AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s first family says the food drive in which donors dropped off non-perishables at the Blaine House has netted 1,568 pounds of goods, nearly triple last year’s total. Gov. Paul LePage and First Lady Ann LePage received donations at the governor’s mansion each of the last three Saturdays. The LePages say that […]
Paul LePage
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Local legislators vying for leadership positions in Augusta
AUGUSTA (AP) — Portland Democratic Sen. Justin Alfond is likely to become president of the Maine Senate, and a four-way race among Democrats for House speaker is shaping up as newly elected lawmakers make their leadership choices. This much is clear: The cast of leaders is going to have a much different look in the […]
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Maine should decline to build health exchange
We have had the endless debate. We have had the narrow Supreme Court decision and, now, we have had the election. Looks like ObamaCare is here to stay. Maine Gov. Paul LePage is now faced with the decision he hoped to never make — whether to build a health care exchange or leave it up […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine’s Medicaid cuts likely on hold another three months
AUGUSTA — It likely will take at least another three months for Maine to find out whether it can make $20 million in cuts to its Medicaid program. A federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services spokesman said Thursday the office has asked for additional information from Maine officials regarding the state’s request to cut […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Battle over LePage labor mural removal moves to appeals court
Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued in their brief filed in July that U.S. District Judge John Woodcock erred when he concluded in March that LePage’s removal of the mural amounted to “government speech” rather than a violation of the public’s free speech right to view the art or the artist’s right to display it. The […]
Posted inOur View
Bond issues make sense for Maine’s future
We agree with Gov. Paul LePage on some things, and we disagree with him on others. The wisdom of borrowing modestly to improve the state’s future falls into the latter category. LePage is a successful businessman, and that makes it difficult to see how opposing or holding up bond spending is a business-like decision. No […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage makes energy video
AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage has a new video about Maine’s energy future, and renewable energy in particular. The three-minute video, Energy: Maine’s Economic Barrier, appeared Tuesday on the Office of the Governor website. It finds fault with Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, the state law that sets minimums for power generated from renewable energy […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage promotes pair for legal positions
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage is promoting two of his staff members to take on legal positions in his office following the departure of Dan Billings, who served as LePage’s chief legal counsel until he was sworn in last month as a district court judge. LePage is promoting his deputy legal counsel, Michael Cianchette, to […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage vows more tax cuts
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage says the improvement in Maine’s business tax climate as measured by the Tax Foundation is only the beginning. He will propose further tax cuts, including the elimination of the corporate income tax to spur job growth in the state. “We are moving in the right direction and I am pleased […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Research group says Maine tax ranking improved
AUGUSTA (AP) — A tax research group says Maine’s ranking for its business tax climate has improved to No. 30 nationally. The Tax Foundation’s 2013 list shows an improvement from Maine’s No. 37 ranking. The Washington-based, nonpartisan group’s index compares the states in five areas of taxation that impact business: corporate, individual income and sales […]