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Maine News

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Maine News for Thursday, October 25, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Question 5: Is there too much turnover in state Legislature? It's an old question that lawmakers now think they can answer, only no one seems to care. Last in a five-part series.

Energy project puts focus on new emission control Scientists consider the prospects for carbon capture and storage at the proposed Twin River plant.

BANGOR DAILY:

States call for stricter mercury rulesMaine joined its New England neighbors and New York state on Wednesday in petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to force other states to clean up their acts when it comes to mercury emissions.

Question 5: Extending term limits from 4 to 6Question 5 on the Nov. 6 state ballot offers voters the chance to extend current legislative term limits from four to six terms.

EDITORIAL: Yes on Question 1The success of the slots facility in Bangor makes the question of expanding gambling one of equity. A yes vote on Question 1 would allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to build a gaming facility in Washington County.

Editorial: Yes on Question 2Maine has done much to build its research and development capacity in the last decade. Still, because of a lack of sustained investment, it lags behind other states.

Thursday's Letters to the Editor … Who gets the taxes? … Help for Down East

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

QUESTION 5Coming to terms AUGUSTA -- It's the last of five questions on the Nov. 6 ballot, and arguably the least visible of the bunch.

EDMUND G. MUSKIE FEDERAL BUILDINGLegionnaire's disease discovered AUGUSTA -- Routine tests of the cooling tower water at the Edmund G. Muskie Federal Building in August apparently showed "higher than acceptable levels" of the bacteria that can lead to Legionnaire's disease.

Local person being checked for mumps AUGUSTA -- State officials are still trying to determine if a person in Kennebec County has mumps, the state's top health official said Wednesday.

Poll: Collins leads Allen
A poll that asks likely voters who they would choose in the 2008 Senaterace between Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat U.S. Rep. Tom Allen gives Collins a 56 percent to 33 percent advantage, according to the liberal Web site Daily Kos.

State keeps drivers' exam English-only AUGUSTA -- If you don't speak English and want to get a driver's license, you're going to have to find someone other than the state to translate the manual and testing materials.

JIM BRUNELLE : Racino-slots referendum likely will pass, despite being a bad idea All right, here is why I plan to vote against an Indian-run racino-slots operation in Washington County on the Nov. 6 referendum ballot: Consistency.

CHRIS CINQUEMANI, AN AUGUSTA RESIDENT, : QUESTION 5Term-limits law represents will of 68% of Maine's citizens On the Nov. 6 ballot, Question 5 will ask voters to extend the number of consecutive terms a legislator can serve in the state Senate or House of Representatives. The question is: "Do you favor extending term limits for Legislators from 4 to 6 terms."

Bush supportive of SCHIP program, but not proposal The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is an important program that President Bush wants to see renewed. SCHIP provides health care for children in families living below 200 percent of the poverty level, but who do not qualify for Medicaid.

SUN JOURNAL:

Lawmakers submit avalanche of bills AUGUSTA - State representatives and senators submitted nearly 600 bills labeled as emergencies since the first legislative session ended in June. They range from choosing a new state flower to banning the sale of energy drinks to minors, to creating new boating laws in the wake of a double fatality.

LaMarche found in campaign violationAUGUSTA - Former Green Party gubernatorial candidate Pat LaMarche of Yarmouth is facing $400 in fines for improper record keeping in her campaign.

EDITORIAL: A few dollars for Maine's tomorrowsA natural reaction of frustrated taxpayers to bonds, like those on November's ballot, is to say no more money, not until you State House slackers learn to live like the rest of us.

LTE: 'Can do' attitudeWe are supporting Katherine Harvey's bid for House District 93. Quite honestly, we lack knowledge about the political issues we face in this district. Fortunately, our knowledge of the candidate is not lacking.

MPBN:

Mercury Cleanup Plan Submitted to EPA

Transportation Funding Squeeze (from Morning Edition)
PART ONE:
PART TWO:
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071023marley.asx

WMTW:

Former Secretary Of State To Campaign For Allen
AUGUSTA, Maine -- Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright will be in Maine for a Friday morning fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Tom Allen. The $100-per-person event is being held at the Augusta Country Club.

PORTSMOUTH HERALD:

Reps: Extend term limits
When voters in southern Maine turn their thoughts to Question 5, a referendum about extending legislative term limits, local lawmakers hope they will consider experience.

The 'sad truth' about health care in Maine
WELLS, Maine — A representative of Gov. John Baldacci had a grim message about the state of Maine and national health care Wednesday morning for listeners gathered at a health forum at the Village By the Sea hotel.

PORTLAND PHOENIX:

Gov: Cut services while I travel overseas:
While Baldacci takes lobbyists’ money for a trip, his wife bills taxpayersLobbyists and campaign contributors are among the private interests paying for Governor John Baldacci’s upcoming trip to Asia, though the state forbids officials from accepting gifts.

Mobilize against the war on Saturday: ProtestSeveral buses will take Mainers down to Boston Common on October 27 to participate in one of 11 anti-war demonstrations planned nationwide for that day.

Hustlenomics: Politics and other mistakesAll human beings are born with an innate sense that they’re fiscally responsible.

