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Maine News

Friday, September 28, 2007

Maine News for Friday, September 28, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Assess new highway tolls? Pass on that, critics say The state needs more funds for roads, but some say adding tolls would have too many drawbacks.

Police probe tainted from the start The attorney general's director of investigations should step aside.

Agencies want Plum Creek plan modified State and federal officials list concerns ranging from lost habitat near Moosehead Lake to reduced access to woods.

Enrollment drop spurs USM deficit Officials expect a $3.6 million shortfall this year, mostly because fewer students are attending the school.

Strimling joins race to replace Tom Allen The state senator makes stops in Sanford, Biddeford and Portland to announce his candidacy.

Maine program aimed at making drug disposal safer People would send their unused prescription drugs to the Maine DEA in pre-addressed pouches.

Petition aims to disband police force Some Waldoboro residents are looking at last weekend's fatal shooting as the last straw.

EDITORIAL: Sick leave bill may not be worth the trouble Sick leave is important, but so is turning around the state's reputation as anti-business.

OP/ED: Failing to confront Iran, Syria is a path with one ending Those who think words will control what's being readied in those nations are making a tragic error.

LTE: Sen. Collins' vote rejects our constitutional values

LTE: No candidates stand out as presidential material

LTE: President Bush's budget message full of hypocrisy

BANGOR DAILY:

Mitchell urges resolve on global issuesORONO - Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell lamented what he says is 'waning' resolve to tackle global environmental issues, but called Thursday for university researchers, grass-roots groups and local governments to lead the fight.

Strimling announces congressional candidacy... Maine (AP) — Democrat Ethan Strimling announced Thursday that he is running for Congress for the 1st District seat being vacated by Tom Allen. ...

EDITORIAL: Too Soon on NCLBWith Congress trying to reauthorize the federal education act No Child Left Behind, it's natural that a new set of scores on what’s called the nation's report card would be used by both sides of the debate to support their claims.

EDITORIAL: After the Federal FundsOver the past several years, the Department of Homeland Security has handed out billions of dollars to communities to improve security and combat terrorism.

David DeVoss: Iraq’s 'Dirty Harry' gunmenBlackwater. The name says it all, conjuring images of imminent danger, hidden predators and night terror.

Friday's Letters to the Editor … Iraq conflict costs … Kudos for Joe Perry … Justice, not politics

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

Augusta's 'opportunity to decide' AUGUSTA -- Authors of a preliminary draft of the city's new comprehensive plan hope their proposals will improve the capital city's image -- for residents and outsiders alike.

Editorials:
Town road accessfor ATV riders asafety issue for all All-terrain vehicles occupy an important role in the current and future success of tourism in the state, but towns should think carefully before opening significant sections of roads to them.

Columns:
JOSEPH R. REISERT : Columbia's presidentacted the coward, bullyAhmadinejad was asked to speak; no comments needed It's a sad day for academia when the president of Iran behaves better than the president of a major American university, but that's what happened this week at Columbia, when Lee Bollinger introduced President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was invited to deliver an address at the university.

LTE: Love it or leave it Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but Thomas Sturtevant's letter to the Kennebec Journal on Sept. 15 was very idealistic and totally unrealistic.

LTE: Sept. 11 questions remain unanswered Yet another anniversary of 9/11 and still no real answers about what actually happened that day, who really did it and how it was done.

MORNING SENTINEL:

Strimling hits Augusta
The “Senator from Handsometown” aka Sen. Ethan Strimling, joins a crowded field of Democrats who hope to represent their party in the race for the 1st District Congressional seat.

LTE: Sentinel a big advocate of big government The Morning Sentinel has let its unrelenting leftist view of the world show in its editorial concerning Gov. John Baldacci's proposed state takeover and consolidation of county jails.

SUN JOUNRAL:

Strimling to run for CongressPORTLAND (AP) - Democrat Ethan Strimling announced Thursday that he is running for Congress for the 1st District seat being vacated by Tom Allen.

LTE: Leader of the packFrom a strong field of Democrats, I am supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton.

COURIER GAZETTE:

Updated: Battle waged over legality of council candidate’s nomination papers
ROCKLAND — A controversy has erupted over the legitimacy of nomination papers filed by a candidate for the city council.

SUN CHRONICLE:

Allen praises Camp Elllis fundingSACO (Sep 27, 2007): Congressman Tom Allen, a member of the House Budget Committee, said Wednesday he is "very pleased" that the Senate approved $26.9 ...

