Happy New Years Everyone!
PRESS HERALD:Elite Guardsmen to train Afghan troopsThe 16 Maine soldiers draw lessons from Lawrence of Arabia as they prepare to guide and fight beside their hosts.
Somali rallies give voice to division over homelandLocal gatherings present different views of the role of Ethiopia in Somalia.
Federal funds to repair towns' seawalls may fall shortBut FEMA's aid estimates aren't final, and Wells and Kennebunk have options to appeal for more money.
Steady hands needed at the helms The precarious financial nature of most Maine nonprofits makes strong leadership vital to their survival.
EDITORIAL: With toll roads, not all miles created equalA completely fair toll system is hard to conceive, and might not be the best policy.
EDITORIAL: If emitting less mercury here is good, what about the Midwest?Federal approval of regional targets is fine, but they can't solve all of the problem.
MAINE VOICES: Kids learn when time is rightWe have turned our schools into assembly-line factories, but our children aren't widgets.
LTE: FDA was right to advise limiting Mevacore useLTE: Rail service would bring better roads, cleaner airLTE: Mainers don't need added taxes to fund illegal aliens
BANGOR DAILY:
Baldacci: More efficiency needed in '08Gov. John Baldacci says 2008 will be the year state and local governments reorganize to be more efficient and save money or it will be the year when many programs at all levels of government will be cut or eliminated.
Long-term funding needed for Maine's aging bridgesTwo state-funded reports and one privately financed study this year point out Maine's need to replace its aging bridges before time runs out.
EDITORIAL: Energy efficient schoolsIt's a typical below-freezing Maine winter day, and as you drive by the neighborhood school, you notice a door propped open, or windows in the second floor raised to let in the fresh air. Balancing heat and humidity in a building — especially an older one — with a couple hundred children in it, who at times are running around a gym, or eating plates of steaming spaghetti, isn't easy. But as a taxpayer, knowing what it costs to heat that building each winter, the scene can drive you to distraction.
Editorial: Honesty in health carePolls show that health care is a major issue — rivaled only by the Iraq war — in the current presidential campaign. Complaints about the present system include the mounting cost, the many left out, poor service and too much paperwork.
Paul Averill Liebow: Knowledge of chemicals in products is lackingLegislators will soon consider a bill to protect our children from dangerous toys and other products (such as phthalates in IV bags in hospitals) from every country, a problem far more prevalent than Chinese lead paint poisoning.
LTEs: Another school option; Plum Creek support; Ethanol enthusiasm
MORNING SENTINEL:
Longley 'took it serious' leading the stateJim Longley was running a successful Lewiston insurance agency in 1972 when Gov. Ken Curtis asked him to lead a state government cost-cutting commission.
LTE: Prohibition is not the answer for alcohol issuesLTE: The answer for Maine's economy: Stop spending
KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
SAD 9 SAVES MONEY BY REMOTE CONTROL Hit the switch from home
Slates' fire, new cancer center, rail trail rated by readers as top stories Readers selected the fire at Slates' restaurant, the opening of the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care and the completion of the Kennebec River Rail Trail as the top three local news stories for 2007.
2007 took toll on prominent residents of Augusta area People in the capital area mourned a number of prominent individuals who died in 2007.
LTE: Baldacci cuts aid for sex-abuse victimsSpeaking as a woman, mother, sister, daughter, friend and long-time advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, I am appalled and disgusted at the decision made by the governor to cut essential funding to services and prevention efforts for survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
In Maine, school 'leadership drain' begins The Maine school consolidation law certainly played a part when Edward McDonough, superintendent of the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District, decided to apply for an opening in Exeter, N.H.The Republican Journal & The Waldo Independent
Energy-saving challenge proposed Local advocate takes aim at causes of global warming
MPBN:
Closed Furniture Maker Back In Business
Over the past year, there's been no shortage of mill closings and downsizings in Maine. In February, it was Moosehead Manufacturing that closed its plants in Monson and Dover-Foxcroft, putting more than 100 people out of work. But this story is different than most, the mill is reopening, with a pared-down product line, more focus, and new owners. Murray Carpenter reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071228moosehead.asx
Food Bank Reports Sharp Increase In Demand
Maine's largest food bank is reporting a 25 percent increase in the demand for food over last year. And the director of the Good Shepherd Food Bank expects that demand from more than 600 soup kitchens, shelters, group homes and food pantries will only intensify as Mainers are pinched by higher prices for heat, gas and food. As Susan Sharon reports, feeding the hungry is becoming a greater economic challenge than ever before.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071228foodbank.asx
BLOGS:
PolitickerME: New Year's Resolutions We all make them.....and break them. Here are a few suggestions for a number of Maine Politicians and other public officials.
AS MAINE GOES: Democrats: Redeploy troops from Iraq "Congress is challenging the administration's strategy in Iraq in favor of a better one that will effectively combat terrorism and create stability in the Middle East," she said. "Time and time again, we voted for a strategy to redeploy troops out of Iraq...to focus our mission on anti-terrorism, and we won't give up."
WHITE NOISE INSANITY: Osama bin Laden is STILL safe as we go into 2008 and we need to be grateful for the White House's effortsAs we head into 2008, which is a very important election year for our country, we should be thankful that George Bush & Dick Cheney continue to protect, harbor, and fuel Osama bin Laden's good name. Oh yes! We should be proud of our leaders for NOT going after Osama for the past six years and as we head into 2008, we'll be entering another year where this man is allowed to remain free. Freedom is for Osama, people! Don't you forget it either.
Maine News Headline Animator
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Maine News for Friday, December 21, 2007
PRESS HERALD:
Five Maine Guardsmen talk about life after Mosul
Lott's Senate departure sends ripples felt in Maine The state's senior U.S. senator – a friend of the retiring Mississippi lawmaker – stands to gain committee influence.
FairPoint deal gets closer to PUC vote Parties in the Maine case settle more issues, making regulator approval of the Verizon sale more likely.
Double duty: Soldier, activist Chris Rushlau protested the Iraq war, but served and was wounded.
College pledges scholarships for Mainers Unity College officials hope their $2,000 offer to 2008 enrollees will erode money barriers.
EDITORIAL: Why can't spending cuts go with tax change? Once again, gridlock leads to a larger federal deficit, and the economy loses.
LTE: Who should fund Downeaster?
LTE: Health-care providers' moral convictions matter
BANGOR DAILY:
The warmth of kindness Friday, December 21, 2007Bangor, Maine - Eastern Maine program helps low-income residents heat, weatherize their homes
Baldacci eyes railway expansionFriday, December 21, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. John Baldacci said Thursday that he remains committed to expanding freight and passenger rail systems in the state's future, despite a recent $95 million setback in the two-year budget cycle that began July 1.
PUC hearing finds deal fair to all parties Friday, December 21, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - Several parties involved in the proposed sale of Verizon’s land lines in northern New England to FairPoint Communications agreed Thursday to amend a settlement accord they had reached last week.
EDITORIAL: The county cop optionFriday, December 21, 2007If Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator, Gov. John Baldacci may go down in Maine history as the Great Consolidator. The governor’s efforts to merge state departments, school administrative districts and jails are well-intentioned steps toward reduced government spending.
Editorial: Christian prioritiesFriday, December 21, 2007At a time when the state is cutting back assistance to the elderly, children and the poor, you might reasonably assume that the Christian Civic League of Maine would have larger concerns than the bathroom practices of an elementary school student.
John Richardson: Support Maine by buying locallyThis holiday season: think Maine. As the winter, snow and holidays descend upon us, I started thinking of all the little ways people can make their holiday traditions have a bit more of Maine in them.
Friday's Letters to the Letter … Smelling the flowers … Valley land correction … Buy up the poppies … One human race … Moosehead equilibrium … Something fishy
KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
Lott's resignation and move to lobbying may help Snowe shape Maine's economy WASHINGTON -- When Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., announced in July that he would hold an informal "seersucker suit Thursday," Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, scoffed at the idea.
AUGUSTACharter review blasts off AUGUSTA -- The newly formed group with the ability to propose sweeping changes to nearly every aspect of city government started right off with a spirited debate while electing a chairperson Thursday.
On Maine Politics
Local merger plans gain approval The proposed consolidation plan of every local school district now complies with a state school reorganization law, with the exception of one small school system already working on coming into line.
CONSOLIDATIONChelsea finds a partner WHITEFIELD -- Whitefield School Committee members agreed this week to include Chelsea in its consolidated regional school unit.
Baldacci to next Prez: Help us at home
EDITORIAL: Funding lock for Downeaster is premature In 1991, 90,000 signatures were submitted to the Maine Legislature requesting the return of passenger rail service to the state. That led to adoption of the Passenger Rail Service Act later that year and the ultimate establishment of the Downeaster train service between Portland and Boston.
L. SANDY MAISEL : Most candidates won't win, but they earn honors anyway As 2007 draws to a close, in this, my final column of 2007, I want to recognize some of those who have contributed to this special year.
MORNING SENTINEL:
Old bridge's fate unclear NEW SHARON -- State representatives promised Thursday night to work with local selectmen in finding a solution to the closed Main Street bridge over Muddy Brook.
LTE: Bush telling truth about nuclear weapons Frankly, I'm tired of hearing all agitprop about how Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
LTE: Put the 'public' back in PUC What part of the word "public" does the Public Utilities Commission not understand? When I read in the Morning Sentinel (Dec. 12) that they were having "secret" meetings, I knew it would only be a matter of time before the "deal" was OK'd.
SUN JOURNAL:
Bangor Hydro gets OK for rate dropBANGOR (AP) - Bangor Hydro Electric Company customers are getting a Christmas present from the utility.
LTE: Built to collapsePresident Bush is requesting more money for Iraq and Afghanistan. Billions of tax dollars have been wasted on the wars and reconstruction of Iraq. I believe much of the reconstruction money has been mismanaged, stolen and squandered. The total mismanaged money is around $8.8 billion, including Iraq money.
TIMES RECORD:
BLRA's mission accomplishedBRUNSWICK— The mood was largely celebratory and nostalgic on Wednesday afternoon, as the Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority ended its nearly two...(full story)
Feds: Maine owes $30M over Medicaid issueAUGUSTA — The Office of the Inspector General says Maine needs to pay back the federal government nearly $30 million because services that money...(full story)
LTE: Directive to CongressWhen did President Bush learn that Iran "halted its nuclear weapons program" in 2003 as the U.S. director of national intelligence recently reported? According to Bush's own...(full story)
MPBN:
Banks Create Fund To Refinance Motgage LoansMainers facing the spector of increased interest payments on their home mortgages could get some relief from a new program announced by the New England banking industry in Boston today. Five banks have joined forces in initiating a $125 million fund to help certain borrowers refinance out of their adjustable rate mortgages, before they jump to higher rates. Keith Shortall reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071220mortgages.asx
Maine DEP Commissioner Blasts EPA DecisionMaine's commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection is joining environmentalists from Maine and around the country in condemning a decision by the Bush Administration to reject California's request to establish greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles. In the absence of federal action, Maine and more than 16 other states had been seeking similar approval to combat climate change. As Susan Sharon reports, Congress and the courts are likely to take up the EPA's position.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071220epa.asx
Effort Launched To Make Oil Last LongerAs social service agencies scramble to provide heating oil for needy Mainers, a collaboration of Eastern Maine non-profits and businesses is kicking off an effort to make each gallon of oil go further. At a Bangor trailer park today, Eastern Maine Funders said that dollars spent on weatherization bring five times the return of those spent directly on filling oil tanks. Murray Carpenter reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071220weatherization.asx
PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
Federal budget bill delays Canadian border passport requirement
POLITICKERME.COM:
Pingree picks up a set of endorsements
Democrat Chellie Pingree, the former State Senate Majority Leader and Common Cause president who is running for the First Congressional District seat, is announcing a set of endorsements of thirty-five current and former lawmakers. read more »
Kerry fundraises for Allen
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is running for re-election in 2008 and today he has sent out a fundraising appeal to supporters– except it’s not for himself. It’s for U.S. Senate candidates Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Mark Udall of Colorado, Tom Allen of Maine, and Jeff Merkely of Oregon. read more »
MULTI HOUSING NEWS:
NLIHC Praises Senate Introduction of Bill to Create National Housing Trust Fund ...
The bill was introduced by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) with the tripartisan co-sponsorship of Senators Olympia Snow (R-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Pete Domenici (R-NM), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Edward Kennedy (D-MA).
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY:
Maine’s Lower Penobscot Forest Project Awarded $3.25 Million in ...
BANGOR, MAINE — December 20, 2007 — Federal funding for the Lower Penobscot Forest Project was announced today by Maine’s Congressional delegation, Maine Department of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy and The Forest Society of Maine. The project received $3.25 million in Forest Legacy funding in the FY08 federal budget—the largest award this project has ever received. … “I am pleased that this budget deal includes substantial support for the Lower Penobscot Forest project," said Senator Susan Collins. "This significant commitment acknowledges the importance of protecting tens of thousands of acres of unspoiled land, including the largest unfragmented forests in Central Maine, for generations of Maine people to enjoy.” … "For several years now, I have successfully led the effort in the House to advocate for additional funding for the Forest Legacy program,” added Congressman Tom Allen. “This year, I was very pleased that we were able to designate these funds for the Lower Penobscot project. This innovative conservation initiative will preserve this truly remarkable area for future generations and serve as a model for Forest Legacy projects nationwide."
HARD BEAT NEWS (CARIBBEAN):
Elliot Spitzer – Hoist By His Own Petard
Over a dozen states including Maine, Georgia, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, Washington, and New Hampshire have opted out the REAL ID ACT. Senators Daniel Akaka, D-HI, and John Sununu R-NH, have introduced legislation to repeal the Real ID act, while congressman Tom Allen (D.ME) have introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to repeal act.
