Governor signs beverage tax into law to help pay for Dirigo
State House: Critics say increased beer, wine and soda costs will hit hard.
Environmental coalition celebrates new laws
State House: Members of 25 organizations tout the passage of many bills.
State House: Lawmakers kill a fee increase, and the bill to tighten security now goes to the Senate.
The Maine Republican says he has been studying Spanish and the politics of the Latin American nation.
Pingree's funding tops $1 million
Election 2008: She's the top Democratic fundraiser. Dean Scontras leads GOP hopefuls in raising cash.
Ed Suslovic: 'Who is this guy?'
Seen as both visionary and enigmatic, Portland's mayor has shown he's willing to sit on the hot seat.
Navy lays out rules for reuse of old prison at shipyard
Developers are told at a forum that access to the site will remain restricted.
Bush sets target date for emissions cut
He calls for stopping the growth of climate-changing pollution by 2025, but offers no new ways to do it.
Editorial:
There are lots of reasons to be skeptical of this idea, but plenty of benefits to consider as well.
There are promising clusters of activity in Maine, but taking advantage won't be easy.
Bangor Daily News
Thursday, April 17, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Democrats including Gov. John Baldacci celebrated passage of a bill to bolster Maine’s static Dirigo Health insurance program Wednesday, but Republicans - some raising the possibility of a people’s veto - blasted the tax increases contained in it.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine lawmakers have sent to Gov. John Baldacci a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage from the current $7 per hour to $7.50 over a two-year period.
Tribe looks to sever ties with state after slots veto
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The governor's veto of the bill to allow the Penobscot Nation to operate slot machines at its Indian Island high-stakes beano facility and the Legislature's failure to overturn that decision was 'the last nail in the coffin' for tribal officials.
Feds probe state conservation head
Thursday, April 17, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating an allegation that Maine Department of Conservation Commissioner Patrick McGowan, a licensed pilot, violated a federal hunting law while flying his aircraft last fall near a remote lake in Piscataquis County.
1st District candidates reveal finances in report
Thursday, April 17, 2008
PORTLAND, Maine - With the primary election just seven weeks away, money is pouring in at record pace into the coffers of the six Democrats and two Republicans vying for their party's 1st District nomination.
EMMC saves $1M in energy costs
Thursday, April 17, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - In the 18 months since Eastern Maine Medical Center installed its cogeneration heat and electricity plant, the hospital's energy costs have dropped by more than $1 million.
St. John River ice on the move
Thursday, April 17, 2008
FORT KENT, Maine - River watchers, professionals at the National Weather Service at Caribou and those who live along the St. John River with years of experience watching the water are keeping an eye on the mighty river that has a history of wreaking havoc along its shores in the spring.
Collins greets pope in visit to White House
Thursday, April 17, 2008
WASHINGTON - Pope Benedict XVI was greeted Wednesday morning at the White House by President Bush, first lady Laura Bush and thousands of invited guests, including a child holding a 'Welcome Pope Hope' sign.
Editorial:
God, Guns and Obama
Thursday, April 17, 2008
After a long, arduous march on the campaign circuit, including visits to small cities such as Bangor, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama stopped in San Francisco earlier this month to raise more money.
Plugging in The County
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Building a high-capacity electricity line linking northern and central Maine would seem to be a win for both regions and the state as a whole.
Child abuse and neglect are serious and growing problems in Maine. In the past two years, the number of shaken-baby cases at Maine Medical Center alone has tripled.
Kennebec Journal
Baldacci signs bill for funding Dirigo New taxes on beer, wine, soft drinks are hailed by some, criticized by others
AUGUSTA -- Gov. John Baldacci said Wednesday he was proud to sign a new law that will provide a stable source of funding for Dirigo Health, which will now be partly supported by taxes on beer, wine and soda.
Green coalition exults in new laws
AUGUSTA -- A coalition of groups came to the Statehouse on Wednesday to celebrate new laws that they believe will help protect the environment.
Petitioners lose fight with city hall over Cony use
AUGUSTA -- Five petitioners in Augusta lost their claims against the city Wednesday when a Kennebec County Superior Court judge ruled against them.
GARDINER: Expectations great for link to Rail Trail
GARDINER -- City Manager Jeff Kobrock rides his bicycle to work every day and is looking forward to the completion of a city pathway, its route still to be determined, that will link it to the Kennebec River Rail Trail.
AUGUSTA: Cony sale a done deal
AUGUSTA -- The sale of part of the former Cony High School site to be developed as a Hannaford supermarket is now a done deal.
Augusta school service proposal at issue
AUGUSTA -- City councilors Wednesday night struggled to understand a proposed year-long agreement under which Augusta schools would provide superintendent, business-office and special education services to the Georgetown school system.
Editorial
Democrats slip in tax increases with night vote
If lawmakers had held public hearings about raising taxes on beer, wine, soda, flavored water and even health insurance transactions in order to help pay for the Dirigo Health insurance program, they would have gotten a mouthful from Maine consumers tired of being taxed too much.
DAN BILLINGS : Local control might be in form, not substance
As a political science major at the University of Southern Maine in the late 1980s, I took a course in intergovernmental relations. I don't remember much from the course, except its focus on block grants, categorical grants and various forms of "New Federalism" aimed at reshaping the financial relations between the federal government and the states.
Letters:
An examination of Heath's critical thinking skills
A quick analysis and subsequent dismissal of the inane logic of Michael Heath is needed.
Those least able to pay asked for more sacrifice
I cannot imagine a more obvious index of this country's abandonment of society's necessary commitment to the common good, a commitment we learned so painfully in the Great Depression, than Gov. John Baldacci's determination, at the outset of the effort to address a $200 million shortfall, that he would approve no tax increase: there would be no demands on society to secure the common good.
Sun Journal
Baldacci backs Dirigo proposal
AUGUSTA (AP) - Democrats including Gov. John Baldacci celebrated passage of a bill to bolster Maine's static Dirigo Health insurance program Wednesday, but Republicans - some raising the possibility of a people's veto - blasted the tax increases contained in it.
House OKs new license rules
AUGUSTA (AP) - Following a debate that rang with themes of states' rights, individual liberties and security of state credentials, the Maine House approved a bill Wednesday to tighten the rules for getting a Maine driver's license.
Panel appears wary of hurting store owners
AUGUSTA - The state Liquor and Lottery Commission on Wednesday postponed a vote that would have authorized a cut in lottery sales commissions to ticket vendors.
MBPN
Real ID Remains Contentious Issue Among Lawmakers
Congressional Candidates Breaking Finance Record
PolitickerME
Beer tax rebellion in the making?