MPBN:

Dirigo Health Appeals Federal Funding Decision
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070927dirigo.asx

Proposals for Closing State Budget Gap Reviewed
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070927budget.asx

WMTW:

Senators Vote To Expand Children's Insurance ProgramOlympia Snowe and Susan Collins were among 18 Republicans who lined up with Democrats in voting 67-29 to increase spending on the State Children's Health ...

CQ POLITICS:

State Lawmaker Gives Dems Candidate Quartet in Open Maine House ...Tom Allen, who left the seat open to pursue a 2008 Senate challenge to Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Strimling had endured some local criticism for ...

FREE INTERNET PRESS:

Children's Health Bill Advances In US SenateRepublicans facing tough reelection bids appeared to agree. "It's the White House that needs to give," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR:

Our words for counting the cost of war
A blogger at Newsweek has complained about "B&T" as "the Iraq war's go-to cliché," employed by politicians on both sides of the issue and the journalists who cover them. Republican senators who have used it recently include John McCain of Arizona, certainly one of the war's strongest supporters in Congress; Susan Collins of Maine, one of the questioners; and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a forceful critic.

UMB NEWS:

Finding the Value of PharmaceuticalsTom Allen, D-Maine, and Josh Martin, legislative director to Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, discussed proposals before Congress to address pharmaceutical ...

NAVY TIMES:

Roughead appears in CNO confirmation hearingSusan Collins, R-Maine, asked Roughead about the Littoral Combat Ship program, which has experienced problems and schedule delays. Roughead said he strongly ...

REAL CLEAR POLITICS:

RealClearPolitics - Politics NationSusan Collins, up in 2008, won her first race with less than 50% of the vote, though she earned 58% in 2002. Still, Democrats got their top recruit --

GAY WIRED:

Passage of Historic Hate Crimes Act Hailed, Bush Veto Feared
Nine Republicans also voted in support of the measure: Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Arlen Spector (R-Penn.), John Warner (R-Va.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio).

BLOGS:

Entry for September 25, 2007
Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican seeking re-election, urged the president to reconsider his threat of a veto, saying he would be “making a terrible mistake.” Ted Kennedy said,. The House has voted for the most important ...

Log Cabin Praises Bi-Partisan Senate Vote on Hate Crimes Bill
Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), co-sponsor of the bill, was joined by Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN), Judd Gregg (R-NH), John Warner (R-VA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Richard Lugar (R-IN), George Voinovich (R-OH), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), ...

Simply "Vomitous": Liberal Dem is Lone Sane Voice on Myers/ICE Vote
And then there's Senatrix Susan Collins of Maine. She's the poster child for liberal Republican birth control (or abortion, if necessary). If her liberal parents practiced it, there wouldn't be this silly Yaya Sisterhood grrrlpower ...

Senate passes hate crimes legislation
Susan Collins Olympia Snowe George Voinovich Arlen Specter Norm Coleman Gordon Smith. Adulterer David Vitter and Larry "I'm still in the closet!" Craig voted "no". Of course. Update: Here's the roll call. In addition to those listed .

MORE AND BETTER DEMOCRATS UPDATE
I know that unlike the Blue America candidates in safe and relatively safe Democratic districts (Hilda Solis, Jerry Nadler, Steve Cohen-- although he is under attack by reactionary Democrats in his district-- and Tom Allen),

Can It Be? A Senator Who Cares About Freedom??
Hard to believe, but there are politicians out there that actually do have our best interests in mind. Tom Allen actually thinks its *not* the job of the Senate to regulate free speech! Imagine that!

FEDS TO DIRIGO: "DROP DEAD!"
Baldacci applied for a waiver Medicaid funding to be applied to expanding Dirigo. The federal government has denied the state's request.

Strimling announces candidacy officially

He's In!
Hey TMB!
It's been a long, great summer. Sen. Ethan Strimling has had the chance to reach out across the District and speak with folks about the concerns they have, and whether or not he could be an effective Congressman.

The Unnameable
For the second time in recent months, the word "Iraq" does not appear in Sen. Collins' eNewsletter.

Together in Maine Politics - By Alex Hammer
Generally speaking, Republicans seem to believe that people are better off doing things for themselves, freed from as many encumbrances as possible (as well as not a drain via taxes).