BYM NEWS (SPAIN):
USA. New energy bill addresses recreational boating industry's ...
In June, Congressmen John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) and Charlie Melancon (R-La.) sponsored an amendment to the original bill to include a review process before considering raising the ethanol content above ten percent that was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Earlier this month Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to President Bush urging his administration to carefully evaluate the effects of ethanol blends on equipment not designed to operate on fuels greater than E10.
BLOGS:
Condoleeza Rice, Charlie Summers & the AMG Mug
The Barrel’s Bottom: New Tax Ideas for Maine!
Unused rollover minutes. Cans, bottles languishing behind the barn, never returned for their 5 cents. Cable channels you never watch. Re-gifted Christmas presents.
Congress OKs VA-Tech Gun Bill: Will It Become Law?
The bill would more easily flag prospective gun buyers who have documented mental health problems.
EPA Rejects Maine's Greenhouse-Gas Limits on Cars
The Bush administration Wednesday derailed an attempt by California and 12 other states to enact the nation's first greenhouse gas-limits on new vehicles.
The Opposite of Progress is Congress…
This little video is a nice statement on the concept of just what it means to look at life from a progressive perspective.
Why Maine - and our nation - needs Tom Allen in the Senate
Atrios and Digby both point to something that has been in plain sight for months: that the strategy of the GOP will be to obstruct most efforts by the Democratically controlled Congress. This report (pdf warning) by the Campaign for America's Future details what the mainstream media refuses to tell us: that Republicans in the Senate are using the same tactics that they lamented just last year to block legislation that they object to.
Mizrahi staying at The Israel Project
The Israel Project also announced that five U.S. senators and one member of Congress have joined its board of directors. They are Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Me.), and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.). Americans beware. The Israel Project is a pro-Israeli outfit which was behind some of the campus witchhunts of recent years.
Five Maine Guardsmen talk about life after Mosul
Lott's Senate departure sends ripples felt in Maine The state's senior U.S. senator – a friend of the retiring Mississippi lawmaker – stands to gain committee influence.
FairPoint deal gets closer to PUC vote Parties in the Maine case settle more issues, making regulator approval of the Verizon sale more likely.
Double duty: Soldier, activist Chris Rushlau protested the Iraq war, but served and was wounded.
College pledges scholarships for Mainers Unity College officials hope their $2,000 offer to 2008 enrollees will erode money barriers.
EDITORIAL: Why can't spending cuts go with tax change? Once again, gridlock leads to a larger federal deficit, and the economy loses.
LTE: Who should fund Downeaster?
LTE: Health-care providers' moral convictions matter
BANGOR DAILY:
The warmth of kindness Friday, December 21, 2007Bangor, Maine - Eastern Maine program helps low-income residents heat, weatherize their homes
Baldacci eyes railway expansionFriday, December 21, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. John Baldacci said Thursday that he remains committed to expanding freight and passenger rail systems in the state's future, despite a recent $95 million setback in the two-year budget cycle that began July 1.
PUC hearing finds deal fair to all parties Friday, December 21, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - Several parties involved in the proposed sale of Verizon’s land lines in northern New England to FairPoint Communications agreed Thursday to amend a settlement accord they had reached last week.
EDITORIAL: The county cop optionFriday, December 21, 2007If Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator, Gov. John Baldacci may go down in Maine history as the Great Consolidator. The governor’s efforts to merge state departments, school administrative districts and jails are well-intentioned steps toward reduced government spending.
Editorial: Christian prioritiesFriday, December 21, 2007At a time when the state is cutting back assistance to the elderly, children and the poor, you might reasonably assume that the Christian Civic League of Maine would have larger concerns than the bathroom practices of an elementary school student.
John Richardson: Support Maine by buying locallyThis holiday season: think Maine. As the winter, snow and holidays descend upon us, I started thinking of all the little ways people can make their holiday traditions have a bit more of Maine in them.
Friday's Letters to the Letter … Smelling the flowers … Valley land correction … Buy up the poppies … One human race … Moosehead equilibrium … Something fishy
KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
Lott's resignation and move to lobbying may help Snowe shape Maine's economy WASHINGTON -- When Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., announced in July that he would hold an informal "seersucker suit Thursday," Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, scoffed at the idea.
AUGUSTACharter review blasts off AUGUSTA -- The newly formed group with the ability to propose sweeping changes to nearly every aspect of city government started right off with a spirited debate while electing a chairperson Thursday.
On Maine Politics
Local merger plans gain approval The proposed consolidation plan of every local school district now complies with a state school reorganization law, with the exception of one small school system already working on coming into line.
CONSOLIDATIONChelsea finds a partner WHITEFIELD -- Whitefield School Committee members agreed this week to include Chelsea in its consolidated regional school unit.
Baldacci to next Prez: Help us at home
EDITORIAL: Funding lock for Downeaster is premature In 1991, 90,000 signatures were submitted to the Maine Legislature requesting the return of passenger rail service to the state. That led to adoption of the Passenger Rail Service Act later that year and the ultimate establishment of the Downeaster train service between Portland and Boston.
L. SANDY MAISEL : Most candidates won't win, but they earn honors anyway As 2007 draws to a close, in this, my final column of 2007, I want to recognize some of those who have contributed to this special year.
MORNING SENTINEL:
Old bridge's fate unclear NEW SHARON -- State representatives promised Thursday night to work with local selectmen in finding a solution to the closed Main Street bridge over Muddy Brook.
LTE: Bush telling truth about nuclear weapons Frankly, I'm tired of hearing all agitprop about how Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
LTE: Put the 'public' back in PUC What part of the word "public" does the Public Utilities Commission not understand? When I read in the Morning Sentinel (Dec. 12) that they were having "secret" meetings, I knew it would only be a matter of time before the "deal" was OK'd.
SUN JOURNAL:
Bangor Hydro gets OK for rate dropBANGOR (AP) - Bangor Hydro Electric Company customers are getting a Christmas present from the utility.
LTE: Built to collapsePresident Bush is requesting more money for Iraq and Afghanistan. Billions of tax dollars have been wasted on the wars and reconstruction of Iraq. I believe much of the reconstruction money has been mismanaged, stolen and squandered. The total mismanaged money is around $8.8 billion, including Iraq money.
TIMES RECORD:
BLRA's mission accomplishedBRUNSWICK— The mood was largely celebratory and nostalgic on Wednesday afternoon, as the Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority ended its nearly two...(full story)
Feds: Maine owes $30M over Medicaid issueAUGUSTA — The Office of the Inspector General says Maine needs to pay back the federal government nearly $30 million because services that money...(full story)
LTE: Directive to CongressWhen did President Bush learn that Iran "halted its nuclear weapons program" in 2003 as the U.S. director of national intelligence recently reported? According to Bush's own...(full story)
MPBN:
Banks Create Fund To Refinance Motgage LoansMainers facing the spector of increased interest payments on their home mortgages could get some relief from a new program announced by the New England banking industry in Boston today. Five banks have joined forces in initiating a $125 million fund to help certain borrowers refinance out of their adjustable rate mortgages, before they jump to higher rates. Keith Shortall reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071220mortgages.asx
Maine DEP Commissioner Blasts EPA DecisionMaine's commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection is joining environmentalists from Maine and around the country in condemning a decision by the Bush Administration to reject California's request to establish greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles. In the absence of federal action, Maine and more than 16 other states had been seeking similar approval to combat climate change. As Susan Sharon reports, Congress and the courts are likely to take up the EPA's position.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071220epa.asx
Effort Launched To Make Oil Last LongerAs social service agencies scramble to provide heating oil for needy Mainers, a collaboration of Eastern Maine non-profits and businesses is kicking off an effort to make each gallon of oil go further. At a Bangor trailer park today, Eastern Maine Funders said that dollars spent on weatherization bring five times the return of those spent directly on filling oil tanks. Murray Carpenter reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071220weatherization.asx
PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
Federal budget bill delays Canadian border passport requirement
POLITICKERME.COM:
Pingree picks up a set of endorsements
Democrat Chellie Pingree, the former State Senate Majority Leader and Common Cause president who is running for the First Congressional District seat, is announcing a set of endorsements of thirty-five current and former lawmakers. read more »
Kerry fundraises for Allen
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is running for re-election in 2008 and today he has sent out a fundraising appeal to supporters– except it’s not for himself. It’s for U.S. Senate candidates Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Mark Udall of Colorado, Tom Allen of Maine, and Jeff Merkely of Oregon. read more »
MULTI HOUSING NEWS:
NLIHC Praises Senate Introduction of Bill to Create National Housing Trust Fund ...
The bill was introduced by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) with the tripartisan co-sponsorship of Senators Olympia Snow (R-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Pete Domenici (R-NM), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Edward Kennedy (D-MA).
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY:
Maine’s Lower Penobscot Forest Project Awarded $3.25 Million in ...
BANGOR, MAINE — December 20, 2007 — Federal funding for the Lower Penobscot Forest Project was announced today by Maine’s Congressional delegation, Maine Department of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy and The Forest Society of Maine. The project received $3.25 million in Forest Legacy funding in the FY08 federal budget—the largest award this project has ever received. … “I am pleased that this budget deal includes substantial support for the Lower Penobscot Forest project," said Senator Susan Collins. "This significant commitment acknowledges the importance of protecting tens of thousands of acres of unspoiled land, including the largest unfragmented forests in Central Maine, for generations of Maine people to enjoy.” … "For several years now, I have successfully led the effort in the House to advocate for additional funding for the Forest Legacy program,” added Congressman Tom Allen. “This year, I was very pleased that we were able to designate these funds for the Lower Penobscot project. This innovative conservation initiative will preserve this truly remarkable area for future generations and serve as a model for Forest Legacy projects nationwide."
HARD BEAT NEWS (CARIBBEAN):
Elliot Spitzer – Hoist By His Own Petard
Over a dozen states including Maine, Georgia, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, Washington, and New Hampshire have opted out the REAL ID ACT. Senators Daniel Akaka, D-HI, and John Sununu R-NH, have introduced legislation to repeal the Real ID act, while congressman Tom Allen (D.ME) have introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to repeal act.
BYM NEWS (SPAIN):
USA. New energy bill addresses recreational boating industry's ...
In June, Congressmen John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) and Charlie Melancon (R-La.) sponsored an amendment to the original bill to include a review process before considering raising the ethanol content above ten percent that was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Earlier this month Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to President Bush urging his administration to carefully evaluate the effects of ethanol blends on equipment not designed to operate on fuels greater than E10.
BLOGS:
Condoleeza Rice, Charlie Summers & the AMG Mug
The Barrel’s Bottom: New Tax Ideas for Maine!
Unused rollover minutes. Cans, bottles languishing behind the barn, never returned for their 5 cents. Cable channels you never watch. Re-gifted Christmas presents.
Congress OKs VA-Tech Gun Bill: Will It Become Law?
The bill would more easily flag prospective gun buyers who have documented mental health problems.
EPA Rejects Maine's Greenhouse-Gas Limits on Cars
The Bush administration Wednesday derailed an attempt by California and 12 other states to enact the nation's first greenhouse gas-limits on new vehicles.
The Opposite of Progress is Congress…
This little video is a nice statement on the concept of just what it means to look at life from a progressive perspective.
Why Maine - and our nation - needs Tom Allen in the Senate
Atrios and Digby both point to something that has been in plain sight for months: that the strategy of the GOP will be to obstruct most efforts by the Democratically controlled Congress. This report (pdf warning) by the Campaign for America's Future details what the mainstream media refuses to tell us: that Republicans in the Senate are using the same tactics that they lamented just last year to block legislation that they object to.
Mizrahi staying at The Israel Project
The Israel Project also announced that five U.S. senators and one member of Congress have joined its board of directors. They are Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Me.), and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.). Americans beware. The Israel Project is a pro-Israeli outfit which was behind some of the campus witchhunts of recent years.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Maine News for Thursday, December 20, 2007
PRESS HERALD:
Cash fails to boost racino backers Gambling supporters outspent opponents by almost two to one in their losing campaign.
Panel adopts blueprint for future use of BNASThe next step for reuse planners is to build relationships with prospective tenants.
College stakes a green claim to fame College of the Atlantic says it is the nation's first to reduce its atmospheric carbon impact to zero.
Education plan targets rural poverty The community college system pledges $6.2 million in programs and aid for low-income areas.
EDITORIAL: FCC ruling relies on faulty reading of current trends Allowing broadcasters to own newspapers in larger markets will concentrate media power.
Rep. Gary ConnorEvery child needs a blood test for lead A pending bill would require such a test before any child could enter kindergarten.
LTE: Find new direction on energy policy
LTE: CIA's destruction of tapes damages case, reputation
LTE: Strimling's wage proposal won't bridge income gap
BANGOR DAILY:
Plan expands education in rural areasThursday, December 20, 2007AUGUSTA, MAINE - The Maine Community College System has unveiled a $6.2 million program designed to expand its reach into rural Maine.
State to hear comments on spring salmon seasonThursday, December 20, 2007HALLOWELL, MAINE - State officials plan to hold a public hearing in late January on a potentially controversial proposal to allow fishing for Atlantic salmon on the Penobscot River this spring.
Supplemental budget to uphold cutsThursday, December 20, 2007AUGUSTA, MAINE - Lawmakers who dislike Gov. John Baldacci's $38 million budget curtailment order are sure to complain when they get his supplemental budget proposed to fill the remaining hole in the two-year state budget.
