Maine News for Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Real Clear Politics
RCP Average 10/21 - 10/28, Obama 50.2 to McCain 43.9

Pollster.com
Latest analysis

Portland Press Herald

An angry Allen says Collins crosses line with ads
Election 2008: He accuses her of distorting his voting record at times when family came first.

Sens. Snowe, Collins split on Stevens
Olympia Snowe wants him to resign; Susan Collins wants voters to decide.

Panel: Maine economy needs a few good ideas
A business forum talks of wind farms, biomedical research and the need for many ideas to toss around.

Dow leaps, but hopes for stability fail to follow
Investors are cheered by today's likely cut in interest rates, but they also are bracing for a recession.

Obama infomercial airs at 8 p.m. for half-hour
Obama is the first presidential candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 to purchase a half-hour of prime time.

Mainers gobbling lobster to keep industry afloat
Strong local sales help stabilize prices, but long-term changes are needed to expand the market.

Snow forecast jolts fall season
Ski resorts take notice as Maine's mountains were due to get 1 to 3 inches.

Airing out their differences
Rivals in 1st District spar on health care, taxes and economy

Editorial

Mermin, Suslovic for Portland City Council
Two moderate, articulate problem-solvers lead the field in this year's council races.

There's no clear path to unclogging credit markets
An infusion of capital into healthy banks hasn’t produced the desired result – yet.

GREG KESICHLooking for socialists in all the wrong places
'Socialist' has replaced 'liberal' as the meanest thing one candidate can say to another.

Bangor Daily News

Unemployment spurs state hiring

BANGOR, Maine — The current large number of unemployment claims in Maine means that people are pretty busy at the Maine Department of Labor.

State cuts may slice jobs

AUGUSTA, Maine — Hundreds of state jobs and some existing programs would be eliminated in order to meet Gov. John Baldacci’s goal of reducing state spending by at least 10 percent in the next two-year budget, documents indicate.

Mainers give Obama 19-point lead in poll; Collins ahead

PORTLAND, Maine — A new poll suggests a 19-point lead for Barack Obama over John McCain in the presidential race in Maine, while Republican Sen. Susan Collins maintains a 17-point lead over her Democratic challenger, Rep. Tom Allen.

Guidelines created to track graduation rates

WASHINGTON — High schools are coming under pressure from the federal government to improve the nation’s dismal dropout rate — one in four students.

Study: School consolidation partners report reluctance, pessimism

ORONO, Maine — Communities are doing what they have to do in order to comply with the state’s school consolidation law, but are doing so reluctantly, under compulsion and with little optimism about the final outcome.

Weak economy fails to deter arena panel

BANGOR, Maine — Even in the face of an unstable national economy, the city is not backing off its proposed timeline for a much-needed new arena and convention center.

Bangor housing project gaining ground

BANGOR, Maine — Demolition has begun on a rundown Harlow Street building, a site that soon will become home to a four-story, 55-unit apartment complex specifically marketed to the elderly.

Editorial
Oh, Canada

If you lived in Canada, your national elections would be over by now. And you …

An Unnecessary Ending

The McCain campaign’s descent into nastiness has elicited strong rebukes from …

Kennebec Journal

O'Brien blasted on dual roles
AUGUSTA -- The Maine Democratic Party filed a complaint with the ethics commission Tuesday that alleges a conflict of interest regarding an expenditure made by the Maine Republican Party to support House candidate and GOP Executive Director Julie O'Brien of Augusta.

Pingree, Summers spar about economy
Fixing the flailing economy was the hot topic in Tuesday's televised debate between the candidates in Maine's 1st Congressional District race.

Collins cites creation of jobs as top priority
NORRIDGEWOCK -- Republican Sen. Susan M. Collins said Tuesday that bringing jobs back to America is the key to a secure future as the nation and the state gear up for an historic election Nov. 4.

States team up vs. mercury
Officials in Maine and six other Northeastern states are hoping a never-before-used provision of the Clean Water Act will force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to control mercury emissions from power plants outside the region.

Snow, but little accumulation, gives area a preview of winter
The leaves are still changing color, Halloween is just around the corner and weather forecasters are predicting snow.

ATTENDANCE UNDER SCRUTINY
U.S. Rep. Tom Allen angrily defended his attendance record in Congress on Tuesday, accusing his Republican opponent in the U.S. Senate race, incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, of offending his family in a series of campaign advertisements that focus on Allen's missed votes.

Allen cites 'change' themes
WATERVILLE -- He might be down in the polls with a week to go, but Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen sees a path to victory in the Maine U.S. Senate race.

