Maine News for Friday, January 18, 2008

PRESS HERALD:
Border checks tighten Jan. 31
A driver's license will no longer be enough for those entering the United States from Canada.

Truckers may back bill to limit idling time
State House: The measure would hold diesel trucks and some gas trucks to five minutes per hour.

Burned by high oil prices, Mainers warm to wood
Wood stoves carry an air-pollution risk, but if properly operated they compare favorably to oil burners, experts say.

EDITORIAL: Medicine gets better with electronic records
A pilot program in Maine could reduce errors and improve patient outcomes.

ANOTHER VIEW: Struggling Maine families could use a break on inspection stickers
An editorial opposing a bill to do less-frequent vehicle checks missed the practical argument.

COLUMN: Abortions down, births up -- what could be wrong with that?
Some people will find those trends depressing, but they're not going with the flow.

LTE: Turn focus to soldiers, not steroids

LTE: Sen. Joseph Biden was our best presidential candidate


BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
Low-rate loan saves family from the cold
OLD TOWN, Maine — Seated in the warmth of their living room, the O'Clair family praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development staff for helping them to keep the heat on this winter.

Shock, awe: Army son returns home
BANGOR, Maine — Joanne Parisien sat quietly at her corner desk Thursday, dutifully designing artwork for an advertising plan. Only when a man walked up and stood behind her chair did her concentration break.

Democrat teacher joins race for Senate
ORONO, Maine — It seems there will be a primary race in the campaign for U.S. Senate after all.

Plum Creek 'loopholes' weaken plan
With nearly 1,000 house lots and an even larger number of resort accommodations, Plum Creek's Moosehead Lake proposal stands as the largest development plan ever submitted to Maine regulators.

Reforming our jails
AUGUSTA, Maine — If the current county and state jail system is left in place, taxpayers will face funding $60 million to $100 million to build new facilities that aren't really needed, according to a state corrections official.

Trucker weight restrictions bill clears key hurdle
The state Legislature's Transportation Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to OK emergency legislation that will give state logging truckers some temporary relief from high diesel prices by increasing the amount of wood they can haul.

EDITORIAL: Economic boost
As news about the U.S. economy gets worse, expect to hear more about a stimulus package. What should such a package include? Economists agree any stimulus measures — usually tax rebates or reductions and increased government spending — must produce quick results and be temporary.

LTE: Penny-wise, pound-foolish
For shame, Gov. John Baldacci, you sound like an old-time Republican, promising no increased taxes while cutting services to our most needy and vulnerable citizens.


MORNING SENTINEL:
Towns search for more funding as heating assistance requests rise
It's been a tough winter. And with the high cost of fuel oil, communities are struggling to find ways to help people heat their homes.

Plum Creek foes decry easements
Supporters of Plum Creek Timber Co.'s proposal to develop 20,000 acres in the Moosehead Lake region tout the company's plan to permanently conserve roughly 430,000 acres.

COLUMN: Tsunami Tuesday will make election picture clearer
If you have not been paying attention to the presidential primaries until now, start before it is too late. We have witnessed a caucus in Iowa, a widely publicized primary in New Hampshire and a Republican primary in Michigan.

LTE: Plum Creek plan promotes conservation
Plum Creek's proposal is a positive step in the right direction toward securing conservation, access and employment opportunities in the Moosehead Lake Region and also the surrounding areas of Jackman, West Forks, Bingham, Abbot, Guilford, Monson and a host of other satellite towns and plantations.

LTE: State workers have given up much over the years
Potshots are again being taken at state employees as a way to balance the state budget.


KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
Officials: Added heat aid falls short
AUGUSTA -- Although Maine will receive an additional $8.8 million from the federal government to support heating assistance for low-income families, some state leaders say it's far short of what's needed.

LTE: Peru Free Trade pact no better than NAFTA
Despite the failures of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe voted to expand it to Peru.

LTE: It's time to clean house in Augusta
It appears our fellow countrymen want some changes to take place in Washington. The elected officials just can't seem to get anything done except spend our money on useless pork-barrel projects.

LTE: Look at federally funded agencies to save money
The state budget is up for discussion again, with more cuts needed. Why not start with federally funded state agencies?


SUN JOURNAL:
EDITORIAL: Immigration policy that has worked
A debate in Mexico about quashing benefits for illegal immigrants would likely draw worldwide attention, if taking place inside the government halls of Mexico City, not among selectmen in Western Maine.


MPBN:
Bill Would Require Vehicle Inspections Once Every Two Years
Since 1982, Mainers have become accustomed to driving their cars and trucks to the local garages each year with the hope that their vehicles will pass the annual state safety inspection. But improvements in automotive technology and high-mileage brakes and tires are producing safer vehicles and one Maine lawmaker says it's time to extend the inspection cycle to every two years. But as A.J. Higgins reports, the proposal is not without its critics.

New Federal Rule Could Reduce Cruise Ship Visits
It's hard to imagine that a dispute over cruise ship competition in Hawaii could harm the cruise ship business in Maine. But that's exactly what could happen, according to advocates for the fast-growing industry that brought more than 100,000 visitors to Maine last year. Murray Carpenter reports.

