Maine News for Thursday, November 29, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Maine's tobacco sales law doubted
A Supreme Court review of the law targeting sales to children will be a key test of Internet commerce.

Report: Step up Maine bridge repairs
The state's spans are safe, engineers say,but up to $60 million more peryear is needed for maintenance.

New Hampshire region's worst at reducing pollution
Maine also receives a failing grade in the New England Climate Coalition's annual study.

12 states sue over EPA rule on toxins
Maine is one of the states that oppose a new rule easing requirements on public disclosure.

EDITORIAL: Can new process yield Mideast peace in 2008?
The obstacles to such a pact are many, but a commitment has been made.

LTE: High-risk pools would allow many to afford care

BANGOR DAILY:

Lawyer sues malls, cities
Thursday, November 29, 2007
PORTLAND , MAINE - A Rumford attorney who wants to bring a resort casino to Oxford County has sued three of the state’s busiest shopping malls along with Wal-Mart, Irving Oil and Hannaford Bros. in an attempt to force the owners to allow petition gatherers on their properties.

Education bill aims to lift barriers to consolidation
Thursday, November 29, 2007
AUGUSTA - Proposed legislation from the Department of Education would eliminate unintended financial barriers to school reorganization and ease the path to consolidation, according to state officials.

Health care firm to use Belfast complex
Thursday, November 29, 2007
BELFAST - Gov. John Baldacci and other dignitaries this morning will announce that AthenaHealth, a publicly traded company from Massachusetts , has decided to expand into the Bank of America complex overlooking Route 1.

GOP leaders question $20 million investment
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Senate Republican leaders face resistance to their demands that state Treasurer David Lemoine provide more information on a controversial investment that has frozen $20 million from the state's cash pool.

Logging truckers consider D.C. visit
Thursday, November 29, 2007
With some facing bankruptcy, the state's independent logging truckers are considering rolling on Washington , D.C. , to protest high diesel fuel costs that they say are killing the state's forest products industries, which pump about $11.5 billion a year into Maine 's economy.

Baldaccis to open childhood development summit
Thursday, November 29, 2007
ROCKPORT - Gov. John Baldacci and first lady Karen Baldacci are scheduled to open the two-day 2007 Governor's Economic Summit on Early Childhood at 1 p.m. today at the Samoset Resort.

Most state schools meet fed standards
Thursday, November 29, 2007
AUGUSTA , MAINE - The Department of Education has announced that two-thirds of the state's schools have maintained Adequate Yearly Progress under the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind act.

EDITORIAL: Penobscot Restoration
Thursday, November 29, 2007
The Bush administration has long touted the concept of cooperative conservation. With federal funding and a successful $10 million private fundraising campaign, the Penobscot River Restoration Project is a real example of this idea.

Thursday's Letters to the Editor … Too compromised … Rail’s shortcomings … GOP owed an apology … ‘Far left’ Totenberg

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

Maine one of 12 states suing over new EPA rules
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Twelve states including Maine sued the Bush administration on Wednesday to force greater disclosure of data on toxic chemicals that companies store, use and release into the environment.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINE
Report says more should be spent on bridge repairs
AUGUSTA (AP) -- A report created in response to the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis calls for a $50 million to $60 million increase in funding per year for bridge repairs and replacements in Maine .

Toll system opened to public
AUGUSTA -- A 20-member committee created by the Maine Turnpike Authority continues to re-evaluate how the Authority collects tolls.

Test results cite school progress
AUGUSTA -- Most local schools made "adequate yearly progress" based on the latest round of student test results, including one high school whose students met state standards in both reading and math for the first time in four years.

MAINSAIL II
Fund details at issue
AUGUSTA -- State Treasurer David Lemoine said Wednesday that the Merrill Lynch broker who recommended a $20 million investment in a fund that was later frozen did not disclose all the necessary details.

New England fares poorly in climate report card for 2007
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire was the worst state in New England for reducing pollution but its regional peers also deserve criticism, according to an annual study released Wednesday by the New England Climate Coalition.

Justices are skeptical of Maine tobacco law
WASHINGTON -- Several Supreme Court justices on Wednesday expressed skepticism over a Maine law aimed at cracking down on Internet tobacco sales to children.

On Maine Politics

“Rising star” in Maine politics?

House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, is heading to Colorado Thursday to participate in a fellowship program as one of 24 “rising stars of American politics,” as identified by the Aspen Institute.

EDITORIAL: Fault not with investment, but delay in telling
In early August, staff in the Maine state treasurer's office spoke with a Merrill Lynch broker who is on the list of reputable and reliable brokers vetted by the state's investment advisers. That broker recommended the state invest $20 million in a fund called Mainsail II for a 23-day period. Which it did.

DAN BILLINGS : Racino foes waged strong, winning campaign
In a quiet election year, the citizen initiative to allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to build a racino in Washington County garnered the most attention. But more interesting than the debate before the vote is what the initiative's defeat says about the future of gaming in Maine .

JIM BRUNELLE : Maine among U.S. leaders in search for alternate energy
Is it my imagination or has the global-warming-is-just-a-liberal-hoax crowd entered a cooling-off period? We just don't seem to hear them scoffing at the idea of climate change as cheerily as in the past.

LTE: Great editorial, but many questions remain
The editorial (Nov. 21) regarding Attorney General Steven Rowe's Dennis Dechaine commission deserves to win a journalistic award for clear thinking and superb writing.

MORNING SENTINEL:

LTE: Great article on our public right to information
Congratulations on the incisive editorial on Jim Moore's Freedom of Access Act suit. We need more of this kind of "looks like a duck..." clarity when it comes to what Sen. J. William Fulbright once called "the arrogance of power.”

LTE: An expert's rebuttal to Charen's commentary
I read in Tuesday's paper the commentary by Mona Charen regarding Ron Paul and his supporters. I feel a need to respond.

SUN JOURNAL:

Report urges more repairs of bridges in Maine
AUGUSTA (AP) - A report created in response to the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis calls for a sharp increase in the amount of money spent each year for bridge repairs and replacements in Maine .

Democrats rebuff GOP demands for investment probe
AUGUSTA (AP) - Maine 's top Senate and House leaders say state Treasurer David Lemoine already has given details of his agency's $20 million investment in Mainsail II commercial paper, which has been downgraded to junk status.