Milbridge: Wyman’s to assist workers, community with heating fuelThursday, December 20, 2007MILBRIDGE, MAINE - Current and retired employees of Jasper Wyman & Sons and residents in nearby communities will get a windfall to help them with the rising costs of heating fuel and food.
Winkin transferred, to begin acute rehab
The list of well-wishers has included Sen. Olympia Snowe, Sen. Susan Collins and former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, along with many members of the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Canada accused of lumber pact
BANGOR - Just slightly more than a year after signing a softwood lumber agreement, the United States and Canada are again at odds over the amount and price of Canadian lumber in the U.S. market. … The coalition has been working with U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Rep. Mike Michaud of Maine and wants Canadian provinces to allow fully open market competition to determine the price of timber.
EDITORIAL: Petro Dollars and SenseThursday, December 20, 2007When it comes to oil prices, there are many things the U.S. can't control - the weather and political instability in the Middle East and South America, for example.
Thursday's Letters to the Editor … Support Bt corn … Impeding development
KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
Story of family's plight leads to ridicule via Web AUGUSTA -- An Augusta family whose struggle to find enough money to stay warm this winter was told on the front page of Wednesday's Kennebec Journal unexpectedly found itself the subject of ridicule.
Community college system reaching into rural Maine FAIRFIELD -- The Maine Community College System announced Wednesday it will broaden educational opportunities to rural Maine residents with investments, outreach, scholarships and programs for rural high schools.
JIM BRUNELLE : State investment flap gives incentive to revise rulesLegislature appoints 4 high state officials, regardless of qualifications If nothing else, the current political fuss in Augusta over a corporate bond investment by the state treasurer that went sour gives us a chance to re-examine one of the murkier aspects of state government -- our constitutional officers.
LTE: Security was warranted at public hearing A recent letter by Steve Cartwright (Dec. 7) needs to be addressed.
LTE: Preventive measures can make good citizens We were pleased to participate in the recent Governor's Summit on Early Education and applaud the event organizers for bringing together business, community, education, law enforcement and public policy leaders to talk about what the state does, and doesn't do, to invest in our youngest citizens.
MORNING SENTINEL:
Spending money didn't assure victory for racino AUGUSTA -- Money may be the mother's milk of politics, but finance reports from last month's referendum over gambling in Washington County show that a lot of cash on hand does not guarantee victory at the ballot box.
EDITORIAL: Appeals court mostly correct in parade ruling The U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last Friday that significant portions of Augusta's parade ordinance are unconstitutional. The decision was a clear victory for the First Amendment, but not a total one.
SUN JOURNAL:
Federal heating help on the wayWASHINGTON (AP) - Cash-strapped families who depend on home heating assistance can expect more federal dollars this winter.
Fuel costs raise fearsLEWISTON - The cost of heating oil this year is more than discouraging. Fire officials say it can also be dangerous.
EDITORIAL: The first cut, but not the deepestWith respect to Neil Young, the soundtrack to Maine's budget is "The Gift Cards and the Damage Done."
LTE: Divide, and conquerRepublicans and their propagandists continue to place party loyalty above all else. They reduce anything that does not conform to a particular rigid ideological standard in every scenario as "liberal."
TIMES RECORD:
Federal zoning eyed for BNASLEWISTON — Unique zoning in Lewiston and Auburn that shelters imports from U.S. Customs fees could be extended to benefit companies eyeing a future...(full story)
OP/ED: Early investments cut crime later...(full story)
LTE: New approach to warGen. Petraeus, the commander of our military forces in Iraq, is known to friends and admirers as a brilliant, military tactician. His Princeton University doctoral thesis...(full story)
ELLSWORTH AMERICAN:
Senators Seek Aid for Lobstermen Facing Cost of Whale Rules
ELLSWORTH — In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, nine United States senators have asked the Bush administration for at least $14 million to help New England lobstermen pay the cost of new gear they will have to buy to comply with new rules designed to protect endangered right whales.
Gov. Baldacci Slashes State Spending by $38 Million
AUGUSTA — Governor John Baldacci Tuesday signed an emergency order to cut $38 million out of state spending to help fill a $95 million hole in the budget.
Feds: State DHHS Owes $30M
AUGUSTA — The Office of the Inspector General says Maine needs to pay back the federal government nearly $30 million because the services that money paid for didn’t meet the requirements of the Medicaid program.
Verizon-FairPoint Talks Move Ahead
AUGUSTA — Verizon’s plan to sell its landline phone business in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont to FairPoint Communications for $2.7 billion appears to be back on track, at least for now.
Senator Releases “Hit List” of Possible State Job Eliminations
AUGUSTA — The state senator who pushed for the creation of a budget-cutting commission to look at trimming administrative costs in state government has released a hit list of possible job eliminations.
Maine’s Retirement Fund
Millions of Americans who will look to Social Security as a major part of their retirement income expect to work well into their 60s in order to qualify for the full benefit. For those folks, the notion of retiring at the age of 55 or even 60 — even if they wanted to — is outside the realm of possibility. But for thousands of Maine state employees and teachers, the issue of early retirement has become the centerpiece in an ongoing debate over a legislative proposal to restore some $90 million in benefits that were reduced for some workers in order to balance the state budget back in 1993.
Maine’s Energy Future
Governor John Baldacci’s well-intentioned but ill-conceived plans to consolidate Maine school districts and place county jails under a state framework are receiving plenty of deserved condemnation as 2007 winds its way down. But on another front, the Governor is right on target. Baldacci took sharp issue last week with Maine’s treatment at the hands of ISO-New England, the agency that coordinates the electricity markets and transmission systems in Maine and its five Northeastern neighbors.
LTES:
Questioning the Greatness of War
Written by Craig Idlebrook
While I’ve enjoyed the stories in “The Greatest Generation” series, I’m troubled by its title.
Congress Must Draw the Line on Iran
Written by Suzanne Anderson
It sounds so eerily familiar, the White House claiming a Middle Eastern country is threatening America and freedom in general. This time that country is Iran.
LINCOLN COUNTY NEWS:
State Owes Feds $30 Million, Audit Claims
The Office of the Inspector General says Maine needs to pay back the federal government nearly $30 million because the services that money paid ... Budget Axe Targets Support Staffers, Contract Jobs in Augusta
The senator who pushed for creation of a budget-cutting commission to look at trimming administrative costs in state government has released ... Governor Orders Cuts in Spending
Gov. John Baldacci Tuesday signed an emergency order to cut $38 million out of state spending to help fill a $95 million hole in the budget, ... State Treasurer 'Snookered by Professionals' on $20 Million Investment
The Legislature's budget oversight committee has voiced confidence in state Treasurer David Lemoine despite his $20 million investment in a ... From the Legislature -- Rep. Jon McKane
Hunting, fishing licenses available online The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) has announced that hunting and fishing ...
Federal Defense Bill Includes Newcastle Woman's Vaccination Scrutiny for Military
U.S. Rep. Tom Allen successfully amended the defense authorization bill for 2008 to include an assessment by the Department of Defense of its ...
VILLAGE SOUP:
Rockland Fire Department awarded $22951 grant
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec 19): U.S. Rep. Tom Allen announced Wednesday that a $22,951 Assistance to Firefighters Grant has been awarded to the Rockland Fire Department.
MPBN:
Social Service Agencies Brace For Cuts Social service agencies around the state are trying to figure out how to tighten their belts in the wake of Governor Baldacci's order yesterday to cut state spending by $38 million dollars. Much of those savings will come from cuts in programs that serve mentally ill adults and children who don't qualify for the state's Medicaid program, known as MaineCare.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071219budgetcuts.asx
State Community College System Seeks Boost In Rural Enrollments The state's community college system today announced a financial boost of more than 6 million dollars aimed at enrolling more residents of rural Maine. The combination of gifts, grants and community college funds will be used to launch several new initiatives, including a special rural student scholarship program, and child care funding for students with young families. A.J. Higgins reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071219colleges.asx
WCSH:
Maine Softwood Lumber Producers Upset Over Canadian Practices
DOVER-FOXCROFT (NEWS CENTER) -- We've been hearing a lot recently about how the slumping housing market is hurting the lumber industry. But Maine softwood lumber producers say the housing market isn't their only problem.
They said the government of Canada is disregarding a trade agreement, and as a result, underpriced Canadian lumber is flooding the U.S. market. …. Both Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe have written to the U.S. Trade Representative for a more immediate solution to this problem. The arbitration is not expected to be settled until at least February.
PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
State budget cuts could hit local school districts
KITTERY, Maine — With Maine facing a budget shortfall, Gov. John Baldacci on Tuesday ordered $38 million in state spending cutbacks, saying they avoid hitting Maine's most vulnerable residents and will cause no layoffs.
YORK WEEKLY:
Augusta seeks consolidation relief
In an effort to make consolidation feasible for some school districts, the Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee last week voted 10-2 in favor of a Department of Education bill that removes some financial barriers under the current...
PORTLAND PHOENIX:
Everyone’s a neocon now: Looking back on state politics — and forwardIn the eight years I’ve covered the State House for the Portland Phoenix, I’ve been struck by the depressingly constant themes.
Verizon angles to keep state business: CanoodlingDemocratic governor John Baldacci had a private sit-down with Ivan Seidenberg, the president and CEO of Verizon, November 30.
Plum Creek watchdog: Press releasesThanks to a Phoenix reader, Maine residents now know something the Portland Press Herald was not telling them.
Kill the house lights: Politics and other mistakesAs we celebrate the solstice on December 21, take comfort in knowing that state officials are doing all they can to make it even darker. And, like Tax Day, more expensive.
POLITICKERME.COM:
2008 Legislative candidates
The following candidates plan to run for the Legislature in 2008.
This list is complete per Ethics Commission filings, and was last updated Dec. 19. Other candidates not listed may have mentioned intent to run in another forum.
Strimling swipes at Bush
With President Bush today signing into law today a bill requiring higher fuel efficiency standards for automobiles, Democrat Ethan Strimling, who is running for the First Congressional District, saw an opportunity to take a swipe at Bush.
Patrick to run for county commissioner
Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, will run for Oxford County Commissioner next year.
Term limits prevent him from seeking another term.
California man joins Snowe’s staff
Sen. Olympia Snowe’s new press secretary has never been to Maine, and the bitter cold and mountains of snow are a far cry from what he knew growing up.
Kurt Bardella, 24, grew up in San Diego. He started in Snowe’s office today.
“You can’t get any further apart geographically,” Bardella said.
The Influential Staffers
I’ve put together a list of 10 that rise to the top of the heap. Here are the top 5, with the next 5 to come.
Where Fools Rush In
Governor Baldacci took some time away from his Christmas shopping yesterday to announce an executive order that would “curtail” state spending immediately in a number of areas.
DOWNEAST MAGAZINE:
Best Political Slugfest
Tom Allen and Susan Collins take off the gloves.
One of the problems with politics in Maine is that they are, by and large, boring. Incumbents are rarely unseated, and the state hasn’t seen a really tough, hard-fought, outcome-in-question political race above the local level since 1996. Not coincidentally, that was the year Susan Collins defeated former governor and congressman Joseph Brennan to win her first term as a U.S. senator.
WASHINGTON POST:
Stronger Whistle-Blower Protection Passes Senate
The bill, sponsored by Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), was approved on a voice vote late Monday.
THE HILL:
GOP turning its message to healthcare
Emphasizing expanded access to healthcare could be appealing to voters in a number of states where Republicans are in tight races. According to 2006 data compiled by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, in Minnesota, where Sen. Norm Coleman (R) is running for a second term, more than 440,000 people are uninsured; in Sen. John Sununu’s (R) New Hampshire, there are 137,000 people without insurance; in Maine, Sen. Susan Collins (R) faces more than 120,000 without insurance; and in Oregon, where Gordon Smith (R) is running for a third term, more than 615,000 people are uninsured.
ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Dems Lose Defense, Foreign Policy Debate
Left on the cutting room floor this year were other bipartisan proposals, including one by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., that would have restricted the mission of U.S. troops to non-combat roles in Iraq but not set a date for troop withdrawals.
OP/ED NEWS:
Senate Challenger Laurie Dobson, MaineThe fifty-one-year-old mother of three who is running to unseat Senator Susan Collins spares no Democrat.
LAND LINE MAGAZINE:
Maine truckers consider protesting at state capitol about fuel prices
Besides truckers, Sidelinger said several state lawmakers attended the meeting, including U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-ME.
BLOGS:
Wednesday Tidbits
Maine: Jeezum Crow! Less than a week after the Kennebec Journal ran a pro-Susan-Collins letter to the editor written by a College Republican chapter Chair without identifying him as such, the same paper runs another pro-Susan-Collins letter to the editor written by a Republican state legislator again without identifying him as such! Are the Kennebec Journal's editors incredibly lazy or incredibly partisan?
CILLIZZA Well look here s what I think is Liquid
Broaden your search by using fewer words. Com i msnbc Components Art SITEWIDE Icons iSlides. Then Congress can vote on whether to give the president the rest of the war funding money. I won t be the only Republican or one of two Republicans demanding a change in our Andrea neal of troops in Iraq at that point. I think everybody knows that, I really do, Senator Susan Collins of Maine concurring, I think a lot of us feel that way. Take a look at what s going on on the ground, take a look at what goes on in the neighborhoods, because if you want to measure progress, you got to report it.
Sens. Collins/Snowe Vote Against Democrat Troop Withdrawal Amendment
What Will the Energy Bill Do to Food Prices?
Congressman Tom Allen Visits the Pirates
Portland, Maine - On Saturday, December 15 Congressman Tom Allen was a special guest at the Pirates game. Allen dropped the puck at the beginning of the game.
Don Surber on Harry Reid: "Every line he has drawn in the sand has ...
