At a meeting last month, Gov. Paul LePage pressured hearing officers at the Department of Labor to decide unemployment-benefit cases in favor of business owners over workers, sources to the Sun Journal have said. LePage summoned more than a dozen employees at the state agency to a luncheon on March 21 that lasted more than […]
Paul LePage
Posted inMaine
Undue political pressure violates process, expert on labor law says
LEWISTON — An expert on unemployment labor law said Wednesday that any undue political pressure exerted on the unemployment appeal hearing process violates the statutory fair hearing process. “The whole premise of the system,” said Rick McHugh, senior staff attorney with the National Employment Law Project in New York, “is that the state follows the […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Senate fails to override LePage’s tanning ban veto
AUGUSTA — Democrats in the Maine Senate fell five votes short Tuesday in an effort to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that would have barred anyone younger than 18 from using commercial tanning beds. The Senate voted 19-16 to override LePage’s veto of LD 272, An Act to Reduce Youth Cancer Risk. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage threatens support of tribal commission if Secretary of State involved
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has threatened to withdraw his support of a commission tasked with the emotionally charged process of unearthing a history of injustices against tribal children and their families if it continues with the involvement of Secretary of State Matt Dunlap. According to Adrienne Bennett, LePage’s spokeswoman, the governor sees a conflict […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Poll: Cutler could beat LePage
AUGUSTA — If independent Eliot Cutler ran for governor as a Democrat in 2014, he would lead incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage by almost eight percentage points, according to a poll released Wednesday. The Pan Atlantic SMS Group survey of 403 Maine residents, conducted by veteran Portland pollster Patrick Murphy, indicates that LePage would lead […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Passamaquoddy delegation heads to Augusta to discuss fishery dispute
AUGUSTA (AP) — A tribe accused of imperiling a lucrative fishery in Maine is sending a delegation to Augusta to try to meet with state officials. Passamaquoddy Indians have said they will defy state officials and continue fishing for glass eels in the state’s coastal rivers despite a warning that the governor may shut down […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Passamaquoddy official says LePage threatened group
ELLSWORTH — Gov. Paul LePage issued an ultimatum to the Passamaquoddy tribe Monday morning: Play by the state’s fishing rules or face consequences from his office, tribal officials said. According to a Passamaquoddy official who sat in on a phone call from the governor, LePage threatened to withdraw support for issues of importance to the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine gets new Public Advocate
AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage has nominated Portland attorney Timothy Schneider to serve as the state’s Public Advocate. The advocate’s job is to represent the interests of Maine ratepayers in proceedings before the Maine Public Utilities Commission, including issues regarding electricity and natural gas prices. The Office of the Public Advocate also supports Maine […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Medical marijuana lobbyist wins dinner with LePage
AUGUSTA (AP) — A lobbyist for a medical marijuana trade group will be breaking bread with Maine Gov. Paul LePage after making the high bid at a benefit auction for a dinner for four with the governor. Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine lobbyist Paul McCarrier bid $1,000 at Thursday’s auction to benefit the Legislative Memorial […]
Posted inOur View
Role reversal in Maine over taking on debt
For a governor who started out as a cash-and-carry kind of guy, Gov. Paul LePage is now weirdly willing to rack up some big-time debt. The governor started his first term firmly opposed to bonding, even insisting that the bonding by colleges and hospitals be approved by voters. The Maine Health and Higher Education Facilities […]