31/2 years for grandma who stole almost $1M from family business
AUGUSTA -- A Waterville grandmother will serve 3 1/2 years behind bars for embezzling almost $1 million from her family's business.

Panel: MaineHousing improperly nixed aid
AUGUSTA -- Failing to keep a clean, orderly house should not cost a disabled woman her public housing voucher, the Maine Human Rights Commission concluded Monday.

POLICE
AUGUSTA -- A Kennebec County jail inmate remained hospitalized Tuesday after swallowing pencils in an apparent suicide attempt.

Editorials:

Feds are too secretive about use of our $700B
We supported the $700 billion rescue program passed by Congress in early October. The idea behind it was to inject money into the financial system, which has been reeling from the toxic debt taken on by lenders in the subprime mortgage market.

New thinking about roads doesn't mean we should abandon them
The best transportation policy for Maine would be more efficient vehicles, cheaper fuel and less costly methods of construction and maintenance of roads and bridges.

Sun Journal
Allen lashes out at Collins over missed-votes TV ads
PORTLAND (AP) - Democrat Tom Allen lashed out Tuesday against Republican Susan Collins over campaign ads pointing out that he missed 157 votes in the House, calling them "petty, ugly and personal attacks." Collins said she stood by the ads.

Mainers favor Obama, Collins, according to poll
PORTLAND (AP) - A new poll suggests a 19-point lead for Barack Obama over John McCain in the presidential race in Maine, while Republican Sen. Susan Collins maintains a 17-point lead over her Democratic challenger, Rep. Tom Allen.

Voters ban election signs from traffic island

Editorial
Where does the invisible buck stop?
After Alan Greenspan testified before Congress recently, a question crossed our minds: In this failing economy, caused by a dearth of actual currency and a wealth of imaginary credit, where does the (real or invisible) buck stop?

Mugging claim provides a paradigm of paranoia
It smelled worse than rotting garbage in triple digit heat, but I'm not surprised some folks swallowed it anyway.

MPBN

Sex Offender Registry Revisions May Be Delayed

The Maine's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee's planned revisions to the state's controversial sex offender registry law may have to wait until Maine's highest court rules on several appeals. Earlier this year, the committee attempted to correct a retroactive amendment to the law that would remove the names of those who had committed crimes between 1982 and 1992. Gov. John Baldacci vetoed the bill and asked the panel to take another look at the issue next year. But as A.J. Higgins reports, by then, Maine may not have a sex offender registry law on the books.

Allen Defends Voting Record

Under attack by his opponent for his attendance record in Congress, Democratic Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Tom Allen held an unusual news conference at his home with his ailing wife and his daughter today. Although Allen attempted to point out that he has taken thousands of votes in Congress and only missed several dozen during his career, there were also more questions raised about his missed votes by the Collins campaign. Susan Sharon has more.

Ad Execs Say Obama Masters Web Campaigning

Morning Edition host Irwin Gratz talks with Sam Surprise of Surprise Advertising and Brenda Garrand of Garrand and Company about the success the Democratic Presidential candidate has had raising money on the web and how the technique will change both political and commercial advertising.

Maine News for Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Real Clear Politics
RCP Average 10/20 - 10/27 -- Obama 50.3 to McCain 44.1

Portland Press Herald
Fending off blight
Some Maine communities will get a share of federal funds to buy and resell homes lost to foreclosure.

Officers back before AG ruling
Police may change policies on reinstatements before a shooting decision is made.

One firm financing support for slots
The owner of Hollywood Slots in Bangor is behind the efforts to bring slot machines to Scarborough.

With week to go, Allen tries to cull momentum from Obama
Election 2008: Sen. Collins just needs to avoid errors, an expert says.

BILL NEMITZThis time, House 102 race isn't even close

State rejects plan for rebuilt dam
The DEP says the project to power historic Scribner's Mill would threaten Sebago Lake's landlocked salmon population.

Democrats fined $5,000 for late report
The party is accountable for a content change to mailers that required immediate disclosure.

Poll shows Palin hurting GOP ticket
The Republican base loves her, but others see Palin unfavorably and question John McCain's judgment.

DNC chairman Howard Dean to address UM-Farmington rally
The ex-Vermont governor also will campaign for Barack Obama in Orono and in Portland.

HOUSE DISTRICT 66: Brunswick voters will have three party options
A Democrat, Republican and Green vie to represent the town as it prepares for the base closing.

Editorial

Portland voters should start charter process
Introducing a popularly elected mayor is just one idea that is worthy of exploration.

State's high court got it right by protecting political speech
The government shouldn't be deciding which politicians are telling the truth.