Bill addresses glitches in district consolidation law
AUGUSTA (AP) - Hoping to remove barriers before school units as they work on final consolidation plans, the Baldacci administration is submitting legislation to address three of their major concerns over the law that was enacted earlier this year.

Maine, other states sue EPA for data on toxic chemicals
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Twelve states including Maine sued the Bush administration on Wednesday to force greater disclosure of data on toxic chemicals that companies store, use and release into the environment.

LTE: Illegal mandate
According to what I read recently, a state law mandating school consolidation was passed this year with the intent of reducing the costs of education.

MPBN:

Maine Bridges Given Clean Bill of Health
Maine 's bridges are safe, but will need more than a billion dollars in funding over the next ten years. That's the conclusion of a study conducted by the state Department of Transportation in response to the bridge collapse in Minnesota this summer that killed 13 people, and injured more than 100. Keith Shortall reports.

http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071128bridges.asx

Tough Choices Ahead for Budget Negotiators
As Maine lawmakers attempted to close a $10.1 million dollar gap in the state budget, they learned that the state's finances are sliding even more deeply into the red. Due to declining sales tax receipts, cigarette and tobacco tax collections and other revenue losses, economic forecasters are predicting an additional $95.2 million shortfall before the two-year budget cycle closes in 2009. As A.J. Higgins reports, the governor's office and legislative leaders agree there will be some tough choices ahead.

http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071128budget.asx

Maine Joins Suit Over Toxic Chemical Information Policy
Twelve states including Maine are suing the Bush administration over new regulations that limit disclosure of data on the toxic chemicals that companies store and use. The suit was sparked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision earlier this year to roll back regulations requiring companies to report their storage or discharge of certain toxins into the environment. Barbara Cariddi reports.

http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071128toxins.asx

TIMES RECORD:

'Ghost town' fears haunt BNAS reuse panel
BRUNSWICK — Some of Gov. John Baldacci's base reuse advisers are concerned that area residents and business owners are still underestimating the...(full story)

Mandated sick leave bill heads to Legislature
AUGUSTA — Maine could become the first state in the country to require companies with 25 employees or more to offer paid sick leave to both full- and...(full story)

EDITORIAL: Insiders out
Since his election to the Bangor City Council in 1978, John Baldacci has been the consummate politician. He works hard, remembers names, inspires loyalty and understands what it takes to win...(full story)

ELLSOWORTH AMERICAN:

It’s Not Just Gasoline

BANGOR — If you think your electric bill is already too high, Carroll Lee has some bad news: The worst is yet to come. Subprime Mortgage Mess AUGUSTA — The state treasurer got caught in the subprime mortgage mess when a $20-million, short-term investment was made in a fund with assets that are frozen, at least for now. Legislators to Consider Bill Requiring Paid Sick Leave AUGUSTA — Maine could become the first state in the country to require companies with 25 employees or more to offer paid sick leave to both full- and part-time employees. State Recommends Closing Four Job Centers AUGUSTA — The state Department of Labor is recommending closing four of its 21 job centers serving the unemployed in Saco, Houlton, Ellsworth and Belfast to save on rent and overhead because of steadily declining federal funds.

The Health Care Dilemma

The United States and Canada are two of the richest countries in the world. But when it comes to their health care systems, both leave a lot to be desired. The great advantage to the Canadian system, as revealed by the recently completed three-part “Health Care Canada ” series in The Ellsworth American, is its universal access. But the Canadian system also is plagued by long waits for many medical and surgical procedures and by a shortage of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.

Internet2

Representatives from a variety of Eastern Maine research and educational institutions announced recently that they had secured millions of dollars in funding for installation of Internet2, the next generation on the information superhighway. In fact, if the present Internet can be thought of as a four-lane highway, Internet2 is equal to having 32 lanes — in each direction.

LTE:

Let’s Talk About Health Care

We should commend The American for its decision to address for several weeks “Health Care in Canada .” The promise that The American series will make no attempt to take a position about the value of the system of either the Canadian or the U.S. is very much appreciated.

“System” Needs More Compassion

As we go through life we face challenge. Everyone has had their share. Adversity arises whether it be running out of gas on the freeway or finding out that a loved one has been diagnosed with some sort of disease. State Doesn’t Always Know Best I am able to write this letter thanks to the many social contracts that were kept by the people who came into my life such as my friends and family. Social contracts, the implied and expected behavior that one has in response to another person’s action, are the glue of human behavior. Without them we become another part of the Darwinian cycle of eat or be eaten. Thus it is for the residents of Maine that there exist certain social contracts between them and the government, that they elect and pay to enforce certain social, legal and economic contracts. An example of such a contract would be the education of our children. Most of us in Maine believe that it is a duty to educate our children. Another example of a social contract might be the right to go out in November and shoot a deer. In the state of Maine , residents by and large would agree with the idea that residents of Maine have the right to go get a deer. In a state like New Jersey , this social contract might not exist. And so it is that every state has its own unique set of social contracts. MedNow Seeks Senator’s Help We are seeking help from U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe for a situation which is occurring at the MedNow Clinic in Ellsworth. This is a small, privately owned clinic in Ellsworth that provides a great deal of service to the community.

VILLAGE SOUP:

New England-based company chooses Belfast for expansion

BELFAST (Nov 28): The state's political and business elite will be in Belfast for a major announcement Thursday morning about a new business coming to the city. Gov. John Baldacci, Sen. Olympia Snowe, Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud, City of Belfast Mayor Walter Ash and President & CEO, Maine & Company Matt Jacobson are among the expected guests at the announcement, which will be made at 9 a.m. at the former MBNA Phase 1, at 1 Hatley Drive .

PORTSMOUTH HERALD:

Report: Up bridge repair money

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A report created in response to the Interstate-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis calls for a $50 million to $60 million increase in funding per year for bridge repairs and replacements in Maine .

Shipyard workers yawn at bush

KITTERY, Maine — Despite a recent Bush administration warning that more than 100,000 civilian employees at military bases could lose their jobs, employees at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard said they are not concerned.

YORK COUNTY COAST STAR:

Towns forward school merger plans to state

YORK — Facing a Dec. 1 deadline, The York and Wells-Ogunquit school committees have voted to send reorganization plans to the state's Department of Education.

POLITICKERME.COM:

Athena Health to Locate in Belfast

Big job news coming to Belfast ! Hundreds of jobs are on their way to the former MBNA site. The announcement is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM in Belfast .

