Maine News for Thursday, January 31, 2008

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD:
Senate race nears spending record
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The two candidates in Maine's U.S. Senate race moved closer to the state's campaign spending record, raising a combined total of close to $7.5 million through the end of December.

Narrowing of field excites GOP in Maine
Election 2008: State Republicans will caucus this weekend as their party's presidential race tightens.

Crowd criticizes I-295 widening
Most who attended a Portland meeting also want more invested in public transportation.

Natural resource merger plan opposed
Several lawmakers, a lobstermen's group and dozens of others express their concerns.

State officials warn of cuts in funds for health care
Changes in federal Medicaid rules will affect the elderly, children and people with mental illness.

Cribbage players: State oversight not necessary
They tell a legislative committee that they play a game of skill, not of chance.

Portland school committee maps out goals
Members hope to achieve three objectives in three years, including better finances and enrollment.

EDITORIAL: Ready or not, here comes a higher deficit
Congress and the president appear determined to spend money they don't have.

EDITORIAL: A Republican-only primary win bodes well for McCain
Support from the party's core and his appeal to independents will make him tough to beat.

MAINE VOICES: Between new trains or buses, tires win
Yes, roads are subsidized, but it would only take a modest expense to add more buses.

LTE: Is rebate in our best interest?


BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
Federal cuts could cost Maine millions
AUGUSTA - Baldacci administration officials said Wednesday pending federal changes in Medicaid rules could cost the state of Maine $45 million through the next 16 months. They also said community losses, including for nonprofit health care providers and schools, could total $141 million over the same period.

Controversial cold lunch plan hard to swallow
MADAWASKA - A proposal that would have given an alternative meal of jelly sandwiches, milk and fruit to students in the Madawaska School Department whose lunch accounts are delinquent has inflamed the community.

Bangor: Records, transport businesses expanding to southern Maine
BANGOR, Maine - In Maine, business expansions traditionally run northward. A Bangor-based entrepreneur, however, is bucking that trend with an expansion south to Auburn.

Stimulus boost a possible bust for Maine
AUGUSTA - Mainers are not likely to get the full immediate benefit of the federal stimulus package passed by the U.S. House because of the cost to the state of going along with tax changes that are aimed at boosting business investments.

Collins, Snowe seek fuel funds
WASHINGTON - Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is helping lead the fight in the Senate to amend the economic stimulus package passed by the House on Tuesday to include up to $1.5 billion to help low-income people pay their home heating bills.

EDITORIAL: Republican Choices
When Maine Republicans begin caucusing Friday, they will have distinct choices to make. Many may argue that with the public, and the Republican Party, frustrated by the failures of the Bush administration, they should choose a candidate who stands in sharp contrast to President Bush. More important than their differences from or similarities to President Bush, are the candidates' alignment with the party's principles.

EDITORIAL: The Unkindest Cut
At a time when Congress is deciding how best to stimulate the sagging economy, the Bush administration is pushing ahead with cuts in Medicaid funding that will further strain state and local budgets and reduce services to children and people with chronic illness and disabilities.

Brenda M. Harvey: Adjustments necessary to sustain care system
Like states across the country, Maine is facing difficult budget times. Gov. John Baldacci has submitted his approach to addressing a $95 million revenue downturn to the Legislature. But just as the work on those plans has begun in earnest, the state's economic forecasters are warning of more bad news ahead.

LTE: Money for kids; Huckabee is consistent; Statesmen needed; Republicans are no help


MORNING SENTINEL:
State officials decry changes to Medicaid
AUGUSTA -- Baldacci administration officials said Wednesday pending federal changes in Medicaid rules could cost the state of Maine $45 million through the next 16 months.

Fuel prices retreat from upward trend
Central Maine residents this week were encouraged by a price drop in home heating fuel from as high as $3.43 a gallon last week, to being in the $3.20 range Wednesday.

EDITORIAL: Philosopher would smile at jail compromise
Long ago, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, there lived a German philosopher by the name of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.

COLUMN: Budget shortfall a serious challenge that means real cuts
The state budget is a complex series of documents and difficult choices. Only a handful of legislators really understand how it is put together and what all of it means.

COLUMN: Foster parent pay cuts not as worrisome as prevention service cuts
Like Chip Moors and his wife, I was a therapeutic foster parent when the cuts came to reimbursement for us. I am an adoptive parent now and the cuts to adoption subsidy affect me now.

COLUMN: 1st District Democratic candidates focusing on illogical issue Do they really believe Cheney impeachment Mainers' primary concern?
Take heart, everyone, we are about to enter a new phase of the election season, when we all get a rest from the round-the-clock demands on our attention by the presidential races.

LTE: 'Mainer' easy label, but 'people of Maine' classier

LTE: Home for profoundly retarded kids in danger
We are concerned about the recent news that the Elizabeth Levinson Center will be privatized by July 1.

LTE: It's time for Maine to recognize Independents
What happened to Maine? There is no registration card for Independents because we are told Maine doesn't have a third party. Is this democracy?


KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
Randolph plans war memorial
RANDOLPH -- A committee has been formed to raise money to establish a new memorial to the community's war veterans, organizers said this week.

LTE: Ron Paul only candidate true to his beliefs
The media has tried their best to ignore him, ridicule him, or at times lie about him. In the debates, he's usually not given much time. When he is asked questions, many are nonissues and intend to make him look bad. The other Republican candidates laugh at him and/or ridicule him. They sling mud and he does not.


SUN JOURNAL:
Baldacci plan draws additional opposition
AUGUSTA - Agricultural and forestry organizations joined groups of outdoorsmen Wednesday to register opposition to a still developing plan by Gov. John Baldacci to consolidate natural resource agencies in Maine.

Medicaid changes could spike costs for special education
LEWISTON - Pending Medicaid rule changes could result in higher property taxes to school districts with sizable special education student populations, Lewiston's director of special education said Wednesday.

LTE: Rumford realism
It's budget time in Rumford. Unfortunately, there is a potential for a rise in local property taxes if spending isn't reduced in the budget. The town faces economic decline, but large municipal expenditures are in the news (new library, new public safety building, new MedCare building, Region 9 building expansion, municipal building upgrades). Residents must acknowledge the economic facts to move forward as a vibrant society.

