Maine News for Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Portland Press Herald

Trustees try to fix financial practices
A review that found lax oversight at USM will be used to improve budgeting throughout the system.

Bill seeks to protect phone-card purchasers
State House: Rep. Herb Adams' bill would bar the imposition of post-sale rate increases.

Panel splits on nonprofit gaming bill
State House: Police say the exemptions would hinder investigations and reduce needed revenue.

Driver's license rules uncertain
State House: If Maine wants to delay complying with Real ID, it must seek an extension by March 31.

Time for state leaders to hold the hyperbole
In a tough economy, state employees should focus on making government get by with less.

Column: High-schoolers vs. lawmakers: Teens do better
Legislators, faced with a budget shortfall of just 3 percent, are acting as if the world has ended.

LTE: Collins a 'fair-weather' independent

LTE: Student backs banning energy drinks statewide

LTE: Pass legislation to support cardiac, pulmonary care

LTE: Judicial system should be better guard of our safety

Bangor Daily News

Committee supports requiring residency for driver's licenses
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - A legislative committee is embracing a 30-day residency requirement for driver's license applicants, but exactly how residence would be proved remained elusive as lawmakers complained Monday that the federal government has been silent on the issue.

Bill answers phone card complaints
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - An unwelcome surprise for Maine phone card customers who found that they had less time left than they thought they had paid for has led to legislation that's being touted as the first of its kind in the country.

Bad to worse: Oil price climb continues
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The state Office of Energy Independence and Security on Monday released its weekly update on energy prices as plans were under way for the first Governor's Energy Efficiency Summit & Expo, which will be held next month in Augusta in an effort to curb rapidly escalating energy costs for businesses.

Senate seeks meeting to iron out school law
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - State senators have asked for a meeting with House representatives in an effort to resolve differences in their respective versions of the bill containing changes to the school consolidation law.

UMS officials: Proposed cuts are harmful
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
PORTLAND, Maine - The governor's proposed cuts to the University of Maine System would have a drastic consequence on the campuses and "would be counterproductive to the state's economic interests and condition," according to UMS board of trustees Chairwoman Margaret Weston.

Editorial: Higher ed math
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
In his first round of budget cutting, Gov. John Baldacci did not reduce funding for the state's higher education systems and asked them to look for cost savings.

Introducing ClickBack
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
ClickBack is a new venue for Bangor Daily News readers to share their opinions on topics of local, statewide and national interest and importance. Have ideas for cutting the state budget? An armchair goalie with tips for the Maine Black Bears? Go to ClickBack to take your shot.

Tuesday's Letters to the Editor Smear and fear tactics, Mike Gravel was no hero, The exact line, Gas prices in Europe, Freeloading addicts, Guns in Acadia

Kennebec Journal

Energy summit set for April 3
AUGUSTA -- Several Maine businesses, agencies and environmental groups have joined forces for the first Governor's Energy Efficiency Summit and Expo, which will be held April 3 at the Augusta Civic Center.

Study finds contaminents in bird eggs across Maine
The eggs of birds across the state, from bald eagles and loons in northern Maine to ospreys on the South Portland waterfront, contain a soup of industrial chemicals, according to a study to be presented in the Legislature today.

Editorial: You've got mail
The federal government is neither frugal nor rational.

LTE: Protect Maine's drinking water from corporations
I have lived in Florida for 18 years, spent one year in Costa Rica before returning to Maine. Water was a critical issue in both, and Monteverde, Costa Rica, residents were on foot on the road stopping trucks to take the water.

Morning Sentinel

Column: Universal health coverage? States will differ
As voters nationwide focus on the 2008 presidential campaign, a basic reality about the American constitutional system is worth keeping in mind: the division of power between Washington and the states means the next president and Congress will not be alone in deciding major domestic policies.

LTE: Allen reaps financial rewards from MoveOn
MoveOn.org has made it very clear that it is financially targeting the race between Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Tom Allen.

LTE: U.S. dollar barely worth paper it's printed on
Over the past few months, our dollar has became increasingly weak; some may overlook the significance of this impact.

Sun Journal

Proof of residency for license applicants subject to debate
AUGUSTA (AP) - A legislative committee is embracing a 30-day residency requirement for driver's license applicants, but exactly how residence would be proven remained elusive as lawmakers complained Monday that the federal government has been silent on the issue.

Our View: Back again, at the ethics crossroads
If lawmakers are so afraid of the public, why do they choose to serve it?

LTE: Maine, fix thyself
The 1998 ice storm was a great example of just how generous Maine people are, especially in a crisis.

Times Record

Getting a Maine driver's license(full story)

LTE: Revamp electoral system(full story)

Portsmouth Herald

Iraq exodus tops Pingree's list
… the only one who has worked in Washington, DC, as president and chief executive officer of Common Cause, a non-partisan citizen

Panel: No federal guidance on license residency standards AUGUSTA, Maine — A legislative committee is embracing a 30-day residency requirement for driver's license applicants, but exactly how residence would be proven remained elusive as lawmakers complained Monday that the federal

Price of heating oil in Maine jumps 16 cent a gallon in past week AUGUSTA, Maine — The state energy office says the average price of heating oil in Maine jumped 16 cents a gallon in the past week.