How out of touch with reality is he to describe Senators such as Chuck Hagel, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe, Gordon Smith, Susan Collins, and others as puppets? If Reid couldn't work with these Senators, then he's not capable of working ...
Editorials Nationwide Rain Scorn on Senate Farm Bill
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins sounded like a very regretful Robin Hood last week after passage of the bill:
"I am particularly disappointed that this bill does not include an amendment, that I supported, that would have capped payments to farmers at $250,000. In addition, another amendment that was defeated would have prohibited payments to individuals who earn more than $750,000 per year. These amendments would have provided assistance to farmers who truly need the help, and denied assistance to giant corporate farms and individuals who unfairly receive it.
House boosts funding for key homeland security projects
“It is important that we strike a balance between the security of our nation’s borders and the free flow of commerce and travel to and from the United States,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “The delay of this initiative is welcome news.”
Don Surber on Harry Reid: "Every line he has drawn in the sand has ...
How out of touch with reality is he to describe Senators such as Chuck Hagel, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe, Gordon Smith, Susan Collins, and others as puppets? If Reid couldn't work with these Senators, then he's not capable of working ...
Congress Approves $9.4 Million for Asbestos Abatement
At the same time that Patty Murray’s legislation to ban all asbestos in the U.S. is being whittled away (see “Who Threw the Monkey Wrench in Mrs. Murray’s Asbestos Bill?” posted 15 November), Maine senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins say they have managed to get $9.4 million included in the FY 2008 budget for the purpose of removing an asbestos-contaminated pipeline that supplied jet fuel from the Brunswick (Maine) Naval Air Station to Mitchell Field in Harpswell for forty years.
Cash fails to boost racino backers Gambling supporters outspent opponents by almost two to one in their losing campaign.
Panel adopts blueprint for future use of BNASThe next step for reuse planners is to build relationships with prospective tenants.
College stakes a green claim to fame College of the Atlantic says it is the nation's first to reduce its atmospheric carbon impact to zero.
Education plan targets rural poverty The community college system pledges $6.2 million in programs and aid for low-income areas.
EDITORIAL: FCC ruling relies on faulty reading of current trends Allowing broadcasters to own newspapers in larger markets will concentrate media power.
Rep. Gary ConnorEvery child needs a blood test for lead A pending bill would require such a test before any child could enter kindergarten.
LTE: Find new direction on energy policy
LTE: CIA's destruction of tapes damages case, reputation
LTE: Strimling's wage proposal won't bridge income gap
BANGOR DAILY:
Plan expands education in rural areasThursday, December 20, 2007AUGUSTA, MAINE - The Maine Community College System has unveiled a $6.2 million program designed to expand its reach into rural Maine.
State to hear comments on spring salmon seasonThursday, December 20, 2007HALLOWELL, MAINE - State officials plan to hold a public hearing in late January on a potentially controversial proposal to allow fishing for Atlantic salmon on the Penobscot River this spring.
Supplemental budget to uphold cutsThursday, December 20, 2007AUGUSTA, MAINE - Lawmakers who dislike Gov. John Baldacci's $38 million budget curtailment order are sure to complain when they get his supplemental budget proposed to fill the remaining hole in the two-year state budget.
Milbridge: Wyman’s to assist workers, community with heating fuelThursday, December 20, 2007MILBRIDGE, MAINE - Current and retired employees of Jasper Wyman & Sons and residents in nearby communities will get a windfall to help them with the rising costs of heating fuel and food.
Winkin transferred, to begin acute rehab
The list of well-wishers has included Sen. Olympia Snowe, Sen. Susan Collins and former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, along with many members of the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Canada accused of lumber pact
BANGOR - Just slightly more than a year after signing a softwood lumber agreement, the United States and Canada are again at odds over the amount and price of Canadian lumber in the U.S. market. … The coalition has been working with U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Rep. Mike Michaud of Maine and wants Canadian provinces to allow fully open market competition to determine the price of timber.
EDITORIAL: Petro Dollars and SenseThursday, December 20, 2007When it comes to oil prices, there are many things the U.S. can't control - the weather and political instability in the Middle East and South America, for example.
Thursday's Letters to the Editor … Support Bt corn … Impeding development
KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
Story of family's plight leads to ridicule via Web AUGUSTA -- An Augusta family whose struggle to find enough money to stay warm this winter was told on the front page of Wednesday's Kennebec Journal unexpectedly found itself the subject of ridicule.
Community college system reaching into rural Maine FAIRFIELD -- The Maine Community College System announced Wednesday it will broaden educational opportunities to rural Maine residents with investments, outreach, scholarships and programs for rural high schools.
JIM BRUNELLE : State investment flap gives incentive to revise rulesLegislature appoints 4 high state officials, regardless of qualifications If nothing else, the current political fuss in Augusta over a corporate bond investment by the state treasurer that went sour gives us a chance to re-examine one of the murkier aspects of state government -- our constitutional officers.
LTE: Security was warranted at public hearing A recent letter by Steve Cartwright (Dec. 7) needs to be addressed.
LTE: Preventive measures can make good citizens We were pleased to participate in the recent Governor's Summit on Early Education and applaud the event organizers for bringing together business, community, education, law enforcement and public policy leaders to talk about what the state does, and doesn't do, to invest in our youngest citizens.
MORNING SENTINEL:
Spending money didn't assure victory for racino AUGUSTA -- Money may be the mother's milk of politics, but finance reports from last month's referendum over gambling in Washington County show that a lot of cash on hand does not guarantee victory at the ballot box.
EDITORIAL: Appeals court mostly correct in parade ruling The U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last Friday that significant portions of Augusta's parade ordinance are unconstitutional. The decision was a clear victory for the First Amendment, but not a total one.
SUN JOURNAL:
Federal heating help on the wayWASHINGTON (AP) - Cash-strapped families who depend on home heating assistance can expect more federal dollars this winter.
Fuel costs raise fearsLEWISTON - The cost of heating oil this year is more than discouraging. Fire officials say it can also be dangerous.
EDITORIAL: The first cut, but not the deepestWith respect to Neil Young, the soundtrack to Maine's budget is "The Gift Cards and the Damage Done."
LTE: Divide, and conquerRepublicans and their propagandists continue to place party loyalty above all else. They reduce anything that does not conform to a particular rigid ideological standard in every scenario as "liberal."
TIMES RECORD:
Federal zoning eyed for BNASLEWISTON — Unique zoning in Lewiston and Auburn that shelters imports from U.S. Customs fees could be extended to benefit companies eyeing a future...(full story)
OP/ED: Early investments cut crime later...(full story)
LTE: New approach to warGen. Petraeus, the commander of our military forces in Iraq, is known to friends and admirers as a brilliant, military tactician. His Princeton University doctoral thesis...(full story)
ELLSWORTH AMERICAN:
Senators Seek Aid for Lobstermen Facing Cost of Whale Rules
ELLSWORTH — In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, nine United States senators have asked the Bush administration for at least $14 million to help New England lobstermen pay the cost of new gear they will have to buy to comply with new rules designed to protect endangered right whales.
Gov. Baldacci Slashes State Spending by $38 Million
AUGUSTA — Governor John Baldacci Tuesday signed an emergency order to cut $38 million out of state spending to help fill a $95 million hole in the budget.
Feds: State DHHS Owes $30M
AUGUSTA — The Office of the Inspector General says Maine needs to pay back the federal government nearly $30 million because the services that money paid for didn’t meet the requirements of the Medicaid program.
Verizon-FairPoint Talks Move Ahead
AUGUSTA — Verizon’s plan to sell its landline phone business in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont to FairPoint Communications for $2.7 billion appears to be back on track, at least for now.
Senator Releases “Hit List” of Possible State Job Eliminations
AUGUSTA — The state senator who pushed for the creation of a budget-cutting commission to look at trimming administrative costs in state government has released a hit list of possible job eliminations.
Maine’s Retirement Fund
Millions of Americans who will look to Social Security as a major part of their retirement income expect to work well into their 60s in order to qualify for the full benefit. For those folks, the notion of retiring at the age of 55 or even 60 — even if they wanted to — is outside the realm of possibility. But for thousands of Maine state employees and teachers, the issue of early retirement has become the centerpiece in an ongoing debate over a legislative proposal to restore some $90 million in benefits that were reduced for some workers in order to balance the state budget back in 1993.
Maine’s Energy Future
Governor John Baldacci’s well-intentioned but ill-conceived plans to consolidate Maine school districts and place county jails under a state framework are receiving plenty of deserved condemnation as 2007 winds its way down. But on another front, the Governor is right on target. Baldacci took sharp issue last week with Maine’s treatment at the hands of ISO-New England, the agency that coordinates the electricity markets and transmission systems in Maine and its five Northeastern neighbors.
LTES:
Questioning the Greatness of War
Written by Craig Idlebrook
While I’ve enjoyed the stories in “The Greatest Generation” series, I’m troubled by its title.
Congress Must Draw the Line on Iran
Written by Suzanne Anderson
It sounds so eerily familiar, the White House claiming a Middle Eastern country is threatening America and freedom in general. This time that country is Iran.
LINCOLN COUNTY NEWS:
State Owes Feds $30 Million, Audit Claims
The Office of the Inspector General says Maine needs to pay back the federal government nearly $30 million because the services that money paid ... Budget Axe Targets Support Staffers, Contract Jobs in Augusta
The senator who pushed for creation of a budget-cutting commission to look at trimming administrative costs in state government has released ... Governor Orders Cuts in Spending
Gov. John Baldacci Tuesday signed an emergency order to cut $38 million out of state spending to help fill a $95 million hole in the budget, ... State Treasurer 'Snookered by Professionals' on $20 Million Investment
The Legislature's budget oversight committee has voiced confidence in state Treasurer David Lemoine despite his $20 million investment in a ... From the Legislature -- Rep. Jon McKane
Hunting, fishing licenses available online The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) has announced that hunting and fishing ...
Federal Defense Bill Includes Newcastle Woman's Vaccination Scrutiny for Military
U.S. Rep. Tom Allen successfully amended the defense authorization bill for 2008 to include an assessment by the Department of Defense of its ...
VILLAGE SOUP:
Rockland Fire Department awarded $22951 grant
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec 19): U.S. Rep. Tom Allen announced Wednesday that a $22,951 Assistance to Firefighters Grant has been awarded to the Rockland Fire Department.
MPBN:
Social Service Agencies Brace For Cuts Social service agencies around the state are trying to figure out how to tighten their belts in the wake of Governor Baldacci's order yesterday to cut state spending by $38 million dollars. Much of those savings will come from cuts in programs that serve mentally ill adults and children who don't qualify for the state's Medicaid program, known as MaineCare.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071219budgetcuts.asx
State Community College System Seeks Boost In Rural Enrollments The state's community college system today announced a financial boost of more than 6 million dollars aimed at enrolling more residents of rural Maine. The combination of gifts, grants and community college funds will be used to launch several new initiatives, including a special rural student scholarship program, and child care funding for students with young families. A.J. Higgins reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071219colleges.asx
WCSH:
Maine Softwood Lumber Producers Upset Over Canadian Practices
DOVER-FOXCROFT (NEWS CENTER) -- We've been hearing a lot recently about how the slumping housing market is hurting the lumber industry. But Maine softwood lumber producers say the housing market isn't their only problem.
They said the government of Canada is disregarding a trade agreement, and as a result, underpriced Canadian lumber is flooding the U.S. market. …. Both Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe have written to the U.S. Trade Representative for a more immediate solution to this problem. The arbitration is not expected to be settled until at least February.
PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
State budget cuts could hit local school districts
KITTERY, Maine — With Maine facing a budget shortfall, Gov. John Baldacci on Tuesday ordered $38 million in state spending cutbacks, saying they avoid hitting Maine's most vulnerable residents and will cause no layoffs.
YORK WEEKLY:
Augusta seeks consolidation relief
In an effort to make consolidation feasible for some school districts, the Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee last week voted 10-2 in favor of a Department of Education bill that removes some financial barriers under the current...
PORTLAND PHOENIX:
Everyone’s a neocon now: Looking back on state politics — and forwardIn the eight years I’ve covered the State House for the Portland Phoenix, I’ve been struck by the depressingly constant themes.
Verizon angles to keep state business: CanoodlingDemocratic governor John Baldacci had a private sit-down with Ivan Seidenberg, the president and CEO of Verizon, November 30.
Plum Creek watchdog: Press releasesThanks to a Phoenix reader, Maine residents now know something the Portland Press Herald was not telling them.
Kill the house lights: Politics and other mistakesAs we celebrate the solstice on December 21, take comfort in knowing that state officials are doing all they can to make it even darker. And, like Tax Day, more expensive.
POLITICKERME.COM:
2008 Legislative candidates
The following candidates plan to run for the Legislature in 2008.
This list is complete per Ethics Commission filings, and was last updated Dec. 19. Other candidates not listed may have mentioned intent to run in another forum.
Strimling swipes at Bush
With President Bush today signing into law today a bill requiring higher fuel efficiency standards for automobiles, Democrat Ethan Strimling, who is running for the First Congressional District, saw an opportunity to take a swipe at Bush.
Patrick to run for county commissioner
Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, will run for Oxford County Commissioner next year.
Term limits prevent him from seeking another term.
California man joins Snowe’s staff
Sen. Olympia Snowe’s new press secretary has never been to Maine, and the bitter cold and mountains of snow are a far cry from what he knew growing up.
Kurt Bardella, 24, grew up in San Diego. He started in Snowe’s office today.
“You can’t get any further apart geographically,” Bardella said.
The Influential Staffers
I’ve put together a list of 10 that rise to the top of the heap. Here are the top 5, with the next 5 to come.