LAKES REGION WEEKLY:

Sykes seeks legislation for boats on Long Lake

Vote in honor of a veteran

SUN CHRONICLE:
Three bond questions total $6.2 million

LTE: IRAN = US' MAJOR THREAT? WHY?

ELLSWORTH AMERICAN:

State Health Forums Assess Local Health Care Climate
ELLSWORTH — As Governor John Baldacci begins the process of establishing a new State Health Plan, health forums are being held statewide to assess the climate among health care professionals and activists.

Snowe, Collins Speak Out Against Decision
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard, and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) released a statement Monday following the Bush administration’s decision to deny help to commercial fishermen who are being hurt by restrictive regulations.

EDITORIAL: “This Government Does Not Torture”
Be assured that none of us will ever know exactly what constitutes torture under United States law as long as the current administration remains in power. That was made clear again last week during Senate questioning of Michael Mukasey, a retired federal judge who is President George W. Bush’s nominee for U.S. attorney general.

EDITORIAL: FCC Is Back for Another Try
Back in 2003, Kevin Martin was part of a three-member Republican majority on the Federal Communications Commission that voted 3-2 to ease the limits on multiple ownership of television stations, radio stations and combinations of media outlets in the same market. At the time, the final version of the new rules was made public only at the last minute. Following a huge public outcry, a federal appeals court eventually invalidated the FCC decision.

EDITORIAL: The Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
Some members of the United States Congress have begun having second thoughts about efforts by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others to force a vote on a symbolic resolution asserting that “Armenian genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923.” Hopefully, there soon will be enough defections to forestall this ill-timed and dangerous effort.

LTE: Reality Check Needed
Russell Wray obviously needs a reality check based upon reading his letter “Don’t Forget About the Whales” on Oct. 11. He’s clearly not from Maine. He says that whales have become entangled in fishing gear “all too often.” Not once have I seen or heard of a right whale becoming tangled in gear. I should know. I was working my tail off on the stern of a lobster boat for years. And I don’t “depend” on whales, as he said. Whales didn’t pay my way through college, lobsters did. I should mention that I have a degree in conservation law enforcement and currently hold a job in that area.

LTE: Question 2 Deserves Support
Your editorial on bond issues (Oct. 11) provides a summary of Question 2, which includes $50 million in funding for research and development projects. This funding, to be administered by the Maine Technology Institute, would, as the editorial explains, be awarded based on a competitive bidding process that requires each recipient to secure private or federal matching funds.

LTE: The Unseated President
When was the last time a president of the United States was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?

LTE: Ill-Considered, Horribly Timed
A congressional vote characterizing as genocide the Turkish handling of serious internal security threats generations ago is ill-considered and horribly timed. Just when we are most in need of a reliable partner in the Middle East, offending Turkey, staunch Cold War ally for 50 years, can only do damage to our national security. Besides, given our own pathetic history in race relations, our stirring up this hornets’ nest at this time is on very weak intellectual ground.

LTE: Reminders of Ancient Rome
More and more comparisons are being made between the ancient Roman empire and the contemporary American empire. The similarities are striking. In each case, a republic with ideals of equality and sharing turning into an oligarchy of those who have a little and those who have just about all of it. A proud citizens’ army becoming dependent upon barbarian mercenaries on the one hand, on the sadistic stalwarts of politically-connected Blackwater on the other. Nero fiddling while Rome burns, Bush posturing while New Orleans drowns.

FEDERAL COMPUTER WEEK:

Agencies standardize ways to deal with terrorist watch list concerns
At a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing, TSC Director Leonard Boyle said the agreement is a positive development when he was questioned by ranking member Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on why it took TSC an average of 67 days to complete a review of an individual’s complaint.

VALLEJO TIMES-HERALD:

FEMA sends federal firefighters to relieve CaliforniaSusan Collins, R-Maine, said Wednesday. Collins led a major investigation into Katrina and the results of those findings guided many of the changes in FEMA.

CNN:

Report: US terror 'watch list' may be getting too longSusan Collins, R-Maine, said they were concerned about a report that a Mexican citizen with tuberculosis was able to cross the border into the US more than ...

THE MUSLIM NEWS:

USA: Terror watch list swells to more than 755000Susan Collins, R-Maine, says "creating and maintaining a comprehensive terrorist watch list is an enormous endeavor fraught with technical and tactical ...

AP:

Senators Want Full Story on Man With TBSusan Collins, R-Maine, said in an interview. "That sounds significant alarm bells in terms of our confidence that this system can help us detect and ...

MSNBC:

Lessons of the Dream Act defeatNorm Coleman of Minnesota and Susan Collins of Maine, voted to push ahead with the bill. But two other GOP senators in tight races, John Sununu of New ...

BLOGS:

KUCINICH TO MOVE IMPEACHMENT BEFORE THANKSGIVING!

National Journal’s Hotline TV on the Maine senate race

Kennebec Journal Silliness
The paper's editors let op-Ed scribe George Smith get away with this gem:

The price of fascism
Susan Collins, R-Maine, says "creating and maintaining a comprehensive terrorist watch list is an enormous endeavor fraught with technical and tactical challenges." The report, she says, "underscores the need to make the watch lists ...

Editorial: Don't hang up registry
Susan Collins notes that a five-year re-registration cycle poses an unnecessary burden on the elderly. The target of frequent scams, this is a group that ...