RON BANCROFTIt will help a lot to send more moderates to Augusta
There are options in southern Maine for moving beyond partisan issues for the good of all.

Bangor Daily News

Early bird ballots

BANGOR, Maine — City voters hoping to avoid the usual hassles of Election Day by casting in-person absentee ballots may not experience the smooth sailing they expected.

The kindness of strangers

Air Force Master Sgt. Colette Beaulieu of Hermon had a lot on her mind as she prepared for her recent deployment. Because her future plans were unclear, she had a home to sell, household belongings to put into storage, and an 18-year-old son to settle into a new apartment.

Backers of beverage tax blast lawsuit

BANGOR, Maine — Supporters of the state’s DirigoChoice health insurance program have raised the alarm over a lawsuit filed last week that challenges the savings offset payment, the program’s primary but unpopular current source of funding.

Baldacci fiscal plan earns a 'B'

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci got a B on this year’s fiscal report card from the conservative, Washington, D.C.-based Cato Institute, up from the D he got from the group two years ago.

Maine Democrats fined $5,000

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s campaign watchdog agency has fined the state Democratic Party $5,000 for filing an expenditure report 20 days late with the state.

New poll on Maine casino indicates dead heat

PORTLAND, Maine — A new poll commissioned by the company that wants to build a resort casino in Oxford finds that likely voters are narrowly divided on the project in what amounts to a statistical

UM gets patent for waterfront technology

ORONO, Maine — Researchers at the University of Maine’s Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center have been awarded a patent for new technology that could change waterfront construction methods for both large companies and individuals.

Hermon to decide local issues at polls

HERMON, Maine — People who go to the elementary school gym next Tuesday to vote for president will find that they also have stumbled onto a special town meeting.

Editorial

Lobster for Dinner

Maine’s lobsters are clearly sustainable, through license limits, trap limits, V-notching of females and throwing back undersize and oversize lobsters. But what about the lobstermen and the lobster industry? Both are in bad shape these days.

Kennebec Journal
ANIMALS' FATE IN BALANCE
AUGUSTA -- The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Monday considered the fate of 66 dogs, four cats and one bird seized in January from the Somerville home of Fern Clark.

Students see how top court functions
AUGUSTA -- The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Monday literally moved to Cony High School.

AUGUSTA Tax foes raise $3.5M Group seeks to kill beverage tax, which helps pay for Dirigo
AUGUSTA -- Fed Up With Taxes, the group behind Question 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot, has raised $3.5 million to fund a campaign to overturn taxes on beer, wine, soda and other flavored drinks, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.

Dems fined $5,000
AUGUSTA -- The ethics commission voted 5-0 Monday to impose a $5,000 fine on the Maine Democratic Party for filing an expenditure report 20 days late.

Crockett denied funds
AUGUSTA -- The ethics commission voted 4-1 Monday not to award Rep. Patsy Crockett, D-Augusta, more public money for her campaign, even though a write-in candidate is running against her.

Dean, of Vt., to visit UMF Wednesday
FARMINGTON -- Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will speak at the "A Vote for Change" rally Wednesday at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Editorial

Clean Elections law plagued by 'substantial' hole
In early June, the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics gave $4,144 to Rep. Patsy Crockett, who was running for re-election in a contested race for House District 57 in Augusta. Crockett was running as a Clean Elections candidate and that amount represented her allotment of Maine Clean Election Act funds from the state. The same amount was also paid to other House candidates in a contested general election.

MAROULLA GLEATON, M.D., OF PALERMO, PRACTICES OPHT : VOTE 'NO' ON QUESTION 1 Health coverage, quality care most important issues
As a local physician, I appreciate the opportunity to address concerns about Question 1. On Election Day, Maine voters will decide what is more important to them: preserving and expanding health coverage for Maine families, children and small businesses; lowering the current assessment on health claims; providing rate reform to 40,000 Mainers who pay for their own health insurance, or pennies on a glass of wine, a beer or soda.

DAVID B. OFFER : McCain, Palin should have seized moment
Serving as county sheriff used to be a family affair in Wisconsin.

Sun Journal
Casino election tight, poll suggests
PORTLAND - A new poll commissioned by the company that wants to build a $184 million resort casino in Oxford indicates that likely voters are narrowly divided on the project in what amounts to a statistical dead heat.

Bedbugs cause shelter to close
PORTLAND (AP) - An emergency shelter for drug addicts in Maine's largest city was closed because of a bedbug infestation, but officials hope they can reopen the facility Tuesday.

State opposes Crooked River dam
PORTLAND (AP) - The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a draft order that would block the restoration of the historic Scribner's Mill Dam on the Crooked River in Harrison.

