AUGUSTA — A long-awaited report on how Gov. Paul LePage and the Maine Department of Education interfered in an employment contract between Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves and Good Will-Hinckley has found strong evidence that LePage took steps to withdraw state funding for a charter school for at-risk students. The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee received the […]
Paul LePage
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage files comment against rule change on overtime
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage and other officials in Maine are opposing proposed changes to federal labor rules on the grounds that employment and small businesses will be negatively affected. The U.S. Department of Labor is taking public comments on proposed changes to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act until Friday. The proposal would […]
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LePage summit addresses opioid problem
AUGUSTA — Maine’s ongoing battle with opioid abuse and related crime isn’t going away anytime soon, according to officials gathered Wednesday for a summit called by Gov. Paul LePage. While they called the meeting productive, officials said Maine, like the rest of New England and the nation, faces a massive struggle. “This is not an […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Paul LePage blames taxes, energy costs for Verso paper mill job loss
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says the elimination of 300 jobs at a Verso paper mill in Jay underscores the need to reduce the state’s taxes and energy costs. Verso Paper Corp. said Thursday that it will significantly scale back production in Maine and lay off 300 workers at its mill in Jay. The […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislative panel delays decision on expanding LePage investigation
AUGUSTA — A Maine legislative committee has delayed making a decision on whether the state’s watchdog agency should investigate allegations that Republican Gov. Paul LePage forced the president of the World Acadian Congress to step down. Democratic Reps. Ronald “Danny” Martin and Robert Saucier asked the Government Oversight Committee last month to initiate an investigation […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage announces participants in drug abuse prevention summit
The LePage administration has released the list of participants at a drug abuse prevention summit Gov. Paul LePage will host Aug. 26 in Augusta. The governor has been planning the summit in response to a significant spike in heroin coming into Maine and a rash of recent overdoses. On the list are a mix of […]
Posted inLetters
Program funds in limbo
I recently read a letter to the editor from James Parakilas (July 22) in which he wrote that Gov. Paul LePage has no “moral integrity.” I could not agree with him more and would like to shake his hand. For the past several years, I have gagged almost every day over LePage’s antics — from […]
Posted inLetters
Maine’s bombastic governor
The bullying tactics that Gov. Paul LePage has used and the damage he has caused to his relationship to the Legislature will prevent him from accomplishing his policy goals. His bombastic leadership style has long ago alienated Democrats and even some Republicans are fed up with his high-profile antics, squandering his political capital. His decision […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage considers using National Guard against drug epidemic
BANGOR — Maine Gov. Paul LePage says he’d use the Maine National Guard “if necessary” to help fight an epidemic of heroin and other drugs. LePage told WVOM-FM in Bangor that he has the authority to use the National Guard if the Legislature refuses to provide the resources he’s sought. His remark was an apparent […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine monitoring avian flu viruses, preparing for outbreak
AUGUSTA — Maine’s governor and other officials say the state is preparing for the possibility of an avian flu outbreak and readying residents about how to minimize any impact on domestic poultry. Gov. Paul LePage says the state is being “proactive” about its precautions about the disease. The disease has not been detected in Maine. […]