COLUMN: Rich bear heaviest burden of federal income tax
Should non-taxpayers get a tax rebate? That had been the revealing sticking point in the Washington debate over an economic stimulus package.


TIMES RECORD:
Watson pushing bill that would require boater safety training
AUGUSTA — A proposal to require mandatory boating safety classes for those who operate motorboats in Maine is being amended to address concerns that it could discourage young people from getting out on the water.

School consolidation foes miss petition deadline
AUGUSTA — The group collecting petition signatures to overturn the school consolidation law officially missed the deadline Monday to get the repeal question on the November ballot, but vowed it will keep up the effort.


YORK COUNTY COAST STAR:
Oil prices take toll on Wells' general assiatance program
WELLS — The winter's cold weather and soaring oil prices have combined to put the squeeze on many household budgets this year. As an extension of that, the Town of Wells is feeling the pinch on its general assistance budget and is looking to the community for help.


MAINE COAST NOW:
Governor issues statement on proposed changes to Medicaid rules and the impact on Maine
AUGUSTA — Gov. John E. Baldacci today released the following statement regarding proposed federal rule changes for Medicaid. The changes will reduce federal funding for significant programs for the elderly, persons with developmental disabilities, school-aged children and persons with mental illness.

LTE: Losing jobs in Camden
We hope it is just a coincidence that we have two front-page stories this week about businesses in Camden either moving, or looking to move, out of town.

LTE: We support the shield law
We would like to thank Rep. Jon Hinck, D-Portland, for sponsoring the proposed journalist "shield law" that would protect journalists from being forced to reveal their confidential sources.

EDITORIAL: George Bush's Keynes Mutiny
When George W. Bush ran for the presidency in 2000, he promised to bring back the economic policies of Ronald Reagan. At multiple campaign stops, Bush said his administration would "reduce tax rates for everyone in every bracket." And in 2003 Congress passed a plan that lowered taxes, relief from the so-called "marriage penalty," and an increase in the child tax credit, among other initiatives.


LINCOLN COUNTY NEWS:
LIHEAP Official Grilled by South Bristol Selectman
Midcoast Maine Community Action Program Executive Director Jessica Tyson hadn't expected to be on the hot seat before the South Bristol selectmen and budget committee on Thurs., Jan. 24, when she appeared to request $350 in municipal support.

State Growth Amendment Pits Coastal Legislators Against Service Center Reps
Proponents of an amendment that would leave it up to local voters to decide if they want to opt out of a new law, requiring big-box stores to do an economic impact study before they can get permission to build, hope the appeal of home rule will trump concerns about chain stories coming in and taking away business from the locals.

Two Clamming Bills Endorsed by Committee
Three bills sponsored by Rep. Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick, and Rep. David Webster, D-Freeport, and supported by the Maine Clammers Association (MCA) were discussed on Monday by the Legislature's Marine Resources Committee.

Commentary -- Downeaster: Stay the Course, or Cut and Run
An aggressive lobbying campaign has begun for Maine's Legislature to appropriate up to $8-million annually to replace an expiring federal subsidy for the Downeaster rail passenger service between Portland and Boston. The same elected officials are charged with overcoming a projected $95-million budget deficit, raising public passions pro and con.


FOSTER'S DAILY DEMOCRAT:
Collins, Allen raise a combined $7.5 million for Senate race
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The two leading candidates in Maine's U.S. Senate race have raised a combined total of about $7.5 million, putting them on track to set a state record for campaign spending.


WMTW:
Allen, Michaud Favor Economic Stimulus Package
WASHINGTON -- Maine's two Democratic congressmen have voted in favor of a $146 billion economic stimulus package that passed Tuesday in the House of Representatives.


MPBN:
Medicaid Services Jeopardized Under Federal Rules Changes
Thousands of Maine children, disabled adults and entire communities will feel the sting of pending federal changes in Medicaid rules. The new rules could also expand a projected gap in the current state budget by another $45 million dollars. Commissioners of the Education and Health and Human Services departments met with reporters this morning to outline the effect of the changes on state programs and services. Congressional efforts are underway to postpone the federal action. But as AJ Higgins reports, in the absence of intervention, the outlook from the state capitol is bleak.

Advocates Worry About Effects of Medicaid Cuts On Kids
The federal Medicaid cuts will affect health care services for the elderly, people with developmental disabilities, people with mental illness, but especially children. Exactly how many is still unclear, but children's advocates say the breadth and depth of the new Medicaid rules will cause personal suffering and further erode Maine's economy. Susan Sharon reports.

State Task Force Wrestles With Wind Siting Process
Governor John Baldacci has made it a priority: dramatically increase the amount of renewable energy the state has to offer. Now a state task force has come up with a blueprint for reaching that goal by streamlining the wind siting process. But as Barbara Cariddi reports, even the group's members disagree on some core principles.


THE ELLSWORTH AMERICAN:
Sinking Rope: Scant Hope
BLUE HILL — Lobster fishermen from Stonington, Deer Isle, Brooklin and Cape Rosier met with U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) Saturday morning to ask for his help in dealing with new whale protection rules that go into effect in October.

Zapped Again
ELLSWORTH — Maine's increasing reliance upon natural gas and oil as fuels for generating electricity is driving up the cost of electricity, yet again.

Blueberry Season Yields Bumper Crop
ELLSWORTH — Maine's 2007 blueberry season yielded 3 percent more berries than the abundant 2006 harvest.

EDITORIAL: Economics 101
Republicans and Democrats in Washington were extolling the virtues of cooperation last week after coming to agreement on what they call a fiscal stimulus package designed to boost the slumping U.S. economy. "Remarkable" was the word used by some to describe the fast-paced negotiations and quickly achieved compromise.

EDITORIAL: Whacking Hospitals Again
All Maine citizens are sympathetic to the plight facing Governor John Baldacci and other authority figures in Augusta as they search for ways to address the state's budget shortfall. Everyone understands that, to a great extent, they are between the proverbial rock and a hard place. But the reality is that some of the proposals emanating from the Statehouse may result in more, rather than less, harm to Maine citizens. The $20-million cut in Medicaid reimbursement to hospital-based doctors, a component of the Governor's supplemental budget, is a case in point.