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Maine News for Thursday, September 27, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Panel to revisit offender registry Tuesday's ruling forces lawmakers to consider easing restrictions on sex offenders in Maine.

State will study idea of new tolls Addressing a shortfall for roads, lawmakers will consider tolls for I-295 and more of I-95.

Report: Pressure to cut budgets may keep rising State House: Members of the Appropriations panel are reviewing potential cuts in state spending.

Judge: Dogs from raid now property of state A Buxton couple, charged with running an unlicensed kennel and animal cruelty, fail to show for a hearing.

Maine's three largest urban areas: What they're worth The first federal figures measuring local economies show the state's metro areas growing slower than the national average.

EDITORIAL: Navy pays BIW tribute in a highly meaningful way The company and its solid work force will benefit from building the first DDG 1000.

Kevin DrummMaine's 'quality of place' an easy sell It has a national image that should make such a strategy easy to get across.

LTE: U.S. must assess motives in Iraq

LTE: Impeaching Bush/Cheney isn't just a radical notion

LTE: Congress shouldn't get involved in Jena Six case

BANGOR DAILY:

Panel OKs highway tolls study Thursday, September 27, 2007PORTLAND, Maine - A legislative committee on Wednesday authorized a feasibility study of adding tolls to Maine's interstate highway system. Gov. John Baldacci immediately called it a bad idea.

Group kicks off tribal racino ballot campaignPORTLAND, Maine — A referendum group calling itself "Yes on Question 1" kicked off its campaign Wednesday to win passage of a ballot question that would allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to build a racetrack casino in Washington County.

New program aims to stop pill pollutionThursday, September 27, 2007Open up any medicine cabinet in the state of Maine, or across the nation for that matter, and chances are you will find a few containers of unneeded or expired prescription drugs. Some households likely have dozens of half-empty plastic pill vials collecting dust.

JetBlue plans Portland-Orlando flightsThursday, September 27, 2007JetBlue Airways announced Wednesday that it would begin nonstop service from Portland International Jetport to Orlando, Fla.

Editorial: Editorial page changesThursday, September 27, 2007Close readers of the editorial pages will have noticed that this newspaper’s masthead contains but one name, temporarily, as staff changes take place here. Earlier this week, Susan Young, the assistant editorial page editor for the last four years, was named editor of the pages.

George Will: MoveON ad in Times unseemlyTwo days before Christmas in 1967, President Lyndon Johnson, visiting the Vatican, presented Pope Paul VI with a foot-high bust of Lyndon Johnson. Small choices can reveal the character of a person.

Thursday's Letters to the Editor … Bush by the numbers … Repudiating Bush …

KENNBEC JOURNAL:

Sex offender law up for overhaul AUGUSTA -- The Legislature's Criminal Justice Committee had planned to meet next month to discuss expanding Maine's law requiring sex offenders to provide officials with their home addresses.

Panel wants to study adding tolls to interstate AUGUSTA -- The Legislature's Transportation Committee voted Wednesday to direct the Maine Turnpike Authority to study the feasibility of charging tolls on the Interstate.

ALLOWED TO WORK EXTRA HOURSOfficer in shootinggranted extenstion A part-time Waldoboro police officer who shot and killed a Whitefield man after a traffic stop on Sunday was working under a special state-issued extension that enabled him to work more hours than state law allows.

Shooting sparks discussion of training Firearms training for part-time police officers across Maine is under scrutiny after a fatal shooting involving a Whitefield man and a Waldoboro police officer.

DONNA LORING OF BRADLEY : Gambling a solution to lack of jobs, health insurance, hope What Jim Brunelle calls a moral dilemma, I call economic discrimination (column, 9/20/07, "Nov. 6 ballot revives moral dilemma of racino").

MORNING SENTINEL:

Strimling to announce candidacy decisionState Sen. Ethan Strimling is expected to announce whether he will run for Congress at a noontime rally in Portland Thursday.

TIMES RECORD:

Shipyard hopes more good news coming...(full story)
Zumwalt destroys BIW gap year...(full story)
Medicaid funding for Dirigo denied...(full story)Collins: BIW to build first Zumwalt...(full story)

PORTLAND PHOENIX:

It won’t be soon before long: Politics and other mistakesWhat Strimling is doing in delaying his entry into the race may be on the high end of coy and the low end of ethical, but it’s dead center on traditional.

