No specifics, yet. But they’re coming and the good money says wholesale changes are in store for AMHI.

The court-appointed receiver at the Augusta Mental Health Institute tipped her hand on what to expect. She says she’ll make her recommendations by March.

Wrangling continues between the state and the judge who appointed Elizabeth Jones as receiver. The state is taking its case to the Supreme Judicial Court, arguing that the appointment undermines the authority of the Legislature and the governor.

Here’s what we know. AMHI is still messed up. It has not addressed court-ordered remedies, and service at the hospital is dysfunctional, at best.

Judge Nancy Mills, who appointed the receiver, found in September that the facility was not in compliance with treatment programs, staffing and helping patients integrate into the community.

It shouldn’t have taken a judge sending in a Maryland expert – who gets paid $140,000 a year for part-time work – to figure out that change starts at the top. But it did.

Instead of wasting resources fighting the court, let’s get AMHI in order.
Speeches


For political junkies in Maine, last night scored higher than a best-of C-SPAN reunion show. But for many of us, perhaps it was too much.

President Bush and Maine Gov. John Baldacci both took to the airwaves. The president delivered the State of the Union address to Congress, while the governor gave the State of the State talk to the Legislature.

The Legislature had set the date for Baldacci’s speech, and the governor decided not to seek a change after it became clear the speech would begin two hours before the State of the Union.

While not the most dynamic of political theater, both speeches are important and deserve a night to themselves. They shouldn’t have been forced to compete for audience share. We hope for better scheduling in the future.
The race is on


The good folks of Iowa sent the rest of us election watchers a little message Monday: Don’t count your eggs before they hatch.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was anointed the front-runner, his strength touted, his organization trumpeted. But it didn’t work out that way.

The campaign is far from over. Dean remains a strong candidate, despite impressive showings from the two Johns, Sen. John Kerry and Sen. John Edwards. And retired Gen. Wesley Clark and Sen. Joe Lieberman are waiting for them in New Hampshire.

Voters there will make their choice Tuesday, and then it’s on to South Carolina, Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma on Feb. 3.

We get our crack in Maine’s caucuses on Feb. 8. We suspect there will still be several viable candidates to choose from. That’s great for the state and great for democracy.
[email protected]