Collins Thumping Allen
Susan Collins crushed Rep. Tom Allen 56-33. Democrats had considered this among their top targets. Suffice it to say, things are not panning out as they had hoped. Collins’ reelect is at 55%, an ominious sign for any challenger.

Report: Homeland Security WatchList Helpful To Santa Claus
Susan Collins, R-Maine, says “creating and maintaining a comprehensive terrorist watch list is an enormous endeavor fraught with technical and tactical challenges.” Samuel L. Jackson was brought in as an interpretor and his translation ...

Resist The Pravda
... that Presidents can't do anything about life issues, that we can't have perfection in our candidates, that Arlen Spector or Susan Collins or other pro-abortion RINO's should be allowed to continue in office, that local candidates ...

Susan Collins (R) 56%, Tom Allen (D) 33%
John and Amy talk about the latest in the Senate races in Maine and Virginia.

With Regard to Our Position On MoRons And The Unsolicited Media ...
Third, when Susan Collins was being blocked from running ads on Google that referenced MoveOn.org, David was pretty quick to rationalize Google's cop-out and set himself up as the out of the box thinker with the strategy around the ...

Susan Collins Attacks MoveOn And Tom Allen
This is a rather odd clip from a Susan Collins radio interview last month. In it she discusses the fact that MoveOn.org used Joe Lieberman's support for her to raise money for Tom Allen and acts surprised and outraged that someone would ...

Throw out old anthrax vaccine, expert tells US - Reuters
Throw out old anthrax vaccine, expert tells USReuters - 16 hours agoSusan Collins, a Maine Repu...

MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “FRANKEN’S TEXAS TWO STEP”
'I could whip her (behind).' Continuing on this feminist tack, Franken counts Maine senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe as sure victims."

Collins Talks About MoveOn.org and Redefeat Lieberman Campaign
Susan Collins speaks about MoveOn.org and the Redefeat Lieberman campaign. Exasperated about the influence of small donors in politics.

US Lawmakers Should Not Condone Efforts By Thailand To Issue ...
Tom Allen (D-Maine) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have sponsored a resolution that praises the Thai government for its decision to copy compulsory licenses and urges Congress not to enforce intellectual property standards, ...

Former Secretary Of State To Campaign For Allen
Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright will be in Maine for a Friday morning fundraiser for US Senate candidate Tom Allen.

Tuscany to discover
Tom Allen (D-Maine) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have sponsored a resolution praising the Thai government for its theft and urging the United States not to enforce intellectual property standards. Apparently, Allen and Brown think ...

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Maine News for Wednesday, October 24, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Turnpike authority scraps toll study
Gov. Baldacci's opposition to fares on I-295 and I-95 north of Augusta is cited.


Question 4 asks voters to repair parks, save open spaces
The $35.5 million bond also includes funding for riverfront development.


Top presidential fundraisers
Barack Obama brings in four times as much as Hillary Clinton in Maine, and the state's GOP donors favor Mitt Romney.


Laptops enhancing students' writing, study finds

Educators' belief that the program is a great benefit to middle schoolers is now backed by test scores.

Recall group to push its petition
Portland Republicans plan to gather signatures during tonight's School Committee meeting.

EDITORIAL: Smoking ban in cars with kids crosses line of privacy
There are good reasons to worry about secondhand smoke, but this is a step too far.

Rep. Stan Gerzofsky: Let Legislature do its job on prison consolidation
There is an established process for dealing with such ideas, and it takes time and leadership.

BANGOR DAILY:

$35.5M bond aims to spur land conservation
One of Maine's most successful land conservation programs is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

State officials target sex offender registry scofflaws
AUGUSTA, Maine - Lawmakers were told Tuesday that about 300 convicted sex offenders are not following the state sex offender registry law, even as the legislators consider changing the structure of the registry.



3 gas line ruptures in Bangor projects prompt PUC to fine three companies

BANGOR, Maine — The Maine Public Utilities Commission has cited three local companies for causing three separate gas line ruptures — two at the Hollywood Slots construction site — that have occurred in the last seven weeks.

Editorial: Don't hang up registry
When millions of Americans put their phone numbers on the national do-not-call list they likely assumed the dinnertime telephonic interruptions were a thing of the past. They aren’t, and the unwanted calls could start coming again this spring. They shouldn’t.

Wednesday's Letters to the Editor … It’s our war … Slots opportunities

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

Political blogger's fans don't allow him to quit
For Bill Harnsberger, writing a regular feature for the top Democratic blog on the Internet was always a labor of love, a time-consuming passion that paid nothing.

MAINE TURNPIKE
Authority douses plan to study toll expansion

The Maine Turnpike Authority has scrapped an unpopular plan to study whether tolls should be collected on Maine's interstate system.

Young bucks to lead city Dems

The Augusta Democratic City Committee chose three new leaders Tuesday evening — all under the age of 33.

EDITORIAL: Moving Maine's economy into the future
Manufacturing accounted for 24 percent of employment in Maine in 1980 and 24 percent of gross state product that year, according to Charles Colgan, a University of Southern Maine economist.

GEORGE SMITH : Counting marbles in the 1st Congressional District
The one with all the marbles wins the game. This applies to most games including politics. Money drives your votes and rarely does the underfunded candidate win.