Where Fools Rush In
Governor Baldacci took some time away from his Christmas shopping yesterday to announce an executive order that would “curtail” state spending immediately in a number of areas.
DOWNEAST MAGAZINE:
Best Political Slugfest
Tom Allen and Susan Collins take off the gloves.
One of the problems with politics in Maine is that they are, by and large, boring. Incumbents are rarely unseated, and the state hasn’t seen a really tough, hard-fought, outcome-in-question political race above the local level since 1996. Not coincidentally, that was the year Susan Collins defeated former governor and congressman Joseph Brennan to win her first term as a U.S. senator.
WASHINGTON POST:
Stronger Whistle-Blower Protection Passes Senate
The bill, sponsored by Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), was approved on a voice vote late Monday.
THE HILL:
GOP turning its message to healthcare
Emphasizing expanded access to healthcare could be appealing to voters in a number of states where Republicans are in tight races. According to 2006 data compiled by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, in Minnesota, where Sen. Norm Coleman (R) is running for a second term, more than 440,000 people are uninsured; in Sen. John Sununu’s (R) New Hampshire, there are 137,000 people without insurance; in Maine, Sen. Susan Collins (R) faces more than 120,000 without insurance; and in Oregon, where Gordon Smith (R) is running for a third term, more than 615,000 people are uninsured.
ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Dems Lose Defense, Foreign Policy Debate
Left on the cutting room floor this year were other bipartisan proposals, including one by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., that would have restricted the mission of U.S. troops to non-combat roles in Iraq but not set a date for troop withdrawals.
OP/ED NEWS:
Senate Challenger Laurie Dobson, MaineThe fifty-one-year-old mother of three who is running to unseat Senator Susan Collins spares no Democrat.
LAND LINE MAGAZINE:
Maine truckers consider protesting at state capitol about fuel prices
Besides truckers, Sidelinger said several state lawmakers attended the meeting, including U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-ME.
BLOGS:
Wednesday Tidbits
Maine: Jeezum Crow! Less than a week after the Kennebec Journal ran a pro-Susan-Collins letter to the editor written by a College Republican chapter Chair without identifying him as such, the same paper runs another pro-Susan-Collins letter to the editor written by a Republican state legislator again without identifying him as such! Are the Kennebec Journal's editors incredibly lazy or incredibly partisan?
CILLIZZA Well look here s what I think is Liquid
Broaden your search by using fewer words. Com i msnbc Components Art SITEWIDE Icons iSlides. Then Congress can vote on whether to give the president the rest of the war funding money. I won t be the only Republican or one of two Republicans demanding a change in our Andrea neal of troops in Iraq at that point. I think everybody knows that, I really do, Senator Susan Collins of Maine concurring, I think a lot of us feel that way. Take a look at what s going on on the ground, take a look at what goes on in the neighborhoods, because if you want to measure progress, you got to report it.
Sens. Collins/Snowe Vote Against Democrat Troop Withdrawal Amendment
What Will the Energy Bill Do to Food Prices?
Congressman Tom Allen Visits the Pirates
Portland, Maine - On Saturday, December 15 Congressman Tom Allen was a special guest at the Pirates game. Allen dropped the puck at the beginning of the game.
Don Surber on Harry Reid: "Every line he has drawn in the sand has ...
How out of touch with reality is he to describe Senators such as Chuck Hagel, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe, Gordon Smith, Susan Collins, and others as puppets? If Reid couldn't work with these Senators, then he's not capable of working ...
Editorials Nationwide Rain Scorn on Senate Farm Bill
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins sounded like a very regretful Robin Hood last week after passage of the bill:
"I am particularly disappointed that this bill does not include an amendment, that I supported, that would have capped payments to farmers at $250,000. In addition, another amendment that was defeated would have prohibited payments to individuals who earn more than $750,000 per year. These amendments would have provided assistance to farmers who truly need the help, and denied assistance to giant corporate farms and individuals who unfairly receive it.
House boosts funding for key homeland security projects
“It is important that we strike a balance between the security of our nation’s borders and the free flow of commerce and travel to and from the United States,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “The delay of this initiative is welcome news.”
Don Surber on Harry Reid: "Every line he has drawn in the sand has ...
How out of touch with reality is he to describe Senators such as Chuck Hagel, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe, Gordon Smith, Susan Collins, and others as puppets? If Reid couldn't work with these Senators, then he's not capable of working ...
Congress Approves $9.4 Million for Asbestos Abatement
At the same time that Patty Murray’s legislation to ban all asbestos in the U.S. is being whittled away (see “Who Threw the Monkey Wrench in Mrs. Murray’s Asbestos Bill?” posted 15 November), Maine senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins say they have managed to get $9.4 million included in the FY 2008 budget for the purpose of removing an asbestos-contaminated pipeline that supplied jet fuel from the Brunswick (Maine) Naval Air Station to Mitchell Field in Harpswell for forty years.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Maine News for Wednesday, December 19, 2007
PRESS HERALD:
Baldacci cuts $38 million from budget Social services take a fairly large hit as the state deals with a $95 million shortfall.
PUC to meet Thursday to discuss phone deal It's likely that final action in the Verizon-FairPoint case won't be taken until early January.
No matter the owner, waterfront land matters Phineas Sprague has had his ups and downs with City Hall, but his land commands attention.
Congress should call time-out on passport rule expansion Applying it to air travel hurt, and extending it to land and sea entry will replicate the pain.
Iraqi Kurds should be pressured to stop terror attacks on Turkey If Kurdish security forces cannot stop the incursions, they should let the Turks act.
Sen. Beth Edmonds: Top education leaders focused on progress It's one thing to conduct endless studies, and quite other to meet face-to-face.
LTE: Elect good role model in 2008
LTE: Press Secretary Perino should take history lessons
LTE: Answer to gun violence shouldn't be more guns
BANGOR DAILY:
Maine flu protection faultedWednesday, December 19, 2007WASHINGTON - Seven states have yet to participate in a federal program to buy antivirals for a potential influenza pandemic. Thirteen states, including Maine, do not have adequate plans to distribute vaccines and medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile.
Baldacci orders $38 million in cutsWednesday, December 19, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - With more money going out the door than coming in, Gov. John Baldacci on Tuesday ordered $38 million in state spending cutbacks, saying they avoid hitting Maine’s most vulnerable residents and will cause no layoffs.
$13.5M taken from DHHSWednesday, December 19, 2007BANGOR, MAINE - Gov. John Baldacci's announcement Tuesday of nearly $38 million in General Fund reductions hit a nerve among Bangor-area providers of mental and behavioral health services.
EDITORIAL: Spending ControlWednesday, December 19, 2007The emphasis in solving the state's current budget problems has been to find ways to cut ongoing costs to shrink expected future shortfalls. Gov. John Baldacci moved the state in this direction Tuesday.
OP/ED: Creating a jail plan to satisfy state, countiesSeveral years ago, Somerset County was at a critical state of affairs with its county jail. The Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) declared Somerset's jail in noncompliance with state standards and issued a clear directive for the county to pursue building a new jail or face closing the existing one.
Wednesday's letters to the Editor … Day late, dime short … Liberating Iraq … By and for the rich
KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
For Mainers living on the edge, rising heating costs are a crisis AUGUSTA -- Leona Aguilar and Larry Ohl don't know how they'll warm their tiny, three-room apartment when they run out of the 100 gallons of kerosene the Salvation Army gave them last month.
Baldacci orders spending cuts AUGUSTA -- The state is curtailing, capping or delaying a range of social services under $38 million in statewide spending cuts that Gov. John Baldacci announced Tuesday.
Reductions to take heavy toll on human services The youngest, oldest and poorest of Maine's residents will feel the brunt of cuts ordered Tuesday by the governor to offset a projected $38 million shortfall in this year's budget.
Congress OKs plan to increase fuel economy WASHINGTON (AP) -- It was in response to the early 1970s energy crisis and gasoline lines that Congress in 1975 directed automakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their cars.
On Maine Politics
Maine's Ron Paul fans get organized
EDITORIAL: BALDACCI BUDGET CUTSParing down to the core Facing a $38 million hole in the state budget this fiscal year, Gov. John Baldacci acted prudently and decisively this week and cut that amount from state spending.
GEORGE SMITH : George's Wish List: What if it all happened? What if the people of Iraq were able to secure their country so our soldiers could come home?
LTE: Clergy feels need to advocate for mentally ill Funding from the Maine state budget in support of mental health care has been eroding steadily over the past five or six years. It is obvious that the recurring budget deficits have brought about the need for significant fiscal belt tightening across the board. I am sure that the Legislature has spent many hours of deliberation about how best to make ends meet.
LTE: Creative suggestion concerning consolidation Regarding school consolidation: Why not name the new school Smernor Elementary? This would reference all three communities.
LTE: How has Taft-Hartley Act affected our borders? When I was discharged from the service in 1945, there was between 30 and 40 percent of the work force that were card-carrying unionists.
MORNING SENTINEL:
PUC will lay groundwork for Verizon-FairPoint sale State utility regulators will meet on Thursday to lay the groundwork for a decision in the proposed Verizon-FairPoint Communications sale.
LTE: Bali conference proves global warming a myth The press hasn't been reporting that international scientists are exposing man-made global warming myths at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bali.
SUN JOURNAL:
Baldacci: It's time to tighten our beltsAUGUSTA - With more money going out the door than coming in, Gov. John Baldacci on Tuesday ordered $38 million in state spending cutbacks, saying they avoid hitting Maine's most vulnerable residents and will cause no layoffs.
LTE: Revisionist historyBruce Mitchell is typical of the far left (letter, Dec. 16). Where did he get his information?LTE: Immediate obsolescenceTo add to the Dec. 13, 2007 editorial (Wishing for winter warmth from Washington), I would like to suggest a proposed revocation of the state and federal fuel taxes paid when purchasing oil.LTE: Brand me a socialistIn recent letters, members of the insurance industry and their supporters say we must pledge allegiance to the American for-profit health care system, or be branded socialists.
COURIER-GAZETTE:
Rockland creates heating assistance program
ROCKLAND — The mammoth one-two punches of record high oil prices coupled with an unseasonably cold December have prompted the city to create an emergency heating assistance program.
CAPITAL WEEKLY:
Governor orders immediate spending reductions
AUGUSTA – Gov. John E. Baldacci today issued an executive order directing state agencies to reduce the rate of spending in the current fiscal year by $38 million.
WMTW:
Collins Troubled By Saudi Rape Case
WASHINGTON -- The case of a Saudi Arabian woman who was gang-raped is drawing strong reactions from the United States -- including the White House and one of Maine's senators.
POLITICKERME.COM:
Baldacci orders spending cuts
Gov. John Baldacci has ordered the state agencies to cut a total of $38 million in the current fiscal year, as a measure to balance the budget after the recently reported $95 million revenue downturn.
FOSTER’S DAILY DEMOCRAT:
Heating aid tied to war fundsSusan Collins and Olympia Snowe said the new funds will allow Maine to receive a minimum of $25.5 million in base funding for fiscal year 2008.
DES MOINES REGISTER:
Thompson: US must 'protect our citizens'
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who worked with Thompson when he served as chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, said she never saw him unprepared for hearings that often required hours of poring through documents and witness interviews.
"He always had a detailed grasp of the facts and was impressive," Collins said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Dems Lose Defense, Foreign Policy Debate
Left on the cutting room floor were other bipartisan proposals, including one by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., that would have restricted the mission of U.S. troops to non-combat roles in Iraq but not set a date for troop withdrawals.
BLOGS:
Baldacci Issues Executive Order Curtailing State Spending $38M
“I have a Constitutional duty to balance the budget,” Baldacci said.
Rep. Josh Tardy Commends Governor for ‘Judicious’ Spending Cuts
Wal-Mart Donates $10K to Operation Community Support
"This is a great organization that works to bring happiness to the families of Maine's military men and women. What better time of year to thank those serving our Country," said Philip Serghini, Senior Manager of Wal-Mart Public Affairs.
Christmas Cards for Wounded Troops c/o Red Cross
It seems the USPS no longer forwards cards to "Any Wounded Soldier," etc. due to ongoing anthrax fears. The Red Cross has stepped in.
Butch Moore: Where is SAM Heading?
Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine v traditional anglers in the state. This past legislative session provided more fodder for this debate with a barrage of anti-traditional angler legislation presented by SAM’s Fishing Initiative Committee (SAM-FIC).
SKF: When Politicians Say, "I Intend to," They're Really Saying...
When a politician tells me they intend to do something I hear them saying, "I'm not going to commit to what I'm telling you.”
Generational Fight of Century Looms as Taxpayers Revolt
The main event's coming much sooner than expected. A bruising taxpayers' revolt between arch-enemies older and younger America. Destined to emerge as an ugly war.
Michaud/Allen Vote No New Money for Iraq War
KJ Misses ID'ing State Rep Endorsement of Collins
This letter is from a Maine State Representative endorsing Sen. Collins for the U.S. Senate. You’d never know the letter writer is the House District 55 legislator representing Albion, Benton (part) and China, plus the unorganized territory of Unity Township. Why not?
Open Thread
Happy Holidays!
Gov. John Baldacci has ordered state agencies to cut spending by $38 million in the current fiscal year as the first step in grappling with a $95 million shortfall in the $6.3 billion two-year budget.
Collins and Astroturf
Collins Watch points to a second incident in the past week in which the Kennebec Journal has run a letter to the editor in support of Susan Collins in which the letter writer is not identified as a state Republican Party official. From today's edition you find this letter by David Cotta, who happens to represent District 55. (You may recall that last Saturday the chair of the Maine College Republicans at UMF, Keith Mahoney, had his own LTE published.)