MPBN:

Tribal Leaders Join Campaign for Washington County Casino
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070926casino.asx

Reduced Workplace Injuries Means More Money for Employers
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070926memic.asx

Kennel Owners Fail To Show Up for Court Hearing
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070926dogs.asx


ELLSWORTH AMERICAN:

EDITORIAL: Blackwater: Above the Law?
Untouchable. That’s the term being used by many officials to describe the status of the thousands of heavily armed private soliders acting as escorts and bodyguards in the employ of security contractors throughout war-torn Iraq.

The November Election
The November election is just six weeks away and, with no state or national candidates on the ballot, interest to this point has been nearly non-existent. But Maine voters will be making decisions on three bond issues totaling $84 million and two other questions that will have profound impact on the state in the years to come.

LTE: Take the Politics Out of Health Care
Recently there has been much discussion regarding the value of hospital quality surveys and the results that they produce. These surveys are merely public relations gimmicks and do not reflect the most important issues, which are quality health care and the delivery of these services.

LTE: Supporting Our Troops?
We have an all-volunteer military at the moment. “Support our troops” has been indelibly burned into our thinking. I ask, “When does that support end?” Does it end when they are discharged? Does it extend beyond discharge and to what extent and for how long?

LTE: The Real Truth Behind Iraq
The cat’s out of the bag. The real reason we’re in Iraq? Forget weapons of mass destruction, deposing a tyrant, promoting democracy, ending terrorism.

LTE: What’s Wrong with This Picture?
I was interested to read your editorial wherein you heartily criticized moveon.org for bad manners, then went on to criticize the war against Iraq.

WCSH:

Strimling Expected To Declare Congressional Candidacy Thursday
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Ethan Strimling has been acting like a congressional candidate for months.

WMTW:

Funding Approved For Camp Ellis RepairTom Allen of Maine said he's pleased with action that would pay for modifications to the 6660-foot jetty and restore sand on a half-mile of Camp Ellis beach ...

FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM:

Healthcare vote likely to affect '08 electionsSusan Collins, R-Maine, another incumbent facing a tough campaign next year, said Bush's veto threat is "a terrible mistake." "Republicans in safe seats ...

BAY AREA REPORTER:

Out & Equal institute hires first directorHerwitt said Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) would lead the bill on the Senate side. Out & Equal's 17th annual ...

BLOGS:

ME-Sen: Is doing this sort of thing so hard?
I voted against this resolution today because I believe it is the job of the Congress to bring our troops home, not legislate free speech." But it was an ad. In a newspaper! On the web: Tom Allen for Senate.

Allen for Senate
Not that there was any suspense...but I'm voting for Tom Allen in the US Senate race, and you should, too. I think it really comes down to only one question: Is the country better off than it was 6 years ago? True, this is not the most ...

NRSC: What'll it be, Democrats?
Tom Allen has received $249472 in conduit contributions raised through MoveOn.org; Tom Harkin's PAC has received $5000 from MoveOn's PAC; Mary Landrieu has received $8000; Frank Lautenberg - $5000; Mark Pryor - $4000 ...

TALKING POLITICS IN JAIL
... crowned City of Portland poet laureate Martin Steingesser. We handed out 750 leaflets that explained to the public our reasons for protesting and urged folks to call our Congressman, Rep. Tom Allen, and urge his support for impeachment.

Collins/Snowe Vote Iran Guard a Terrorist Organization
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate on Wednesday called for Iran's Revolutionary Guards to be officially designated as a "foreign terrorist organization," one day after the House of Representatives passed a similar measure.

Allen and Michaud back Move-on

Allen & Michaud Vote “Yea” on Massive Expansion of Gov’t Controlled Health Care
It hardly matters that the expansion would be expensive or a step toward socialized health care, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said.

Vradenburg hosts Collins fundraiser
APNo bullPhillips Collection Chairman George Vradenburg hosted a fundraiser and reception for Sen. Susan Collins, R Maine, on Monday evening at his Northwest DC home.The theme was Collins’ “bipartisan leadership,” especially on th...

Collins, Maine GOP Knock Allen For His Missed Votes
Susan Collins (R-Maine) has a perfect Senate voting record. If Maine voters don't already know that, they will be educated in the coming weeks and months. ... For Collins, the early knock on Allen is that he has missed 129 votes, ...