LTE: For a clean environment and 'green' legislation
As I know, and others know, as well, a clean and healthy environment is of the essence, and necessary for all living things. Within the next couple of weeks, I, for one would like to see a bill passed regarding clean energy of all descriptions! Does this not sound good? It does to me, and I am of the opinion that there are many others that would agree, so let us get together and work with our government officials to maintain clean energy and, in so doing maintain a clean, healthy environment.

LTE: At least 1 early vote for the Washington Co. racino
I plan to vote "yes" on Question 1, the ballot initiative to allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to open a harness racing facility in Washington County. My support for the initiative does not come as the result of my personal support for gambling, which I have serious concerns with. Nor does my support come as a result of the clear economic benefits that will be realized by both the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the residents of the economically depressed Washington County.

LTE: Taxes and planning will keep MaineCare healthy
Recent legislative sessions have been dominated by the Dirigo Ponzi health-care scheme and have ignored MaineCare. This lack of focus has assured this program designed for the poorest and weakest has been exploited by political whims and special interest groups. Legislative leadership must begin to understand MaineCare does not make people healthy, that is the sole ownership of the individual regardless of the psychosocial babble expressed by current administration.

LTE: Vote no on state bonds -- focus on other issues
The future is now. On Nov. 6, you are being asked to vote on multi-millions of dollars in bond issues for Maine's future at a time when we are laying off teachers, cutting our mental health benefits, our bridges and roads are going to pieces and crude oil prices are almost up to $100 a barrel. It is predicted gas will be $4 a gallon by next June.

LTE: The state doesn't really invest
The Oct. 11 Kennebec Journal had an article titled "Maine urged to invest more." I note with great humor the term "state-funded private non-profit" in reference to an entity the state created, regulates and funds (an oxymoron if I've ever heard one). So the state takes our tax dollars, starts a company, pays higher-than-normal salaries, and does not allow the company to make a profit.

MORNING SENTINEL:

Maine donors like Obama, Romney
Hillary Clinton leads the Democratic presidential pack in fundraising nationally, but Barack Obama is the favorite among Democratic contributors in Maine, according to new finance reports that track donations to the campaigns through Sept. 30.

Madeleine Albright to speak at Colby
Former secretary of state to discuss current events; hasn't told college her exact topic

WATERVILLE -- Former U.S. Secretary of State and Ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Albright will discuss current events at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Colby College's Lorimer Chapel.

LTE: One vote for Pat Jones
I am writing in support of Pat Jones as representative for District 83. I first met Jones a decade ago when she approached me about co-sponsoring the local Alive & Well project to provide summer work for youth through our market-garden. At the end of each of the two-season projects, the young growers had harvested and shared crops with the local food bank. From this came a relationship with Jones that centered on local alternatives and energy reliance. No surprise then that we have recently had important discussions about the energy situation.

TIMES RECORD:

Bangor racino seeks change in how Maine taxes its operation...(full story)


WCSH6

Changes Considered For Maine's Sex Offender Registry


MPBN:

Federal Sex Offender Statute May Force Revisions at State Level
Listen

Supporters of Natural Resource Bond Rally on Penobscot Riverbank
Listen

School Wins Funding for Solar Energy
Listen

YORK WEEKLY:

Maine bills to amend school merger law pile up for '08

School district consolidation has rapidly become the biggest issue confronting the Maine Legislature this fall, with at least 60 bills filed that address the controversial law.

Money Matters: New Maine law targets predatory lenders

Earlier this year, Gov. John Baldacci signed the Maine Homeowner Protection Act into law. This legislation, which is scheduled to take effect in January 2008, has been hailed as one of the toughest state laws targeting predatory lending practices in...

CURRENT PUBLISHING:

January school merger vote unlikely for most districts

Go figure - Maine lauded, then scolded, for food stamp efforts

Study tracks growth in higher-paid state jobs

Baldacci a 'one-man band' on consolidation

LTE: THOMPSON: ENFORCE STRICT IMMIGRATION LAWS ON THE BOOKS

LTE: WHY MIKE HUCKABEE MAY BE PRESIDENT

LTE: REP DEBATE CRUMBLES OBAMA

USA TODAY:

Terror watch list swells to more than 755000 names
Susan Collins, R-Maine, says "creating and maintaining a comprehensive terrorist watch list is an enormous endeavor fraught with technical and tactical ...

REUTERS:

Throw out old anthrax vaccine, expert tells US
Susan Collins, a Maine Republican said: "This GAO report makes clear that the federal attempt to proctre an improved anthrax vaccine has yielded not a new ...

FEDERAL TIMES:

Lawmakers press for curbs on DoD personnel reforms in bill
Tom Allen, D-Maine, and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., urged the House’s top conferees negotiating the final version of the Defense authorization bill to retain ...

BLOGS:

Sharp Drop Seen in U.S. Deaths in Iraq

House Dems to Push SCHIP Wreck Again

H.R.3835: The American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007

H.R.3835 is a bill that would “restore the Constitution’s checks and balances and protections against government abuses as envisioned by the Founding Fathers.” Sponsored by Texas Representative Ron Paul

BREAKING NEWS: Rahm Emanuel Endorses Tom Allen

Rahm Emanuel is one of the top Democrats in Congress, and just like Tom Allen he is a leader who never backs down from a tough fight. And he was crystal clear about why he is endorsing Tom Allen, saying “Nobody would do a better job ...