GOP leaders demand answers over lost money

State Senate Republicans are demanding answers as to how the state lost nearly $20 million with an investment gone bad. They are asking State Treasurer David Lemoine to appear before the Legislative Council as soon as possible.

Maine.gov recognized

The State of Maine’s Web site is the second best in the country, according to the Center for Digital Government.

Who slipped a shot of espresso in Carol Weston’s cup of decaf?

The reliably docile Senate Republican Leader took a whack at State Treasurer Dave Lemoine for squandering 20 million tax dollars by investing in Mainsail II, a poorly rated subprime mortgage company. Now that the reality has sunk in, that investing in a company that makes money off people with a history of unpaid bills was about as good an idea as communism (it looked good on paper), Sen. Weston seized an opportunity to hold a bureaucrat accountable.

CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY:

Harman, ACLU Exchange Barbs Over Terrorism Commission

The legislation, which the House passed Oct. 23 by a vote of 404-6, would create a 10-member commission to study how domestic terrorism takes root and offer suggestions on its prevention to the president and Congress.

A related Senate bill (S 1959) by Maine Republican Susan Collins has seen no action.

PRESS & SUN BULLETIN:

Say thanks to caregivers

We should also thank those who are currently in Congress who champion the cause of homecare and hospice, especially Sens. Susan Collins and Russ Feingold. The nation is much better now for the victories they fought and won on behalf of the most vulnerable Americans.

EARTHTIMES:

GOP Presidential Candidates Defend 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Republican Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has also questioned the law, telling Joint Chiefs Chairman Michael ...

BLOGS:

Congressman Tom Allen, of Maine, outlines energy plan

Allen, a Maine Democrat, stood outside a Portland gas station on Monday to outline his plan to bring consumers relief from the high price of oil. Allen is running against Susan Collins in next year's senate race.

Hartmann on HR 1959

Obviously, Dems didn't bother to read it, trusting that co-sponsors (good old Jane Harman/Bernie Thompson) would never hopper such a totalitarian-flavored bill. It's likely to do the same in the Senate, though maybe Dems there won't be able to muster the troops against Blue Dog types even though it's co-sponsored by Repugs Susan Collins/Norm Coleman.

Matt Schaeffer Column: Edwards Will Win Dem Nomination Because of the "Unsaid"

Lemoine on $20 Million Loss of Your Tax Dollars

" Maine would have better odds of buying a megaball ticket and winning than of buying this and losing," Lemoine said.

Karl Rove is trying to rewrite the last seven years of American history

Why is he doing this? Oh that’s right. To make himself feel better and to give the impression that America’s Taliban (Bush Regime & the GOP) is not accountable or responsible for ANYTHING that has happened for the past seven years. See? It’s the white noise of propaganda at it’s finest!

In Iraq Now and Forever?

Check out this guest blog post in our Pingree Campaign Journal blog by writer Nick von Hoffman of Maine (writer for The Nation, former WaPo journalist, and former commentator on CBS's 60 Minutes, among other jobs).

ME could recoup $20M investment loss - Mainebiz

Excerpt:
"The state will get back most of the $20 million it lost in a risky subprime investment, says State Treasurer David Lemoine."

Businessweek - Maine report warns against Verizon sale

Excerpt:
"A report to Maine utility regulators recommends against the proposed sale of Verizon Communications' landline business in northern New England to FairPoint Communications Inc.

WHAT IS PEAK OIL?

"I believe oil prices are going up because the demand for oil outstrips the supply for oil. Oil is going up because developing countries … use a lot of oil.
Oil is going up because we use too much oil, and the capacity to replace reserves is dwindling. That's why the price of oil is going up." - President George W. Bush

Better Watch Those Radical Thoughts, Folks

If you thought the Patriot Act was bad, just consider how much worse it could get with the “Patriot Act Lite,” which would give the government the right to crack down on thought. … The Senate version was written by Joe Lieberman and Jane Harmon and is being pushed by Susan Collins.

Civil Libertarians Warn of ‘Patriot Act Lite’

The Senate version is being drafted by Susan Collins of Maine , the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is chaired by the hawkish Connecticut independent, Sen. Joe Lieberman. ...

Thought Crime Bill S.1959

There's a new bill that's been sponsored in the Senate by Susan Collins (R-ME) If you're not aware of it.....you should be. It's called The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism and Prevention Act of 2007.

Senate Blues

Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon , could pay for their party affiliation. While both are personally popular at home, their states trend Democratic, especially in presidential years.

GOP Presidential Candidates Defend ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

Republican Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has also questioned the law, telling Joint Chiefs Chairman Michael Mullen that she "recently met with a retired admiral in Maine who urged me to ...

Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

Introduced:, Aug 2, 2007. Sponsor:, Sen. Susan Collins [R-ME]. Status:, Introduced. Go to Bill Status Page. You are viewing the following version of this bill:. Introduced in Senate: This is the original text of the bill as it was ...

2 Halliburton Sells Nuclear Technology to Iran

The amendment, sponsored by Senator Susan Collins R-Maine, would penalize companies that continue to skirt US law by setting up offshore subsidiaries as a way to legally conduct and avoid US sanctions under the International Emergency ...

Maine News for Wednesday, November 28, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Collins awarded maritime honor

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Susan Collins today was honored with the Distinguished Leadership Award for Maritime and Supply Chain Security during the U.S. Maritime Security Conference in New York City.

Verizon denies its network is eroding
And FairPoint disputes the PUC staff`s view that equipment and service fixes would strain a buyer.

Republicans demand answers over failed investment
They say state Treasurer David Lemoine needs to fully explain putting $20 million into a fund that flopped.

Teacher loses his certification after sex case
The Monmouth Academy case is used to back a push to change a state privacy law.

Maine tobacco law going before Supreme Court
The state is defending its effort to curb minors' online cigarette purchases.

EDITORIAL: Verizon-FairPoint deal gets deserved scrutiny
A PUC staff report is not the final word on the proposed sale, but it addresses the right issues.

EDITORIAL: Firefighters should not become spies in terror war
Emergency services are an unacceptable alternative to normal search procedures.

EDITORIAL: Plastic bags not ideal, but good alternatives aren't obvious, either
A lawmaker's plan to place a fee on them may be overkill when other factors apply.

Sen. Ethan Strimling and Rep. John Tuttle: Wealth gap calls for hike in minimum wage
A bill now being heard in Augusta would raise it by $1.40 an hour, enough to make a difference.

