AUGUSTA — The federal government has approved Maine’s request to establish work and premium payment requirements for some of its 258,000 Medicaid beneficiaries. Gov. Paul LePage announced the change Friday afternoon, saying it will help push those who can work to find jobs while protecting benefits for the elderly, the disabled and children. “Under my […]
Scott Thistle
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
LePage rejects request from Mills to halt awarding of state contracts
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has rejected a request from Gov.-elect Janet Mills that his administration not approve any new contracts with private vendors before she takes office Jan. 2. “It is inappropriate to request that ongoing work on behalf of the people of Maine be halted for more than three weeks and sit there […]
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LePage team settles suit filed by 2 people blocked from his Facebook page
The operator of a Facebook page that promotes the political views of Republican Gov. Paul LePage has settled a federal lawsuit brought by the ACLU of Maine by agreeing to stop blocking users who post critical comments. But as part of the agreement, approved Friday by U.S. District Judge John Woodcock Jr., LePage may continue […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine won't investigate reports of 2nd District ballots in 1st District towns
Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap will not investigate concerns raised by the Maine Republican Party that voters in as many as four towns believe they were given the wrong ballots when they voted in November. Kristen Muszynski, the spokeswoman for Dunlap, a Democrat, said Friday that his office has seen no evidence to support claims […]
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Long recount could leave Maine’s 2nd District seat vacant when Congress begins new term
The recount that began Thursday in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District race could leave the seat vacant and the district without representation when Congress convenes in January. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and a Republican House staff member involved in the seating decision issued conflicting opinions on the matter Thursday, making it uncertain whether Maine will […]
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Federal judge says he’ll rule soon on Bruce Poliquin’s challenge of ranked-choice voting
BANGOR — A federal judge is expected to decide within the next few days whether Maine’s first-in-the-nation ranked-choice election for Congress will stand. Attorneys for Rep. Bruce Poliquin and the Maine Attorney General’s Office argued in federal court Wednesday over the constitutionality of Maine’s voting law and the election process that propelled Jared Golden, a […]
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Democrats select Aaron Frey to be Maine’s next attorney general
AUGUSTA — Majority Democrats in the Maine Legislature selected Rep. Aaron Frey, D-Bangor, to be the state’s next attorney general in caucus voting Tuesday, largely forecasting who will win the post when the entire Legislature votes on the position Wednesday. It took four rounds of voting to select Frye in a run-off process. A total […]
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As Janet Mills mulls Cabinet appointments, speculation swirls
AUGUSTA — Gov.-elect Janet Mills is considering elevating the governor’s energy office to a Cabinet-level position, re-establishing the State Planning Office and appointing an opioid epidemic “point person” as she moves to fill her Cabinet and key positions on her executive team. She also has promised to take a new approach to problems the state […]