Study Suggests College Level Courses for High School Students
Educators in Maine have tried lots of things to boost the state's college enrollment rate. Nonetheless, it continues to lag behind that of other states in the region. Now a new study by the Portland-based Mitchell Institute suggests that there's a relatively simple way to turn that statistic around: signing students up for college level courses before they graduate from high school. Barbara Cariddi reports.


BOSTON GLOBE:
Border lawmakers reject Chertoff's rhetoric on border security
Maine Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen says he's heard from Mainers concerned about the cost of passports or about carrying important documents like birth certificates just to cross the border.


THE WALDO INDEPENDENT:
County officials offer unified jail plan
AUGUSTA — County officials have proposed a unified jail system that would put all county lockups under a Maine Jail and Community Corrections Authority.


BLOGS:
As Maine Goes: Angus King Considered Run Against Sen. Collins
King: I considered it and rejected it out of hand. Our differences aren't so great, so running against her would be an ego thing. I think she's a pretty good senator. Besides, I'm 63 and I'd have to serve in the Senate until I was 80 to have any seniority.

As Maine Goes: House Passes New Defense Budget, Allen/Michaud 'YEA'
WASHINGTON - The House on Wednesday passed a new defense policy bill that includes a pay raise for troops.

As Maine Goes: Deregulation Caused Maine's High Electric Rates?
The cost of generating electricity delivered to households served by Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. increase from 4.5 cents pkw hour to 9 cents between 2000-2007.

As Maine Goes: Abortions at 30-Year Low?
The US abortion rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1974, the first full year after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide, new data show.

As Maine Goes: Should We Call This an Economic Stimulus Plan?
Republican leaders no longer demanding the stimulus package extend 2001/2003 Bush tax cuts set to expire in 2010.

Down with Tyranny: THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY MAINERS SHOULD RETIRE SUSAN COLLINS-- PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY WANTS TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO ONE REALLY BIG ONE

Turn Maine Blue: Open Thread
Kathleen Turner has recorded this radio spot now playing in Maine (clicking the link launches the ad automatically) for People for the American Way, as a reminder how of fragile a woman's right to make decisions regarding her own body is.

Collins Watch: KJ Letters Again
Elizabeth St.Laurent of Augusta has had two pro-Collins letters published in the Kennebec Journal in the last month.

PolitickerME: Actress Kathleen Turner Takes Swipe at Susan Collins
People for America Way, (www.pfaw.org) has launched an independent expenditure, timed to the 35th anniversary of Roe v Wade, that tells listeners Senator Susan Collins doesn't really support the right for woman to be able to have an abortion, because she votes for George Bush's Supreme Court nominees almost all of the time.

Maine News for Thursday, January 17. 2008

PRESS HERALD:
Dispatch consolidation proceeds without glitch
Portland, South Portland and Cape Elizabeth are in the process of combining their 911 communications.

Maine home prices defy national slump
There are many reasons why Maine has dodged the national slide in values, but can it last?

Some lobstermen not happy sharing data
Ten percent of Maine's lobstermen must now report information about their catch to the state.

Campaign to repeal school law lacks support
State House 2008: More signatures are needed to fight school-district consolidation.

Tax-reform efforts see new bid, face new hurdles
State House: Proponents say a bill taking shape is similar to last year's, but includes stronger caps on government spending.

Counties: Jails can be local, efficient
AUGUSTA — County officials believe they could save taxpayers money without giving up local control if lawmakers adopt their plan to make county jails more efficient.

Toll group looks for guiding principles
A committee formed by the Maine Turnpike Authority to figure out how to make turnpike tolls more equitable may end up recommending general guiding principles rather than specific changes.

Democrat seeks seat in House at age 21
Henry Beck serves as a Waterville councilor and attends Colby College.

EDITORIAL: Economy not ready for a gas-tax hike
A higher federal levy on gasoline can achieve some useful goals, but this isn't the time.

LTE: Maine's murder rate doesn't suggest crime wave
It's been a decade since I was a Portland police officer, and my opinions were a little out of the mainstream then, plus Portland is the farthest north I have ever lived, so weigh my opinion as you will.

Maine Voices: Parents need help in helping kids
A third of our kids are carrying around extra weight. That weight carries with it health risks -- risk of early heart attack, diabetes, depression, early death -- and the list goes on.


BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
Wellness council to offer health programs statewide
BANGOR, Maine - Employers across Maine will soon have the opportunity to develop initiatives to improve their employees' health with help from the Bangor Region Wellness Council.

Fuel funds headed for Maine
Maine is slated to receive an additional $8.8 million in federal assistance for low-income individuals struggling to heat their homes amid record-high energy prices.

A digital route to speedy diagnosis
BANGOR, Maine - Maine health care providers unveiled a new information-sharing system on Wednesday that will eventually give doctors instant access to patients' medical histories no matter where they are located around the state.

Lawmakers wary of jail proposal
AUGUSTA, Maine - County officials outlined their proposal Wednesday for a Maine Jail and Community Corrections Authority, but members of the Legislature's Criminal Justice Committee are concerned about its cost and the plan as written faces a likely veto should it be approved.