Updates on the US Senate races in North Carolina and Maine

Emery made a series of stupid mistakes, just like Susan's recent attack on Tom Allen for missing votes because Allen was at a family funeral. Like Collins, Emery was exposed as a very negative campaigner. Also, Emery was tied to an ...

Democrats Recruit a 12-Year-Old to Combat Bush on Kids’ Health

“Let us not jeopardize a successful, effective program for
low-income children because we want to have a broader debate,&39;
said Senator Susan Collins of Maine.

Bar Harbor: Feds deny crisis funds for fishermen

Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins issued a joint statement Monday indicating they were disappointed with the finding. They have asked NOAA to further justify ...

Senator? Do you have a square to spare?

Maine - Susan Collins (R) is a dying breed, that of a moderate Republican. Tom Allen (D), one of Maine's two Congressmen is already running and it will definitely be a close race. I say Democratic pickup.

ME Sen: Research 2000 (commissioned by Daily KOS) sez Collins 56 ...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/22/162030/69 If the 2008 election for US Senate were held today, would you to reelect Susan Collins, would you consider voting for another candidate, or would you vote to replace Collins?

Eleanor Clift, Unclearly

Regarding RGJoe’s support of Maine Republican and war-enabler Susan Collins, Clifty sez it’s all about “good character:”. Lieberman doesn’t feel obliged to do the Democratic Party’s business and help knock off Collins.

Post-Katrina … but Still No Plan

chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee; Susan Collins (R-Maine), ranking member of that committee; and Mary Landrieu (D-La.), chair of a disaster recovery subcommittee, expressed disappointment in the ...

Video: SENATE '08: Can Mark Warner Be Stopped? Collins Safe ...

John and Amy talk about the latest in the Senate races in Maine and Virginia.

The pork dishonor role

This editorial in The Examiner describes two interesting and somewhat distressing pork-related votes in the Senate. Sen. Jim DeMint proposed an amendment to kill a provision in an appropriations bill directing $2 million to three construction projects for a college in Harlem, all to be named after Rep. Charles Rangel. Two Democrats -- Russ Feingold and Evan Bayh -- broke ranks with their party to vote in favor of DeMint's amendment. Meanwhile, 16 Republicans voted against the amendment and in favor of Rangel's pork project. The 16 were: Lamar Alexander, Kit Bond, Thad Cochran, Trent Lott, Susan Collins, Larry Craig, Pete Domenici, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Richard Lugar, Lisa Murkowski, Ted Stevens, Richard Shelby, Arlen Specter, George Voinovich, and John Warner.

A Little Govt Waste

Susan Collins (R-Maine), ranking member of the homeland security committee, said in a statement. "HHS must learn the lessons from past failures so that we can improve our preparedness for a possible terrorist attack using biological ...

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Maine News for Tuesday, October 23, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Many 'emergency' bills unlikely to make the cut State House: Leaders of the Legislature will weed out those measures that can wait until 2009.

High hopes for higher-education bond Backers expect it to pass, even though a $9 million bond failed two years ago.

Plan would limit King Middle School birth control access The School Committee will consider setting a student minimum age and letting parents choose to opt out.

Erin Hoeflinger: Individual health insurance market broken Rising costs of care are partly to blame, but so are state laws that drive prices sky-high.

BANGOR DAILY:


Question 3 would boost state colleges ORONO, Maine - University of Maine graduate student Mostapha Aghamoosa, 23, of Orono knows firsthand what funds from the $43.5 million education bond that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot would do for UM.

Home child care providers to make case to Legislature for joining unionPORTLAND - Nearly 2,200 people who care for children in their homes plan to press their case for joining a union when the Legislature reconvenes next year, after a statewide vote in favor of organizing.

Penobscot River restoration groups near funding goalBoth chambers of Congress have approved budgets that contain $10 million to help purchase three Penobscot River dams that eventually will be removed or bypassed to restore fish habitat in Maine's largest watershed.

EDITORIAL: Budget WarningsDavid Walker has made himself the nation's fiscal Cassandra, a fitting pursuit for the comptroller general of the United States. But even as he warned again last week about budgetary doom, Washington tries to maintain business as usual.

Richard A. Bennett: Term limits preserve legislative processWhen I was first elected to the State House in 1990, big issues loomed in our fiscal policy and in workers’ compensation. The longest-serving members of the Legislature presided over the Maine House of Representatives, the Maine Senate and their committees.

Tuesday's Letters to the Editor … Who attacked first

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

QUESTION 3Invest now, pay later Backers of a $43.5 million bond issue for new buildings and improvements at Maine's universities and community colleges say they expect the measure to pass Nov. 6 -- even though voters rejected a higher education package two years ago.

AUGUSTACity considers housing tax break AUGUSTA -- City councilors discussing a tax break to help build new "affordable" housing worry that doing so would negatively affect current homeowners, especially those with older homes who may be looking to sell.