Quoddy Bay withdraws request for state permits
AUGUSTA (AP) - Quoddy Bay LNG has withdrawn its request for state permits to build a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline at the Passamaquoddy Indian reservation at Pleasant Point in eastern Maine.

Contrarian vs. incumbent in Maine's 2nd District
LEWISTON - Maine's sprawling 2nd Congressional District has produced such Republican luminaries as Bill Cohen, Olympia Snowe and the late Margaret Chase Smith, all of whom went on to the Senate and made names for themselves on the national stage.

Absentee ballots prove popular in Twin Cities
One in seven registered Twin Cities voters has already cast a ballot in November's presidential election, according to statistics from the offices of the city clerks.

Pair charged in plot to kill Obama, others
WASHINGTON - Two white supremacists allegedly plotted to go on a national killing spree, shooting and decapitating black people and ultimately targeting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, federal authorities said Monday.

Editorial
There's no defense for deception
As a newspaper, we vigorously defend the First Amendment right to free speech. It's the most potent freedom ever granted a human citizenry, and our most effective weapon against tyranny and oppression.

MPBN

Differences In Question One Debate Focus On The Numbers

On November 4, Maine voters will be asked Question One: whether they want to repeal a beverage tax that would fund the state's Dirigo Health program. It may be no surprise that those who want to dump the tax say it will cost more than those who support Dirigo, which provides insurance to Mainers based on their ability to pay. But the difference in the projected size of the tax is gaping. Josie Huang reports.

A Your Vote 2008 Candidate Profile: Chellie Pingree

s a young woman she never planned on running for the Maine Legislature or dreamed that she would head Common Cause or raise millions of dollars to mount a bid for Congress, twice. Those are just a few of the highlights of Democrat Chellie Pingree's resume. In legislative circles she's best-known for taking on the pharmaceutical lobby to spearhead the first-in-the-nation bill regulating prescription drug prices. Now she's hoping to be the first woman elected to Congress in Maine's first district. As part of our Your Vote 2008 Election coverage, Susan Sharon has this profile.

Maine Hopes To Tap Into Culinary Tourism As "The Next Napa Valley"

If asked to name two industries associated with the state of Maine, many of us would probably mention tourism and seafood. The combination of these two activities - vacations and dining - underscored a new three-day food wine festival in the Portland area, which wrapped up over the weekend. Harvest on the Harbor attracted thousands of visitors from Maine and across the country, featuring large scale, tastings, cooking demos, seminars and black tie dinners. Tom Porter was there.

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Maine News

Differences In Question One Debate Focus On The Numbers

On November 4, Maine voters will be asked Question One: whether they want to repeal a beverage tax that would fund the state's Dirigo Health program. It may be no surprise that those who want to dump the tax say it will cost more than those who support Dirigo, which provides insurance to Mainers based on their ability to pay. But the difference in the projected size of the tax is gaping. Josie Huang reports.

A Your Vote 2008 Candidate Profile: Chellie Pingree

s a young woman she never planned on running for the Maine Legislature or dreamed that she would head Common Cause or raise millions of dollars to mount a bid for Congress, twice. Those are just a few of the highlights of Democrat Chellie Pingree's resume. In legislative circles she's best-known for taking on the pharmaceutical lobby to spearhead the first-in-the-nation bill regulating prescription drug prices. Now she's hoping to be the first woman elected to Congress in Maine's first district. As part of our Your Vote 2008 Election coverage, Susan Sharon has this profile.

Maine Hopes To Tap Into Culinary Tourism As "The Next Napa Valley"

If asked to name two industries associated with the state of Maine, many of us would probably mention tourism and seafood. The combination of these two activities - vacations and dining - underscored a new three-day food wine festival in the Portland area, which wrapped up over the weekend. Harvest on the Harbor attracted thousands of visitors from Maine and across the country, featuring large scale, tastings, cooking demos, seminars and black tie dinners. Tom Porter was there.

For Now, Credit Available to Maine Small Business

How the economic crisis on Wall Street affects main streets across the state will depend, in part, on whether loans continue flowing from local banks to small business. Karen Mills, a venture capitalist and President of MMP Group, tells Morning Edition Host Irwin Gratz government may have to help in the months ahead. And she urges small business to lobby Congress to include small business aid in any new economic stimulus bill.

Listener Feedback: From Sears Island to "Scallops"

From time to time, we share our listener's thoughts about our recent work. We've heard from several people about things they didn't like, as reported by Tom Porter and Josie Huang.

Maine News for Monday, October 27, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Long-term state idea: Energy use 'clusters'
The strategy, plus an emphasis on renewable resources, is part of a draft plan that envisions an energy transformation in Maine.