LTE: Handouts not solution for those who want to work

LTE: Americans need relief from rising energy prices

BANGOR DAILY:

Lawyers seek delay in phone jamming trial
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
CONCORD, N.H. — Lawyers in a New Hampshire phone jamming case are asking that a possible second trial be put off while a judge decides if the defendant should be acquitted.

Juniper Ridge 'awarded' as leading polluter in N.E.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town has been dubbed one of New England’s leading polluters of the decade by the Toxics Action Center.

Maine officials eye milk-labeling law
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s Department of Agriculture is considering submitting legislation that would clarify the labels on fresh milk in an effort to educate consumers about which milk comes from local farms.

Need for fuel assistance rising
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
BANGOR, Maine — Peter and Faye McDermott don’t like to ask anyone for help. In the past, even when times were tough, they always managed to pull through on their own.

Feds toss controversial wildcat habitat rule
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Federal officials have tossed out a controversial rule that exempts millions of acres of Canada lynx habitat in northern Maine from additional regulation.

EDITORIAL: FairPoint concerns
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
FairPoint Communications' proposed takeover of Maine's telephone service is too risky and should be rejected, the staff of the Public Utilities Commission recommended this week. The staff was especially critical of FairPoint's financial assumptions and warned the company may not have the wherewithal to maintain services without raising rates.

EDITORIAL: Another 'Man from Hope'
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Just when Republicans appeared to be narrowing in on a choice between a former New York City mayor and a former Massachusetts governor for their party’s nomination for president, along comes a man from Hope. Hope, Ark., that is.

Kathleen Parker: How will gender play in Clinton campaign?
Will women vote for Hillary Clinton only because she’s a woman? That question keeps getting bounced around and I’ve recently revised my answer from "no" to "yes."

Wednesday's Letters to the Editor … Ron Paul rising … Contraceptive bill … Teach right and wrong

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

GOP wants answers from Lemoine
Failed investment puts pressure on state treasurer
AUGUSTA -- Senate Republicans turned up the heat Tuesday on state Treasurer David Lemoine, calling for more answers about a failed $20 million investment and saying they may call for his ouster if they don't get the information they request.

Report sees little 'adequate yearly progress'
Maine's public schools made little progress in the past year, according to a report released Tuesday by the Maine Department of Education.

Verizon network reported lacking
The telephone network that FairPoint Communications wants to buy from Verizon will need millions of dollars worth of equipment repairs and additional staffing to meet service quality standards, according to the advisory staff of the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

On Maine Politics: LaMarche says never again

Green Independent Pat LaMarche, who has run for governor twice and vice president once, said she’ll never run again, though she’s willing to help other Greens take the plunge.

EDITORIAL: Rescuing the Farm Bill
You'd need a Ph.D. in Robert's Rules of Order to figure out just what happened in the Senate to derail the Farm Bill last week.

LTE: Veteran finds America a tough place to live
As a veteran of many Army years, I have traveled around the world and been to many less fortunate areas. In my travels I have seen households with no power, no phones and just barely enough to have one meal a day.

LTE: Get to know Ron Paul, not just media's image
Well, I knew it would just be a matter of time, and the Kennebec Journal has not disappointed me. Ron Paul has been ignored by the media because they didn't feel he was a threat to politics as usual. Given his popularity on the Internet due to his voting record -- not voting to raise taxes, not voting for an unbalanced budget, not voting to raise congressional pay, just to name a few -- all of a sudden the politicians are getting concerned. The next step is slander, innuendoes and association with so called "fringe groups."

MORNING SENTINEL:

LTE: Editorial page looks great, I miss 'Democracy Now!'
I like what you are doing to spice up the Morning Sentinel's editorial page. Frankly I think it's outstanding already for such a small community to get such coverage. But there is one source of news that I miss from it, which is Democracy Now! Currently I get such news by e-mail. But several of the items are of such importance, and so original, that I often think "I wish the Sentinel were covering this one" for all your readers.

LTE: Driver's licenses for illegal immigrants are wrong
On Nov. 20, CNN reported that Maine is one of eight states that made it legal to issue driver's licenses for illegal immigrants without Maine voters having the chance to vote on such an important issue.

SUN JOURNAL:

Baldacci touts 'green' tree
AUGUSTA (AP) - Governor John Baldacci's Christmas tree is green in more than one way.

GOP seeking probe of $20M investment
AUGUSTA (AP) - Maine Senate Republican leaders Tuesday called for an investigation into the state treasurer's $20 million investment of cash pool funds in Mainsail II commercial paper whose rating slipped from highest to subprime within two weeks this summer.

EDITORIAL: Striving for competitive mediocrity
Gov. John Baldacci is pretty skilled at assembling committees. His latest creation, the Governor's Council on Competitiveness and the Economy, is a star-studded lineup of Maine business heavies chosen to inject capitalist wisdom into public policy.

LTE: The universal solution
LD 1760 proposes a high-risk pool for health insurance coverage in Maine. For those unfamiliar with high-risk pools and the problems one caused in Maine from 1988 to 1994, they are a way to lower premiums for healthy people at the cost of taxpayers and the sick.

LTE: Right this country
I'm getting tired of politicians fighting among themselves and insulting each other.

LTE: Honoring Tyler
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Tyler Curtis, a young man who twice served this great nation in a capacity that brought him to an unimaginable state of hell and misery.

LTE: Unjust treason
There is nothing more un-American than a corrupt justice system.

TIMES RECORD:

Privatized base cleanup eyed
BRUNSWICK — With federal funding for environmental work slow in arriving, local base reuse planners are hoping to find ways to ensure that cleanups...(full story)

Tips tinge minimum wage debate
AUGUSTA — Legislators are considering a bill to raise the state's minimum wage from the current $7 to $8.40 over two years and change the way...(full story)

OP/ED: The new 'best and brightest' seem dim
Woe is me. Nothing is going right. I wrote an earlier piece about the shortage of statesmen and women in public service, including the paucity of quality...(full story)

LTE: Fight media consolidation
It is no coincidence that the quality of our news has deteriorated as media consolidation has grown. It is no surprise that the level of political debate has degenerated into...(full story)

MPBN:

PUC Staff Recommends Rejection of Fairpoint-Verizon Deal
As we first reported last night, the staff of the Maine Public Uutilities Commission is recommending that the Commission reject Verizon's $2.7 billion plan to sell its Northern New England landline network to the much smaller Fairpoint Communications. .The staff says that if the deal goes forward, Fairpoint will be inheriting a deteriorating network it would be unable to support. But as Keith McKeen reports, that's an an allegation that's strongly rejected by both companies.

