More coverage: Maine Speaker Mark Eves calls for sanctions after secret meeting Gov. Paul LePage says he’s out of the education commission What the education panel discussed at Monday’s closed meeting AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage and a handful of state lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, convened a secret meeting Monday morning of a legislative […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine GOP picks 19 Ted Cruz supporters as delegates
BANGOR — In a blow to Gov. Paul LePage, supporters of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz took at least 19 of Maine’s 23 delegates to the party’s national convention on Saturday. They outmaneuvered front-runner Donald Trump — who is endorsed by the governor — on the floor of Maine’s state convention with an eye toward […]
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Cruz backers to try to block LePage from national convention
BANGOR, Maine — Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz think they can storm the party’s state convention on Saturday, which could leave Gov. Paul LePage off the list of delegates to the national convention in July. The behind-the-scenes tension involving the governor — a supporter of Republican front-runner Donald Trump — belied a quiet start to the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage vetoes jail funding bill
AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed a bill that would have earmarked $2.4 million this year and next for the state’s county jails. The Portland Press Herald reports the Republican governor said in his veto letter Friday that state funding to operate county jails is capped. If counties exceed that limit, the state […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Alex Willette, Ellie Espling to serve Maine GOP on national committee
BANGOR — Maine Republican Party national committeeman Alex Willette was re-elected to his spot Friday, and Assistant House Minority Leader Ellie Espling, R-New Gloucester, was elected to join him as committeewoman. Willette, a former lawmaker who lives in Lewiston and is now an assistant district attorney in Sagadahoc County, was elected 710-474 over Earl Bierman, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine GOP strives for iron clad delegation selection
Strong showing from all our counties! You are all awesome. #MEGOPSC2016 #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/ZjddkE4VTc — Maine GOP (@mainegop) April 22, 2016 Meanwhile, the secretive Contests Committee met behind closed doors. The party won’t even release the names of its members yet. But come mid-June, when skirmishing in advance of a possible contested convention will be at […]
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Casino backers drop appeal in petition dispute
PORTLAND — Supporters of a failed referendum proposal to create a casino in southern Maine have dropped an appeal. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced earlier this month that campaign fell short of submitting the necessary 62,123 voter signatures to qualify for the November ballot. Casino supporters delivered 91,294 total signatures, but only 35,518 were […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Anti-gay protection petition drive can start Thursday
The clock on Michael Heath’s petition drive to remove protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation from the Maine Human Rights Act begins today. Heath and the secretary of state’s office said Heath is scheduled to pick up his petition paperwork this afternoon and receive instructions about how to collect petitions, which is a critical […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Why there’s room for wrangling at Maine GOP convention
The Maine Republican Party begins its state convention Bangor on Friday and on Saturday, it’ll pick the delegates who will help decide the party’s presidential nominee in July at what may be the first contested national convention since 1976. In Maine, the 2016 convention is expected to be nothing like the 2012 debacle that saw backers of insurgent White House hopeful Ron Paul take […]
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MHPC report shows wide medical procedure cost disparities
YARMOUTH — A study released by a conservative advocacy group has shown wide disparities in what Maine providers charge for the same medical procedures. The Maine Heritage Policy Center’s study found significant differences in charges for common procedures. A blood test for electrolytes ranged from $33 to $111. A knee replacement ranged from around $27,000 […]