Why Maine (and other late states) should back Chris Dodd
Let's face it, folks. Right now, Maine is looking fairly irrelevant in the nomination process. We're all going to go to caucus and look pretty, and get elected to the Convention, and have a fun few days.
Joe: Then and Now
Joe Lieberman just one year ago:
Lieberman: "I want Democrats to be back in the majority in Washington and elect a Democratic president in 2008. This man [Ned Lamont] and his supporters will frustrate and defeat our hopes of doing that."
Joe Lieberman yesterday:
"I know that it is unusual for someone who is not a Republican to endorse a Republican candidate for President. And if this were an ordinary time and an ordinary election, I probably would not be here today. But this is no ordinary time -- and this is no ordinary election -- and John McCain is no ordinary candidate."
And Joe is actively fundraising for Susan Collins. The people of Connecticut made a mistake when they re-elected Lieberman. Maine, and our nation, cannot afford to make the same mistake with Collins.
Stop Foreclosures! By Maine US Senate Candidate Dobson
Stop ForeclosuresMAINE SENATE CANDIDATE LAURIE DOBSON CALLS FOR CONGRESS TO START SOLVING THE MORTGAGE CRISIS: STOP ALL FORECLOSURES NOW!
Mike Michaud
The Constitution gives Tom Allen, Mike Michaud and Congress the tool of impeachment to address the problem that a majority of Americans now recognize. This impeachment tool is designed to keep our rulers’ power in check — to prevent .
Senate passes $555-billion spending bill
Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), set a goal of completing the transition by the end of 2008. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), who has not previously voted for legislation challenging the president’s war strategy, ...
Whither the Senate?
Maine - Susan Collins (R) is a dying breed in the Senate, a moderate Republican. She is facing off against Maine's lone Congressman and could get knocked off. Still rated as a toss-up.
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 ...
What Liberal/Progressive Columnist Should My Local Paper Carry?
So my question to you is:. Who should I suggest? Please provide links if possible. I appreciate your help! (The irony is that my hometown paper, the Rockland Courier-Gazette, blasts Bush/Cheney and Susan Collins every few weeks.)
Pro-R Google Ads on DailyKos
Senator Susan Collins Learn more about Susan Collins' bipartisan record of accomplishment. And of course, people at DK aren't into re-electing vulnerable Republicans to the Senate, are they? Yeah, there are the good ads, ...
Dr. J.'s 'He Really Said That': Joe Lieberman "I endorse McCain ...
As noted on BuzzFlash yesterday, Joe Lieberman has endorsed John McCain for the presidency. "Oh gosh," one might say, "there he goes again, right off the reservation." But just which reservation might that be? If this fundraiser for Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in her campaign against a viable Democratic candidate wants to be part of any Presidential campaign with any kind of a chance, he really had no other choices. Consider.
Baldacci cuts $38 million from budget Social services take a fairly large hit as the state deals with a $95 million shortfall.
PUC to meet Thursday to discuss phone deal It's likely that final action in the Verizon-FairPoint case won't be taken until early January.
No matter the owner, waterfront land matters Phineas Sprague has had his ups and downs with City Hall, but his land commands attention.
Congress should call time-out on passport rule expansion Applying it to air travel hurt, and extending it to land and sea entry will replicate the pain.
Iraqi Kurds should be pressured to stop terror attacks on Turkey If Kurdish security forces cannot stop the incursions, they should let the Turks act.
Sen. Beth Edmonds: Top education leaders focused on progress It's one thing to conduct endless studies, and quite other to meet face-to-face.
LTE: Elect good role model in 2008
LTE: Press Secretary Perino should take history lessons
LTE: Answer to gun violence shouldn't be more guns
BANGOR DAILY:
Maine flu protection faultedWednesday, December 19, 2007WASHINGTON - Seven states have yet to participate in a federal program to buy antivirals for a potential influenza pandemic. Thirteen states, including Maine, do not have adequate plans to distribute vaccines and medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile.
Baldacci orders $38 million in cutsWednesday, December 19, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - With more money going out the door than coming in, Gov. John Baldacci on Tuesday ordered $38 million in state spending cutbacks, saying they avoid hitting Maine’s most vulnerable residents and will cause no layoffs.
$13.5M taken from DHHSWednesday, December 19, 2007BANGOR, MAINE - Gov. John Baldacci's announcement Tuesday of nearly $38 million in General Fund reductions hit a nerve among Bangor-area providers of mental and behavioral health services.
EDITORIAL: Spending ControlWednesday, December 19, 2007The emphasis in solving the state's current budget problems has been to find ways to cut ongoing costs to shrink expected future shortfalls. Gov. John Baldacci moved the state in this direction Tuesday.
OP/ED: Creating a jail plan to satisfy state, countiesSeveral years ago, Somerset County was at a critical state of affairs with its county jail. The Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) declared Somerset's jail in noncompliance with state standards and issued a clear directive for the county to pursue building a new jail or face closing the existing one.
Wednesday's letters to the Editor … Day late, dime short … Liberating Iraq … By and for the rich
KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
For Mainers living on the edge, rising heating costs are a crisis AUGUSTA -- Leona Aguilar and Larry Ohl don't know how they'll warm their tiny, three-room apartment when they run out of the 100 gallons of kerosene the Salvation Army gave them last month.
Baldacci orders spending cuts AUGUSTA -- The state is curtailing, capping or delaying a range of social services under $38 million in statewide spending cuts that Gov. John Baldacci announced Tuesday.
Reductions to take heavy toll on human services The youngest, oldest and poorest of Maine's residents will feel the brunt of cuts ordered Tuesday by the governor to offset a projected $38 million shortfall in this year's budget.
Congress OKs plan to increase fuel economy WASHINGTON (AP) -- It was in response to the early 1970s energy crisis and gasoline lines that Congress in 1975 directed automakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their cars.
On Maine Politics
Maine's Ron Paul fans get organized
EDITORIAL: BALDACCI BUDGET CUTSParing down to the core Facing a $38 million hole in the state budget this fiscal year, Gov. John Baldacci acted prudently and decisively this week and cut that amount from state spending.
GEORGE SMITH : George's Wish List: What if it all happened? What if the people of Iraq were able to secure their country so our soldiers could come home?
LTE: Clergy feels need to advocate for mentally ill Funding from the Maine state budget in support of mental health care has been eroding steadily over the past five or six years. It is obvious that the recurring budget deficits have brought about the need for significant fiscal belt tightening across the board. I am sure that the Legislature has spent many hours of deliberation about how best to make ends meet.
LTE: Creative suggestion concerning consolidation Regarding school consolidation: Why not name the new school Smernor Elementary? This would reference all three communities.
LTE: How has Taft-Hartley Act affected our borders? When I was discharged from the service in 1945, there was between 30 and 40 percent of the work force that were card-carrying unionists.
MORNING SENTINEL:
PUC will lay groundwork for Verizon-FairPoint sale State utility regulators will meet on Thursday to lay the groundwork for a decision in the proposed Verizon-FairPoint Communications sale.
LTE: Bali conference proves global warming a myth The press hasn't been reporting that international scientists are exposing man-made global warming myths at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bali.
SUN JOURNAL:
Baldacci: It's time to tighten our beltsAUGUSTA - With more money going out the door than coming in, Gov. John Baldacci on Tuesday ordered $38 million in state spending cutbacks, saying they avoid hitting Maine's most vulnerable residents and will cause no layoffs.
LTE: Revisionist historyBruce Mitchell is typical of the far left (letter, Dec. 16). Where did he get his information?LTE: Immediate obsolescenceTo add to the Dec. 13, 2007 editorial (Wishing for winter warmth from Washington), I would like to suggest a proposed revocation of the state and federal fuel taxes paid when purchasing oil.LTE: Brand me a socialistIn recent letters, members of the insurance industry and their supporters say we must pledge allegiance to the American for-profit health care system, or be branded socialists.
COURIER-GAZETTE:
Rockland creates heating assistance program
ROCKLAND — The mammoth one-two punches of record high oil prices coupled with an unseasonably cold December have prompted the city to create an emergency heating assistance program.
CAPITAL WEEKLY:
Governor orders immediate spending reductions
AUGUSTA – Gov. John E. Baldacci today issued an executive order directing state agencies to reduce the rate of spending in the current fiscal year by $38 million.
WMTW:
Collins Troubled By Saudi Rape Case
WASHINGTON -- The case of a Saudi Arabian woman who was gang-raped is drawing strong reactions from the United States -- including the White House and one of Maine's senators.
POLITICKERME.COM:
Baldacci orders spending cuts
Gov. John Baldacci has ordered the state agencies to cut a total of $38 million in the current fiscal year, as a measure to balance the budget after the recently reported $95 million revenue downturn.
FOSTER’S DAILY DEMOCRAT:
Heating aid tied to war fundsSusan Collins and Olympia Snowe said the new funds will allow Maine to receive a minimum of $25.5 million in base funding for fiscal year 2008.
DES MOINES REGISTER:
Thompson: US must 'protect our citizens'
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who worked with Thompson when he served as chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, said she never saw him unprepared for hearings that often required hours of poring through documents and witness interviews.
"He always had a detailed grasp of the facts and was impressive," Collins said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Dems Lose Defense, Foreign Policy Debate
Left on the cutting room floor were other bipartisan proposals, including one by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., that would have restricted the mission of U.S. troops to non-combat roles in Iraq but not set a date for troop withdrawals.
BLOGS:
Baldacci Issues Executive Order Curtailing State Spending $38M
“I have a Constitutional duty to balance the budget,” Baldacci said.
Rep. Josh Tardy Commends Governor for ‘Judicious’ Spending Cuts
Wal-Mart Donates $10K to Operation Community Support
"This is a great organization that works to bring happiness to the families of Maine's military men and women. What better time of year to thank those serving our Country," said Philip Serghini, Senior Manager of Wal-Mart Public Affairs.
Christmas Cards for Wounded Troops c/o Red Cross
It seems the USPS no longer forwards cards to "Any Wounded Soldier," etc. due to ongoing anthrax fears. The Red Cross has stepped in.
Butch Moore: Where is SAM Heading?
Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine v traditional anglers in the state. This past legislative session provided more fodder for this debate with a barrage of anti-traditional angler legislation presented by SAM’s Fishing Initiative Committee (SAM-FIC).
SKF: When Politicians Say, "I Intend to," They're Really Saying...
When a politician tells me they intend to do something I hear them saying, "I'm not going to commit to what I'm telling you.”
Generational Fight of Century Looms as Taxpayers Revolt
The main event's coming much sooner than expected. A bruising taxpayers' revolt between arch-enemies older and younger America. Destined to emerge as an ugly war.
Michaud/Allen Vote No New Money for Iraq War
KJ Misses ID'ing State Rep Endorsement of Collins
This letter is from a Maine State Representative endorsing Sen. Collins for the U.S. Senate. You’d never know the letter writer is the House District 55 legislator representing Albion, Benton (part) and China, plus the unorganized territory of Unity Township. Why not?
Open Thread
Happy Holidays!
Gov. John Baldacci has ordered state agencies to cut spending by $38 million in the current fiscal year as the first step in grappling with a $95 million shortfall in the $6.3 billion two-year budget.
Collins and Astroturf
Collins Watch points to a second incident in the past week in which the Kennebec Journal has run a letter to the editor in support of Susan Collins in which the letter writer is not identified as a state Republican Party official. From today's edition you find this letter by David Cotta, who happens to represent District 55. (You may recall that last Saturday the chair of the Maine College Republicans at UMF, Keith Mahoney, had his own LTE published.)
Why Maine (and other late states) should back Chris Dodd
Let's face it, folks. Right now, Maine is looking fairly irrelevant in the nomination process. We're all going to go to caucus and look pretty, and get elected to the Convention, and have a fun few days.
Joe: Then and Now
Joe Lieberman just one year ago:
Lieberman: "I want Democrats to be back in the majority in Washington and elect a Democratic president in 2008. This man [Ned Lamont] and his supporters will frustrate and defeat our hopes of doing that."
Joe Lieberman yesterday:
"I know that it is unusual for someone who is not a Republican to endorse a Republican candidate for President. And if this were an ordinary time and an ordinary election, I probably would not be here today. But this is no ordinary time -- and this is no ordinary election -- and John McCain is no ordinary candidate."
And Joe is actively fundraising for Susan Collins. The people of Connecticut made a mistake when they re-elected Lieberman. Maine, and our nation, cannot afford to make the same mistake with Collins.
Stop Foreclosures! By Maine US Senate Candidate Dobson
Stop ForeclosuresMAINE SENATE CANDIDATE LAURIE DOBSON CALLS FOR CONGRESS TO START SOLVING THE MORTGAGE CRISIS: STOP ALL FORECLOSURES NOW!
Mike Michaud
The Constitution gives Tom Allen, Mike Michaud and Congress the tool of impeachment to address the problem that a majority of Americans now recognize. This impeachment tool is designed to keep our rulers’ power in check — to prevent .
Senate passes $555-billion spending bill
Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), set a goal of completing the transition by the end of 2008. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), who has not previously voted for legislation challenging the president’s war strategy, ...
Whither the Senate?
Maine - Susan Collins (R) is a dying breed in the Senate, a moderate Republican. She is facing off against Maine's lone Congressman and could get knocked off. Still rated as a toss-up.
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 ...
What Liberal/Progressive Columnist Should My Local Paper Carry?
So my question to you is:. Who should I suggest? Please provide links if possible. I appreciate your help! (The irony is that my hometown paper, the Rockland Courier-Gazette, blasts Bush/Cheney and Susan Collins every few weeks.)