State Offical Questioned About 20 Million Dollar Investment
Republican leaders in the Maine Senate said today they will press State Treasurer David Lemoine for a full explanation of a $20 million investment in a sub-prime mortgage company that has since been downgraded to junk status. Lemoine says he thinks the state will get its money back, plus interest, but in the meantime, the state's investment in the company has been frozen by the Bank of New York. As A.J. Higgins reports, Senate Republicans want to know why Lemoine signed off on the investment in the first place and whether the state is involved in any other potentially shaky deals.

COURIER GAZETTE:

EXCLUSIVE: Pen Bay OKs contract with Maine Health

ROCKLAND — The Pen Bay Healthcare board voted Monday night to approve an agreement with the state’s largest health care corporation to share services.

EDITORIAL: State priorities

The Maine Legislature will face tough decisions as it deals with a budget shortfall brought on by lower than expected revenues. Legislators should think long and hard, before deciding to make cuts that will harm those most in need.

STATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE:

Servers' tips at issue in wage-hike hearing

$20M frozen, and questions linger on state investment strategies

Sick-leave benefits bill would make Maine a leader

Saco, three other towns may lose job centers

POLITICKERME.COM:

Lawyers request delayed trial in NH phone jamming case

Lawyers are asking that a new trial for a former GOP official accused of phone jamming be put off from December to January, the Associated Press reported today.

Energy efficient at the Blaine House

This holiday season, Gov. John Baldacci wants to make sure the state’s energy bill doesn’t skyrocket as a result of his Christmas tree.

Dear FairPoint, Welcome to Maine. Now go home.

I actually feel sorry for the good people at FairPoint. They thought that they would be welcome just because they wanted to be here, were willing to create hundreds of jobs and invest millions of dollars in to Maine’s aging telecommunications infrastructure.

DOWN EAST MAGAZINE:

Taking Its Toll

Is Maine ready for a North Woods highway?

The asphalt was barely cool on the last four-lane section of Interstate 95 in 1981 when people in Maine began talking about building a matching superhighway from east to west. Over the decades since, the idea rose and fell almost as often as the tide, each time sounding plausible and each time always floating just beyond the fingertips of the possible.

INTER PRESS SERVICE (ITALY):

RIGHTS-US: Civil Libertarians Warn of "Patriot Act Lite"
NEW YORK, Nov 27 (IPS) - Civil libertarians are worried that a little-known anti-terrorism bill now making its way through the U.S. Congress with virtually no debate could be planting the seeds of another USA Patriot Act, which was hurriedly enacted into law after the al Qaeda attacks of Sep. 11, 2001. … The Senate version is being drafted by Susan Collins of Maine, the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, ...

BLOGS:

Nick McGee: Portland School Committee Recall Effort (Final Update)

We believe this community capable of producing three more thoughtful and responsible people to serve our schools, and we hope the people will come forward in support of this effort.

Supremes: Fed Law Preempt ME's Tobacco Delivery Law?

The US Supreme Court must decide whether Maine's effort to regulate Internet tobacco sales is preempted by a federal law barring states from interfering in the operations of interstate shipping/transport companies.

Senate Republicans Seek Answers in the State’s Loss of $20 Million

The citizens of Maine have paid their hard earned tax dollars to the state and they have the right to expect their money be safeguarded and spent wisely.

Lemoine on $20 Million Loss of Your Tax Dollars

"Maine would have better odds of buying a megaball ticket and winning than of buying this and losing," Lemoine said.

WA: 25-Pct Property Tax Deferral Proposed

"When the house is sold, the state will be reimbursed."

Republicans Threaten to Cut Aid to Iraq

The stern warnings, coming from Sens. Lindsey Graham and Saxby Chambliss.

Iran Says New Missile Can Hit Israel/US Bases

Confronting the FCC Monolith

Chairman Kevin J. Martin of the Federal Communications Commission or as we know it, the FCC, has put forth a plan in the past year to make big media even bigger or if you’re a Republican, he’s put forth a plan to make “liberal” media more “liberal.” … Thankfully, our leaders have been fighting for Americans. On October 25, 2007, Maurice Hinchey and 41 others listed below sent this letter:

But Mom, You Said It Couldn't Happen Here!

… What is so relevant to today is an interesting parable. Sen. McCarthy was a Republican from the state of Wisconsin. His tirade that destroyed many innocent Americans was born out of fear just like today with the bill introduced by a Democratic Congress woman from California, Jane Harmon. The bill has not yet passed the Senate, but it has been introduced as SR 1959, sponsored by none other then Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

Maine News for Wednesday, November 21, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Ex-president to utilize wind at Walker's Point George H.W. Bush decides to have a wind turbine installed for electricity at his Kennebunkport home.

Jail plan targeting six county facilities The state weighs cuts in Waldo, Oxford, Franklin, Piscataquis and two other counties.

GOP strategist could be acquitted, retried The definition of harassment could determine a Mainer's fate in a phone-jamming plot.

Republican hopes to unseat MichaudJohn Frary, a conservative, announces his candidacy in Maine's 2nd District.

Short-term savings measures could be hardest The state of Maine will have to cope with a revenue drop in a tight time frame.

EDITORIAL: Lower Kennebec school merger leads the way With many kinks still to be ironed out, the school district consolidation process begins.

LTE: Allen should take oath seriously

LTE: Investment in Farm Bill a step toward ending hunger

BANGOR DAILY:

TIF approved for Stetson Mountain projectWednesday, November 21, 2007MACHIAS, Maine - Washington County officials have given a boost to a power project planned for northern Washington County and set a milestone in Maine by becoming the first county in the state to establish a tax increment financing district in the Unorganized Territory.

Jail overhaul hampered by lack of trustWednesday, November 21, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - Acknowledging a loss of trust, state and county officials are developing separate plans to overhaul corrections in Maine, and members of the Legislature's Criminal Justice Committee criticized both Tuesday for not cooperating to reach a compromise.

Snowe presses for increased LIHEAP aidWednesday, November 21, 2007Sen. Olympia Snowe stopped in Portland on Tuesday morning to press her case for additional federal funds to help low-income Mainers pay the higher-than-usual heating bills they are expected to face this winter.