EDITORIAL: Preserve the Unions
Keeping local control, particularly at the elementary school level, has been the focus of much of the opposition to the current school district consolidation process in Maine.

COMMENTARY: It's Time to Demand Better Health Care
We hear a lot these days from the leading candidates for president concerning our heath care mess. Each has a panacea for making it all well again. However, all of their plans are still involved with the insurance companies. Only Dennis Kucinich opts for a single-payer plan, but he hasn't a chance of being elected because he hasn't managed to get enough of the big money backing from the big corporations (insurance?) (pharmaceuticals?) to be able to buy a presidency. I don't see how we can ever extricate ourselves from these odious twins, the monstrous big pharma and the criminally greedy insurance industry. Sad that not one of the leading candidates on either side of the aisle has had the guts to simply say "enough" and stand strong for a single-payer system like most of the rest of the civilized world enjoys.

COMMENTARY: State Must Step Up on Renewable Energy
Greetings from the tugboat Jean Turecamo, stationed in Narragansett Bay. My new assignment is shuttling one of the largest bulk barges on the East Coast back and forth between coal ships in the lower bay to the Brayton Point Dominion Energy Power Plant across from Fall River, Mass. The coal that fills our barge comes from everywhere but the U.S., as domestic coal is too expensive. Last night we had a hard time tying up to a ship because none of the Croatian crew could understand our line commands.

LTE: A Call for Common Sense
We are in the midst of an election year, a year that could be pivotal to the direction of this country and the world. The world environment is in crisis with global warming. The war in Iraq could possibly expand into Iran. There is the crisis in Darfur. The Palestine/Israeli ongoing tragedy continues. The economic situation in the United States. Gasoline prices and the record high prices of crude oil. The high cost of health care and the percentage of Americans without any real coverage. The cost of higher education (college) and the fact that fewer can afford it. The list is long and not encouraging.

LTE: A Wood-be Solution to High Heating Costs
Cut our heating bills in half, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs here in Maine, heat with renewable resources, reduce our carbon footprint.

LTE: We Need Paper Ballots in 2008
The New York Times has called for Congress to fund paper ballots before the 2008 election. If you want to sign a petition calling for paper ballots, go to moveon.org. Or, call our congressional delegation — Senators Olympia Snowe (800-432-1599) and Susan Collins (202-224-2523) and Representatives Tom Allen (202-225-6116) and Mike Michaud (202-225-6306).


BRAVE NEW FILMS:
Walk a Day in My Shoes: Tom Allen/Mishkin
On Monday, U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Tom Allen "walked a day in the shoes" of family child care provider Kay Mishkin in Maine. After an early morning preparing Mishkin's home for four babies and infants, Allen assisted Mishkin in caring for the children when they arrived—ensuring they were fed, took their naps, exercised, and other activities.


BLOGS:
As Maine Goes: My Special Interest Wants to Raise ME's Alcohol Tax
Malory Shaughnessy: Maine needs higher alcohol taxes

Turn Maine Blue: About those other hearings: what Collins did investigate
This got me to thinking: what were some of these "dozens of hearings" that were held. And our government still being somewhat transparent (despite the efforts of Dick Cheney), I found myself at the website for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which has this handy page listing all of them.

Turn Maine Blue: Open Thread
Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, is putting up fried clams against a case of wine in a friendly Super Bowl wager with Rep. Tim Bishop, D-New York.

Collins Watch: Collins Q4: $963K
The junior senator raised slightly under $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, compared to $813,000 for Rep. Allen.

MAINE NEWS: Tom Allen and Susan Collins FEC Reports (Through 9/30/07)


THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL:
Heating aid sought
WASHINGTON — As Senate tax-writers rushed to expand the scope of anti-recessionary tax cuts, Sen. Jack Reed proposed yesterday to speed another jolt of spending into the economy — $3.62 billion worth of emergency aid for home heating oil and other energy needs of poor people.

WASHINGTON POST:
$146 Billion Stimulus Plan Passes House
"I understand [McConnell's] point that we don't want to somehow derail the package, but on the other hand, some of the changes the Finance Committee is looking at would make the House package better," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

Maine News for Wednesday, January 30, 2008

PRESS HERALD:
Senate expands stimulus package
But the additions could slow down passage of the time-sensitive legislation.

Republicans zero in on goal for caucusing
Events are scheduled in 372 Maine communities, within reach of the target of 400, set a year ago.

Jail agreement worries Sagadahoc
County officials say they'll resist if the state tries to give their new jail a mental health focus.

N.C. company to open Pittsfield call center
The center could employ up to 200 people in this town, where a shoe plant is scheduled to close soon.

EDITORIAL: Bush to stay true to Bush in final year
The president's final State of the Union address signals no change in his views.

EDITORIAL: Halt violence in Kenya before a civil war begins
A disputed election has led to a month of rapidly escalating attacks on rival groups.

COLUMN: I-295 too crowded? Why not get rid of the highway?
There may be better ways to meet transportation needs than endlessly expanding our roads.

MAINE VOICES: Small businesses need one big thing
Health plans targeted to this group, where most jobs are located, could do wonders for their success.

LTE: Foster parents deserve respect
I am writing this letter with deep concern for the recent cuts in the services available to the children in state custody and the proposed cuts to the people who care for them.


BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
Car-smoking ban clears legislative panel
A proposed statewide ban on smoking in cars with children present moved a step closer to becoming law Tuesday with the near-unanimous approval of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee. The amended measure, which already has touched off sparks among Maine lawmakers, now will move to the full House and Senate for additional debate.

Weak housing market forces County sawmill closures
Wanda Campbell of Washburn is losing her job of eight months at the Fraser-owned sawmill at Masardis. It's not closing, but a worker from the Ashland mill slated for closure has seniority and will take her job. Her husband, Ron, works at the same mill and may get bumped from his job too.

State accused of shortchanging poor kids
GUILFORD - While school district consolidation grabs headlines, school and state officials say a little touted plan tucked in Gov. John Baldacci's supplemental budget will greatly affect schools with large populations of disadvantaged children.