Tom Allen from Maine: "I believe it is the job of the Congress to ...
We will never, ever see that kind of strong statement from Bush's loyal toadie, Susan Collins. She doesn't stand for anything -- except whatever Bush says. And, by the way, if Congress is so outraged about speech, where's the resolution ...

Tom Allen Won’t Stand Up For Troops; Refuses To Denounce ...
NRSC Press Office. Democrat candidate refuses to denounce tactics for at least the second time. WASHINGTON, DC — Last week, Tom Allen’s campaign practically admitted he’s proud to be associated with MoveOn.org and today, ...

Collins Votes For Biden Amendment
Senate.gov Collins voted in favor of separating Iraq into three autonomous regions. Statement of Purpose: To express the sense of Congress on federalism in Iraq. Vote Counts: YEAs 75 NAYs 23 Collins (R-ME), Yea.

Maine’s quiet presidential campaign picks up a bit
Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, former Gov. John McKernan, who is married to Snowe, and state House Republican floor leader Josh Tardy of Newport, who endorsed John McCain in January. “The Ron Paul people seem to be strongly organized, ...

One Man, Doing the Right Thing: Tom Allen
Statement on Motion to Recommit Condemning Political Ads - 9/26/2007.

House Votes To Condemn MoveOn Ad
Case in point: Tom Allen, future senator from Maine:. "I respect General Petraeus and honor all of our troops. They have done a phenomenal job and done everything that we have asked of them. General Petraeus is a soldier who simply ...

Maine Group Calls For Bush, Cheney Impeachments
The group is hoping to put pressure on Representative Tom Allen to encourage the judiciary committee to open hearings on impeachment. "We're not asking him to go in and grab Cheney by the scruff of the neck and haul him out of the White ...
Condi Rice is inteferring with Congress’ investigation of Blackwater
Well, of course she is! That gap-toothed bitch wouldn’t dare let the democrats come between her and her White House Husband (George Bush) religious militia who are using Iraqis as target practice for their jihad!

Future US Senator Tom Allen of Maine is correct again…
The following is future US Senator Tom Allen’s response to the Congress condemning Moveon.org’s truth about General Betray Us:

Lieberman-Kyl’s Iran Amendment - Prelude to War in Iran

LIHEAP Season Arrives
In response to a request from U.S. Senators Snowe and Collins, the Office of Management and Budget today agreed to release $131 million that remains in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency fund.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Maine News for Wednesday, September 26, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Obama's 'mission' is change The Democratic candidate for president visits the state and takes swipes at his main rival and President Bush.

FairPoint backers, foes speak up at Portland hearing Dozens of the company's employees are among 175 people who filled a school auditorium to weigh in on the Verizon asset sale.

Protesters arrested at Rep. Allen's office

Heating assistance funds to be released Sens. Snowe and Collins pushed for the money to be available.

Editorials
Return to nuclear power part of answer to U.S. energy woes Nuclear plants have their critics, but many nations see their advantages, too.

Columbia event shows the answer to bad speech is more speech Letting Iran's president speak at the university does not endorse his message of hate.

LTE: U.S. should ensure safe passage for Iraqi refugees

LTE: Impeaching Bush/Cheney unlikely and impractical

BANGOR DAILY:

UM receives $12 million giftORONO, Maine - The University of Maine announced on Tuesday the largest donation in the institution's history. The $12 million endowment was left to the UM School of Forest Resources by alumni George Houston.

Registry for sex crimes on trial Wednesday, September 26, 2007PORTLAND, Maine - Maine's sex offender law could be unconstitutional because it retroactively increases criminal punishments for people who already have completed their sentences for sex crimes, the state supreme court said Tuesday.

UM receives $12 million giftWednesday, September 26, 2007ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine announced on Tuesday the largest donation in the institution's history. The $12 million endowment was left to the UM School of Forest Resources by alumni George Houston.

State tells schools to finish RSU plansWednesday, September 26, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine — While the majority of Maine schools have identified their consolidation partners and have moved into the planning phase, the Department of Education is pressing the few that have not to find a workable plan.

EDITORIAL: Overseeing BlackwaterThe killing last week of a dozen Iraqi civilians by a private American security firm and the Iraqi reaction underscored why thousands of contractors will remain in Iraq but also why U.S. officials must do a better job of overseeing them.

