Maine Political News for Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Bangor Daily News

DHHS cuts worries senator AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. John Baldacci is seeking more areas to cut in the state budget in order to lower taxes, but some lawmakers on the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee said Tuesday they are worried Maine's poorest and neediest will pay the bill.

Effort opposing consolidation moves forwardWednesday, September 05, 2007STONINGTON, Maine - With backing from 28 communities and more expected to join, a grass-roots effort to overturn the state’s school consolidation law will get under way this weekend.

Jail plan a bust with countiesBANGOR, Maine - County officials around the state are girding to battle Gov. John Baldacci over his plan to take over the county jails.

EMMC nurses rally over staffing ratiosWednesday, September 05, 2007BANGOR, Maine - About 30 unionized registered nurses employed by Eastern Maine Medical Center demonstrated outside the Bangor hospital Tuesday morning to draw attention to what they say is chronic understaffing on most patient units.

Today's Editorial:
Making the cutGov. John Baldacci last week presented legislators with $11 million in budget cuts, a relatively tiny percentage of the state budget but an important exercise in budget trimming.

Pat LaMarche: Counties held prisoner to an unfair proposal

Kennebec Journal
Jones is mournedafter sudden death AUGUSTA -- Rep. Deane Jones, described by the governor as "a public servant in the great Maine tradition," died Monday following intensive treatments for lung cancer. He had been in office less than three months.

County commissioners to probe state's jail takeover plan AUGUSTA -- The people who oversee the county budget with its $4.67 million for jail operations will gather Thursday to see how a proposed state takeover of corrections will affect their work.

2 attemptsuicideat the jail AUGUSTA -- Two inmates attempted suicide over a 24-hour period at the Kennebec County jail, one on Monday night and the second around noon on Tuesday.

ummer tourism seasonexperiences strong finish BANGOR (AP) -- With Labor Day marking the unofficial end of summer, Maine's summer tourism season appears to have been a decent one.

GEORGE SMITH : Private solutions to public problemsOne man's answer to state's economic challenges If Peter Vigue has his way, you'll be able to get there from here, and Canadians will be able to get here from there.

Portland Press Herald

Licensing law could help state put collar on puppy mills Tightening the leash on unethical and often-abusive breeders may be more effective soon.

Maine's challenge will include competing for older workers As New England grays, six states will be looking for the same labor force.

Maine Public Radio

Commisioner's Objectivity Questioned In Windpower Talks
Opponents of the Black Nubble windpower project proposed for western Maine near Sugarloaf are raising new questions about fairness and objectivity used by staff and possibly some members of the Land Use Regulation Commission. As Susan Sharon reports, conversations disclosed last month between Department of Conservation Commissioner Pat McGowan and LURC members about how to reverse a wind vote, along with new information have opponents worried that the process is biased against them.
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070904windpower.asx

Economic Report Offers Mixed Findings
A new report released today finds that Maine and the rest of New England are experiencing slow growth compared to the nation as a whole. The "State of Working Maine" report finds that during the fifth year of the nation's economic recovery, Maine has seen a slight improvement in per capita income, but the state has been plagued by unemployment and an unskilled workforce. Keith McKeen reports..
http://www.mpbn.net/asx/070904report.asx

Canada-Maine News
The Daily Gleaner

N.B., Maine talk power
New Brunswick and Maine say they are making progress on a deal to export electricity from this province to the energy-starved New England states.