Governor presents medals to 15 veterans
AUGUSTA - Gov. John E. Baldacci Tuesday presented State of Maine Silver Star Honorable Service Medals to 15 veterans in a Hall of Flags ceremony. The medal was first awarded to Maine veterans in August 2006 and is presented to those who have been wounded while serving their country.

House approves rebates
WASHINGTON - The House, seizing a rare moment of bipartisanship to respond to the economy's slump, overwhelmingly passed a $146 billion aid package Tuesday that would speed rebates of $600-$1,200 to most taxpayers.

Republicans near caucus participation goal of 80%
AUGUSTA - Maine Republicans were moving closer Tuesday to their goal of having party members from 80 percent of the state's towns participate in this weekend's presidential preference caucuses.

EDITORIAL: The Problems Left Behind
Despite seven years of failed policies and missed opportunities, President George W. Bush used his final State of the Union address Monday night to alternately admonish and threaten Congress, issue stern warnings to the leaders of Iraq and to take credit for ephemeral successes in Iraq.

EDITORIAL: Breakfast Club
A bill before the Legislature that would have the state pay for breakfast for more poor children ought to be approved. The bill highlights the need for, and role of, a social safety net, which is often a target in highly charged times such as these, as state government faces a funding shortfall and the economy slows.

Malory Shaughnessy: Maine needs higher alcohol taxes
The Jan. 14 editorial "Is Alcohol Undertaxed?" was right on the money. It is time to think about increasing the alcohol tax in Maine.

LTEs: Eliminate tourism office; Global warming a myth


MORNING SENTINEL:
FREEDOM EPA sees cleanup progress Waste is taken from Skidgel Lane site
FREEDOM -- The Environmental Protection Agency's cleanup at the site of a former salvage business has already netted more than three tractor-trailer loads of hazardous waste, with at least a month left to go in the project.

Snowe, Collins seek delay of new border-crossing requirements
WASHINGTON -- Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins urged Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff this week to delay plans that would require citizens to present a birth certificate when crossing from Canada into the U.S.

EDITORIAL: Border-crossing ID change more bad than good
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff pulled off a stunning feat recently when he managed to tick off even more Republican senators than Democratic ones. He accomplished this by defying a law passed late last year with strong bipartisan support to delay until June 2009 stiffer border-crossing identification requirements.

EDITORIAL: Bush speech unveils his only weapon
With the economy in trouble, the Iraq war bleeding taxpayer dollars, Congress no longer under Republican control, the national home-building industry in the dumps, the mortgage industry in disrepute and disrepair, a dangerously degraded transportation infrastructure and the major policy goals of his second term moldering in the compost heap of history, just what initiatives might President George Bush have announced in his State of the Union speech this week?

COLUMN: In case you haven't noticed, security wall is closing in on us Right to privacy a joke, freedoms vanishing by leaps and bounds
The land of the free and the home of the brave has become a nervous nation whose weak-kneed citizens stand silently while their freedoms are taken in the name of security. Our founding fathers would be ashamed of us.

LTE: Greenville area crying for economic help
By the end of the very long day, there were at least 120 testimonials, far more than his tally at noon. Most unfortunately, he totally failed to capture the basic message of the meeting presented by local residents

LTE: OK, planet is warming up, but so what? No biggie
Global warming. Some say it's a threat to our environment, and some think "no biggie." It's here we have a debate. Global warming as a threat -- melting ice. Some say OK, the Earth has been warming, but what does that have to do with us?

LTE: Poor, underpaid not second-class citizens
If Martin Luther King Jr. were still alive, he would be horrified by the lack of human advancement.

LTE: Democrats have tried to cripple Bush White House
We have been entertained in the letters column for the past seven years by a constant tirade spewed by one Robert Vitolo and his ilk, about the dastardly actions of one George Bush, and the Republican party.


MPBN:
Shoemakers Prepare For Factory Shutdown
The central Maine town of Pittsfield experienced first-hand the ups and downs of economic life today. The announcement of the closure of the town's shoe factory was followed by news of job creation elsewhere. Tom Porter has the story.

Review Board Proposed To Study Crimes by the Mentally Ill
Too many Mainers with mental illness have become consumed in a cycle of community-based care options that frequently includes hospitalization, out-patient treatment and incarceration at county jails. Members of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee are convinced that cycle could be broken if the factors and conditions that link mental illness and violence were better understood. The panel is considering legislation to create a review board that will study the best ways to prevent those with mental illness from committing homicides or serious personal injuries. A.J. Higgins reports.

Truck Weights A Concern of Safety Coalition
Last week Governor John Baldacci signed temporary legislation that would allow trucks hauling forest products to exceed state weight limits. The intention is to enable truckers to consolidate loads and save fuel costs. A coalition of safety advocates says a weight increase is dangerous when Maine's highways and bridges are already crumbling, an allegation Maine highway officials deny. Keith McKeen reports.

Report Recommends Schools Boost Physical Fitness
As Maine battles a fast-growing obesity problem, some lawmakers are hoping schools will help battle the bulge. A new report recommends increasing physical activity and physical education for all elementary and middle school students. Today, lawmakers and representatives of the American Heart Association made their case at a State House press conference. Murray Carpenter reports.


SUN JOURNAL:
Family gives $1.3 million to hospital
LEWISTON - A local family has donated $1.3 million to St. Mary's Regional Medical Center for a new emergency room, the largest single donation in the hospital's history.

As Maine caucuses go . . . so goes the nation?
Will Maine's caucuses predict each party's nominee? It's possible.

Dems wager on Super Bowl result
PORTLAND (AP) - Congressman Tom Allen of Maine is putting up fried clams against a case of wine in a friendly Super Bowl wager with Congressman Tim Bishop of New York.

LTE: The will to change
This is in response to an Associated Press article in the Sun Journal Jan. 23 about a study that showed how President Bush and his administration intentionally misled the United States into war with Iraq. The study included details about how many times Bush and his administration lied about weapons of mass destruction, and the connection between Iraq and the Taliban.


TIMES RECORD:
Not the time for meddling
The Legislative Council used its authority appropriately last Thursday when it blocked consideration of a bill by Sen. Doug Smith, R-Dover-Foxcroft, to require parental consent for minors to receive prescription birth control.