Wednesday's Letters to the Editor … It’s all about oil … politics as usual … only some can speak? … Protect habeas corpus

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

SUING STATE OVER SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION LAWTop court grants man trial A man who sued the state over a requirement that he register as a sex offender will get his day in court.

MAINE'S ECONOMY: Panel mulls future Higher education touted as the best investment AUGUSTA -- Former State Economist Laurie Lachance told lawmakers Tuesday that the best investment they can make to help the state's future is to put money toward higher education.

IN PORTLAND SPEECH Obama casts self as agent of change Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama cast himself as both an idealist and an agent of change Tuesday during his first Maine appearance -- a campaign speech to some 3,000 people who paid $23 for the privilege.
MORNING SENTINEL:

Hopeful Obama campaigns in Maine PORTLAND -- Presidential hopeful Barack Obama told energized supporters Tuesday that it's time to embrace "politics of hope" and reject "politics of fear."

Editorials:
State's community colleges need tools to fulfill their roles The state's community colleges have done us proud.

Columns:
WILLIAM BRIDGEO : City officials feel void of Sylvia Lund's death 'Bye, Sylvia. We miss you already. Just the other day, Mayor Roger Katz and I were meeting and grappling with the anticipated consequences of MaineGeneral's proposals to reorganize facilities and services for the county.

GEORGE SMITH : Kennebec potential just waiting to be discovered Floating lazily down the Kennebec in my kayak one recent morning, I cast to eager bass, enjoyed the color of turning trees and the majesty of bald eagles, and marveled at this inspirational section of river between Waterville and Augusta.

SUN JOURNAL:

Iraqis find haven in city LEWISTON - Several Iraqis who worked with U.S. soldiers in Iraq have moved to Lewiston.

E-tailer to fight IRS proposal LEWISTON - Bill Cartmel found work on eBay. Since 1998, he's sold records and antiques from his College Street home and made a full-time job of it. Someone noticed.

Maine to get $7M in fuel assistance PORTLAND (AP) - The director of the Office of Management and Budget has agreed to release $131 million that remains in a fund for heating assistance for low-income families across the country, Sen. Susan Collins learned Tuesday.

2,000 welcome ObamaPORTLAND (AP) - Presidential hopeful Barack Obama told energized supporters Tuesday that it's time to embrace "politics of hope" and reject "politics of fear."

TIMES RECORD:

BREAKING NEWS: Collins: BIW to build first Zumwalt...(full story)

LTE: Don't blame fighters...(full story)

LTE: A vote for MoveOn.org...(full story)

COURIER-GAZETTE:

Council slate set for fall
ROCKLAND — Bentley Snow Davis said that keeping property taxes reasonable, while maintaining city services, is one of the most important issues facing the city.

MPBN:
Activists Rally For Impeachment Of Bush, Cheney
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070925rally.asx

Paid Sick Days Promoted by Maine Women's Lobby
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070925sickdays.asx

WCSH:

Collins: OMB To Release Heating Assistance Funds, Maine To Get ...Susan Collins' office says Maine's share will be $7.2 million. Collins and Sen. Olympia Snowe had asked OMB Director Jim Nussle to release the money, ...

Barack Obama Comes To Maine
PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama made his first campaign stop in Maine on Tuesday. Obama spoke to a crowd of about 2,000 people at the Portland Expo.

BIW To Build First DDG-1000Susan Collins says the Navy has awarded the contract for its first DDG-1000 destroyer to Bath Iron Works. Collins says she urged the Navy to have BIW build ...

Maine Group Calls For Bush, Cheney ImpeachmentsThe group is hoping to put pressure on Representative Tom Allen to encourage the judiciary committee to open hearings on impeachment.

WMTW:

Bill Promises Mainers Paid Sick Leave
AUGUSTA, Maine -- The push is on in Maine to ensure that all workers get paid sick days.
http://www.wmtw.com/politics/14206579/detail.html

Obama Addresses Supporters At Portland Fundraiser
PORTLAND, Maine -- The race for the White House again took center stage in Maine on Tuesday as U.S. senator and presidential hopeful Barack Obama spoke at a Portland fundraiser.
http://www.wmtw.com/politics/14197121/detail.html

WASHINGTON POST:

A Bill That Everyone Can Love -- or ElseSusan Collins (R-Maine), in danger of losing her job next year, called Bush's threat "a terrible mistake." Yesterday's House debate gave strong support to ...

