A Superior Court judge heard arguments Thursday about whether the LePage administration is obligated to expand Medicaid without funding from the Legislature, even as the state continues to turn away thousands of applicants for coverage. In the latest round of legal wrangling over Medicaid expansion, lawyers for Maine Equal Justice Partners and Gov. Paul LePage […]
Paul LePage
Posted inMaine
Feds say Paul LePage can’t cut job-training funds
AUGUSTA (AP) — Federal officials told Gov. Paul LePage in June that he can’t impose financial penalties on local groups that help job-seekers as part of his battle to cut bureaucracy out of job-training efforts, according to correspondence obtained this month by The Associated Press through a federal Freedom of Information Act request. LePage, a […]
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LePage's secret wind commission falling apart
A vocal critic of commercial wind energy in Maine has resigned from Gov. Paul LePage’s secretive commission to study the industry, saying the group “lacks urgency, credibility and focus.” Chris O’Neil, a consultant to the anti-wind organization Friends of Maine’s Mountains, said he welcomed the creation of the Maine Wind Energy Advisory Commission as a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage said he took 'a nice ride' on LifeFlight when he was hospitalized
AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage’s recent health troubles alarmed doctors enough that they summoned a LifeFlight helicopter to transport him to a Bangor hospital last month. LePage confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that he was transported via LifeFlight, calling it a “nice” ride. But he declined to provide further details and said […]
Posted inMaine
Paul LePage refuses to apologize without Saviello saying he’s sorry first
AUGUSTA (AP) —Republican Gov. Paul LePage said Wednesday that he’ll apologize for calling a GOP senator the “most repugnant human being” once the governor himself gets an apology – or when “hell freezes over.” LePage told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he has responded to a committee’s demand that he apologize to Sen. Tom […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Adrienne Bennett returns to LePage administration
A former spokeswoman for Gov. Paul LePage announced Monday she was returning to the Republican administration to serve in the Maine Department of Labor. Adrienne Bennett, who left the administration in 2017, posted on Facebook that she was rejoining LePage’s team and had started in her new role as the Director of Policy and Legislative […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage says he will deny Medicaid applicants until expansion is funded
AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage said he’ll continue denying applications under a voter-approved Medicaid expansion until lawmakers provide funding under his terms. Pro-Medicaid expansion advocates who are suing to force Maine to roll-out voter-approved Medicaid expansion have encouraged Mainers to apply for Medicaid expansion this summer. But LePage said the plan is to deny […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Doctors advised Paul LePage to skip international trip
Gov. Paul LePage is skipping a planned trade mission to the United Kingdom and Ireland on the advice of his physician 13 days after he was hospitalized for what his office would only describe as “discomfort.”. Peter Steele, LePage’s communications director, on Friday described the decision as a precautionary measure. “He definitely wanted to go and is […]
Posted inMaine
Paul LePage halts nominations a day after panel rejects Maine Turnpike Authority nominee
AUGUSTA (AP) Paul LePage A spokesman is blaming “petty partisan politicians” for Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s decision to halt his nominations for individuals to state boards and commissions. LePage’s adviser Michael Beardsley told a legislative panel Thursday that committees will not hold hearings scheduled on the governor’s nominations. LePage spokesman Peter Steele said it’s wrong […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine files documents to expand Medicaid and a request to reject it
The LePage administration on Tuesday submitted required documents to the federal government to expand Medicaid to 70,000 Mainers, but there’s a catch. Gov. Paul LePage – an expansion opponent – is asking federal officials to deny the application. “I strongly encourage CMS (U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to reject the State Plan Amendment that may […]