1st District: Undecideds cloud race
Election 2008: Polls show Chellie Pingree has a lead, but large numbers of voters are still making up their minds.

State to scrutinize contracts with colleges
No-bid contracts, while legal, have little oversight and officials want to verify the money is spent wisely.

Wall Street turmoil cuts into Colby endowment

HOUSE DISTRICT 60: Energy, economy top campaign issues
Both rank as priorities for the candidates seeking the House District 60 seat that represents Topsham.

Editorial
County reform served best by Cloutier, Larsen
These experienced newcomers to county government can help make it better.

Leigh DonaldsonToo often contrary facts don't influence our beliefs
Our views of current events prove remarkably resistant to evidence or corrections.

Next Legislature should not knock out school merger law
School districts should still find partners
while the referendum process plays out.

[October 26, 2008]

Bangor Daily News

Rain, wind topple trees, spur floods

Gusty winds, hard rain and ocean swells of more than 9 feet caused damage in midcoast and Down East Maine on Sunday morning. Trees toppled, there was minor flooding and a lobster boat sank at the Searsport town wharf, but there were no reports of injury.

Why Maine splits its electoral votes

Does the Electoral College have you stumped, especially the part about Maine and Nebraska being the only two states that can divvy up their electoral votes among presidential candidates? Here’s a quick refresher course.

Rockland rallies to support state lobster industry

ROCKLAND, Maine — A day after the governor of Maine estab-lished a task force to review the sustainability of the state’s lobster industry, Rockland came together to rally the industry on its own.

Editorial

Houses and Homes

The next president and Congress have a rare opportunity to remake the way Americans build, buy and sell houses. The current economic downturn is linked in large part to the boom, bubble and bust cycle of the housing sector.

What’s the Rush?

There are good reasons for revising the Endangered Species Act — it is slow and cumbersome for some developers and landowners, for example — but any such rewrite must be thoughtful

Kennebec Journal

Mills eyes two state positions
FARMINGTON -- In November, a three-term representative in the Maine House, Democrat Janet T. Mills, hopes to be re-elected by voters in Farmington and Industry.

Major MaineGeneral donors express concerns
WATERVILLE -- Some area philanthropists have expressed concern about MaineGeneral Health's plan to consolidate operations in Augusta, with at least one saying the move will cost the medical center her financial support.

Auto dealers weathering the storm
Randy Miller has been selling cars for 35 years. He has seen the industry at its best and he has struggled through the worst, like the fear that gripped the nation as gasoline was rationed in the 1970s.

KENNEBEC COMMUTER: MTA tries to justify toll hike
A little bird (better known as our colleague Susan Cover) had a story in the newspaper not too long ago about the Maine Turnpike Authority raising the tolls next year.

Editorials

Political speech, other tall tales still protected
After a two-year-long presidential race, we hardly need to remind our readers that election campaigns practically invented lies, distortions, untruths, half-truths, falsehoods, misrepresentations and fairy tales.

Sun Journal
Collins: I want Lewiston
That Susan Collins wants to win her race for re-election should come as no surprise; that the incumbent Republican U.S. senator has a goal of winning the city of Lewiston, might.

Political campaigns flooding mailboxes
WASHINGTON (AP) - Mailboxes stuffed and it's not even the holidays? It must be election season.

Editorial
Cleaning out the inbox …
Cheers and jeers from around the news:

Next president should support Israel-Syria talks
The next president will inherit a depressing litany of Mideast problems. But there is a chance to change that negative dynamic by zeroing in on a promising Mideast peace track that was never supported by the Bush team.

MPBN

Chamber Challenges Dirigo Health Funding

The state Chamber of Commerce has a filed a lawsuit challenging the funding for Dirigo Health. Details from Josie Huang.

AG Candidate Addresses Past Lapse In Attorney License Status

With less than two weeks to go until Election Day, candidates for the Maine Legislature are actively courting voters. But behind the scenes, the candidates themselves are being courted by three legislators who are vying to become Maine's next Attorney General. Maine is the only state that elects its Attorney General by a popular vote of the Legislature. In the first of a two-part series on the contest, A.J. Higgins reports that one of the leading candidates for the job has not held an active license to practice law in Maine for five of the last seven years.

'Climate Change 21' Focuses on Current Research

Some of the nation's most current scientific research in the field of climate change was presented at the University of Maine this week. The Orono campus hosted a conference titled Climate Change 21: Choices for the 21 Century. As Anne Ravana reports, more than 500 scientists, students and others gathered to discuss issues ranging from the Ice Age to fuel cell technology.