But instead of downplaying his penchant for putting his foot in his mouth, Republicans hoping to re-elect him are embracing it. New television ads from the Republican Governors Association applaud LePage’s accomplishments like erasing hospital debt and cutting taxes while touting his bull-in-a-China-shop approach, calling him “blunt, honest, one-of-a-kind” and “unique, just like Maine.” The […]
Paul LePage
Posted inMaine
PAC ads released Monday both tout and criticize Maine Gov. LePage
LEWISTON — A pair of political action committees are touting and criticizing Maine’s Republican Gov. Paul LePage. In a television advertisement released Monday by the Republican Governors Association PAC, LePage is praised for being a unique conservative and not a “blow dried” or “cookie cutter” politician. The advertisement lists some of LePage’s accomplishments and notes […]
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Posted inBusiness
LePage says state helping GNP find partner, but his patience with nonpayment ‘is running thin’
EAST MILLINOCKET — The local paper mill won’t restart unless its owner finds a financial partner, and that likely won’t happen until at least the November election, if ever, Gov. Paul LePage told millworkers on Thursday. LePage partly chided and defended mill investor Cate Street Capital and the Great Northern Paper Co. LLC it formed […]
Posted inMaine
Cutler campaign launches second TV ad, renews call for early debates
LEWISTON — In a television advertisement released Thursday, Eliot Cutler, the independent candidate in the Maine governor’s race, again challenges his opponents to debate the issues with him. Cutler is facing Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Maine’s 2nd District Congressman Mike Michaud, the Democrat in the race. The advertisement, the second this week launched by […]
Posted inMaine
Advocates decry LePage proposal to meet federal work requirements for food stamps
AUGUSTA — A proposed rule change by Gov. Paul LePage that could see about 12,000 food stamp recipients lose eligibility for the program on Jan. 1 was decried by advocacy groups Tuesday during a public hearing held by the Department of Health and Human Services. Representatives from various soup kitchens and food pantries, as well […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine’s unemployment rate stays at 5.5 percent
PORTLAND (AP) — Maine’s unemployment rate remained firm in July at 5.5 percent, the lowest in nearly six years. The Maine Department of Labor said Monday that the state’s jobless rate remains lower than the national rate, which was 6.2 percent last month. The rate is unchanged from June and is down more than 1 […]
Posted inMaine, National Sports, sj-web
LePage blasts NFL for light punishment in domestic violence incident
AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage, outraged that National Football League player Ray Rice received only a two-game suspension for a domestic violence arrest, pledged to boycott the league and called on its commissioner to take the issue seriously. In a scathing letter sent to Roger Goodell on Tuesday, the outspoken Republican governor said the […]
Posted inLetters
T. Shields: A straight shooter
Gov. Paul LePage tells it like it is. He isn’t fancy, sometimes a little rough, but people know where he stands and there are good reasons why he makes decisions on issues. One problem in understanding his actions is that his opponents’ objections are sensationalized in newspaper headlines. Sometimes buried in the last part of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage removes Maine Technology Institute president
BRUNSWICK — Robert Martin has been removed from his position as president of the Maine Technology Institute by Gov. Paul LePage. In a statement forwarded Thursday afternoon, LePage’s administration confirmed the “leadership change.” “The departure of Robert Martin from the Maine Technology Institute is a personnel matter,” LePage said in the statement, forwarded from the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Democratic leaders frustrated after meeting with LePage
AUGUSTA — A long-delayed meeting between Democratic legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday focused on the canceled Alexander Group contract and problems between the federal government and Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta, two issues that have been simmering controversies for months. Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves of North Berwick said the governor […]