Nuggets from the notebook while waiting to see details of the education and energy proposals Gov. Paul LePage will unveil this week …

The LePage administration is often tight-lipped about its unreleased policy initiatives. However, there have been some clues about what the governor will talk about on Monday, when he announces a new education proposal, and during his State of the State address to the Legislature Tuesday night.

And, as is standard with this governor, expect both to be accompanied by controversy.

Monday’s education announcement could be a roll-out of a school choice initiative.

LePage hinted as much last week during his Capitol for a Day forum in Lewiston. The governor was asked by an audience member whether he supported a school voucher program. LePage said he did; however, the state’s budgetary woes would probably put that on the back burner. In the interim, he said, his administration would likely unveil a “modified school choice” proposal this year. 

That makes sense. 

LePage last week joined governors from 16 states who signed proclamations officially recognizing this week as National School Choice Week. All but one of the governors was Republican.

On Friday, the Maine Heritage Policy Center announced that it would be holding a celebration of school choice in the State House Hall of Flags on Wednesday. The conservative advocacy group has proven to hold significant influence with the policy matters of the LePage administration, including the governor’s budget, health insurance and Medicaid overhauls.

It stands to reason that the MHPC event, which is co-hosted by Americans for Prosperity, is designed to bolster whatever school choice initiative LePage plans to unveil.  

The school choice debate is controversial.

The idea is to allow parents the right to choose the school their child attends. Under the system parents can transfer their child from a lower-performing school to a better one.

Advocates say school choice encourages better school performance through competition — the free market ideology. However, opponents counter that the system undermines public schools and furthers social inequality.

The debate goes deeper than that. Mainers can expect to hear all the arguments beginning this week.

As for LePage’s State of the State, expect the governor to continue hammering at the urgency of his proposed cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services. It will be interesting to see what kind of tone the governor strikes during his remarks and, more important, how lawmakers receive it. 

Matters between LePage and the lawmakers have been, relatively speaking, fairly tranquil in the public sphere. However, there’s tension behind the scenes, both as a result of the governor’s closed-door meetings and the activities of the group People Before Politics, the nonprofit group that hits back against anyone who dares challenge LePage with aggressive email campaigns.

LePage will also likely talk about energy. The administration has been working diligently behind the scenes to develop a new energy strategy that will include many of the things LePage has been talking about over the last six months.

That includes natural gas and, potentially, an initiative to import Canadian hydro power.

The governor has held regular meetings with multiple natural gas companies, including some that may seek to expand pipeline capacity in the state. The Sun Journal in December also reported that the governor had been in discussions with Hydro-Quebec.

Maine regressing?

The American Lung Association has released its annual State of Tobacco Control 2012 report, which grades states on four areas.

The report says Maine is slipping in tobacco prevention efforts.

The state received an A for smoke-free air — that is rules governing where people can light up — and a B in cessation coverage. However, Maine’s cigarette tax received a C and prevention funding a D.

The report also highlights LePage’s proposal to cut tobacco cessation programs from the Department of Health and Human Services budget as taking Maine “backwards even further.”

Lawmaker ditches selectmen post

Alfred lawmaker Rep. David Burns, who is currently being investigated for campaign violations, has resigned from that town’s Board of Selectmen. According to a report in the Biddeford Tribune, Burns informed the board via telephone.

Burns resignation from the board will go into effect March 31.

Burns is accused of submitting false records and mixing public campaign funds with personal money during an audit of his 2010 campaign. The Maine Ethics Commission said the abuses warranted an inquiry and possible criminal investigation by the Attorney General’s Office. The case was referred to the AG on Wednesday.

Burns continues to serve in the Legislature, where he is assigned to the Taxation Committee.

LePage meets Rousselle

Christine Rousselle, the Scarborough college student who penned the oft-celebrated and oft-maligned column “My Time at Wal-Mart,” had some one-on-one time with the governor two weeks ago. 

Rousselle and her mother met LePage during a brief meet-and-greet at the governor’s office. 

Adrienne Bennett, LePage’s spokeswoman, wasn’t sure what LePage and Rousselle discussed. However, it’s a safe bet that Rousselle wasn’t there to urge the governor to dial back his Medicaid reform proposal. 

smistler@sunjournal.com 

Follow Steve Mistler on Twitter, twitter.com/stevemistler

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