HALLOWELLBoard of Trade gets downtown pep talk HALLOWELL -- Downtowns such as those in Hallowell and Gardiner have a charm and personality that cannot be duplicated, Mary Kate Reny told members of the Hallowell Area Board of Trade Monday.

City Council candidate says Stop & Shop to be Augusta Crossing tenant With the Augusta Crossing opening only weeks away, news of a possible Stop & Shop grocery store and two restaurants are fueling more back-fence talk about the $40 million project.

Q&A with Ruth Summers
Ruth Summers, wife of Republican 1st Congressional District candidate Charlie Summers, is doing a lot of heavy lifting this fall to try to help her husband win the June primary and face a Democrat in the November 2008 election.

Editorials:
State's parks newly popularBut still need capital for repairs Maine's state parks and historic sites generate nearly $96 million annually in economic activity, according to a University of Maine study. That activity represents 1,449 jobs and $31 million in personal income.

LTE: Rowe's record of secrecy not good for Maine Journalist Bob Woodward of Watergate fame, speaking at Orono recently, said that government secrecy is the greatest threat to democracy. If true, the expected candidacy of Attorney General Steve Rowe for governor should give all Mainers pause.

MORNING SENTINEL:

Call to declare fishing industry a failure rejected The Bush administration dealt a setback to New England's struggling groundfishermen on Monday, denying requests from the governors of Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island for financial aid to help the fleet survive while fishing stocks rebound.

LTE: Angered at the decisions of the White House In his latest blatant display of utter disregard for vulnerable Americans, cowardice, depravity, protectionism for special interests and wrongdoing, George W. Bush vetoed the bipartisan bill to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program. (Maine's congressional delegation strongly favors the bill.) Lacking courage to face the public, Bush vetoed the bill behind closed doors.

SUN JOURNAL:

Limits sought on boat power AUGUSTA - Two months after a deadly boating collision on Long Lake, a Harrison lawmaker wants to change Maine boating laws to make the activity safer.

Recycling campaign is launchedPORTLAND (AP) - The state kicked off a new promotional and advertising campaign Monday that aims to get Mainers to recycle more trash.

Democrats slate meetingLEWISTON - The Androscoggin County Democrats will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at 213 Lisbon St.

LTE: Family roots run deepSheryl Capponi Briggs, candidate for House District 93 in the Nov. 6 special election, is a lifelong resident of the area, whose family roots run deep in the towns of Mexico, Dixfield, Peru, Canton and Carthage.LTE: Sliding toward immoralityThe self-professed genius, Sen. Hillary Clinton, often states, "It takes a village to raise a child.

TIMES RECORD:


OP/ED: Bonds buttress Maine's future...(full story)

MPBN:

Governors Denied Disaster Relief for Groundfishermen

Childcare Providers Vote to Join Union

WCSH6

School Committee Recall Drive Underway In Portland
PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- The chair of Portland's Republicans is organizing a petition drive to recall members of the school committee who voted in favor of providing birth control pills to some students at King Middle School. Full Story

WMTW:

Report: Government May Waste $100 Million On Unused VaccineSusan Collins is raising questions about waste in the government's program for stockpiling a vaccine for anthrax. A report by the Government Accountability ...

WASHINGTON POST:

GAO Report Cites Waste In Anthrax Vaccine CacheSusan Collins (R-Maine), ranking member of the homeland security committee, said in a statement. "HHS must learn the lessons from past failures so that we ...

BOSTON GLOBE:

Presidential order gives additional protections for striped bassTom Allen is applauding a presidential order that gives additional protections to striped bass. The order designates striped bass as a game fish, ...

POLITICO:

Dems appeal to Maine's independent streakRep. Tom Allen of Maine is taking a page from the Democrats’ playbook from last year’s congressional wave in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Whether that approach works in 2008 is an open question.

AP:

Government May Waste Anthrax Vaccine
... terrorist attack using biological weapons," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in a statement Monday. Collins is the top Republican on the Senate committee.

Survey: No. 2 oil up 9 cents per gallonMaine's latest weekly survey of home heating oil prices found the average cash price for No. 2 oil jumped 9 cents to $2.79 per gallon statewide, or 56 cents above the price at this time last year. (AP, 10/22/07)

BLOGS:

Presidential Order Gives Additional Protections For Striped Bass
PORTLAND (AP) -- Maine Congressman Tom Allen is applauding a presidential order that gives additional protections to striped bass.

Hello
Last Spring Semester I was able to work on a Congressional internship in Washington DC for Congressman Tom Allen who is currently running for the US Senate. UMaine has a lot to offer for those looking to get involved on campus, ...

Dean Scontras Speaks Out Against Portland School Committee
Eliot, Maine - Dean Scontras, candidate for Maine's 1st Congressional District, issued a statement today regarding the decision by the Portland School Committee to allow the birth control pill, RU-486 (the "Morning After Pill"), to be distributed to students at King Middle School without parental consent.

ME Congressional Delegation on Internet Tax Ban
AUGUSTA - On Nov. 1, states will be in the clear to tax access to the Internet unless Congress acts to extend the ban or make it permanent as urged by some members of Congress. Collins supports a permanent ban. Snowe believes in a permanent ban. Tom Allen opposes a permanent ban, supports four year extension of tax moratorium. Mike Michaud no mention of permanent ban, supports four year extension of tax moratorium.

