Candidates begin campaign rounds

With the gubernatorial field seemingly set, candidates are moving beyond the announcement stage and getting into campaign mode.

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Rosa Scarcelli of Portland made the rounds locally this week with stops at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford where she spoke with seniors, and in Lewiston where she discussed health care with those at the Seniors’ Fair last Wednesday, according to a news release.

Scarcelli owns an affordable housing company and is running as a traditionally-funded candidate. Her campaign Web site is www.RosaForMaine.com and she encourages people to read the first chapter of the book she’s writing, called “Maine Rising.”

Republican candidate Les Otten of Greenwood is scheduled to be in Lewiston on Tuesday, Feb. 2, for the opening of his first field office. He will host an open house from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at 238 Main St.

Otten is the former owner of American Ski Co. and now owns Maine Energy Systems, a company that produces wood pellets. His campaign Web site is www.lesotten.com.

Senators weigh in on debt, Bernanke

Though President Obama’s first State of the Union address dominated much attention this week, the U.S. Senate was also busy taking a series of votes concerning the national debt.

Both U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins voted against legislation to increase the country’s debt limit by nearly $2 trillion, though the measure was passed along party lines.

But the Maine Republicans split their vote on an amendment to the bill that would have created an 18-member bipartisan “debt” commission that would have had the authority to propose policies to reduce the deficit.

Collins said she was disappointed the Senate did not agree to the commission, which was proposed by Sen. Kent Conrad, a Democrat from North Dakota, and Sen. Judd Gregg, a Republican from New Hampshire. It failed by a vote of 53-46 because 60 votes were necessary for passage.

“America’s out-of-control debt is a grave threat to our nation’s future prosperity,” Collins said in a release. “It is time to reassess our national priorities, to make the hard decisions, and to set a new course.”

Snowe opposed the commission because it would have only allowed senators to vote for or against recommendations, with no opportunity to change them through the amendment process. She also serves on the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and some taxes, areas the commission was expected to address.

Snowe and Collins both voted with the majority to confirm Ben Bernanke for his second term as Federal Reserve chairman. Bernanke was originally appointed by President George W. Bush and reappointed by Obama. He was confirmed by a vote of 70-30, with members of both parties on each side of the equation.

“Despite Dr. Bernanke’s missteps, Snowe voted in support of his nomination, because of his leadership in preventing the nation’s economy from going over the financial precipice as well as his commitment to financial reform,” said a spokesman for Snowe.

— Rebekah Metzler

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