AUGUSTA — The Democratic-controlled Maine Senate has denied one of Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s nominees to the University of Maine System Board of Trustees. The Senate voted 17-15 against Susan Dench’s nomination to the board Tuesday. Democrats and women’s groups have criticized Dench’s comments on gender issues on a conservative blog she used to write […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Longtime clerk of Maine House dies after cancer battle
AUGUSTA — Millicent MacFarland, a near-constant presence and seemingly endless fount of procedural knowledge in the Maine State House for 30 years, died Saturday. MacFarland, a Democrat more commonly referred to simply as “Millie,” was the clerk of the House, a position she held for more than a decade from 2000 to 2010 and again […]
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Maine oversight panel to investigate Riverview Psychiatric Hospital
AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s nonpartisan watchdog organization will join a list of entities investigating problems at the beleaguered Riverview Psychiatric Center but will limit the scope of its probe for now, according to a directive from lawmakers on Wednesday. The Government Oversight Committee unanimously tasked the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability to focus […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Eves visits Congressional delegation to address aging issues
AUGUSTA — House Speaker Mark Eves says he hopes to build a strong partnership with Maine’s congressional delegation to address challenges presented by the state’s rapidly aging population. The Democratic lawmaker is in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree. On Monday, he […]
Posted inMaine
Republicans drop out of races for Lewiston State House seats
LEWISTON — A pair of Republican candidates from Lewiston running for the Maine House of Representatives have dropped out of their races, in one instance leaving the incumbent Democrat unopposed. James Sorcek and Brian Wood officially have withdrawn their names from the ballot, according to records maintained by the Clerk of the House in Augusta. Sorcek was […]
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Alex Willette resigns Maine House leadership position
AUGUSTA — Assistant House Minority Leader Alex Willette of Mapleton, who earlier this summer became the spokesman for Gov. Paul LePage’s re-election campaign, resigned from his House seat on Thursday. Willette, who represents House District 7 in central Aroostook County, said he resigned because his job with the LePage campaign and his fledgling legal career […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Maine People’s Alliance recognizes Rotundo with ‘Rising Tide’ award
PORTLAND — State Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, was recognized recently by the left-leaning Maine People’s Alliance, a statewide group that advocates for seniors, the disabled, the poor and immigrants. Rotundo was honored with the organization’s Rising Tide Award during the alliance’s annual dinner in August. “Maine People’s Alliance is an important and consistent voice for […]
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New study suggests Maine has room for one more casino
AUGUSTA — A new study commissioned by the Legislature suggests the state could sustain another casino or two depending on the size and location. The study released Aug. 30 shows the state’s economy could easily handle one more casino as long as it is in southern Maine, which likely would be in direct competition with […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Emerge Maine honors lawmakers Hill and Rotundo as women of the year
PORTLAND — An organization dedicated to electing Democratic female candidates to public office has named state Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, one of two Women of the Year for 2014. Emerge Maine named Rotundo, House chairwoman of the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee and the committee’s Senate chairwoman, Sen. Dawn Hill, D-Cape Neddick, its Women of the Year […]
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Former Maine lawmakers vying for a seat in Augusta
AUGUSTA — After a nearly five-decade career in the Maine Legislature that ended in a shocking defeat two years ago, it would seem that John Martin would be ready to enjoy some peace and quiet. But this year, the 73-year-old Democrat from Eagle Lake, who served an unprecedented 10 terms as House speaker, is among […]