Maine News for Friday, March 21, 2008

Bangor Daily News

Baldacci signs bills on records, prisons
Friday, March 21, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. John Baldacci is getting busier signing bills sent to him from the Legislature, including one to clarify Maine's public records law and one dealing with the state's prison industries.

Vehicle inspection bill changed in House
Friday, March 21, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - A bill that would have doubled the time between required safety inspections for Maine cars and noncommercial trucks is being weakened in the Legislature.

Damon presses for rail tax break
Friday, March 21, 2008
WASHINGTON - Advocating for legislation to increase freight rail infrastructure, state Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, co-chairman of the Maine Legislature's Transportation Committee, traveled to Washington last week to meet with Maine's congressional delegation.

School days requirement waived - just for seniors
Friday, March 21, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Education Commissioner Susan Gendron has decided to waive the minimum school days requirement for high school seniors because of school time lost to snow this winter.

Lawmakers cite differences over budget cuts
Friday, March 21, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Legislative Democrats and Republicans prepared to permanently part ways Thursday over how to cover a $190 million revenue shortfall in Maine's two-year budget.

Former tribal governor indicted
Friday, March 21, 2008
INDIAN TOWNSHIP, Maine - After years of murmurs and outright accusations of financial improprieties against him, former Passamaquoddy tribal Gov. Robert L. Newell was indicted Wednesday by federal prosecutors.

Kennebec Journal

STOPLIGHT-CAMERA PLAN REJECTED

AUGUSTA Efforts to eradicate hunger called lacking
AUGUSTA -- The director of the National Center on Hunger and Poverty says that charity and advocacy for the poor are failing to meet the nation's hunger crisis, and that it'll take a major federal effort to end hunger.

Reny's recognized for energy efficiency effort
GARDINER -- Reny's Department Stores, a longtime favorite of Maine bargain-hunters, has received an award for becoming more energy-efficient.

Maine tribal leader indicted
The investigation that led to Thursday's indictment of former Indian Township Gov. Robert L. Newell began more than three years ago, when members of the Passamaquoddy tribe complained to the federal government about his administration's financial practices.

Editorials:
Maine ill-served by play-it-safe budget rhetoric
Republican members of the Health and Human Services Committee promised they would offer ideas for state spending cuts in light of the state's projected, $190 million -- and growing -- budget deficit. After all, spending on education and health and human services accounts for 80 percent of the state budget. This was the right place to go.

Columns:
JOSEPH R. REISERT : Obama's speech on religion, church covertly partisan
On Tuesday, Sen. Barack Obama became the second candidate in this election season to deliver a speech explaining to the American people why his membership in a controversial church should not disqualify him from becoming president of the United States.

Portland Press Herald

Ex-tribal governor faces 30 charges
The charges against Robert L. Newell stem from a probe sparked by worker complaints.

Panel calls for investment in USM
An advocacy group says that more funding is essential to getting the university back on track.

Budget fix goes to Legislature next week

Editorials:

Case for USM funding not easy or clear-cut
The University of Southern Maine is undergoing change, but it still competes with other needs.

Sun Journal
Health care changes divide lawmakers
AUGUSTA (AP) - Legislative Democrats and Republicans prepared to permanently part ways Thursday over how to cover a $190 million revenue shortfall in Maine's two-year budget.

MPBN
Tribal Officials Indicted on Multiple Charges
Two former tribal officials with the Passamaquoddy Tribe's Indian Township Reservation have been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud and to commit offenses against the United States. Former tribal Governor Robert Newell of Princeton and former Finance Director James Parisi of Portland are also accused of misapplying tribal and federal government funds. And as Susan Sharon reports, both are facing extended jail time.

Maine News for Tuesday, March 18, 2008

MAINE SECRETARY OF STATE
List of Candidates for Upcoming Elections

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD

Democrats differ on raising state taxes
State House: Despite opposition to social service cuts, the governor holds firm against it.

Races take shape as filing deadline passes
Election 2008: Every legislative district has a Democratic candidate for November's election.

Seattle Times Co. puts Maine newspapers up for sale
The Blethen family makes the 'painful decision' after a decade of ownership.

Editorials:
Bear Stearns bailout necessary, but no fix
Overreaction from the Fed and deficit spending have contributed to this mess.

Use focus on Olympics to pressure China on ill-treatment of Tibet
Unrest over 'cultural genocide' points out Bejing's repressive policies in a tiny neighbor.