Leaders apprehensive about school law Wednesday, November 21, 2007SEDGWICK, Maine - Maine's school consolidation law, proposed as an effort to save money in administrative costs, has raised questions - and anxieties - about the loss of local control, fast-track planning deadlines and unresolved details in the law.

Tobin hearing focuses on definitionsWednesday, November 21, 2007 CONCORD, N.H. - Shades of distinction on the meanings of harassment and intention - and a judge's view of those - could mean acquittal or a second criminal trial for a former national Republican Party official implicated in a five-year-old phone jamming plot.

State seeks solutions to revenue reductionWednesday, November 21, 2007 AUGUSTA, Maine - Less than half of a $95 million drop in state revenue estimates will hit in the current fiscal year, but the timing probably makes the short-term problem more daunting than the longer-term challenge.

Farmington: Retired professor enters House raceWednesday, November 21, 2007FARMINGTON, Maine - A retired history and political science professor is entering the race for Maine's 2nd District congressional race in hopes of unseating third-term Democratic Rep. Michael Michaud.

Brewer: Michaud promotes economic development billWednesday, November 21, 2007BREWER, Maine - Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud paid a visit to the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday to explain a bill he proposed that would send federal dollars to economically distressed areas of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York state.

EDITORIAL: Beyond tradeWednesday, November 21, 2007Changes pending in Congress would expand special federal assistance to workers who lose their jobs because of trade. Providing help to more laid-off workers is a positive move.

Editorial: The cribbage crisisWednesday, November 21, 2007Playing cribbage is a lot of harmless fun all over Maine, especially in American Legion posts, as the state police and Legislature now know if they didn't before.

Derek Mitchell: Cut college costs, not opportunitiesMr. Viano, a former chemistry professor at the University of Maine, suggests that laboratories are in disarray and the department needs more modern equipment and more money for graduate students and faculty.

Wednesday's Letters to the Editor … No racism in my vote … Between casinos … Wind power hot air … Ruthless Republicans

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

Sidney major is acting chief of Warden Service AUGUSTA -- A Sidney man has been named acting head of the Maine Warden Service in the wake of Col. Tom Santaguida's resignation after he was charged with keeping undersized lobsters.

Harassment focus of phone jamming case CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Shades of distinction on the meanings of harassment and intention -- and a judge's view of those -- could mean acquittal or a second criminal trial for a former national Republican Party official implicated in a five-year-old phone jamming plot against New Hampshire Democrats.

EDITORIAL: Dechaine panel: Independent, but still official A government for the people and by the people is a government accountable to the people -- a lesson that has been momentarily lost on the members of a commission set up by Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe.

GEORGE SMITH : The unraveling of Maine school consolidation It seemed like a good idea at the time. We were almost unanimous in our understanding that Maine was spending too much on school administration. We agreed that this problem ought to be fixed. We were unified and ready to act.

LTE: Senators' farm bill vote hard to understand It's hard to believe that on the heels of Gary Remal's report (Nov. 16) on the alarmingly high hunger statistics in Maine, that Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe voted against moving forward to pass the farm bill without further delay.

LTE: Let's count our blessings by helping those in need With Thanksgiving Day near, I want to encourage everyone to be thankful for our religious faith and for a constitutional government that recognizes the individual dignity based on that faith.

MORNING SENTINEL:

Wounded Fairfield soldier 'good to go' FAIRFIELD -- An Army soldier from Fairfield told his parents Tuesday via the Internet that he will be "good to go" soon after being wounded in a mortar attack Sunday in Baghdad.

Kingfield Water District gets grant KINGFIELD -- The Kingfield Water District will receive a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to help fund public water supply repairs and upgrades.

FairPoint plan nears PUC vote For the past 11 months, a telecommunications company from North Carolina has tried to convince utility regulators in Maine and two other New England states it should take over the region's telephone service.

SUN JOURNAL:

Soaring toward dreamPARIS - Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School senior Amelia Moore's lifelong goal to become a Naval fighter pilot is one step closer today. She has been nominated by U.S. Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, both R-Maine, to three of the five U.S. service academies.

Other students nominated Several other local students were also nominated to attend a U.S. service academy by Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe including:

Import duty savings lauded
AUBURN - For two sessions, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins worked to get a bill passed that would allow tariffs to be suspended for U.S. manufacturers who need to import products not found in the states.

Ex-RNC official may get acquitted or face new trial CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Shades of distinction on the meanings of harassment and intention - and a judge's view of those - could mean acquittal or a second criminal trial for a former national Republican Party official implicated in a 5-year-old phone jamming plot against New Hampshire Democrats.

Lawmakers must address shortfallAUGUSTA (AP) - Less than half of a $95 million drop in state revenue estimates will hit in the current fiscal year, but the timing probably makes the short-term problem more daunting than the longer-term challenge.

State loses $20 million on risky investmentTwo of Maine's highest ranking political leaders are demanding change in the way the state invests tax dollars after an investment linked to subprime mortgages tanked.

Bill aims to protect homeowners facing foreclosureLEWISTON - A single mother in an Androscoggin County town decided to buy a mobile home in 2005. She financed purchase and installation of the home through a conventional lender, despite the high closing fees. She was told her construction loan would convert to a permanent mortgage after she moved in.

LTE: Photo opportunityElections are coming soon. As I was watching presidential candidates on television all standing in a row, I asked myself what I was really seeing. To my astonishment, all I remember was a row of blended men in suits running for office. Trying to remember who supported which issue is difficult, as they all looked alike.

TIMES RECORD:

Oil price surge blows $95M hole in state budget...(full story)

410 bills await Maine Legislature...(full story)

EDITORIAL: One pact for all...(full story)

LTE: Aiming for Iran...(full story)

PORTSMOUTH HERALD:

'Bombshell' on school merger shocks York
YORK, Maine — New information on the proposed merger of York and Wells-Ogunquit schools created deep concerns about the loss of local budget control and the need for extra elections at the York selectmen's meeting on Monday night.

Former RNC official could be acquitted in phone jam
CONCORD — Shades of distinction on the meanings of harassment and intention — and a judge's view of those — could mean acquittal or a second criminal trial for a former national Republican Party official implicated in a 5-year-old...

PORTLAND PHOENIX:

Killing bills: Congress inactionAuto workers, oil companies, and farmers all snarling together in a pit of special interests — it’s not a pretty picture.

