AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has turned in his signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. LePage made a brief appearance at the secretary of state’s office, where supporters gathered Friday. Democratic challenger, Rep. Mike Michaud, submitted his petitions earlier this month. Candidates for governor and U.S. Senate must submit 2,000 signatures by […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
PAC re-registers to support Cutler’s gubernatorial campaign
AUGUSTA — Independent candidate for governor Eliot Cutler, who in December announced that he will campaign “unbought” and without help from political action committees, said Friday that he has no control over a PAC set up recently for his campaign’s benefit. The Campaign for Maine PAC, which supported Cutler in 2010 and spent more than […]
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Maine budget-writing panel approves $42M bill
AUGUSTA (AP) — The Maine Legislature’s budget-writing committee on Friday endorsed a $42 million bill that replenishes the rainy day fund while also restoring money for programs Gov. Paul LePage wanted to cut. Democratic Rep. Peggy Rotundo, co-chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, said the 8-5 party line vote Friday represents a compromise […]
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LePage vetoes virtual charter school bill
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a bill on Thursday that would direct the state to work toward creating a state-run virtual charter academy, citing concerns with part of the proposal that places a moratorium on cyber schools until next year. In his veto letter, the Republican governor said the bill aims to halt […]
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LePage and Legislature exchange jabs over Maine supplemental budget
Just before lawmakers on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee started public hearings on everything from cutting spending to raising taxes, LePage announced he would soon unveil a plan to restore $21 million to the state’s budget stabilization fund. Commonly known as the “rainy day fund,” LePage has said lawmakers inappropriately raided it when they voted to […]
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Our View: No place for politics in appeals process
Last April, when allegations that Gov. Paul LePage had injected himself into Maine’s unemployment compensation appeal process surfaced, LePage’s office called the allegations politically motivated attacks meant to distract the public from more important issues. It was, as we said at the time, a predictable shift-the-blame response from his spokespeople. Thursday, after the U.S. Department […]
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Michaud releases economic plan for Maine
Troy R. Bennett/Bangor Daily News Michaud calls his plan “Maine Made.” At 33 pages, it lays out policy goals that include a plan to raise Maine’s minimum wage to $9 per hour and make the sophomore year of college at any school in the University of Maine system tuition-free. The booklet outlines initiatives in six […]
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LePage lays out major initiatives for job creation, lowering taxes in State of the State
The state’s chief executive discussed most major policy areas — from energy and education to welfare reform — and reiterated his opposition to Medicaid expansion and desire to reform welfare. But the most sweeping new policy proposals focused on economic development, lowering taxes and fighting drug abuse in Maine. As was the case in his […]
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Top challengers for governor’s office rip LePage on address
AUGUSTA — The two men who want to give Maine’s State of the State Address in 2015 held little back as they blasted Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday. “The state of the state is no better than it was when he was elected,” said Eliot Cutler, an independent candidate for governor from Cape Elizabeth. […]
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LePage to lay out initiatives for economic development in Tuesday’s State of the State
State of the State online Gov. Paul LePage’s State of the State address will be broadcast live online tonight. The video will be shown alongside an live discussion of the speech and Maine politics. The speech and discussion start at 7 p.m. AUGUSTA — The focus will likely be on job creation and economic development initiatives […]