Caucusing to choose a candidate: Tight races will enhance process for Democrats
FREEPORT — Wayne Hollingworth will serve as caucus convener at the town Democratic presidential caucus and will back a candidate. But he can't stand in two spots, so he will help with proceedings without going to a certain area for his candidate, former Sen. John Edwards. Rather than have a balloting, people who support particular candidates in caucuses will stand in different areas of a gymnasium to be counted.

Caucusing to choose a candidate: The Republicans go first in Maine's election method
Susan Collins will also make the rounds to caucus sites. "Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't let them avoid your questions," Pearson said. .


PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
Consolidation repeal won't be on the ballot this year
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Supporters of a citizen initiative to repeal Maine's school consolidation law will have to wait until next year to send their proposal to voters.


CNN:
Senators hone revisions to economic stimulus package
"Many of these additions have bipartisan support, and I hope that the president will recognize that the White House needs to negotiate with the Senate as well as the House," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who backs both the rebates for seniors and the unemployment extension.


NBC: WLBZ-2 Bangor
How Much Are You Willing To Bet For A Patriot's Win?
Maine (AP)-- Congressman Tom Allen is willing to wager 2 quarts of fried Maine Clams against Congressman Tim Bishop of New York's case of Long Island wine.


WMTW: Channel 8 Portland
Maine Delegation Gives Views On Bush Speech
AUGUSTA, Maine -- Members of Maine's congressional delegation are glad President George W. Bush stressed the need for action to heal the economy in his State of the Union speech last night. But they offered criticism on other points.


FORBES
House passes stimulus bill, Senate changes expected
Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, said today she likes the Senate bill and wants to add money to it that would provide a home-heating oil subsidy ...


BLOGS:
As Maine Goes: U.S. Senate Confirms Agriculture Secretary
Several members of the panel encouraged him to work with Congress to smooth stalled talks on the $286 billion farm bill passed by both the House and Senate last year.

As Maine Goes: Snowe: A Dollar Spent on UI Adds $1.64 to the GDP
Senator Snowe noted a recent economic study cited in a report by the Congressional Budget Office indicating the near-term economic stimulus of extending Unemployment Insurance is much higher than most other proposals under consideration – for every $1 the federal government spends on UI now, it adds $1.64 to national GDP.

As Maine Goes: House Passes Econ Aid Package; Allen/Michaud Vote YEA
WASHINGTON — The House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday afternoon to approve a $146 billion fiscal stimulus package, hoping to quickly seal a fast-paced deal with the Bush administration. But Senate Democrats forged ahead with their own, more expensive plan despite a rising chorus of warnings from the White House and Speaker Nancy Pelosi that they risk delaying much-needed help for the economy and could plunge the nation too far in debt.

As Maine Goes: VT Bill to Give Illegal Farm Workers Health Insurance
The immigrant workers on Vermont dairy farms rarely get even the most basic health care. They don't have health insurance - and they're all but invisible to most Vermonters.

As Maine Goes: Arcadian Health Plan Expanding Into Maine
Arcadian Health Plan, Inc., a leading provider of Medicare Advantage health plans for Medicare beneficiaries, has enhanced its benefits for 2008 and further expanded into Maine.

Turn Maine Bleu: Bush/Cheney Sign Away Congressional Oversight
Tom Allen introduced the amendment that would have created the Commission had Bush, as directed by Dick Cheney, had not - by whim - determined that he didn't think it was a good idea. Allen didn't think to highly of this:

Senate Guru: Maine:
Back on January 8, David Offer, the former executive editor of the Kennebec Journal, put out an op-ed highlighting his discontent with waste and mismanagement in Iraq.

Senate Guru: An Open E-mail to Jen Burita, Press Secretary to Susan Collins
Maine: With considerable discussion recently over how aggressive Susan Collins really was in investigating waste and mismanagement in Iraq, I figured it would be worthwhile to go right to the source. I will keep readers apprised to any response.

News of Maine: Pittsfield shoe factory to close - Mainebiz
The factory will close because demand for the kind of shoes it makes – ones with hand-stitching and harder, glossy leather – have declined in recent years, Janice Thomson, an SAS spokesperson, told Mainebiz this morning."

News of Maine: Eight Maine economists tell us what's in store for 2008 - Mainebiz

POLITICKER ME: Clams, pride at stake in Super Bowl
If the Patriots lose Sunday in the Super Bowl, U.S. Rep. Tom Allen's reputation in Congress could be at stake.

Maine News for Friday, January 25, 2008

PRESS HERALD:
Families welcome Guard members
Thirteen communications specialists with the Maine Air National Guard have returned home after a nearly five-month deployment in Iraq.

Bus, rail expansion? Study starts
A $1 million project is looking at the merits of public transit to relieve highway traffic north and west of Portland.

N.H.'s PUC staff favors FairPoint deal
The land-line sales agreement is basically the same as those approved in Maine and considered in Vermont.

Proposals on state job cuts reviewed
State House: Lawmakers take a look at their options in the ongoing attempt to close a big budget gap.

EDITORIAL: Basketball franchise proposal has ingredients for success
Minor-league sports teams with a strong brand and good management do well in Portland.

EDITORIAL: Time to start citywide redistricting talks now
The Portland School Committee should redraw the school map to use scarce resources wisely.

COLUMN: Wow, the government wants to send us a check
There are ways this plan would make sense. Sadly, the way it's going down isn't one of them.

MAINE VOICES: Food pantries need help now -- and later
While winter makes people think of those in need more often, the need exists all year.

LTE: Take steps to abolish nuclear weapons

LTE: Keep Dirigo healthy, add Massachusetts mandate


BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
Oregon man subdued with Taser
An Oregon man with a long and violent criminal history, including a conviction for a 1984 murder in Louisiana, remained in custody Thursday after police officers used a Taser gun to subdue him at a local motel.

Firm's new Calais office welcome in a region hungry for fresh jobs
CALAIS - City officials were all smiles Thursday as a Canadian market research firm officially opened its first U.S.-based office on North Street.

Maine Dems reject parental consent bill
Legislative leaders, voting along party lines on Thursday, rejected proposed legislation that would require parental consent for schools to give children 14 and under prescription drugs, including birth control pills.