Don’t Change Your Light Bulbs, Change Your Leaders
Thomas Friedman is right: the energy-climate challenge we face today is a huge scale problem. Without scale, all you have is a green hobby. The answer is not to change a lightbulb here and there but to change your leaders.

Maine Senator Proposes To Prevent Cuts To Home Health Care ...Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Wednesday introduced legislation that would prevent a scheduled $6.2 billion reduction in Medicare reimbursements for home health ...

Dem Allen appeals to Maine independence
Rep. Tom Allen takes notes on wave of Democratic victories in bid to unseat GOP Sen. Susan Collins. 41 Vote(s)

Poll deficits and the Schumer comeback
I published polling earlier today showing Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins leading Democratic challenger Rep. Tom Allen, 56-33. As bad as that might seen, MyDD's Jonathan Singer takes us back to Schumer's 1998 Senate run. ...

ME-Sen: Tom Allen Down, But Certainly Not Out
If the 2008 election for US Senate were held today, would you to reelect Susan Collins, would you consider voting for another candidate, or would you vote to replace Collins? Reelect 55 Consider 20 Replace 21 If 2008 election for US ...

Stanley I. Kutler: The New American Imperium
But the silence of such "moderates" and critics" as John Warner (R-VA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) tells us about the strength of White House discipline. The Democrats, more diverse and more ...

The Senate Races in 2008, Part I
Susan Collins, Maine: Collins may well be one of those Republicans who pays the price for the growing unpopularity of George W. Bush and the war in Iraq. Both John Kerry and Al Gore carried the state against Bush. ...

RANT
Susan Collins, both claim to be moderates, yet have never voted down a Republican bill when it's genuinely mattered. They also posit that they stand for women's issues, yet I fail to comprehend how attacking any bill set before them ...

Kos Poll
If 2008 election for US Senate were held today, for whom would you vote for if the choices were between Tom Allen, the Democrat, and Susan Collins, the Republican? Collins (R) 56 Allen (D) 33. Kos adds: ...

More On The Poll
My blasé initial reaction to the new Maine senate poll may have been premature. Digging deeper into the results, one number sticks out as a genuine surprise:

Collins Introduces Bill to Block Medicare Home Healthcare Cuts
Susan Collins (R) introduces a bipartisan bill that would block Bush administration cuts in the Medicare home healthcare benefit. The legislation (S 2181) is being co-sponsored by 60 senators including Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), ...

Usually quiet Senate races making news today
The conventional wisdom of the Maine Senate race is that it is and will remain a toss-up between incumbent GOP Susan Collins and challenger Tom Allen. My Senate rankings reflect that. The DSCC wants to believe that Collins will be ...

Collins Pushes Legislation To Block Medicare Cuts
TOPSHAM (NEWS CENTER) -- Under a proposal by the Bush administration, home health care benefits for the elderly could be cut from the Medicare program. This week, Maine Senator Susan Collins introduced legislation to block those cuts.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Maine News for Monday, October 22, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Colleges seek to improve R&D via $50 million bond The Maine Technology Institute would oversee a competitive grant process.

Campaign encourages a new look at recycling The state hopes ads and other efforts will convince Mainers to send less waste to incinerators and landfills.

Editorial:
School mergers should be allowed to play out The volume of proposed changes looks like an attempt to kill the law before it can succeed.

Congress' ethics reforms could stand some reform themselves Cleaning up past offenses was a good idea, but the new broom could sweep more cleanly.

LTE: Dissolving MTA would take us in wrong direction

BANGOR DAILY:

Maine child care providers set to form unionMore than 2,200 child care providers in Maine are expected to announce today their decision to form a union.

Ban on taxing Internet access to end Nov. 1AUGUSTA - On Nov. 1, states will be in the clear to tax access to the Internet unless Congress acts to extend the ban or make it permanent as urged by some members of Congress.

Backers say bond would aid economyQuestion 2 on the Nov. 6 ballot requests funding for Maine-based research and development that are essential to a healthy economic future, according to proponents of the initiative.

EDITORIAL: Eavesdropping on the LineRepeatedly in recent years, the White House has convinced lawmakers that preventing terrorist attacks is more important than legal rights and clear oversight.

Before the PillsMonday, October 22, 2007A Portland middle school has been the focus of news stories for more than a week because a health center there received permission from school officials to offer birth-control prescriptions.

Marilyn Canavan: Extravagances of war, at what cost?If you believe that every military dollar spent is justified, stop reading here. But if there is a scintilla of doubt in your mind, hear me out.

Monday's Letters to the Editor … Vote yes for casino … End of local governing

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

Citizens respond to mental-health crisis AUGUSTA -- A citizens group formed more than a dozen years ago to fight for the preservation of Augusta's state psychiatric hospital is attempting to respond to what its members perceive as a mental-health crisis in the state's jails and prisons.

Maine law bars details of teacher sexual abuse AUGUSTA -- Teachers in Maine have been accused of sexual involvement with students, but state law bars disclosure of how many educators lost their certifications as a result.

Augusta's housing in flux Augusta’s single-family homes and apartments are older than in neighboring communities and the city still struggles to house its neediest citizens.