Ron BancroftWhy do moderate Mainers keep picking liberal leaders?
Unlike most of the nation, our parties don't have to bend to their extremes, and yet our legislators do.

Jim Batey and Thomas KittredgePlum Creek deal good one for Maine
If the company keeps having to alter and adjust its plan, how long before we lose its benefits?

BANGOR DAILY NEWS

Governor orders $27M in spending cuts; lawmakers surprised
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. John Baldacci surprised legislative leaders and members of the Legislature's budget panel Monday evening when he ordered $27 million in spending cuts be developed by his administration before April 1.

Compromise would allow alewives up to Grand Falls
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - A legislative committee has reached a tentative compromise that would allow alewives in the St. Croix River up to the Grand Falls dam this year.

Bangor: Pharmacy tech indicted in drug case
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - A pharmacy technician from Fort Kent has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly attempting to import oxycodone into the country.

Bangor: Grand jury indicts man on porn charge
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - An Islesford man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly using hidden bathroom cameras, including one in a toilet, to take pictures of his former girlfriend's daughter between 2001 and 2004 when the girl was a juvenile.

Editorials

Dirigo's Future
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The idea of using savings to increase access to health insurance was a cornerstone of the state's Dirigo Health program, so it is unfortunate to see this linkage abandoned. But, for the sake of increasing and improving health insurance coverage, a new way to fund Dirigo appears necessary.

ClickBack on Iraq, teachers
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
This week's ClickBack questions focus on national and local issues. Should the U.S. withdraw from Iraq? Why are no northern Maine teachers up for Teacher of the Year?

Op-Ed

Closing Maine's budget shortfall
Legislators in Augusta face a daunting challenge in closing a nearly $200 million budget shortfall. Like the governor, most seem inalterably committed to resolving this problem without tax increases.

J. Gordon Williamson: Local spending is out of control
There has been a plethora of recent letters, columns and editorials bemoaning the condition of local and state budgets. Expenses are up, revenue is down. Sounds like someone looked at my checkbook.

KENNEBEC JOURNAL

AUGUSTA Deadline passes for party-affiliated candidates for state Legislature
AUGUSTA -- Former Gardiner Mayor Brian Rines and former state legislator Sharon Benoit, both Democrats, will face each other in a June primary for the right to run in the November election.

AUGUSTA Threat to Maine banks minimized
AUGUSTA -- Experts say Maine's financial institutions will remain relatively unscathed by the subprime lending fallout that has rocked Wall Street for months and resulted over the weekend in the collapse of investment bank Bear Stearns.

Blethen Maine Newspapers put up for sale Declining revenues cited by owner, Seattle Times Co.
The Seattle Times Co., owner of the Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel and other Blethen Maine Newspaper properties, is offering the Maine newspapers for sale. The company made the announcement Monday, citing declining revenues company-wide.

Casco Bay Lines planning to add 50-cent surcharge Officials cite record-level prices for diesel fuel
After months of slowing down its boats to save energy, Casco Bay Lines now is planning to add a 50-cent surcharge on all tickets to cover diesel fuel prices that have spiked to record level.

Opinion
BY MARK ISHKANIAN AND ED MILLER : Raising tobacco tax makes sense
The growing budget deficit, coupled with a need to find a more secure funding source for the Dirigo Health Initiative and the drive to keep Maine youth from taking up smoking, present the Maine Legislature with a unique opportunity at a time of tough choices. We are talking about increasing the state tobacco tax.

SUN JOURNAL

Another rate cut expected
WASHINGTON - All eyes are on the Federal Reserve Tuesday as its policy-making committee tries to spark the sick U.S. economy back to health, slashing short-term interest rates by what Wall Street believes may be a full percentage point.

EDITORIAL
Boulevard of broken budgets
Maine, you're not alone. The Associated Press examined the budgets of all 50 states and found the same revenue shortfall, sky-is-falling scenario is occurring coast-to-coast.

Letters
Partisan pathways
This is in response to a letter from Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-District 14, that was printed Jan. 19.

MPBN
Blethen Maine Newspapers For Sale

Just days after the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram announced a round of 27 layoffs, the daily newspaper's parent company said today that it's exploring the sale of all three of its newspapers in Maine. Citing challenges in the industry, CEO and Publisher Frank Blethen said his company needs to focus on its newspapers in Washington State, including the Seattle Times. As Susan Sharon reports, industry watchers are optimistic the three Maine dailies can be sold as a package.