EDITORIAL: Stimulus and Housing
The plan to stimulate the sagging national economy, crafted by Congress and the president this week, focuses largely on giving checks to middle- and low-income people. The hope is that they will spend the money, and quickly, which in turn will stimulate the economy, which is heavily tied to consumer spending.

EDITORIAL: Offender Registry, Remade
As the Legislature's Criminal Justice Committee begins the difficult and emotionally charged task of remaking the state's sex offender registry in the wake of a Maine supreme court ruling and changes to federal law, lawmakers must ensure that the public is protected without excessive punishment or shaming.

Edward F. Snyder: Corrections system needs fundamental changes
The Friends Committee on Maine Public Policy, which represents Quaker meetings around the state, understands and appreciates Gov. John Baldacci's need to reduce state government spending in order to meet the constitutional requirement to balance the budget.

Joshua Foster : A fresh look at the plan for schools
While I've been educated in what I'm proud to say is one of the greatest public education states in the country, I now go to college in the nearby state of Massachusetts. Upon my convivial migration for winter break, I unwittingly drove straight into the great chaos that is school consolidation.

LTEs: Wiretapping outrage


MORNING SENTINEL:
$95 MILLION SHORTFALL: Lawmakers brace to pare state budget
AUGUSTA -- State lawmakers on Thursday reviewed state-issued contracts and proposed job cuts in hopes of finding more ways to save money to close a $95 million budget gap.

Southern Maine expected to see real estate stability
Southern Maine home prices will bottom out later this year, demand for Portland office space will remain strong and a large inventory of industrial space will flatten lease rates, experts predicted Thursday at the Maine Real Estate & Development Association's annual forecast conference.

Green groups target toxic toys
AUGUSTA -- Sandra Armington of Hallowell is worried about children who play with rubber duckies.

Somerset County to beef up emergency system
SKOWHEGAN -- Bob Higgins envisions a system of emergency shelters in Somerset County where even pets will have a place to go if the lights go out.

Colby now grants only
WATERVILLE -- Colby College made headlines last fall when it announced a plan to replace loans with grants for students from Maine who receive financial aid from the college.

Winter needs drain assistance funds
The Rev. Mark Tanner says money is being drained from the Ecumenical Ministerial Fund in Skowhegan like water through a sieve, as more and more calls come in for economic assistance.

CARLA DICKSTEIN LIVES IN WISCASSET AND : Maine faces tide of foreclosures: Rate of subprime mortgage loans in default highest in New England; federal action needed
Last June, the Maine Legislature unanimously passed legislation to protect Mainers from predatory mortgage lending practices that have contributed to a record number of foreclosures.

LTE: Inspections of vehicles every 2 years a bad idea

LTE: Lobby Congress to stop horse slaughter


KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
AUGUSTA TISSUE: New uses urged for old paper mill
AUGUSTA -- City officials are not ready to seize the former Augusta Tissue paper mill, but about a dozen neighbors Thursday shared their hopes for the nearly mile-long site with city officials Thursday.

LTE: Look at the facts regarding Citizens Energy
I would like to take this opportunity to address Mona Charen's Jan. 8 commentary concerning Joseph Kennedy II and his low-cost energy programs.


MPBN:
Legislature Asked to Crack Down on Metal Thieves
Skyrocketing prices for certain metals is fueling a bonanza in Maine for many recyclers. But it's also creating an alarming influx of stolen metal on the resale market. State lawmakers are now being asked to consider emergency legislation to help discourage metal thieves by imposing new requirements for scrap metal dealers. A.J. Higgins reports.

Maine Real Estate Officials Undaunted By National Trend
A national real estate trade group issued bleak news this morning, saying the nation's home sales saw their biggest decline in 25 years. But in Maine, the annual meeting of a real estate and development association was more upbeat. As Murray Carpenter reports, members say the real estate market is faring better in Maine than elsewhere in the country.

Harsh Prison Sentence Draws Mixed Reaction
A prison sentence meted out to an Aroostook County man this week by a federal judge in Bangor is likely among the harshest ever in Maine. It's life in prison for 56-year-old Michael Pelletier, sentenced for over a dozen felony convictions including drug trafficking, money laundering and social security fraud. But U.S. District Judge John Woodcock had no sentencing leeway, even though the defendent was confined to a wheelchair. Keith McKeen reports.


SUN JOURNAL:
EDITORIAL: Tax holiday would give us quickest relief
"If," said Rudyard Kipling," you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs... If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same... If you can wait and not be tired by waiting..."

LTE: Money or their life?
I cannot imagine why the governor wants to privatize the Elizabeth Levinson Center in Bangor. He is taking Maine's most vulnerable population, the children with the severe to profound range of mental retardation, and handing them off to the private sector.


PORTSMOUTH HERALD:
Study: Cut Maine taxes
PORTLAND, Maine — A study released Thursday by a conservative Portland think tank estimates that Maine loses $36.4 million in tax revenues annually from Maine residents who shop in nearby New Hampshire.

Local shipyard maintenance crew to have work in San Diego
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe, Susan Collins (R-ME), Judd Gregg and John Sununu (R-NH) announced today that the Navy will establish a detachment of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) in Southern California


BLOGS:
MPBN: Time for Tom Allen to change strategy
MPBN's Maine Things Considered aired a report last night that was pretty blunt about the direction of the Tom Allen for Senate Campaign so far. Here's how it started:

Collins Watch: Creeping Fascism?
I am disgusted by Sen. Olympia Snowe's stated position on the inclusion of immunity for telecoms in the FISA bill and justifications for it.

Senate Guru: Thursday Quick Hits
Maine: The New York Times eviscerates Susan Collins:

News of Maine: Tom Allen, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Telecommunications Immunity
Tom Allen, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Telecommunications Immunity

Turn Maine Blue: The Stimulus Package - Another Perspective
As the PPH and other sources are reporting, talk about the possibility of a recessoin has turned into how to hold one off. To that end, Bush and Congressional leaders (and Maine's delegation) have formulated a plan to provide a shot in the arm for the economy, a stimulus.

