PORTLAND — Independent candidate Eliot Cutler on Friday appeared with GOP business owners who bucked their party to throw their support behind him in this year’s gubernatorial election. The business owners said Cutler’s experience in international commerce as well as government, his dedication to building and expanding “the Maine brand,” and his pledge to keep […]
politics
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston state Senate candidates share views during homelessness forum
LEWISTON — Two candidates running for Lewiston’s state Senate District 21 seat shared their views on several key issues during a short forum at the Pine Street Wellness and Recovery Center on Thursday. Republican Patti Gagne and Democrat Nate Libby split ways on most of the hot-button issues, including raising the state’s minimum wage and […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
New policy gives political appointees, LePage staff extra vacation time
AUGUSTA — A new policy instituted by in February substantially increased paid vacation time for 54 political appointees and governor’s office staff, by crediting prior, relevant work experience into how their time is accrued. For example, a political appointee employed by the state government for three years, but who had 12 years of relevant prior […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Political foes slam new LePage vacation policy
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s political foes in his re-election bid are criticizing a new policy that’s giving more vacation time to political appointees and staff. But LePage’s administration says the policy change is part of a larger effort to improve recruitment and retention in state government. Under it, 54 officials have been able […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
U.S. House Speaker Boehner to appear at Poliquin fundraiser
PORTLAND — House Speaker John Boehner is visiting Maine next week to raise money for 2nd Congressional District Republican candidate Bruce Poliquin. Poliquin Finance Director Jessica Corbett said that Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, will host a closed-door fundraiser on Sept. 25. She declined to provide further details. The former state treasurer and businessman is […]
Posted inMaine
MMA interviews candidates for governor; LePage declines to participate
AUGUSTA — In a pair of more than hourlong interviews released on video Wednesday, two of the three candidates running for governor in Maine answered questions about the state’s relationship with its cities. Democrat Mike Michaud and independent Eliot Cutler sat for the interviews with members of the Maine Municipal Association, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Food stamp changes to have slight effect on Maine LIHEAP
WASHINGTON — Cuts to the nation’s food stamp program enacted this year are only affecting four states, far from the sweeping overhaul that Republicans had pushed, an Associated Press review has found. As a result, it’s unclear whether the law will realize the estimated $8.6 billion in savings over 10 years that the GOP had […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine PAC mailers attack LePage on education
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A political action committee has begun a $70,000 campaign hitting Gov. Paul LePage for his education policies. The PAC run by the Maine Education Association is sending out mailers attacking the Republican governor for proposing to eliminate Head Start funding and to cut $12.5 million from education, among other things. Maine […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Michaud pitches plan to make health care more affordable
PORTLAND — As part of a wide-ranging 10-point health care plan he unveiled Monday, Democratic candidate for governor Mike Michaud reiterated his support for expanding Medicaid to 70,000 uninsured Mainers and making investments in preventative health care programs. The plan earned positive responses from health care advocates, though they said there is little in it that has […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine gets $758,947 to improve unemployment programs
Maine is getting $758,947 in federal funds to improve the quality of the state’s unemployment insurance program. The funding from the U.S. Labor Department is part of more than $87 million awarded to 46 states. The grants were announced on Monday. U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez says the grants will allow state agencies to upgrade […]