All the dark horses: Politics and other mistakesHere’s what I like about the gambling industry: It provides suitable locations for sleazeballs and stupid people to hang out.

CAMDEN HERALD:

Camden lawyer's attorney defends him against charges filed by Maine Attorney General
AUGUSTA — Following is a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 20, by attorney Mal Lyons, on behalf of Jack Sanford of Camden who is facing allegations by the state of improperly operating a non-profit corporation. The original story detailing these allegations can also be read on the Herald's home page.

STATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE:

Key changes to merger law seen diffusing opposition

Lawmakers face action on 410 billsState budget deficit in millions and climbing

POLITICKERME.COM:

Campaign funds thief to run for Congress
A former legislator fresh out of jail for stealing election funds told the Portland Press Herald that he plans to run for Congress.

Lawmakers eye changes in ethics laws
After a gubernatorial candidate paid her spouse for campaign work with public funds, and a Lewiston lawmaker forged campaign reports and instead used Clean Elections funds for personal use, legislators are targeting campaign finance laws in the upcoming session.

Daggett endorses Lawrence
Former Senate President Beverly Daggett, D-Augusta, has endorsed York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence for the first Congressional District seat.

John Frary takes on Congressman Michaud in the Second Congressional District.
Wow – now there’s a match-up that will have the Washington insiders scrambling to find ways to funnel money in to Maine’s second Congressional District.

MAINE BIZ:

FCC doles out telehealth grant
A multi-state telehealth network based in Maine recently received a federal grant of nearly $25 million to enhance rural health care.

BLOGS:

Snowe 'Deeply Troubled' by Limbaugh Comments

State Revenue Forecast Revised Down $112 Million

Think Gore Can't Sink Any Lower? Think Again
If Gore, a former U.S. VP, had a shred of class he would never have accepted an award from an outfit awarding, at the same time, a show on the assassination of a sitting U.S. President. Another roll in the mud for Gore.

Conservapedia: As Queer as a $3 Bill
It’s kind of comforting to know that of the millions of pages viewed at conservapedia.com (the “wikipedia” for right wing super conservative family values Bible believing patriots) nine out of the top 10 most popular sections are all “Homosexual and…”

McLelland blows the cover off Plame-gate
Wondering what you're all thinking about the news that Scott McLelland has written a book, and his publisher has released an excerpt in which Scott says he was lied to by Card, Libby, Rove, Cheney, and Bush regarding their involvement in the outing of Valerie Plame.

Rep. Michaud (ME-2) Gets a GOP Challenger
Those of you in District 2 will now have something to write about - well, maybe not that much. From Central Maine Newspapers:

Why Not One More?
I point to this simply because it's hard to pass up a good quote. From the Portland Press Herald:

Maine Video Roundup : 14 Recent Political and News Videos

Allen Rejects National Lawyers Guild Impeachment Resolution
Resolution on Impeachment of Bush and Cheney Whereas George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney:

Wednesday Early Morning Briefs
And, should Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich enter the Alaska race, Mitch McConnell's record-low poll numbers continue, and Tom Allen close the gap on Susan Collins over the next several months (as well as Treasurer John N. ...

local stuffs
... Nelson has been working with Susan Collins, R-Maine, on that language. He said he is waiting in line for Democratic leadership to support his idea, if and when the next plan goes down. "Sometimes, everything else has to fail before ...

'Scarborough Country' for Jan. 28 - Transcripts
WHITMAN: Well, they are the people who did mount the challenge against Arlen Specter and who said they were doing it not just to defeat him, but also to send a message to Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and other moderates they better ...

All the Senator's Men? - The Ethics in Advancing a Campaign's Story - An Investigative Study by Carl Lindemann (see bio and disclosure)
Excerpt 1:"Overview:Last January, the Media Bloggers Association (MBA) gained national attention before the I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby trial when the group’s president and founder Robert Cox and several MBA members were credentialed to “blog” the federal court case. … Now, months later, what direction are Cox and some of his fellow MBA “Libby Bloggers” taking? How they participated in bringing forward a story from Senator Susan Collins’ (R-Maine) reelection campaign may point the way...."

MoveOn Decries Facebook's Project BacnAccording to Fox News anchor John Gibson, Google has blocked ads that US Senator Susan Collins (Rep... MoveOn.org Slams Google Trademark Policy and Supports Free Speech Instead. Last week we reported on ads protesting the political ...

Maine News for Monday, November 19, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Gambling issues headed for votesAn Oxford County casino proposal and a plan to ban slot machines likely will be on ballots in 2008 and 2009.

Five midcoast towns set for merger of schools The emerging district expects to be the first to arise from the state's school consolidation law.

You say 'tomato'; they say 'profit' A Madison company has produced 17 million pounds in the past year and plans to expand.

Sens. Lynn Bromley and Karl Turner: FairPoint offers good deal for Maine Its purchase of Verizon will enhance jobs, technology and business opportunities.

LTE: Single-payer health plan makes economic sense

LTE: School consolidation benefits questionable

LTE: Plum Creek proposal threatens state's values

LTE: Disaffected people find hope in candidate Ron Paul

BANGOR DAILY:

Immediate solutions needed, not just long-term proposalsLINCOLN - Excise taxes. A federal heavy-vehicle use tax. A road tax. Federal and state sales taxes on everything from fuel to ham and cheese sandwiches. And federal and state income taxes.

Fuel costs push truckers toward brink LINCOLN - Record diesel prices that reached $3.65 per gallon Saturday are pushing logging truckers into a state of emergency that could imperil Maine's entire forestry products industry.

Flocking south: Canadians spending loonies in MaineBANGOR - Before Joanne Carroll left Chili's Grill & Bar for lunch on Saturday, she had to stop and say 'hello' to three friends scattered at different tables throughout the restaurant.

Tobin seeks dismissal of charges today The same federal judge who presided over his trial nearly two years ago in Concord, N.H., will decide if James Tobin of Bangor will spend the holidays an exonerated man or face a new trial on charges he conspired to disrupt Democrats' get-out-the-vote effort in 2002 by jamming their phone lines.

Rockport: Regionalization worries aired ROCKPORT - Residents who gathered for the public hearing last week on the new school consolidation law felt the state had jeopardized local control, lowered the quality of education and created hidden budget costs that eventually would wipe out any savings realized from consolidation.