Fed ruling could sink cruise visits
State and municipal officials and Maine port businesses have banded together to oppose a proposed federal ruling that they say could put a dent in the number of large cruise ships making stops in Bar Harbor and Portland, cutting their time in port and forcing changes in itineraries.


MORNING SENTINEL:
Lawmakers weigh tax overhaul plan
AUGUSTA -- Lawmakers are gearing up for another attempt to overhaul the state's tax system, a year after the Legislature narrowly rejected changes that would have broadened the sales tax to pay for income-tax and property-tax breaks.

Consolidation repeal effort still short of signatures
AUGUSTA -- With less than two weeks to go, the organizer of a campaign to repeal the state's school-district consolidation law does not yet have enough support to force a referendum on the issue.

Money released for heating aid
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration on Wednesday released $450 million in emergency relief funds to help needy residents pay soaring heating bills.

Delegation talks up boosting economy
WASHINGTON -- Members of Maine's congressional delegation were among the lawmakers who proposed tax and spending measures Wednesday to boost a weakening economy as Congress scrambles to put together an economic stimulus package.

EDITORIAL: Caucuses not good substitute for primaries
We want a presidential primary in Maine. And we want it early enough to be a small factor in the final outcome.

LTE: Huckabee, Romney's religious talk 'scary'


KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
UMF to offer MS degrees
FARMINGTON -- Central and western Maine schoolteachers enrolled in master's degree programs have been sending a steady stream of tuition revenue to Portland and Orono campuses and to online programs out of state.

Counties offer plan rivaling state on jails
AUGUSTA -- County officials believe they can save taxpayer money without giving up local control if lawmakers implement their plan to revamp jail operations.

When is helping the disadvantaged wrong?
Mona Charen writes Jan. 8 sounding as if she was jilted by Joe Kennedy back in high school, teeing off on his questionable relationship with Hugo Chavez. Apparently they're in cahoots in an attempt to alleviate high fuel costs for the disadvantaged.

LTE: Waste and fraud in Iraq should be watched
Thank you for running David Offer's opinion piece where he discussed the waste and fraud that is going on in Iraq.


SUN JOURNAL:
Paper mill to cut 60 jobs
RUMFORD - NewPage's oldest paper-making machine will be shut down permanently next month, taking with it 60 jobs.

Ledue begins bid for SenateLedue begins bid for Senate
PORTLAND (AP) - U.S. Rep. Tom Allen faces opposition from an educator from Sanford in his bid to become the Democratic nominee challenging Republican incumbent Susan Collins in the U.S. Senate election.

State changes lobstering rules
BANGOR (AP) - Many Maine lobstermen routinely keep track of how many lobsters they catch and where they catch them. Now, hundreds of lobstermen will have to share that information with the state - and some aren't happy.

Remove this 'informed' obstruction
Perhaps spurred by fear in certain parts of Maine of Wal-Mart and its big-box ilk, a piece of flawed - yet "bipartisan" - legislation called the "Informed Growth Act" cleared the Maine Legislature last year.

COLUMN: Democrats' proposals won't jump-start economy
The housing market is caught in a downward spiral that might last the rest of this year, and banks are struggling under a staggering burden of bad loans that has created a severe credit crunch. Don't fear, though, a $250 check might be making its way toward your mailbox.

LTE: Hold the chips
Rep. Scott Lansley, R-Sabattus, was on a Portland radio station recently, asserting that the REAL ID act, the law dealing with driver's license security, would require the imbedding of a radio frequency ID chip in our driver's licenses.


TIMES RECORD:
Electronic health record network launched statewide
BRUNSWICK — Beginning today, Martin's Point Health Care and health-care providers statewide will participate in a pilot project to create an electronic health record network that will allow health-care providers to share patient information statewide.

State proposes rate cuts to hospital docs
AUGUSTA — The Department of Health and Human Services wants to cut the Medicaid rate paid to doctors in hospital-based practices and has included the $20 million proposal in the governor's supplemental budget.

Third parties cloud fate of base housing
FREEPORT — There was good news and perhaps bad news Tuesday morning as base redevelopment leaders discussed the complicated state of housing at Brunswick Naval Air Station.

Boater safety bill churns waters
AUGUSTA — Proposals to mandate boater safety education and impose horsepower restrictions on Long Lake — prompted by an accident that killed two people there in August 2007 — drew a standing-room only crowd at a hearing Tuesday in Augusta, with opponents saying the state cannot legislate common sense.


MPBN:
Alternate Jail Consolidation Plan Considered
Maine's county goverments today presented an alternative plan for consolidating the state's jail system. The plan, unveiled before a legislative committee, comes in response to the Baldacci administration's controversial proposal for a state takeover of all 15 county jails, for a projected annual savings of up to 38 million dollars by the year 2025. The counties have proposed instead the creation of a state authority that would help streamline the system, but without giving up all county control.