White Noise Insanity: Dennis Kucinich has dropped out of the presidential race
That's okay. I'm still caucusing for him in February and will cast my 2nd vote as 'uncommitted'. So the

Offthegridgirl: New FEMA blueprint seeks to clarify emergency response roles
Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mary Landrieu, D-La., praised the new framework, but emphasized that it is only the beginning of reforming the nation's disaster response capability. "We still have a lot of work left . . .

Maine News for Thursday, January 24, 2008

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD:
Portland could get pro hoops franchise
A group is trying to land an expansion team, with possible Celtics ties, in the NBA Development League.

Maine Guard soldiers depart on mission
Gov. Baldacci and a contingent of family and friends give the senior team of 18 a fitting farewell.

Maine's delegation backs stimulus effort
The four lawmakers likely would support legislation that quickly gets cash into the hands of citizens.

Tourism still No. 1, but ...
A new way of calculating travelers' spending leaves Mainers out of the equation.

MAINE VOICES: End war, support domestic needs (By Chellie Pingree)
Congress should get busy on universal health care, energy reforms and a host of other issues.

ANOTHER VIEW: Unlike the editorial, LURC got it right on wind- power project
The denial of one wind power project and approval of two others show the process works.

LTE: Senators make wrong call on telecoms immunity


BANGOR DAILY NEWS:
Funds to MCCS to provide grants to rural students
The Maine Community College System board of trustees at its Wednesday meeting accepted a handful of significant gifts to the system.

National Guard unit deploys for Afghanistan
Families and friends said goodbye on Wednesday morning to 18 Maine Army National Guard soldiers before the group departed for Afghanistan.

Judge's nomination questioned
Gov. John Baldacci's chief legal counsel said Wednesday the nomination of veteran Assistant Attorney General Susan Sparaco for a District Court judgeship had "absolutely nothing" to do with her close personal relationship with Baldacci's chief of staff.

Bill targets thieves caught 'blue-handed'
As the value of Maine's blueberry crop continues to grow, so does blueberry theft, a seasonal crime that robs legitimate Washington County growers of more than $200,000 worth of fruit each year.

EDITORIAL: Don't forget the poor
As the economic crisis deepens, it's an open question whether new spending money will be put into the pockets of the poor and lower-middle economic classes.

EDITORIAL: Kids, smoke and vehicles
A bill that would ban smoking inside motor vehicles if a child under the age of 18 is in the vehicle is being considered by the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee.

Cheryl Timberlake: Maine's tax burden out of control
"Is alcohol undertaxed?" was the question posed in a Jan. 14 editorial. Quite frankly, there is nothing undertaxed in Maine.

LTEs: Wind farms; Another view of Fallujah; Stop Consolidation


MORNING SENTINEL:
Wind power a possibility for Oakland municipal buildings
OAKLAND -- Wind turbines may eventually generate power for several or all municipal buildings here, if voters authorize the town to go forward with the idea.

Shipyard union endorses Lawrence
Tom Allen, who is running for the US Senate. The other Democratic candidates are Michael Brennan of Portland, Adam Cote of Portland, Steve Meister of ...

SOMERSET COMMISSIONERS: A county without a jail?
SKOWHEGAN -- Facing a state proposal to merge county jails into a consolidated corrections system, Commissioner Philip Roy floated a "scenario" to close the Somerset jail and lay off most corrections officers.

T.J. Maxx coming to Waterville
A 25,000-square-foot T.J. Maxx clothing and home fashions store will open in the JFK Mall off Kennedy Memorial Drive in late April or early May, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday.

EDITORIAL: No immunity in domestic spying
The Senate is currently debating controversial national security legislation that would, among many other things, grant immunity to companies that cooperated with the U.S. government's warrantless wiretap operations.

COLUMN: Prosperity Committee's report overrated
With partisan gridlock appearing to hold up action on our biggest problems, bipartisan compromise is often cheered by the media and the public.

LTE: Well-planned growth better than unregulated
While we all would probably like to turn back the clocks 30 or 40 years to a simpler time, development and growth are natural and inevitable in our state.

LTE: Michaud impeachment letter is 'drivel'


KENNEBEC JOURNAL:
ELECTRONIC TRACKING: Inmate bill axed
A proposal to track low-risk inmates and probationers electronically was killed Wednesday in a legislative work session.

Hospital cost cuts still light on detail
Plans to cut costs at MaineGeneral Health, which provides the bulk of the health care in Kennebec County, are still in flux, a hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Maine power grid in fix-up
The Central Maine Power Co. is giving towns a heads-up about a major initiative meant to ensure the reliability of its power system.

CMP sold for $4.6B
Maine regulators on Wednesday signed off on the $4.6 billion sale of Maine-based Energy East to Spanish utility Iberdrola SA in a deal that affects 3 million customers from New York to Maine.

LTE: Attend your local caucus and raise your voice
The nation, and the world, is looking at the upcoming presidential caucuses and primaries. Americans of all parties will come together in their various cities and towns and choose a candidate to take this nation into the future.


MPBN:
Landlords Leaving Tenants in the Cold
In Maine the cost of home heating oil is up a dollar and nine cents a gallon over last year. The higher prices are putting a strain on everyone. But in Auburn, it's been especially difficult for landlords and tenants who live in apartment buildings. As Susan Sharon reports, some landlords are simply giving up and leaving their tenants in the cold.

Studies Find Teacher Absenteesim Detrimental to Students
It's no secret that student learning can suffer when regular teachers are absent from the classroom. But new research is verifying that most substitute teachers cannot maintain the same quality of instruction. Teacher absenteeism, found to be on the increase nationwide, may be more costly than previously thought for both students and school districts. The President of the Maine Principals Association says there's ample evidence that the scarcity of adequate substitutes is a growing problem in Maine. Keith McKeen reports.

Pollsters Say Strategy Change Needed in Allen Senate Campaign
As Senator Susan Collins and 1st District Congressman Tom Allen inch closer to a center stage showdown in Maine's political arena, two pollsters from opposing political parties agree that Allen must change his strategy for defeating the Republican incumbent. They say that means relying less on Iraq policy as the cornerstone of his campaign. Now that apparent gains from the troop surge in Iraq may have made the war less objectionable for many Maine voters. But as A.J. Higgins reports, Allen remains confident that Iraq is the flashpoint issue that distinguishes him from his opponent.

