“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.” — John Quincy Adams Freedom is not the default position of humankind; otherwise more would be free. In much of the world, dictatorship, religious persecution and the suppression of women […]
politics
Posted inMaine
There ought to be a law . . . or maybe not
AUGUSTA — If you want to drink a pint of Guinness before 9 a.m. on a Sunday when it’s St. Patrick’s Day in Maine you can now, thanks largely to a good story. One tavern owner — a long-time Republican — suggested the idea to Rep. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, last winter, and just in the […]
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Posted inOp-Eds
Why is Susan Collins backing Grassley move on appeals court judges?
Sen. Susan Collins is among the last of the Republican moderates, acceptable to Maine voters in a way tea party candidates are not. Collins has husbanded her reputation, particularly as other GOP moderates have left the Senate by retirement or defeat, including Maine’s Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania, Gordon Smith from Oregon and Lincoln […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Maine job creation continues to lag
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has long said that virtually everything he does as the chief executive is connected to improving Maine’s business climate and creating jobs. Within two months of taking office, LePage posted an “Open for Business” sign on Interstate 95 in Kittery — a point many people pass entering Maine. Between when […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Chairman, vice chairwoman of Maine Republican Party resign
AUGUSTA — Maine Republican Party Chairman Rich Cebra and Vice Chairwoman Beth O’Connor have resigned, a little more than seven months after being elected to the party’s top two leadership positions. Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine Republican Party, confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Cebra resigned “for personal reasons” within the past 24 hours. O’Connor […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Political battle prompts company to halt offshore wind project
AUGUSTA — Statoil North America is putting its efforts to develop an offshore wind energy project in Maine on hold until the fall as a result of an amendment to an omnibus energy bill in the Legislature last week that put Statoil’s already-approved project in direct competition with a University of Maine proposal. Senate President […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage veto count up to 57 bills this session
AUGUSTA— Gov. Paul LePage has wielded his veto pen more than any other Maine governor in recent history — and the session isn’t over yet. Throughout the contentious session, the Republican governor has spiked 57 bills the Democratic-led Legislature sent to his desk, recently surpassing former Independent Gov. James Longley, who previously held the record for […]
Posted inMaine
Dems push LePage on bonds, say they will advance new borrowing in fall
Editor’s note: This story was updated with new information on Wednesday, July 3 at 11:36 a.m. AUGUSTA — Democratic leaders in the Legislature on Tuesday said they would push forward a new borrowing package aimed at creating jobs and improving infrastructure around the state. There was no estimate on the size of a new state […]
Posted inMaine
LePage announces re-election campaign at private fundraiser
Republican Gov. Paul LePage announced Tuesday he would seek a second term in office during a private fundraising event in Kennebunk, according to a state senator who attended. Sen. Andre Cushing, R-Hampden, said LePage confirmed he was running during the event hosted by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Cushing said the announcement came in front […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage swears in 2 Maine judges
AUGUSTA — A lawyer who served as tribal prosecutor for the Passamaquoddy Tribal Court in Pleasant Point and Indian Township has been sworn in as a Maine judge. Gov. Paul LePage presided over the ceremony for Calais resident David J. Mitchell, who’ll serve as District Court judge. Judge John V. Romei also was sworn in […]