Editorials:
Middle groundon birth controlfor youngsters Five girls. Five young girls, that's about it.

ERIC CONRAD : No easy task to archive state e-mails (aka public records) Maybe you remember when administrative assistants -- they were called "secretaries" back then -- put pieces of paper and carbon filters into typewriters and carefully typed up memos and letters their bosses would send around.

MORNING SENTINEL:

Report says income gap increases fastest in New England BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- The gap between the rich and poor has grown faster in New England than in other areas of the country, according to a new report.

State to promote new effort to encourage Mainers to recycle more The state is kicking off a new advertising and promotional effort today to get Mainers to recycle more trash.

SUN JOURNAL:

Voters facing 3 bond issues AUGUSTA - Efforts to preserve open space, public attractions along waterfronts and public university and college campuses would be among the recipients of funding if Maine voters approve three bond issues totaling $134 million when they go to the polls Nov. 6.

Bond questions on the Nov. 6 ballotHere are the bond issues that will appear on Maine's Nov. 6 ballot:

School mergers to force changes in teacher payPORTLAND (AP) - Maine's school consolidation law, hailed as a way to hold down the costs of school administration, is slated to trigger pay increases for some teachers.

LTE: Costs outweigh benefitsMaine's latest version of a school consolidation law (LD 499) is based on the Sinclair Act of 1957; the law that created School Administrative Districts (SADs). Studies by University of Maine faculty have shown the Sinclair Act, during its 50 years of existence, did not do what it was designed to do. It did not decrease costs for towns or improve student performance. It led to more long distance busing, more dropouts, the building of large schools, and more administrators. The state poured money into SADs to make it work and costs per pupil increased.

FOSTER’S DAILY DEMOCRAT:

Senators seek $15m to help fishermenOlympia Snow and Susan Collins of Maine, all Republicans. New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and Maine Gov. John Baldacci also have sent the federal Commerce ...

Boston Globe/Maine AP

School department mergers to force changes in teacher payMaine's school consolidation law, hailed as a way to hold down the costs of school administration, is slated to trigger pay increases for some teachers. (AP, 10/21/07)

Maine drivers to get hit by toll increase in New HampshireMotorists traveling between Maine and Massachusetts will have to dig a little deeper to pay tolls in New Hampshire beginning today. (AP, 6:10 a.m.)

Clarification: College Applications storyIn a story Oct. 20, The Associated Press reported that Education Commissioner Susan Gendron proposes that high school seniors apply to college as a requirement for receiving a diploma. The application must be completed, but need not be submitted. (AP, 10/21/07)

MAINE CAMPUS:

Federal do-not-call list to expire in 2008
... it has been very effective in helping to eliminate unwanted telephone calls to homes throughout the nation," US Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine said.

MPBN:

Governor Baldacci Weighs In On School Birth Control Debate

Consumers More Savvy About Debit Card "Holds"

WCSH:

Collins Pushes Legislation To Block Medicare CutsAnd this week, Maine Senator Susan Collins introduced legislation to block those cuts. The president wants to cut 6-billion dollars from home health ...

BLOGS:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/21/183055/87
For someone who doesn't know diddly squat about trademark & rudimentary research skillsets, Dutson is horrifically overpaid (e.g., sheer indolence and stupidity).

Primary Challenge to Tom Allen
Laurie Dobson, who has been threatening a primary challenge to Tom Allen, appears to be heating up the rhetoric. She announced her candidacy as an "Independent Democrat" at the York County Democratic Committee meeting last week, although there's no confirmation that she's actually filed papers yet and she still seems vague on whether she's running in the Dem primary, running as an Independent in the general, or both.

Her original post on her blogspot was updated late yesterday, apparently in response to some criticism of the over-the-top language. It's still pretty outrageous, but I think it's worth reading the original version to get a better picture of this woman's mental state as well as her approach to campaign discourse. (The emphasis seems to be on "Diss.") Fortunately I saved a PDF of the original page before the edits, which I include below the fold.

Future Sen. Tom Allen & Maine '08 Candidates: FEC October Quarterlies (a/k/a "follow the money")

Hello all
We have Tom Allen (D), the 6 term US Rep. running against Susan Collins, who, let's not forget, spent 8 days in a 'scientific tent' with John McCain in the South Pole last year. That's almost enough to get me to vote for her, but no.

Congress orders probe of Mexican businessman who repeatedly ...
"This troubling incident appears to be another outrageous failure of a border-security system that is struggling to keep pace with modern threats," said Sen. Susan Collins, (R-Me.) and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and ...

Republickers' inescapable affliction
Next year, the GOP must defend three of its five remaining blue-state Senate seats, with moderates Susan Collins of Maine, Norm Coleman of Minnesota, and Gordon Smith of Oregon facing re-election. The party also faces difficult contests ...

I’m still trying to transfer files to my blog host…
I’ll still be attending democratic functions here in my state (some are planned for November, such as a Virtual Fundraiser for future US Senator Tom Allen, and the democrats in my county are having a “sketti” (spaghetti) dinner too) and ...

Members of the Maine National Guard's Security Force II return
Tom Allen. Baldacci thanked the soldiers for their commitment and dedication to duty and said he was proud of the leadership this state has in its guard and ...

How Are You Voting on the Bond Issues?