Celtics Development Team Proposed for Portland
The owners of Oxford Hills Speedway have joined forces with several former coaches of the Boston Celtics in an effort to bring a minor league basketball team to southern Maine. As Keith Shortall reports, the goal is to establish a franchise of the NBA development league, that takes a page out of the play book of the city's highly succesful minor league baseball operation, the Portland Sea Dogs.


LEWISTON SUN JOURNAL:
Lansley bill would ensure no state tax on federal rebate
Mainers won't have to pay state income tax on any money they might receive from President George W. Bush's proposed economic stimulus plan.


TIMES RECORD:
Recession, rhetoric vs. reality
Careful to avoid mention of the word "recession" in announcing conceptual plans for a $145 billion "economic stimulus package," the president tried to diagnose a fast-moving and widespread infection of the U.S. economy as a case of the hiccups — one that could be cured by his favorite "shot in the arm," tax cuts.

Shenna Bellows: Don't let Congress set telecom rats free
Anyone who thought our civil liberties problems would disappear when control of Congress switched from Republican to Democrat has experienced a rude awakening.

Opinion: Better than 'average'
As a battered economy's impact on state finances elevates desperation levels under the capitol dome, Medicaid has become a prime target for cuts.

State budget takes another hit
November tax receipts lag $11.7 million behind projections; more cuts anticipated

School merger debate focuses on local control
The majority leaders in the House and Senate are supporting an amendment to the school consolidation law that would give more control to local school committees by keeping the union form of governance — a move that likely will lead to a legislative floor fight with no clear winner in sight.

LTE: Bush's Mideast visit
Last week the Feckless Leader visited Israel for the first time since he was governor of Texas, when he was helicoptered by Ariel Sharon to look at and approve its grabbing more land from Arabs to move in Jews.


YORK WEEKLY:
Region officials discuss York Toll Plaza in Ogunquit
Turnpike and regional public officials will meet today to discuss studies that looked at how many cars avoid the York Toll Plaza by taking Route 1.

How the Maine caucuses work
YORK — Unlike New Hampshire, Maine residents cannot vote in the opposite party's caucus.


MAINE COAST NOW:
Sen. Collins says make healthcare the focus
CAMDEN — If U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, were in charge of the Senate, she would spend the next several months tackling the healthcare crisis.

Rights are being eroded
The subject for this column is the pending vote in the U.S. Senate to provide retroactive immunity to telephone companies from lawsuits brought by states or citizens who believe their legal privacy rights were violated.

Consolidation repeal petition fails
The petition effort to repeal Maine's school district consolidation law appears to have missed the mark. We are glad. While the law on the books is imperfect, various amendments are being worked upon. We all need this process to move ahead, not fall back.


ELLSWORTH AMERICAN:
State's Money Woes Worsen
With December revenues coming in $11.7 million below an already pared-down forecast, the only question now is how deep the budget hole will be.

Tax Hike a Possibility in Bucksport
At a Jan. 17 meeting, the Town Council set a 2.5 percent local share tax increase as the budget target for the upcoming fiscal year.

Amendment to Consolidation Law Occasions a Likely Floor Fight
AUGUSTA — The majority leaders in the House and Senate are supporting an amendment to the school consolidation law that would give more control to local school committees by keeping the union form of governance.

EDITORIAL: Whacking Hospitals Again
All Maine citizens are sympathetic to the plight facing Governor John Baldacci and other authority figures in Augusta as they search for ways to address the state's budget shortfall. Everyone understands that, to a great extent, they are between the proverbial rock and a hard place. But the reality is that some of the proposals emanating from the Statehouse may result in more, rather than less, harm to Maine citizens. The $20-million cut in Medicaid reimbursement to hospital-based doctors, a component of the Governor's supplemental budget, is a case in point.

EDITORIAL: Free Trade, Immigration Are Connected
Immigration promises to be a major issue of debate in this election year. Across the nation, many voices in favor of restrictive immigration are calling for building a 300-mile border fence, or criminalizing the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

LTE: We Need Paper Ballots in 2008


Baltimore Sun Journal:
Maine senator runs afoul of PFAW
On the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade , People for the American Way, the liberal interest group, is going after Sen. Susan Collins, the moderate Maine Republican, for siding with the Bush administration on judicial nominees.

New York Times:
Kathleen Turner: Hold Susan Collins Accountable for the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has lurched far to the right in recent years, as President Bush has nominated Justices favored by the most conservative elements of the Republican Party. This shift has occurred in large part because moderate Republicans have voted in virtual lockstep with the administration on judicial nominations.

BLOGS:
Wednesday Briefs: MAINE
While Congressman Tom Allen opposes warrantless wiretapping and retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies complicit in such activities, Susan Collins supports letting the telecomm companies off the hook for their role in illegal wiretapping, like a good Bushie.

Collins Watch: NYT: Collins Huge Disappointment
The New York Times weighs in with a web editorial blasting Sen. Collins:

Collins Watch: Telco Immunity
Back in October, I wondered about the junior senator's position on granting retroactive immunity to telco companies who illegally disclosed customer records.

Politicker ME: For Senate candidates, campaign logistics coming together
Tom Allen's campaign has been in full swing for months. Susan Collins' campaign, however, is just starting to move into their Portland office.

Politicker ME: ALLEN CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP TEAM
PORTLAND - The campaign of Tom Allen for U.S. Senate today announced its team of senior leadership and consultants. Allen's team is led by people with vast experience and records of success in political campaigns, deep roots and extensive work in Maine.

Turn Maine Blue: Why Grant Retroactive Immunity to the Telecoms?
Today's Portland Press Herald has piece by Jonathan Kaplan regarding a bill that obsteneibly would update the FISA law (first enacted in 1978) to reflect advances in communications technology. Because of the nature of surviellence, a special court was created to hear the Fed's case in secret, a court that could grant warrants allowing the government to intercept certain communications.


FOSTER'S DAILY DEMOCRAT:
Sen. Collins tells Noble Middle School students to aspire to achieve dreams
Sen. Susan Collins visited Noble Middle School last week and spoke with eighth-graders who recently completed their study of the United States government.