Eves’ lawsuit, filed last month, accused the governor of violating Eves’ First Amendment rights. He now argues the governor also violated Maine law. The lawsuit […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Maine’s high court hears LePage case against Legislature’s adjournment
PORTLAND — A set of questions that — depending on how they are answered — could tip Maine government on its ear were heard by the state’s highest court Friday. The justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court seemed to be carefully considering both sides as they prepared to give an advisory opinion to Republican […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Speaker files civil suit against Gov. LePage
AUGUSTA — House Speaker Mark Eves has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against Republican Gov. Paul LePage. David Webbert, Eves’ attorney, filed the suit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland. The suit stems from LePage’s involvement with Eves’ employment and subsequent firing from the Good Will-Hinckley School in Fairfield. Eves, D-North Berwick, […]
Posted inMaine
Government watchdog committee green lights LePage investigation
AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s watchdog Government Oversight Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to authorize an investigation into the influence Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s actions had on the decision by a nonprofit charter school to fire House Speaker Mark Eves as its president days after hiring him. In question is whether LePage threatened to withhold or […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage’s attorney says he’s not subject to Government Oversight Committee review
AUGUSTA — A top attorney for Republican Gov. Paul LePage is resisting efforts by several state lawmakers to have the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee launch an investigation into LePage’s actions regarding House Speaker Mark Eves and a position he had been hired for then fired from at the Good Will-Hinckley School. The committee, evenly split […]
Posted inMaine
LePage renews push to end Maine’s ‘death tax’
AUGUSTA — As the top party officials at the State House continued their ongoing negotiations on a two-year budget for Maine, Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Friday renewed his push to do away with the state’s estate tax. LePage and his conservative allies call the tax paid on inheritances valued at over $2 million a “death […]