Uncollected Fines Prompt Consideration of Option
Maine's Court System collects $40 million each year from offenders who commit a wide range of infractions, violations and crimes. But nearly ten million more dollars goes uncollected when violators can't --or won't--pay their fines. State Rep. Richard Cleary wants to give judges another option for restitution - community service. As A.J. Higgins reports, the Houlton Democrat believes his bill will help alleviate jail overcrowding.

Maine's Largest Hospitals Unveil New Communications System
It's happened with bank records...so why not medical ones? Maine's four largest health care providers today unveiled a new statewide electronic system for sharing medical information. As Susan Sharon reports, Health InfoNet is intended to improve patient health and safety and save healthcare costs in a few crucial ways.

Malpractice Screening Process Scrutinized
Twenty years ago, the state of Maine adopted a new law in response to the number of complaints, sometimes "frivolous" complaints, that were driving up insurance rates of physicians and hospitals. The law established screening panels, charged with weeding out questionable cases and speeding up others in order to lower expenses. But the system has come under scrutiny in recent years and Maine Supreme Court Justice Leigh Saufley has called on the state legislature to re-evaluate the process. Keith McKeen reports.


PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
Bill helps truckers cope with prices
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine lawmakers are moving quickly on a bill to make it easier for truckers and loggers to cope with high fuel costs by suspending gross weight limits.


COURIER-GAZETTE:
COLUMN: What do you want for your money?
The disconnect between taxes and the demand for services is astonishing.

Oil firm faces EPA fines
UNION — A company that stores and distributes oil from an unattended bulk storage facility faces fines of up to $157,500 for failing to adequately plan for and guard against oil spills at its facility and for failing to respond to a request for information by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, according to an EPA news release.

THE REPUBLICAN JOURNAL AND WALDO INDEPENDENT:
Master plan OK'd for big box zone
BELFAST — The City Council took the first step Tuesday toward requiring a master plan for development of the new big box retail zone.

LINCOLN COUNTY NEWS:
Naval Prototype Launch Holds Economic Promise
A history making launch of a naval patrol craft prototype Friday signals the likelihood of an economic boon to the Midcoast and a bright future for Hodgdon Yachts and the composites industries.


THE ELLSWORTH AMERICAN:
Lower Electric Rates for Maine Is Panel's Goal
AUGUSTA — The Legislature's Utilities and Energy Committee was presented Tuesday with a map of the minefield as it begins the formidable task of charting Maine's energy future.

Heating Oil Spike Fans Interest In Alternative Fuels and Stoves
ELLSWORTH — Steadily rising oil prices have brought about a surge of interest in alternative fuels.

Up 4.2 Percent in Washington County
ELLSWORTH — With an estimated jackpot of $95 million on Monday, the Powerball game offers instant riches. Before dipping into the household budget for tickets, however, you might consider that the odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are 146,107,962 to 1.

Hospitals Face Medicaid Cut
AUGUSTA — The Department of Health and Human Services wants to cut the Medicaid rate paid to doctors in hospital-based practices and has included the $20-million proposal in the Governor's supplemental budget.

Battle Looming Over Agency Merger Plan
AUGUSTA — Governor John Baldacci's proposal to merge the departments of Agriculture, Conservation, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Marine Resources is in for a long battle, with the head of the influential Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (SAM) already mustering forces to block the plan. (Related story, Section II, Page 8.)

EDITORIAL: State of the State
Governor John Baldacci's pledge, in his annual State of the State address, that "we will not increase taxes" is welcome — as far as it goes. But as the Governor and members of the Legislature look for ways to cope with a revenue shortfall requiring budget cutbacks of nearly $100 million, that pledge may prove to be more illusory than real.

COMMENTARY: The Sheep Are in Charge
There is not a real leader among our local, state or national politicians. They are milling around like a flock of sheep, bleating in unison, "Lii…hheap, lii…heap, lii…heap, lii…heap."

COMMENTARY: Hold the Line Against Plum Creek
LURC should stand firm and hold the line here and now against any further encroachment on the North woods. If not, more will be given away to flunky corporations every generation in worship of the Big Lie: "We need balanced growth in the North Woods."

COMMENTARY: Sound Bites or Sound Policy?

LTE: We Need a Single-payer System
It has been shown over and over, including in The Ellsworth American, that the United States pays more for health care than any other industrialized country while getting the least for what we spend.


keepMEcurrent
New system will read water meters from afar
(Jan 17, 2008): The Portland Water District is going high-tech by installing remote-read water meters that are scanned instantly by computers as a technician drives through neighborhoods.


WMTW:
Feds To Release $450 Million From LIHEAP Contingency Fund
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced that the Office of Management and Budget agreed Wednesday to release $450 million from its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program contingency fund. Of that total, Maine is in line to receive $8.8 million.


BLOGS:
As Maine Goes: Dem Tom Ledue Gives Tom Allen Competition
Sanford Educator To Kick Off U.S. Senate Campaign

As Maine Goes: Charlie Summers: New Video, Campaign Chairman

As Maine Goes: Forest Fire Jihad Threatened on Terrorist Websites

As Maine Goes: New Page Buys Ultra-modern Paper Mill

Turn Maine Blue: Was the Hormuz Incident Fabricated to Heighten Tensions?
There has been a lot of speculation that the recent "incident" in the Straights of Hormuz was being a "Gulf of Tomkin" type incident, and now it seems that that might be more true than people first thought:

White Noise Insanity: Sen. Susan Collins (Bush's Commander Girl!) is a fierce fighter in the waronterra!