Legislature Considers Ethics Law Changes

A year ago the Maine legislature deferred action on a blue ribbon panel's recommendations to impose stricter ethical standards on state lawmakers. At the time, some perceived the move as a lack of resolve at the State House to confront potentially thorny issues involving legislators. But members of the Legislature's Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee are spending much of this week reviewing ways to provide increased disclosure on lawmakers' financial dealings and conduct. A.J. Higgins reports.

Looking at Oil Prices

Local Host Irwin Gratz talks with Charles Colgan, an economic expert and professor at the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine.

Maine News for Monday, March 17, 2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD
Panel rejects some DHHS cuts
Lawmakers disapprove of the severity and long-term costs of the proposed cuts to the social safety net.

Pingree joins push for ending Iraq war
One of six Democratic candidates for the U.S. House, she hopes to set herself apart.

STATE HOUSE NOTES: House begins cost-cutting test with computers

Saco wind turbine off to a slow start
Though power output is below expectations so far, the windmill is attracting plenty of attention.

EDITORIALS:
Earmark competition is one Maine can't win
Opposition to outside-the-budget spending is not just principled, but also practical.

Long lease makes sense for Maine State Pier project
The public benefit of a successful project justifies a 75-year commitment by the state.

Ed Pontius and Carol CaruthersMental health spending cuts senseless
The state's most vulnerable citizens need protection, not more exposure to harm.

ANOTHER VIEW: Development can become a monster devouring a beautiful city
If tax revenue is the only objective, people will just get in the way -- so remove them.


BANGOR DAILY NEWS
Legislators seek budget solutions
Monday, March 17, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Members of the Legislature's appropriations committee are going far beyond the budget proposals of Gov. John Baldacci to set their own spending priorities.

Gold prices have Mainers looking to sell
Monday, March 17, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - As the price of gold topped $1,002 an ounce on the world market, Mainers looking for a quick infusion of cash are rummaging around in their jewelry cases and safety deposit boxes.

Mainers rally for peace
Monday, March 17, 2008
Shayla Goss and Karen Ellis were still in high school when the Iraq war began five years ago. 'Nobody knew what to think about it then,' Ellis, now 20, of Winterport said Saturday.

MCI ethics class focuses on Iraq war issues
Monday, March 17, 2008
PITTSFIELD, Maine - The radiators in the library at Maine Central Institute didn't even have to click on for the heat to rise on a discussion Friday in Winn Price's class.

KENNEBEC JOURNAL

Tourism industry crossing fingers
Rising gasoline prices across the country might cool off the vacation plans of many Americans this year.

State's social services chief caught between her heart and frugal place
AUGUSTA -- Brenda Harvey spent much of her career working with people who are disabled, poor or mentally ill.

Project envisions a House without paper
AUGUSTA -- Ten members of the House will have computers on their desks this morning as part of a pilot project to use less paper in the Legislature.

Editorials:

Poisons in plain sight putting our kids at risk
Inhalants can seem like the perfect drug to a kid: free or cheap, often readily available in their refrigerator, garage or bathroom. And they are legal, so how can they be dangerous?

SUN JOURNAL

High oil prices fuel house fires
AUGUSTA (AP) - As heating oil prices soar to record levels, fire officials worry that Maine households may be forced to resort to dangerous alternatives in order to keep warm.

EDITORIAL:
A smoke- screen for DirigoChoice
By proposing to balance DirigoChoice, in part, upon a 50-cent per-pack tax increase on tobacco makes us wonder what is being smoked in Augusta.

MPBN
Democratic Leaders Part Company With Baldacci Budget Approach

Democratic leaders in Augusta say they will find their own solution to the state's $190 million budget shortfall, in an attempt to soften the impact of Gov. John Baldacci's proposed cuts in education and health and human services programs. Although ranking Democrats have agreed not to include any new broad-based taxes to balance the budget, they have left open the option of other revenue raisers that could be perceived as a tax. A.J. Higgins reports.

Chief Justice Announces Reprieve On Trial Suspensions

Civil rights advocates and some lawyers in Maine breathed a sigh of relief today, after Chief Justice Leigh Saufley of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court today announced that the state will not suspend criminal trials as a way of meeting budget cuts. Tom Porter reports.

Legislature Approves Loans For Geothermal Heating

As home heating oil prices continue to climb, more Mainers are taking a new look at geothermal heat pumps. These heating systems take advantage of the earth's constant temperature to heat houses. They are not cheap, but a bill that won final legislative approval today would provide low-interest loans to take the sting out of the tab. Murray Carpenter reports.