AUGUSTA — The federal government has approved Maine’s request to establish work and premium payment requirements for some of its 258,000 Medicaid beneficiaries. Gov. Paul LePage announced the change Friday afternoon, saying it will help push those who can work to find jobs while protecting benefits for the elderly, the disabled and children. “Under my […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage now says he’ll keep Maine residency, might run against Mills in four years
Republican Gov. Paul LePage said during a radio interview Tuesday morning he would consider running against Janet Mills, the Democratic governor-elect, in four years if she fails to implement voter-approved Medicaid expansion in a financially “sustainable” way. LePage said that would mean Mills would not touch the state’s budget stabilization — or rainy day — […]
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Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
As the man said, 'No brag, just fact'
Walter Brennan was an actor from times past who played many different roles in various movies and in television. In one of his roles there would invariably be some accomplishment or victory. In that role, when asked about his ability to accomplish something or be victorious, he would just respond, “No brag, just fact.. In […]
Posted inMaine, News
Paul LePage, Tom Saviello trade insults after watchdog committee finds governor didn’t meddle in timber diversion
Maine’s legislative watchdog has found no evidence Gov. Paul LePage was directly involved in a February decision to divert timber harvested on public lands away from two Maine mills. In a 12-page report released Monday to the Government Oversight Committee, the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability, known as OPEGA, concluded the decision did […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine jobless rate dips below 3%, the lowest in 40 years
For the first time in 40 years, Maine’s unemployment rate has dropped below 3 percent – a sign of an improving economy but also a reminder that the aging state has challenges in finding qualified people to fill vacancies. February’s preliminary rate of 2.9 percent was a slight decrease from the previous month and the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage slams municipal group as ‘enemy of elderly’
Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday lambasted a legislative committee for watering down a bill he initiated to try to protect the elderly from tax-lien foreclosure and urged Mainers to contact legislators. LePage also went after the Maine Municipal Association, which he said “has proven that it is the enemy of the elderly in Maine” by supporting the […]
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LePage accuses committee of ‘witch hunt’ over lumber issue
AUGUSTA — A fired-up Gov. Paul LePage said Tuesday that political tensions over U.S. tariffs on Canadian lumber had no role in a decision to divert state-owned logs away from a mill owned by a family critical of his position. LePage told lawmakers they owed him and Maine Forest Service director Doug Denico apologies for […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Paul LePage and sheriffs appear to reach accord
County sheriffs and Gov. Paul LePage have reached an understanding on how to handle federal immigration authorities’ requests to detain prisoners, apparently putting to rest weeks of speculation that the governor may try to oust uncooperative sheriffs from office. In a joint statement released from LePage’s office Wednesday, it was agreed that “county sheriffs play […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
ACLU to Paul LePage: Stop censoring Facebook
AUGUSTA — The American Civil Liberties Union demanded Monday that Gov. Paul LePage stop censoring his official Facebook page to delete comments he doesn’t like and block opponents from accessing or commenting on it. “The governor doesn’t get to decide who speaks and who doesn’t, based on whether they are praising him or disagreeing with […]
Posted inBethel, Franklin, Lewiston-Auburn, River Valley, sj-web
What would a state shutdown look like?
LEWISTON — The city clerk’s office is encouraging drivers to tend to July paperwork before Saturday to avoid lapsed registrations and licenses if state government shuts down. That goes for online renewals, too. The city will also stop issuing certified copies of birth and death certificates before the end of the week, because the state […]