PolitickerME: Statements from Maine politicians on the New Page job cuts
Statements from Maine politicians on the New Page layoffs:

Politicker ME: Job cuts to hurt River Valley economy

Maine News for Wednesday, January 16, 2008

PRESS HERALD:
2007 brought spike in players taking stimulants for ADD
A congressman questions whether their use is an exploitation of a loophole.

Clubs to continue video poker, for now
Three Sanford social clubs can keep their machines this year, but the town council wants to hear from voters in November.

Boating safety education bill debated
Backers say accidents could be prevented; opponents say enforcement of existing laws is the key to improving safety.

Judge sets earlier date for lynx plan
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service must issue a new critical habitat proposal by Feb. 15.

Wind farm developers set sights on summer
TransCanada hopes to have all permits approved in time to start construction in western Maine this year.

EDITORIAL: Wind-power rulings show need for new laws
The approval of one project and denial of another create an uncertain climate.

MySpace rules don't reduce need for parental control
Children still need protection from predators when using social-networking sites.


MAINE VOICES: A hull lot of jobs are going begging
The boat-building industry is a key Maine employer, but it's hard to interest young people in the field.

LTE: How does 'nice' play in politics?


BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
Bucksport to offer discounts on gas
BUCKSPORT - The town has come up with an innovative way to attract and keep customers in town - lure them in with cheaper gas.

Bangor: Cianbro partners with OSHA, Labor Department at slots site
BANGOR - In an effort to prevent accidents at the Hollywood Slots at Bangor construction site on Main Street, Pittsfield-based Cianbro Corp. has entered into an official safety partnership with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Maine Department of Labor.

Lincoln launches heating oil assistance program for needy
LINCOLN - Following their Bangor neighbors' example, Lincoln is starting a free home heating oil assistance program targeting residents who fail to qualify for other programs but are in dire need of help.

Penobscot County weighs in on jail plan
BANGOR - Penobscot County commissioners on Tuesday described the governor's proposal to combine the state and county jail systems under one umbrella as "troubling" and "dishonest" and as a "cash cow" for the state.

Bill proposed to ease weight restrictions
Emergency legislation that aims to give state logging truckers some temporary relief from high diesel prices by increasing the amount of wood they can haul should be ready for Gov. John Baldacci's signature early next week.

Lobstermen begin reporting fishing trips
There are about 850 licensed lobstermen in Maine who have to do something this year they've never done before.

Farmers shocked by consolidation plan
AUGUSTA - Hundreds of farmers on Tuesday eyed the latest farming equipment and technology, networked with one another, and attended meetings and seminars to become more efficient and productive, during the annual Agricultural Trade Show.

Bangor: Navy officer from Maine helping Iraq city rebuild
BANGOR - City government is not foreign to Navy Capt. Bob McLaughlin.

EDITORIAL: Oil Reserve Reservations
President Bush Tuesday asked the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to release more oil onto the market to lower prices. Before looking for international solutions, the president should ensure his policies aren't driving up costs. Immediately, he should ask the Department of Energy to reassess its ongoing purchases of oil for the nation's strategic petroleum reserve. For the future, requiring more renewable energy production and conservation measures would help even more.

LTE: Reign in presidency
All the money and all the hype being put into this presidential campaign is going for no change if the powers of the presidency and vice presidency continue as they have been under George W. Bush. Yet no one seems to be addressing this.

LTE: Collins leads on energy
We are only days into 2008 and Sen. Susan Collins' opponents have already resumed their harsh negative attacks against her. The latest allegations appeared in a letter charging that Collins is, in effect, a stooge for big oil companies at the expense of Maine's small business and families, "Collins votes with big oil" (BDN, Jan. 5).

LTE: Free trade bad for Peru
Sens. Collins and Snowe miscalculated when they voted for the Peru Free Trade Agreement during the holiday season and thought the public wouldn't notice.


MORNING SENTINEL:
New Jackman border station set to proceed
JACKMAN -- The federal government has awarded a $25.9 million construction contract for a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry in Sandy Bay Township, on the Canadian border.

EDITORIAL: Snowmobile fees are tough, but right choice
It's hard to imagine that an abundance of snow would be a problem for the state's snowmobilers. But after years of too-little snow, it turns out this winter's surfeit of snow has conspired with high fuel prices to make one big and expensive headache for the industry.

COLUMN: Instead of a chainsaw, let's use hammer to fix Inland Fisheries
The road to consolidation of natural resource agencies is paved with broken promises.


KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
State says it's bolstered aid to shelters
AUGUSTA -- State finance officials Wednesday reassured homeless shelters across Maine that a promised 15 percent increase in state subsidy is not in jeopardy.

Boater safety requirement urges
AUGUSTA -- Bowdoinham Harbormaster John McMullen sees careless boaters as they pass his home on Cathance River and when they pass him on the water.