Pro-R Google Ads on DailyKos
Senator Susan Collins Learn more about Susan Collins' bipartisan record of accomplishment. And of course, people at DK aren't into re-electing vulnerable Republicans to the Senate, are they? Yeah, there are the good ads, ...
Dr. J.'s 'He Really Said That': Joe Lieberman "I endorse McCain ...
As noted on BuzzFlash yesterday, Joe Lieberman has endorsed John McCain for the presidency. "Oh gosh," one might say, "there he goes again, right off the reservation." But just which reservation might that be? If this fundraiser for Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in her campaign against a viable Democratic candidate wants to be part of any Presidential campaign with any kind of a chance, he really had no other choices. Consider.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Maine News for Tuesday, December 18, 2007
PRESS HERALD:
Congress works on help with heating If the spending bill passes, low-income Mainers could be getting millions to help them pay for heating fuel.
Baldacci targets toxic chemicals Recommendations from the governor's task force will be included in his 2008 legislative package.
County officials want a new jail authority The proposal is a response to the governor's plan for the state to take over jails.
EDITORIAL: Farm Bill enriches those who don't need help Sensible caps on aid didn't make it into this budget-busting, $286 billion monstrosity.
EDITORIAL: Augusta can't put too many limits on marching for a cause Charging thousands for a parade permit makes free speech unaffordable.
EDITORIAL: Easier access to pills wrong way to combat heart disease Experts at the FDA wisely advise against making a statin available over-the-counter.
A. Robert Casimiro: Control immigration to control growth While transformation here is slower than in other locations, it's still happening too quickly.
LTE: Consolidation a political shell game
LTE: Remember soldiers killed in Iraq, Afghanistan
LTE: Congress should respond to public, act on impeachment
LTE: Animal abusers should face harsher punishment
LTE: Develop nuclear sources as energy alternatives
BANGOR DAILY:
Indian Island: Penobscot Nation receives $35000 development grant
INDIAN ISLAND, Maine — The Penobscot Indian Nation has received more than $35,000 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.
Fallen soldier to be buried in HoultonTuesday, December 18, 2007HOULTON, Maine - A 38-year-old Houlton native and decorated career soldier who was killed in Iraq on Friday will be laid to rest in a Houlton cemetery Saturday.
Chemical panel hands in reportTuesday, December 18, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. John Baldacci said Monday he would incorporate into his 2008 legislative package some of the recommendations of a task force on reducing toxic chemicals in consumer products.
Panel says state faces more red inkTuesday, December 18, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - The state revenue forecasting committee is warning there could be more red ink in the months ahead. Meanwhile, members of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee say revenues are only part of the budget problem facing the state. Another is increased costs.
EDITORIAL: Mileage milestoneTuesday, December 18, 2007What a difference two years - and $3 per gallon gasoline - make. In 2005, when gasoline cost an average of $2.27 a gallon, the Senate rejected an increase in vehicle gas mileage standards by a vote of 67-28. Last week, it approved a 10-mile-per-gallon boost by an overwhelming 86-8.
Editorial: Invest in 'quality of place'Tuesday, December 18, 2007A report issued this month by the Governor's Council on Maine's Quality of Place confirms what most already knew: Maine is not Anywhere, U.S.A.
Tuesday's Letters to the Editor … Project a net loss … Suspicious spending … Who cares? … Sex abuse in military
KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
The proud, the few AUGUSTA -- A bunch of old Marines could use some help breathing life back into a service organization with a declining membership.
Jail plan bill eyes savingsCounty officials proposing authority with oversight AUGUSTA -- County sheriffs and commissioners want to create a jail authority to oversee local and regional jails as part of a two-step response to the governor's call for a state takeover of county jails.
Governor receives final report on toxic chemicals More than a dozen Maine environmental and business officials said Monday they will continue to work with the federal government to promote the purchase and use of nontoxic chemicals.
Congress pushing to boost heat aid WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democrats have added $409 million to a program to help the poor pay for heating oil as part of a massive spending bill that Congress is expected to pass this week to keep the government running.
No fanfare with Clinton endorsement
As endorsement announcements go, this was a low-key affair.
At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign sent out a press release announcing that Gov. John Baldacci would support her bid for president.
EDITORIAL: Farm Bill:One step forward, two steps back Where can you find Republicans sounding like Socialists, farmers from Zip Code 90210 getting million dollar taxpayer subsidies and talk of poor people who are supposed to get by on a little more than a dollar a meal in food stamps?
LTE: Dec. 20, rotary vigil for peace and war dead As we approach the fifth Christmas season at war in Iraq, we are quickly nearing 4,000 dead American men and woman. We also have close to 30,000 casualties. If you multiply these numbers by many family members per soldier, then you have many thousands of victims of this terrible war.
LTE: Go back to your 'idyllic life' and leave us alone Concerning Lynda Martin's letter of Dec. 4, stating she was starving since she moved back to Maine because of "family" and that the state of Maine was going under back in 1987 and she moved out.
LTE: Collins is an independent choice for U.S. Senate The 2008 election comes at a critical time in the history of the United States and the world. I strongly endorse Susan Collins for U.S. Senate because I believe she is the candidate best able to address the profound challenges we face as a country. I trust her integrity and independent voice, moving outside the partisan politics of the current Congress.
MORNING SENTINEL:
LTE: Prohibition didn't work then and won't work now In response to the call for a second shot at prohibition (pun intended) I want to remind letter writer Jeffrey Green (Dec. 12) of the reasons why prohibition was repealed.
LTE: Here's one answer to immigration problems Well Mainers are finally starting to understand what our crazy governor did years ago.
SUN JOURNAL:
Baldacci receives report on toxinsAUGUSTA (AP) - Gov. John Baldacci said Monday he will incorporate into his 2008 legislative package some of the recommendations of a task force on reducing toxic chemicals in consumer products.Maine may get more heating aidAUGUSTA (AP) - A $500 billion catchall spending bill that was near final approval in Congress includes hundreds of millions more in home heating assistance, which would come as a relief to Mainers who depend on the federal program to keep their homes warm.Heating oil price up 4 cents a gallonAUGUSTA (AP) - After a one-week reprieve, heating oil prices have gone up again in Maine.
LTE: Waiting for oilI have noted the many articles about the Low Income Home Energy Program (LIHEAP), but I have not seen any articles about how many people are very cold because they haven't received any funds to date.
TIMES RECORD:
OP/ED: Posting Commandments in schools won't make this a Christian nation...(full story)
BAR HARBOR TIMES:
Consolidation plan rejected
BAR HARBOR — Mount Desert Island’s school Reorganization Planning Committee received written notice this weekend from Commissioner Susan Gendron that the Department of Education is not approving the local reorganization plan.
MPBN:
Changes Proposed for School Consolidation Law A legislative committee has proposed changes to the state's school consolidation law in an effort to remove some of the perceived financial barriers to communities as they form new school districts. The governor hopes to achieve long-term administrative savings by merging the state's existing 290 school districts into 80 districts. As A.J. Higgins reports, key changes include delaying the local referendum requirement on school budgets until 2009 and addressing cost shifts that could arise among some communities through local cost-sharing agreements.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217schools.asx
Congressman Allen Says No-Child Law Needs Reform Maine First District Congressman Tom Allen is taking aim at President Bush's signature education initiative, No Child Left Behind. Barbara Cariddi reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217allen.asx
Task Force Says Maine Needs Chemical Safety System A state task force has concluded that the federal safety system for chemicals in commerce is badly broken and too many hazardous chemicals are still on the market. As a result the Governor's Task Force to Promote Safer Chemicals in Consumer Products is recommending that Maine establish its own comprehensive policy requiring safer alternatives. Keith McKeen reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217chemicals.asx
Federal Farm Bill Offers Good News and Bad News for Maine Farmers The Senate on Friday passed a nearly $300 billion dollar farm bill covering spending for items ranging from food stamps to manure management to crop subsidies. Maine’s Senators split their votes on the legislation, and as Murray Carpenter reports, the two have very different views about what the bill does and does not do for Maine farmers.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217farms.asx
Truckers Continue to Face Diesel Woes Truckers, loggers and others concerned about the skyrocketing cost of diesel fuel held the third in a series of meetings in Skowhegan over the weekend. The Coalition to Lower Fuel Prices is searching for ways to prevent the forest products industry, truckers and customers who rely on home heating oil from going out of business or going cold this winter. As Susan Sharon reports the prices are already beginning to imperil business owners.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217truckers.asx
WCSH:
Maine Could Get More Heating Assistance Under Budget BillUS Senator Susan Collins says Maine's likely to get between $10 million and $20 million more, but she's confident the state will get a significant increase.
WMTW:
Maine Could Get More Heating Assistance Under Budget BillUS Sen. Susan Collins said Maine's likely to get between $10 million and $20 million more, but she's confident the state will get a significant increase.
POLITICKERME.COM:
Lewiston Mayor to seek House seat
Lewiston Mayor Laurent Gilbert Sr. will run for the Maine House of Representatives in 2008.
Strimling blasts Scontras again, this time in the blogosphere
The debate over illegal immigration remains heated between First Congressional District candidates Ethan Strimling, a Democrat, and Dean Scontras, a Republican.
Collins takes on Saudi laws
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is pushing judicial reform and action to address the issue of violence against women in Saudi Arabia.
Baldacci endorses Clinton
Gov. John Baldacci has officially endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
Maine could get more heating assistance under budget bill
AUGUSTA, Maine - A $500 billion catchall spending bill that was near final approval in Congress includes hundreds of millions more in home heating assistance, which would come as a relief to Mainers who depend on the federal program to keep their homes warm.
GOVEXEC.COM:
Slip-Sliding Away
But retirements aren't the GOP's only Senate problem. New Hampshire's John Sununu is very vulnerable. And incumbents Susan Collins of Maine and Norm Coleman of Minnesota will face stiff challenges in fairly blue states.
THE TRUCKER:
Truckers bemoan high fuel costs
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is participating in U.S. Senate hearings examining the impact of energy market speculation on prices. On Thursday senators passed legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, to close the "Enron loophole" by tightening energy market investment oversight. In development for about two years, the measure now must pass the House.
CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY:
Both Parties Recruiting War Vets As Candidates
One of them, Maine Republican Charlie Summers, is in the midst of a one-year deployment to Iraq as a Navy Reserve lieutenant commander. … The House contest in Maine’s 1st District stands out because two candidates with Iraq War experience are vying for the Democratic and Republican nominations.
… In addition to Republican Summers, whose wife Ruth is running his campaign while he serves in Iraq, Adam Cote, a veteran of Iraq and Bosnia is one of a pack of five anti-war candidates scrambling to win the Democratic nomination.
BLOGS:
[MoveOn] Call Sens. Snowe and Collins: No immunity for illegal spying
Progressive Senators Chris Dodd and Russ Feingold are pledging to block any legislation that includes "telecom immunity." 2 And presidential candidates Joe Biden and Barack Obama have said they'll support a filibuster.3
It is critical that other senators support Senators Dodd and Feingold . Can you call Sens. Snowe and Collins today and tell them to join progressives in the Senate in blocking any bill that includes immunity for lawbreaking phone companies? Tell them voters want accountability and oversight—not immunity.
2005 Tax Numbers Released: The Rich Got Soaked
The richest 1% paid about 39% of all income taxes. The richest 5% paid just less than 60%. The richest 10% paid 70%.
Dems Surrender 80% Final Spending Plans
The giant federal spending bill will dominate the political stage in closing days. Every corner of government is affected by the package.
Bali Aims To Share Weight Of Emissions Cuts
The agreement calls on developing nations to take "actions" to mitigate climate change in a "measurable, reportable, verifiable" manner.
The Council for a Livable World is supporting Tom Allen…
Well, of course The Council for a Livable World is supporting Maine’s great Congressman! When you stand Tom Allen’s record next to Sen. Susan Collins’ record, you find that Suzie-Q is a warmonger who loves war, loves big ole weapons of mass destruction, and who has gone out of her way to make sure George Bush and his Band of Warmongering Liars get what they want when it comes to killing people needlessly.
Bush: Can You Hear Me Now? No? Good!
President George W. Bush’s demand for immunity for telephone companies that participated in his warrantless (read: illegal/unconstitutional) domestic spying program won an initial victory on Monday in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 76-10. Voting in favor of more government surveillance and less accountability were Maine’s senators Collins and Snowe.
Candidate questions
Update: I'm shooting these questions off tomorrow night to the campaigns, so this is your last chance to get your question answered by one of the many great candidates for the CD-1 seat currently held by Tom Allen.
It's time to stop talking and complaining. It's time for action.
I am tired. So tired. I usually use an editor for my diaries because of my head injury and poor organization, grammar, repeating myself and essays that are generally too long. Those take me 10 hours or more and then an editor.
Allen Video Up and Running
The Council for a Livable World recently published a video of Allen on their website. Check it out here: http://www.clw.org/elections/2... Feel free to repost! You can find the embed link on You Tube.
Open Thread
Sen. Chris Dodd is now on the Senate Floor filibustering a cloture vote that would bring the new FISA bill up for a vote. This bill would grant retroactive immunity to the telecom industry that illegally gave personal information to the Fed without a warrant being issued.
The Kennebek County Dem's were on this last October, as Eddie made clear in this diary:
Council for a Livable World endorses Tom Allen
Tom Allen is campaigning to unseat Maine's junior senator, Susan Collins, and last week received the endorsement from the Council for a Livable World:. Rep. Allen has opposed the Iraq war in both word and deed.
LIHEAP Recipient Describes Importance of Support
AUGUSTA-- Lawmakers and Community Action Agency officials were calling on President Bush and Congress to increase funds for heating assistance for Maine people this winter in advance of expected votes in Washington, DC, in the coming week.
