AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage is tapping the acting commissioner of Maine Department of Economic & Community Development to replace the commissioner who resigned last month following remarks that offended rural residents, African-Americans and Native Americans, the governor’s office said Monday. The announcement that LePage selected George Gervais to the post comes […]
Paul LePage
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage not keen on renewable power subsidies
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage used his weekly radio address Saturday to tout his proposal to change the state’s renewable energy mandate, a plan critics say will increase dependence on fossil fuels. LePage’s original bill aimed to give electric consumers a choice to buy a “green power standard” offer as part of […]
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Insurance law likely vulnerable to people’s veto
There were smiles all around in Augusta on Tuesday, at least on Republican faces, as Gov. Paul LePage signed the controversial health insurance overhaul bill. But the real battle — to convince ordinary Mainers that this reform will improve their lives — has not yet begun and the ultimate outcome is far from certain. At […]
Posted inMaine
LePage: Brown won’t be reappointed to DEP despite bill amending conflict provision
AUGUSTA — As promised, Gov. Paul LePage has introduced a late bill that will amend conflict-of-interest rules to ensure that individuals with a development background can serve on the state’s citizen environmental board. The bill could also conceivably allow LePage’s recently resigned commissioner of environmental protection to return to his post. Brown stepped down as […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
3 of 10 Mainers approve of LePage’s performance
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A new poll indicates only three of 10 Mainers approve of the job Republican Gov. Paul LePage is doing. The tracking poll released Wednesday by Critical Insights puts LePage’s approval rating at 31 percent, close to 37 percent support he won at the polls in November. The approval rating numbers are […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage: Jobs jobs needed to keep our gradates in Maine
AUGUSTA (AP) — With thousands of students graduating this month from Maine’s colleges and universities, Gov. Paul LePage says the state must create more jobs so more of those graduates stick around after receiving their degrees. In his weekly radio address Saturday, the governor said young men and women who go to college in Maine […]
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Maine Democrats take aim at LePage’s budget proposal
AUGUSTA (AP) — The top Democrat on the Maine Legislature’s Appropriations Committee says Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed two-year budget largely fails to deliver on the governor’s promises. In the Democrats’ weekly radio address Saturday, Sen. Dawn Hill of York says LePage has promised to save money and create jobs, make government more accountable and protect […]
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LePage receives honorary degree from Husson
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who was homeless as a boy and credits college for changing his life, returned to his alma mater Saturday to receive an honorary doctorate in public service from Husson University. LePage told more than 500 students receiving degrees that his graduation gift to them was 10 two-letter […]
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MaineCare cut would result in phony savings
Message to governor: A budget cut is not a cut if taxpayers end up paying the bill, anyway. And that, we fear, would be the result of Gov. Paul LePage’s plan to remove as many as 30,000 adults from the state’s Medicaid program. This is a new budget cut the governor is proposing to deal […]
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Maine gov proposes to eliminate funding for MPBN
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The LePage administration is recommending that state funding be cut off for the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. Finance Commissioner Sawin Millett told Appropriations Committee members Wednesday that instead of eliminating Clean Election Act funds for gubernatorial elections as part of his $6.1 billion two-year budget, Gov. Paul LePage is now proposing […]