Editorials:

Snowmobile fees are tough,
but right choice
It's hard to imagine that an abundance of snow would be a problem for the state's snowmobilers. But after years of too-little snow, it turns out this winter's surfeit of snow has conspired with high fuel prices to make one big and expensive headache for the industry.

GEORGE SMITH : Instead of a chainsaw, let's use
hammer to fix Inland Fisheries
The road to consolidation of natural resource agencies is paved with broken promises.

LTE: Get some backbone and implement ID program
The license ID program is again in the news. I cannot for the life of me understand why there would be a reason to be against this type of identification.

MPBN:
Regulators Hit New Roadblock in Androscoggin Cleanup Issue
Just days before the Maine Board of Environmental Protection is expected to rule on a long and contentious battle over water discharge permits to clean up pollution in the Androscoggin River, Verso Paper and Florida Power and Light are asking to reopen the public record. The two companies say the board has not been given scientific information that could be favorable to them. And as Susan Sharon reports, the move is setting up a showdown that could be headed for the courts.

Boating Safety Bills Draw Crowd to Public Hearing
More than a hundred people turned out Tuesday for public hearings on boater safety bills under consideration by the legislature's Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. The bills were prompted by an accident on Long Lake in Naples last summer when two people were killed at night after their unlighted 14-foot boat was sliced in half by a high-powered watercraft more than twice its size. But as A.J. Higgins reports, opponents argue that legislation can never address the real problem posed by operators who simply refuse to follow rules.

Casino Campaign Meets Deadline for Petitions
A Rumford lawyer who wants to build a casino-resort somewhere in Oxford County says he's collected enough signatures to get the issue on the November ballot. Seth Carey of Evergreen Mountain Enterprises, says backers of the venture delivered 76,000 signatures yesterday to the Secretary of State's office, just in time to meet the agency's deadline. Barbara Cariddi reports.


THE TIMES RECORD:
Policy forum tackles spending
AUGUSTA — If the state is ever going to lower its tax burden to the middle of pack nationally, it needs to reduce spending by $700 million. The only place to find that kind of money is in education and Medicaid, a former state official opined on Monday.


SUN JOURNAL:
Price drop
AUBURN - With more Mainers going hungry - straining hundreds of soup kitchens, food pantries and homeless shelters across the state - the Good Shepherd Food-Bank plans to distribute tons more food.

EDITORIAL: Judging a windmill by its cover
There is a better way to review wind power than checking which way the wind is blowing.


keepMEcurrent
Congressional candidate meets with business, community leaders
SANFORD (Jan 16, 2008): Democratic Congressional Candidate Adam Cote met with Sanford residents on Thursday to discuss his plans for improving the economic conditions in his hometown, as well as the rest of the state of Maine. Cote explained his innovative ideas for bringing good, well-paying jobs to the state, and heard ideas from area community and business leaders.


WCSH-6
Maine Senators Reject Party Line
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are among the Top 5 in the Senate when it comes to breaking ranks with fellow Republicans.


BLOGS:
As Maine Goes: Rural Job Killers Want Carbon Imprint of Plum Creek Plan
Editor's Note: Are these enviros demanding carbon footprint studies new hotels around Portland Harbor?

As Maine Goes: Fed Panel Urges 40-Cent Hike in Gas Taxes
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission is urging the government to raise federal gasoline taxes by as much as 40 cents per gallon over five years to ease traffic congestion, repair the nation's decaying bridges/roads.

Turn Maine Blue: How to entice health care professionals to work in rural areas?
Communities are interwoven, like fabric, and so require certain things to remain viable, or in the case of ones that watched their populations dwindle, to encourage newcomers to move there.

Turn Maine Blue: Baghdad Embassy: The Fire Safety System Doesn't Work
Beuarocracies of all kinds - be they corporate, governmental, or even the local PTA - develop a "culture" that permeates everything, and often proves difficult to change. And perhaps this may explain why Joe Lieberman, as the new chair of the the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, hasn't thought it necessary to investigate this:

News of Maine: Washington Post - It's Maine. Who's Going to Notice?

Politicker ME: Lansley on REAL ID: 'We will stand by our refusal'


The Citizen of Laconia:
Two who know what it means to represent
Of special note last week was the successful effort led by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to delay implementation of onerous border-crossing requirements.


EMAIL-WIRE:
Maine US Senate Candidate Urges Five-Year Moratorium on Home Foreclosures
Independent US Senate candidate Laurie Dobson of Maine proposes an immediate five-year moratorium on all home foreclosures, which she blames on the "reckless and irresponsible financial practices" of predatory mortgage lenders and greedy Wall Street finan

Maine News for Tuesday, January 15, 2008

PRESS HERALD:
A split decision for wind power in Maine
A state panel OKs one plan and rejects another amid calls for changes in the approval process.

Analyst advocates cuts in schools, Medicad
Critics say the proposal is too simplistic and does nothing to mitigate the high cost of health care.

EDITORIAL: Federal ID a good idea executed poorly
The need for more reliable identification is real, indeed, but the states shouldn't pay for it.

