AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov.-elect Paul LePage says Gov. John Baldacci has agreed to attend the Republican’s inauguration next month. In a brief interview after Cabinet announcements Wednesday, LePage said the outgoing Democratic governor had invited him to a Blaine House luncheon earlier in the day. He said the two didn’t discuss politics or […]
Paul LePage
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Libby to stay in top Maine military post
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov.-elect Paul LePage has announced the first two of his 15 Cabinet appointments. On Wednesday, the incoming Republican governor said Maj. Gen. John “Bill” Libby has agreed to stay on as commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. Libby had announced earlier this year that he would […]
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Paul LePage clarifies disputed comment on health care reform
AUGUSTA — Gov.-elect Paul LePage’s recent statement about a process for overturning health care reform prompted a clarification Monday, in response to criticism. LePage was quoted Sunday by MaineToday Media saying that he believes Maine should join a multi-state lawsuit challenging the federal health care reform law, and that he had learned that if 35 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
2 Maine Cabinet nominees to be named
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov.-elect Paul LePage plans to announce the first of his Cabinet appointments. The Republican’s transition team spokesman, Dan Demeritt, says LePage will announce his choices for commissioners of the Department of Public Safety as well as Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. The planned announcements come amid speculation about who will […]
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LePage to back Snowe, tea party challenger or not
Gov.-elect Paul LePage said Thursday that he would support U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, if she decides to run for a fourth term in 2012, an endorsement that could rile the incoming governor’s tea party backers. LePage told the National Review that he would “absolutely” back Snowe regardless of whether the tea party runs a […]
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After harsh words, Maine’s LePage to meet Obama
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Maine Republican who made headlines with his “go to hell” remark aimed at President Barack Obama says he’s looking forward to meeting his commander in chief on Thursday. Gov.-elect Paul LePage, who won a five-way race with support of the tea party, is joining other governors-elect in Washington to meet […]
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Lepage’s tea party adviser labeled ‘extremist’
AUGUSTA — Gov.-elect Paul LePage announced Tuesday the addition of 35 advisers representing what he described as a wide cross-section of political and business interests to help review applications for administration positions and department heads. But within hours of the announcement at the State House Hall of Flags, one team member, Pete Harring, leader of […]
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LePage expands transition effort
LePage, who succeeds Democratic Gov. John Baldacci on Jan. 5, said the diverse group of volunteers will help identify skills needed by applicants for key administration positions as advisers wade through the roughly 1,000 applications that have already been submitted. “We are looking for the best and brightest without concern about political party or labels,” […]
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Primary system biggest problem for independents
“Who Stole Election Day?” the Wall Street Journal asked in an opinion-page headline Wednesday. And hey, look: Lewiston, Maine, was right there in the first sentence of an opinion column written by oh-so-nearly-elected-governor Eliot Cutler, who cites the story of a local woman who voted early and later wished she hadn’t. While the headline was […]
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LePage names bipartisan Maine budget team
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov.-elect Paul LePage has announced a bipartisan team of advisers who will fashion a two-year state budget that closes a widening gap between anticipated revenues and expenses. In a State House news conference Tuesday, the Republican said he’s taking a step toward keeping a campaign promise to deliver a more […]