AUGUSTA — Proposed cuts the Legislature will consider next week to funding for Head Start and day care voucher programs are prompting educators to sound the alarm that the cuts will affect not only the children and families involved, but Maine’s economy as a whole. A supplemental budget bill passed Thursday by Republicans on the […]
Paul LePage
Posted inOur View
State budget skips the cost of tax breaks
“This Legislature will not repeat the mistakes of the past by using a one-time windfall to put a Band-Aid over our broken system in the hopes that the problem will go away,” House Speaker Robert Nutting, R-Oakland, told reporters last week. Whew. That’s a relief. Until you consider what the Republicans will do instead: Grant […]
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University hiring reflects human nature
Any time an important public position opens a familiar process follows. There’s the national search, followed by a winnowing of resumes, followed by a first interview, a second and sometimes a third. Two or three top candidates emerge and the best person is chosen. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to work. That the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Lively Maine GOP convention expected this weekend
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Republicans say they’re energized and ready for a lively exchange of views when 3,000 party activists meet at this weekend’s convention, where they’ll gear up for big fall races, examine their candidates and hear a farewell speech from a long-time party pillar, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe. The delegates will convene […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage takes aim at bonds in radio address
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage took aim Saturday at a bond package totaling nearly $100 million, saying he opposes the borrowing proposal but stopping short of threatening to veto it. “A bond is a fancy word for borrowing money the state doesn’t have,” LePage said in his weekly radio address. LePage said he […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage stirs ruckus after calling state workers ‘corrupt’
AUGUSTA, Maine — It’s no big secret that Gov. Paul LePage wants to shrink state government, but he took that idea a step further on Thursday by maligning an entire block of state workers as “corrupt.” According to press accounts of the event, LePage was asked a question about fees at the latest town hall […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Anger over vetoes: Maine Democrats, Republicans clash on budget
AUGUSTA — Democrats reacted angrily Wednesday to a decision by Republican legislators not to break up a monthlong recess to take up two of the governor’s line-item budget vetoes, saying the GOP breached the public trust and damaged hopes for bipartisanship when the session resumes. Republicans said suggestions of a crisis are being overblown and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage signs three bills: Legislation affects workers comp, unemployment
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage signed three bills Wednesday he said will help to improve Maine’s business environment and open the door to jobs by making changes to workers compensation and unemployment benefits and clarifying what kind of workers should be deemed “independent contractors.” “We want job creators to come to Maine and create not […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine line-item veto decision due soon
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Nobody can remember when a line-item veto was issued by a Maine governor — because it’s never been done. So legislative leaders are trying to figure out how to deal with Gov. Paul LePage’s vetoes of two items in the state budget bill. The line-item vetoes were issued Saturday. Leaders of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Governor signs teacher evaluation plan in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage has signed a bill setting standards for teacher effectiveness and evaluation that he says will help improve Maine schools. The bill, signed into law Friday, requires school districts to adopt teacher and principal evaluation systems, as well as support professional growth. It also establishes a panel to come […]