EDITORIAL: Candidates should set tone for discussion of gender, race
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama should head off ugly and inaccurate attacks by surrogates.

COLUMN: Portland's economy vital, but caution flags flying
Comparing the city to other 'benchmark' U.S. communities shows strengths and weaknesses.

MAINE VOICES: Paid sick days make sense for Maine businesses
Doing what is right by workers can't be anything but good for the entire state's economic health.

LTE: Stand up to government, oppose REAL ID program
Americans are being asked to turn over another large piece of their privacy by agreeing to a national ID card (REAL ID).


BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
Milo family struggles to keep warm
MILO, Maine - Cuddling a fussy toddler in a darkened kitchen that reeked of the last vapors from an empty propane tank, Renee Baillargeon, 22, was distraught.

Delegation pushes for additional LIHEAP funds
AUGUSTA, Maine — Congress will consider additional emergency funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program when it reconvenes this month, and members of Maine's congressional delegation are optimistic additional aid will be approved.

Center for rural growth approved
ORONO, Maine — Northern Maine soon will have a center to provide local communities and businesses with information they need to make better decisions about the future of the region.

Editorial: REAL ID, real problems
The Department of Homeland Security has pushed back deadlines and eased requirements for REAL ID, but without more clearly addressing how personal information will be protected and how the program will be paid for, the effort to set national standards for driver's licenses and identification cards remains unworkable.

LTE: Consolidate the state
Maine should consider consolidation of state government by redistricting, resulting in the reduction of the number of representatives with a cost savings in benefits. Merge the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority to save money.


MORNING SENTINEL:
Emergency management offices get federal grants
Emergency-management offices in Franklin and Somerset counties will receive about $217,000 in Homeland Security grants to equip shelters with generators, help with emergency-responder training and educate the public in disaster preparedness.

Speaker says to lower tax burden, spend less
AUGUSTA -- Richard Silkman thinks Maine should strive to be average.

Jail overcrowding forecast: worsening
SKOWHEGAN -- Somerset County Jail on Monday was overflowing with 91 inmates, 36 over capacity, county officials said.

EDITORIAL: Tough fight for boater safety course
Question: What could the state of Maine do to increase boater safety, lower the number of deaths and injuries caused on the water and diminish the cost of boat insurance by at least 10 percent?

COLUMN: Spanish Inquisition made a science of waterboarding; Bush, others try to sanitize method of torture with new name
President Bush won't answer questions about the CIA's use of waterboarding to question terror suspects.

LTE: Collins should be asking hard questions about Iraq
In his column from Jan. 8, David Offer expresses his anger regarding the incredible amounts of money wasted, stolen and simply lost reconstructing Iraq. Tales of such waste began to be reported soon after many of the no-bid contracts were awarded and there were reports of shoddy construction, of truckers driving empty trucks around, bribery and even of pallets of $100 bills vanishing like magic.

LTE: If Clinton elected, Bill will have 3rd term

LTE: Don't vote for Clinton just because she's a woman


KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
Susan Cover: Will Dems support Ron Paul?
Ken Lindell, who's heading up efforts for Ron Paul's presidential campaign in Maine, wants to let Democrats know that Tuesday (Jan. 15) is the last day they can change their party affiliation if they want to participate in the Republican caucuses.


SUN JOURNAL:
Storms stretching budgets, crews
LEWISTON - This winter is growing wearisome, and Monday's snowfall didn't help.

Baby Jesus statue lifted from church
PORTLAND (AP) - For the second time in a year, a statue of the baby Jesus was stolen from a display in front a Portland Church.

COLUMN: Good luck changing tone of Washington politics
Politicians don't usually get me excited, but Barack Obama does. Maybe it's the contrast between him and the elocutionally-challenged President Bush.

LTE: Health care system is 'Sicko'
I've had the pleasure of seeing Michael Moore's film "Sicko." Knowing Moore's reputation, I was a bit apprehensive about the movie, but I have to admit, I, as well as others, walked away from it shocked and angry at the situation of this nation's health care system.


THE TIMES RECORD:
New boat's launch inspires hope; Local composites companies eye more work for Navy (Picture of Senator Collins)
EAST BOOTHBAY — Mid-coast composites manufacturers hope a groundbreaking new Navy craft — uniquely made combining carbon, Kevlar and a foam core — could set a course for more defense dollars in their industry.


THE REPUBLICAN JOURNAL AND THE WALDO INDEPENDENT
Sheriff criticizes new jail plan
BELFAST — The governor's revised plan for a state takeover of county jails has drawn fire despite changes.


WASHINGTON POST:
It's Maine. Who's Going to Notice?
Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart W. Bowen Jr., whose own office is under investigation by the FBI and three other entities for waste and mismanagement, raised a few eyebrows last week when he showed up in Maine with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and told the state's leading paper she was the "most consistent and effective supporter of our oversight in Iraq."