EDITORIAL: Religious CompromiseThe surprising endorsement of Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani by Christian conservative Pat Robertson may have more to do with friendship than with any guidance from God.

Arthur Greif: Occupation in Iraq should not be permanentAs national opinion consolidates around the certainty that the invasion of Iraq has been the worst foreign policy mistake in the nation's history, Maine's two senators have put forth a counter-narrative.

David Broder: Preprimary debates for headlines onlyDuring Thursday night's Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was given a chance to answer the question about offering driver's licenses to illegal immigrants

Monday's Letters to the Editor … Racino facts … County should secede

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

EDITORIAL: Alfond's gifts came with good strings attached Few Mainers are untouched by Harold Alfond's generosity.

LTE: Officials should rethink approach to vets' vice Conveniently, too many of us have short memories. If it were not for our veterans, what freedoms do remain in our blest nation probably would be but a memory found hiding somewhere in a history book fortunately missed by a Nazi bonfire.

LTE: Mainers did not succumb to 'voter guilt' on racino Hurray to Mainers for shooting down the proposed racino! I am glad to see that, with all the "voter guilt" floating around, we still have the sense to reject something that we do not want in our state.

LTE: Iraq-WWII analogy collapses I would like to comment on Jeffrey K. Jacob's letter published in the newspaper on Nov. 9. Jacob suggests that President Franklin Roosevelt was guilty of war crimes and should have been impeached because he led us to war against Germany in 1941, despite the fact that "Hitler had never done one thing to us and there was never one shred of evidence Germany was involved with (the Japanese attack on) Pearl Harbor." In the ensuing struggle, tens of thousands of American troops died.

LTE: Susan Collins doesn't get it While Olympia Snowe may toe the party line sometimes, she mostly looks out for the good of Maine.

MORNING SENTINEL:

Controversy takes stage at exhibit KENNEBUNK -- Residents here may never be unanimous on what is appropriate handling of the American flag.

Pro, con gambling sides to go for at least 2 years Voters will likely spend at least two more years weighing the pros and cons of gambling in Maine.

SUN JOURNAL:

Campaign bundling gains political clout WASHINGTON - Johnny Taylor Jr. is connected.

Soldiers: Time in Iraq made us closerAUBURN - The first time Army Sgt. Tim Verreault saw the woman who would become his wife, he rolled his eyes and thought, "Ohhh, another private."

Fire grant to benefit three departments: Paris, Norway and Oxford
Republican U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe announced Nov. 7 that the Paris Fire Department would receive $65,973 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, or FIRE Act. The three towns must make a matching contribution of $3,472.

EDITORIAL: Tip o' the capOn Friday, Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds, delivered to the Legislature's Appropriations Committee a list of 50-plus positions within state government he considers "duplicative and unnecessary."

LTE: Publishing insanityThis letter is in response to the Nov. 14 letter by Joel Denison, "Wartime 101."

LTE: Free equals taxesHow's the Canadian socialist health care system, which Sen. Hillary Clinton attempted to copy in 1993-94? The liberal media won't tell you. An article in the Sept. 17 issue of Forbes magazine did.LTE: Losing education lusterRepublican candidates for president are sticking close to their conservative playbook by promoting a small number of social, religious and other hot-button wedge issues, rather than comprehensively addressing the full range of serious challenges faced by the United States.

PORTSMOUTH HERALD:

Progressives launch funds
WASHINGTON (AP) — The term of choice in political giving these days is straight out of the world of finance — donors have become "investors." Now, liberal California venture capitalists have come up with the natural corollary —...

WCSH:

Sacopee Valley Middle School Is Dedicated
The Sacopee Valley Middle School, which serves Hiram, Baldwin, Cornish, Parsonsfield and Porter, opened this September. On Sunday, students got to show the community, including Senator Susan Collins, around.

CURRENT PUBLISHING:

100 % PRO-LIFE HUCKABEE. YES!

POLITICKERME.COM:

‘This is such a long shot’: Republican challenger to Michaud enters race
John Frary, a retired college professor from Farmington, announced Saturday that he plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud in the 2008 election to represent the Second Congressional District.

Some of Mike Heath’s Best Friends are Catholic
Mike Heath, the Executive Director of the Christian Civic League sent a happy little note to his followers this weekend. I think the main point of the e-mail was Mike’s usual wrap up of all things evil.

THE HILL:

Veterans fight for Cold War Medal "The Hill"
They have some stalwart supporters on Capitol Hill, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who sponsored a bill with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) that would direct the secretary of Defense to award a Cold War service medal to those who served honorably from the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

MONTEREY COUNTY HERALD:

Sales of kids' cold medicines declineHenry Waxman, D-Calif., and Tom Allen, D-Maine, have introduced legislation that would give the agency power to pull such products from the market more ...

BLOGS:

Reid: 'Indisputable. Goals of the Surge Have Failed' 11/16
Washington, DC—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of the House-passed Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act of 2008:

Baldacci Calls for New Regional Plan: Rail Investment

COY NO MORE: FRARY vs. MICHAUD

FEMA Wastes Another $46 Million - Where's Collins?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency wasted about $30 million last year in maintaining trailers for Hurricane Katrina survivors in Mississippi, according to a new government report. In one case cited, FEMA awarded contracts that could have cost as much as $229,000 to support one family in a single trailer -- roughly the price of a five-bedroom home in Jackson, Miss.

Myers Watch
Here's Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) on the status of Julie Myers's nomination to head the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE):

Field Report: Two Approaches
Meanwhile, Smith and Maine Sen. Susan Collins are moving to inoculate themselves against criticism on the increasingly unpopular war in Iraq.

More ruminations on Fred
5 hours ago by A Wiser Man Than I Jim Jeffords, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to vote against removing Bill Clinton from office for perjury. Thompson, whom President Nixon once called "dumb as hell," claimed to have carefully studied the Constitution and determined ...

Bill Moyers JournalRICK KARR: Last week on Capitol Hill, members of Congress sent a sharp message to the FCC: Maine Republican Olympia Snowe was among the Senators who said, "No more media consolidation." OLYMPIA SNOWE: It seems like "Here we go again" in ...

Halliburton Secretly Doing Business With Key Member of Iran's ...The amendment, sponsored by Senator Susan Collins R-Maine, would penalize companies that continue to skirt US law by setting up offshore subsidiaries as a way to legally conduct and avoid US sanctions under the International Emergency ...