CQ POLITICS:

GOP Field for Open Maine House Seat Thins by One
National Republican strategists face a tough electoral landscape for 2008 as they try to gin up the gain of at least 16 seats they need to reclaim a U.S. House majority for their party. So the GOP can hardly take a pass on the race in Maine’s 1st District, where six-term Democratic Rep. Tom Allen has left his seat open to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins — especially since it is one of only two Democratic-held House seats in which the incumbent is not running for re-election.

THE HILL:

Collins, Maine GOP knock Allen for his missed votesSusan Collins (R-Maine) has a perfect Senate voting record. If Maine voters don’t already know that, they will be educated in the coming weeks and months.

GOVEXEC.COM:

Resignation of DHS deputy prompts questions on Capitol HillSenate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine, both praised Jackson for ...

BLOGS:

A **NEW** Unbiased Blog covering Allen v. Collins
You have to give Lance some props - only he could write shit like this with a straight face:

Tuesday Round-Up
Maine: The Rockland Courier-Gazette editorial board hammers Susan Collins on Iraq, noting: "Collins has strayed so far into the camp of President George W. Bush that she can’t free herself. Her votes are destructive to the country and ...

Bath Iron Works to build first DDG-1000 destroyer - Lewiston Sun ...
Susan Collins said Navy officials notified her of the decision, which she said would prevent a gap in work at BIW between the completion of the last Arleigh Burke destroyer and construction on the first DDG-1000."

The Impeachment Trap
Mike Michaud and Tom Allen, demanding that they join them in doing exactly what Republicans are aching for Democrats to do: Launch a long, acrimonious and ...

NRSC Asks "What'll It Be Democrats?"
Tom Allen has received $249472 in conduit contributions raised through MoveOn.org; Tom Harkin's PAC has received $5000 from MoveOn's PAC; Mary Landrieu has received $8000; Frank Lautenberg - $5000; Mark Pryor - $4000 ...

If You Voted Democrat, Is THIS Really What You Voted For?
Ensign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee released a petition calling on Democrats to return the money they have received from the extremist, liberal organization MoveOn.org. Some examples include: - Tom Allen has received ...

Citizens of Maine Are Currently Sitting In at Rep. Tom Allen's ...
Tom Allen. 250 people came to a MaineImpeach rally in Portland and walked into Rep. Allen's office to demand that Rep. Allen support either House Resolution 333 or an alternative Cheney impeachment resolution that was drafted and ...

This Is What Demorcracy Looks Like
Today I along with 200 others signed a letter which we hand delivered to the staff of Congressman Tom Allen D-Maine letting him know that he has a responsibility and a duty to properly represent the people of Maine.

The ALS Association and PALS Speak Out Against Competitive ...
The legislation, introduced by Representatives Tom Allen (D-ME) and Ron Lewis (R-KY), would exempt complex power wheelchairs from Medicare’s new competitive acquisition program, which is expected to be implemented in 2008. ...

Congress Urged To Honor Trade Deals
A House resolution was introduced by Tom Allen, a Democrat from Maine, and Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, introduced a resolution in the Senate. “In developing countries, the price of medicines is often a life-and-death matter,”

Election 2008: New York and New England
Susan Collins is moderate, very popular, and will likely win, even against Congressman Tom Allen. Massachusetts Presidential: Solid Democratic The most Democratic state in the union. Nuff said. Senate: Likely to Solid Democratic ...

Impeachment supporters visit Allen's office
Earlier this afternoon, about 250 people hand-delivered letters to Representative Tom Allen's Exchange Street office, calling for Allen to vote for the impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. The letters, written by the Maine ...

Baldacci Announcing Job Openings All Over Maine
This is pathetic. Maine's unemployment is still above the national average. But, according to one Portland resident that's okay. The state is getting "a lot better" at finding people jobs. And Gov. Baldacci is finding new jobs...everywhere!

OBAMA: Remove the cap on SS taxable income

Fake controversy
There is a new blog that has popped up called Allen vs Collins, its author is anonymous but describes him/herself as a college student in Maine interested in politics. The few posts so far seem to be pretty unbiased and quite thoughtful, including the latest one, titled ‘On the topic of fake controversy‘:

A Pet Peeve
Today I received a blast email from someone supporting a candidate running for Tom Allen's seat. As I don't know the person, I have no idea how they obtained my email address, but that doesn't bother me as much as the fact that this person didn't use the BLIND COPY method for sending out the blast.