MPBN:
Regulators Take Up Wind Power Projects
Members of the Land Use Regulation Commission delivered a mixed result to two proposed wind power projects in western Maine today. Commissioners unanimously voted to direct their staff to approve a zoning change for the larger of the plans. Transcanada's Kibby Mountain project calls for 44 turbines. But separately they also directed their staff to reject a more controversial proposal from Maine Mountain Power to erect 18 wind turbines on Black Nubble Mountain near the Appalachian Trail. As Susan Sharon reports, environmentalists were quick to criticize LURC's action as a "missed opportunity."

Parental Consent Required For Teens To Buy Rifles
A state lawmaker from Brunswick is backing a bill that would require children between the ages of 16 and 18 to obtain parental concent before they could purchase a rifle or shotgun. Rep. Stan Gerzofsky's bill would make Maine's law on weapons sales by private parties conform with federal law. It also includes language that would allow police to collect more information on suicides from other state agencies. A.J. Higgins reports.

Legislation Seeks To Bring More Physicians to Rural Areas
Maine faces a continuing challenge in efforts to attract enough primary care physicians to rural areas of the state. Maine Congressman Tom Allen is sponsoring legislation that he says will help the cause, and has the support of the Maine Primary Care Association. As Keith McKeen reports, Allen's bill would boost loan and scholarship assistance for doctors willing to practice in more remote communities of Maine.

Maine Voters Face Caucus Confusion
If you're considering switching your political party affiliation to participate in Maine's presidential caucuses, you'll need to do it soon. Democrats who want to join in the Republican caucuses have until Thursday to switch, and Republicans have until January 25th to join the Democrats. As Barbara Cariddi reports, whatever your party affiliation, you might be wondering when, where and how you'll actually get a chance to vote for a presidential nominee in Maine this year. You're not alone.

Coleman party unity ranking dropped to lowest ever last year
Looked at another way, the Minnesota senator opposed his party 36 percent of the time, putting him fifth among GOP senators, behind party moderates Olympia Snowe (Maine), Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania), Susan Collins (Maine) and Gordon Smith (Oregon).


BLOGS:
As Maine Goes: It's Back! Baldacci's Primary Residency Valuation Freeze
L.D. 276 WORK SESSION: RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Require the Legislature To Freeze the Valuation of Maine Primary Residence Land (Sponsor: Sen. PERRY of Penobscot) (GOVERNOR'S BILL)

As Maine Goes: Libby Mitchell: Free School Breakfast for H.S. Seniors
Editor's Note: Doesn't this idea just scream 'We Democrats have our spending priorities straight'?

Turn Maine Blue: Is it the War/Terrorism, Stupid?
This opinion piece in today's New York Times by Matthew Continetti postulates that despite recent reports to the contrary, the occupation of Iraq an the fear of terrorism, when combined, is still the number one issue amongst voters:

Turn Maine Blue: Is Milk from Cows Fed GM Corn "Organic?"
It shouldn't come as a surprise that I peruse the op/ed pages of some of the papers in Maine, and so doing I come across pieces that are not politically related. I've been thinking about this piece from this morning's Bangor Daily News all day because it just hasn't sat well with me:

Senate Guru: Maine
Stuart W. Bowen Jr. is the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. His office is under investigation by "the FBI and three other entities for waste and mismanagement." So, of course, he's gallivanting around Maine with Susan Collins, whose record on Iraq oversight is absolutely atrocious and well beyond shameful.

Collins Watch: We noticed
You'll remember that a couple weeks back we expressed confusion about Sen. Collins' curious, questionable alliance with State Department official Stuart Bowen. Today, the Washington Post--in a piece aptly-titled "It's Maine. Who's Going to Notice?"--unpacks some of that confusion, and answers a few of our questions:

News of Maine: New YouTube Video From Senator Collins - Susan Collins christens high-tech vessel In Boothbay
WCSH report:Hodgdon Yachts launched a prototype of a new, high-tech speed boat for the Navy Seals Friday.

A View From My Balcony: The Neighborhood Bully is Homeland Security's Best Friend
Wow, just seems to always go from bad to worse under this New World Order American Fascist regime. Might as well say it as it is…

Politicker ME: Allen wins Gold Mouse
Democratic Congressman Tom Allen has received the coveted "Gold Mouse" award from the Congressional Management Foundation.

Frary to Michaud: 'Puzzling assertions' in impeachment letter
John Frary, Rep. Mike Michaud's Republican challenger in the Second Congressional District race, is calling for the congressman to explain his support for Vice President Dick Cheney's impeachment.

SENATOR COLLINS COMMENTS ON REAL ID REQUIREMENTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, today released the following statement on the Department of Homeland Security's release of regulations related to the REAL ID program:

Brave New Films: Susan Collins Enabled Blackwater And Other War Profitee
Yes, that's "moderate" Susan Collins, who lies about self-imposed term limits, wholeheartedly supports Samuel Alito, walks arm in arm with President Bush and, as this video shows, thinks that Blackwater's stealing your taxpayer money so they can kill people and cover it up deserves to be ignored.

Predicto: Real ID is postponed for 5 years
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration hit the brakes Friday on a controversial law requiring Americans to carry tamper-proof driver's licenses, delaying its final implementation by five years, until 2017.