Lieberman Endorses McCain
Don't ever forget that Joe Lieberman is the man who stabs his former party (the Democrats) in the back every chance he gets, hes the man who supports and endorsed Susan Collins for Senate, he's the man who STILL wants to attack/invade ...
Congress works on help with heating If the spending bill passes, low-income Mainers could be getting millions to help them pay for heating fuel.
Baldacci targets toxic chemicals Recommendations from the governor's task force will be included in his 2008 legislative package.
County officials want a new jail authority The proposal is a response to the governor's plan for the state to take over jails.
EDITORIAL: Farm Bill enriches those who don't need help Sensible caps on aid didn't make it into this budget-busting, $286 billion monstrosity.
EDITORIAL: Augusta can't put too many limits on marching for a cause Charging thousands for a parade permit makes free speech unaffordable.
EDITORIAL: Easier access to pills wrong way to combat heart disease Experts at the FDA wisely advise against making a statin available over-the-counter.
A. Robert Casimiro: Control immigration to control growth While transformation here is slower than in other locations, it's still happening too quickly.
LTE: Consolidation a political shell game
LTE: Remember soldiers killed in Iraq, Afghanistan
LTE: Congress should respond to public, act on impeachment
LTE: Animal abusers should face harsher punishment
LTE: Develop nuclear sources as energy alternatives
BANGOR DAILY:
Indian Island: Penobscot Nation receives $35000 development grant
INDIAN ISLAND, Maine — The Penobscot Indian Nation has received more than $35,000 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.
Fallen soldier to be buried in HoultonTuesday, December 18, 2007HOULTON, Maine - A 38-year-old Houlton native and decorated career soldier who was killed in Iraq on Friday will be laid to rest in a Houlton cemetery Saturday.
Chemical panel hands in reportTuesday, December 18, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. John Baldacci said Monday he would incorporate into his 2008 legislative package some of the recommendations of a task force on reducing toxic chemicals in consumer products.
Panel says state faces more red inkTuesday, December 18, 2007AUGUSTA, Maine - The state revenue forecasting committee is warning there could be more red ink in the months ahead. Meanwhile, members of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee say revenues are only part of the budget problem facing the state. Another is increased costs.
EDITORIAL: Mileage milestoneTuesday, December 18, 2007What a difference two years - and $3 per gallon gasoline - make. In 2005, when gasoline cost an average of $2.27 a gallon, the Senate rejected an increase in vehicle gas mileage standards by a vote of 67-28. Last week, it approved a 10-mile-per-gallon boost by an overwhelming 86-8.
Editorial: Invest in 'quality of place'Tuesday, December 18, 2007A report issued this month by the Governor's Council on Maine's Quality of Place confirms what most already knew: Maine is not Anywhere, U.S.A.
Tuesday's Letters to the Editor … Project a net loss … Suspicious spending … Who cares? … Sex abuse in military
KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
The proud, the few AUGUSTA -- A bunch of old Marines could use some help breathing life back into a service organization with a declining membership.
Jail plan bill eyes savingsCounty officials proposing authority with oversight AUGUSTA -- County sheriffs and commissioners want to create a jail authority to oversee local and regional jails as part of a two-step response to the governor's call for a state takeover of county jails.
Governor receives final report on toxic chemicals More than a dozen Maine environmental and business officials said Monday they will continue to work with the federal government to promote the purchase and use of nontoxic chemicals.
Congress pushing to boost heat aid WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democrats have added $409 million to a program to help the poor pay for heating oil as part of a massive spending bill that Congress is expected to pass this week to keep the government running.
No fanfare with Clinton endorsement
As endorsement announcements go, this was a low-key affair.
At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign sent out a press release announcing that Gov. John Baldacci would support her bid for president.
EDITORIAL: Farm Bill:One step forward, two steps back Where can you find Republicans sounding like Socialists, farmers from Zip Code 90210 getting million dollar taxpayer subsidies and talk of poor people who are supposed to get by on a little more than a dollar a meal in food stamps?
LTE: Dec. 20, rotary vigil for peace and war dead As we approach the fifth Christmas season at war in Iraq, we are quickly nearing 4,000 dead American men and woman. We also have close to 30,000 casualties. If you multiply these numbers by many family members per soldier, then you have many thousands of victims of this terrible war.
LTE: Go back to your 'idyllic life' and leave us alone Concerning Lynda Martin's letter of Dec. 4, stating she was starving since she moved back to Maine because of "family" and that the state of Maine was going under back in 1987 and she moved out.
LTE: Collins is an independent choice for U.S. Senate The 2008 election comes at a critical time in the history of the United States and the world. I strongly endorse Susan Collins for U.S. Senate because I believe she is the candidate best able to address the profound challenges we face as a country. I trust her integrity and independent voice, moving outside the partisan politics of the current Congress.
MORNING SENTINEL:
LTE: Prohibition didn't work then and won't work now In response to the call for a second shot at prohibition (pun intended) I want to remind letter writer Jeffrey Green (Dec. 12) of the reasons why prohibition was repealed.
LTE: Here's one answer to immigration problems Well Mainers are finally starting to understand what our crazy governor did years ago.
SUN JOURNAL:
Baldacci receives report on toxinsAUGUSTA (AP) - Gov. John Baldacci said Monday he will incorporate into his 2008 legislative package some of the recommendations of a task force on reducing toxic chemicals in consumer products.Maine may get more heating aidAUGUSTA (AP) - A $500 billion catchall spending bill that was near final approval in Congress includes hundreds of millions more in home heating assistance, which would come as a relief to Mainers who depend on the federal program to keep their homes warm.Heating oil price up 4 cents a gallonAUGUSTA (AP) - After a one-week reprieve, heating oil prices have gone up again in Maine.
LTE: Waiting for oilI have noted the many articles about the Low Income Home Energy Program (LIHEAP), but I have not seen any articles about how many people are very cold because they haven't received any funds to date.
TIMES RECORD:
OP/ED: Posting Commandments in schools won't make this a Christian nation...(full story)
BAR HARBOR TIMES:
Consolidation plan rejected
BAR HARBOR — Mount Desert Island’s school Reorganization Planning Committee received written notice this weekend from Commissioner Susan Gendron that the Department of Education is not approving the local reorganization plan.
MPBN:
Changes Proposed for School Consolidation Law A legislative committee has proposed changes to the state's school consolidation law in an effort to remove some of the perceived financial barriers to communities as they form new school districts. The governor hopes to achieve long-term administrative savings by merging the state's existing 290 school districts into 80 districts. As A.J. Higgins reports, key changes include delaying the local referendum requirement on school budgets until 2009 and addressing cost shifts that could arise among some communities through local cost-sharing agreements.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217schools.asx
Congressman Allen Says No-Child Law Needs Reform Maine First District Congressman Tom Allen is taking aim at President Bush's signature education initiative, No Child Left Behind. Barbara Cariddi reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217allen.asx
Task Force Says Maine Needs Chemical Safety System A state task force has concluded that the federal safety system for chemicals in commerce is badly broken and too many hazardous chemicals are still on the market. As a result the Governor's Task Force to Promote Safer Chemicals in Consumer Products is recommending that Maine establish its own comprehensive policy requiring safer alternatives. Keith McKeen reports.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217chemicals.asx
Federal Farm Bill Offers Good News and Bad News for Maine Farmers The Senate on Friday passed a nearly $300 billion dollar farm bill covering spending for items ranging from food stamps to manure management to crop subsidies. Maine’s Senators split their votes on the legislation, and as Murray Carpenter reports, the two have very different views about what the bill does and does not do for Maine farmers.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217farms.asx
Truckers Continue to Face Diesel Woes Truckers, loggers and others concerned about the skyrocketing cost of diesel fuel held the third in a series of meetings in Skowhegan over the weekend. The Coalition to Lower Fuel Prices is searching for ways to prevent the forest products industry, truckers and customers who rely on home heating oil from going out of business or going cold this winter. As Susan Sharon reports the prices are already beginning to imperil business owners.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/071217truckers.asx
WCSH:
Maine Could Get More Heating Assistance Under Budget BillUS Senator Susan Collins says Maine's likely to get between $10 million and $20 million more, but she's confident the state will get a significant increase.
WMTW:
Maine Could Get More Heating Assistance Under Budget BillUS Sen. Susan Collins said Maine's likely to get between $10 million and $20 million more, but she's confident the state will get a significant increase.
POLITICKERME.COM:
Lewiston Mayor to seek House seat
Lewiston Mayor Laurent Gilbert Sr. will run for the Maine House of Representatives in 2008.
Strimling blasts Scontras again, this time in the blogosphere
The debate over illegal immigration remains heated between First Congressional District candidates Ethan Strimling, a Democrat, and Dean Scontras, a Republican.
Collins takes on Saudi laws
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is pushing judicial reform and action to address the issue of violence against women in Saudi Arabia.
Baldacci endorses Clinton
Gov. John Baldacci has officially endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
Maine could get more heating assistance under budget bill
AUGUSTA, Maine - A $500 billion catchall spending bill that was near final approval in Congress includes hundreds of millions more in home heating assistance, which would come as a relief to Mainers who depend on the federal program to keep their homes warm.
GOVEXEC.COM:
Slip-Sliding Away
But retirements aren't the GOP's only Senate problem. New Hampshire's John Sununu is very vulnerable. And incumbents Susan Collins of Maine and Norm Coleman of Minnesota will face stiff challenges in fairly blue states.
THE TRUCKER:
Truckers bemoan high fuel costs
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is participating in U.S. Senate hearings examining the impact of energy market speculation on prices. On Thursday senators passed legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, to close the "Enron loophole" by tightening energy market investment oversight. In development for about two years, the measure now must pass the House.
CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY:
Both Parties Recruiting War Vets As Candidates
One of them, Maine Republican Charlie Summers, is in the midst of a one-year deployment to Iraq as a Navy Reserve lieutenant commander. … The House contest in Maine’s 1st District stands out because two candidates with Iraq War experience are vying for the Democratic and Republican nominations.
… In addition to Republican Summers, whose wife Ruth is running his campaign while he serves in Iraq, Adam Cote, a veteran of Iraq and Bosnia is one of a pack of five anti-war candidates scrambling to win the Democratic nomination.
BLOGS:
[MoveOn] Call Sens. Snowe and Collins: No immunity for illegal spying
Progressive Senators Chris Dodd and Russ Feingold are pledging to block any legislation that includes "telecom immunity." 2 And presidential candidates Joe Biden and Barack Obama have said they'll support a filibuster.3
It is critical that other senators support Senators Dodd and Feingold . Can you call Sens. Snowe and Collins today and tell them to join progressives in the Senate in blocking any bill that includes immunity for lawbreaking phone companies? Tell them voters want accountability and oversight—not immunity.
2005 Tax Numbers Released: The Rich Got Soaked
The richest 1% paid about 39% of all income taxes. The richest 5% paid just less than 60%. The richest 10% paid 70%.
Dems Surrender 80% Final Spending Plans
The giant federal spending bill will dominate the political stage in closing days. Every corner of government is affected by the package.
Bali Aims To Share Weight Of Emissions Cuts
The agreement calls on developing nations to take "actions" to mitigate climate change in a "measurable, reportable, verifiable" manner.
The Council for a Livable World is supporting Tom Allen…
Well, of course The Council for a Livable World is supporting Maine’s great Congressman! When you stand Tom Allen’s record next to Sen. Susan Collins’ record, you find that Suzie-Q is a warmonger who loves war, loves big ole weapons of mass destruction, and who has gone out of her way to make sure George Bush and his Band of Warmongering Liars get what they want when it comes to killing people needlessly.
Bush: Can You Hear Me Now? No? Good!
President George W. Bush’s demand for immunity for telephone companies that participated in his warrantless (read: illegal/unconstitutional) domestic spying program won an initial victory on Monday in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 76-10. Voting in favor of more government surveillance and less accountability were Maine’s senators Collins and Snowe.
Candidate questions
Update: I'm shooting these questions off tomorrow night to the campaigns, so this is your last chance to get your question answered by one of the many great candidates for the CD-1 seat currently held by Tom Allen.
It's time to stop talking and complaining. It's time for action.
I am tired. So tired. I usually use an editor for my diaries because of my head injury and poor organization, grammar, repeating myself and essays that are generally too long. Those take me 10 hours or more and then an editor.
Allen Video Up and Running
The Council for a Livable World recently published a video of Allen on their website. Check it out here: http://www.clw.org/elections/2... Feel free to repost! You can find the embed link on You Tube.
Open Thread
Sen. Chris Dodd is now on the Senate Floor filibustering a cloture vote that would bring the new FISA bill up for a vote. This bill would grant retroactive immunity to the telecom industry that illegally gave personal information to the Fed without a warrant being issued.
The Kennebek County Dem's were on this last October, as Eddie made clear in this diary:
Council for a Livable World endorses Tom Allen
Tom Allen is campaigning to unseat Maine's junior senator, Susan Collins, and last week received the endorsement from the Council for a Livable World:. Rep. Allen has opposed the Iraq war in both word and deed.
LIHEAP Recipient Describes Importance of Support
AUGUSTA-- Lawmakers and Community Action Agency officials were calling on President Bush and Congress to increase funds for heating assistance for Maine people this winter in advance of expected votes in Washington, DC, in the coming week.
Lieberman Endorses McCain
Don't ever forget that Joe Lieberman is the man who stabs his former party (the Democrats) in the back every chance he gets, hes the man who supports and endorsed Susan Collins for Senate, he's the man who STILL wants to attack/invade ...
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