Exclusive: Tom Allen Interview
We spend nearly all our time here at Collins Watch focusing on Maine's junior senator. And for good reason--it's what we're all about.

Bath Iron Works to build first DDG-1000 destroyer - Lewiston Sun Journal
Excerpt:"The Navy has decided to award the contract for the first DDG-1000 Zumwalt class destroyer to Bath Iron Works. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said Navy officials notified her of the decision, which she said would prevent a gap in work at BIW between the completion of the last Arleigh Burke destroyer and construction on the first DDG-1000."

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Maine News for Tuesday, September 25, 2007

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD

Groups to cite poll in renewing push for paid sick days A bill held over in the Legislature would affect companies with 25 or more employees.

Community colleges 'a winning formula' Enrollment rises again as the system fills the need of some Mainers to explore career paths for a low cost.
U.S. senators urge release of heating aid

Retired admiral from Maine urges public to be patient Crises abound in Iraq but progress is being made, says Gregory Johnson.

Giuliani talks tough on borders In his first Maine campaign visit, the GOP candidate for president says illegal immigration must end.

Commentary
Ron BancroftState does need Streamlining Commission It has become apparent that without some outside evaluation, little or nothing will be done.

KENNEBEC JOURNAL

KENNEBEC VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Name change linkedto rising enrollments FAIRFIELD -- The number of students attending classes at Kennebec Valley Community College has increased by more than 30 percent in the five years since the state changed the names of technical colleges to community colleges.

Paid sick leave campaigngetting under way today AUGUSTA -- Supporters of a bill that would require all companies with 25 or more employees to provide paid sick days will launch a four-month campaign today in Portland.

Lax policing of the lakes BELGRADE LAKES -- Members of lake associations throughout the Belgrade Lakes watershed are looking for ways to bolster shoreline code enforcement in an attempt to reduce pollution and maintain property values.

Editorials:
MOOSEHEAD PROPOSALCommission's job: Well-planned development In early November, the state's Land Use Regulation Commission, or LURC, will begin formal public hearings on Plum Creek's proposal to develop subdivisions and resorts in the Moosehead Lake Area. It's a crucial juncture in what has so far been a fiercely contentious process.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS

DOT worker killed in collisionTuesday, September 25, 2007KOSSUTH TOWNSHIP, Maine - A Grand Lake Stream man was killed and two others injured when a Maine Department of Transportation dump truck collided with a fully loaded logging truck on Route 6 Monday morning, Maine State Police said.

Study: Maine slipping as work changesMonday, September 24, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine does not have enough workers with the skills needed for the state's emerging economy and is not providing the training and educational opportunities needed to fill jobs that are available today, according to a study given to a legislative panel last week.

Today's Editorial:
The Impeachment TrapVulnerable candidates, multiple scandals, an unpopular war and a slate of competent opponents -congressional Republicans are in trouble for 2008, as many in their own party have pointed out.

Downtown, Extended

SUN JOURNAL

Our View
Foreclosures have earned state scrutiny
As subprime mortgages collapsed, and homeowner after homeowner entered foreclosure, the inherent instability of lending vast sums of money to people with questionable credit, or means to repay it, was painfully exposed.

MAINE PUBLIC RADIO

Community Colleges Proud of Growth, But Say New Funding Is Critical
Enrollment in Maine's community college system has grown by 57 percent over the past five years, and systems officials joined political leaders in celebrating the news. However, college administrators say the rapid growth is severely taxing the system's facilities, and they're asking Maine voters to to approve a 15 and a half million dollar bond package on the November ballot. Keith McKeen reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070924college.asx

New Funding Formula Considered for Maine State Police
The Maine State Police could be looking at a new funding formula pending the recommendation of a special legislative panel that met today at the State House. Curently, about 60 percent of the state police budget comes from the state Highway Fund with the remainder taken from the General Fund. But as A.J. Higgins reports, some lawmakers on the state's Transportation Committee would like to free up more road improvement dollars for the state by forcing the General Fund to assume a larger piece of the pie.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070924police.asx

New Plan for East-West Highway (from Morning Edition)
Cianbro Corporation President Peter Vigue talks with local host Irwin Gratz about his plans for a privately-financed highway across central Maine.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070924vigue.asx