There are at least three ideas floating around Augusta that would bestow special tax privileges on parts of the state.All three were mentioned in the State of the State and, taken separately, a strong case can be made for all three.Gov. Baldacci has proposed exempting military pensions from state income tax. The proposal, which has […]

In January, the Sun Journal reported on a study called “Shifting Gears,” which pointed to car ownership as a possible explanation for why boys attend college in smaller numbers than girls.The theory goes that as boys buy cars – and get jobs to pay for them and the necessary insurance – their attention is pulled […]

Maine’s Clean Election Fund is in danger of running out of money.The fund, which provides public financing for state candidates who qualify and agree to spending limits, was raided several years ago to shore up a shaky budget.With the entire Legislature and the Blaine House up for grabs this year, the fund needs the borrowed […]

Maine’s Public Utilities Commission has been involved in negotiations for three months trying to protect electricity consumers from an unfair rate increase.Earlier this week, those talks ended badly, with Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut dissatisfied with the settlement.Maine will now make its case to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and, if need be, in court and […]

The Maine Civil Liberties Union says the FBI is spying on peace activists in the state.Using a Freedom of Information Act request, the MCLU found that the FBI has a file on the Maine Coalition for Peace and Justice.As first reported by the Portland Press Herald on Thursday, the file contains, according to the FBI, […]

Maine’s dependence on part-time legislators sets up a tricky balancing act for lawmakers.They must balance the necessity of earning a living with their obligations in the Legislature. Oftentimes, it’s their experiences in the private sector and the expertise they’ve developed through their careers that makes them attractive to voters.Take state Rep. Tom Saviello of Wilton, […]

The world’s attention will turn next week to Turin, Italy, the site of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. Athletes from around the globe will put their skills and determination on display for an estimated 2 billion spectators watching on television.The Opening Ceremonies are Feb. 10; competition begins the next day.Needless to say, the competition will […]

The get-tough legislation targeting habitually bad drivers is named after Tina Turcotte. It was her death at the hands of truck driver Scott Hewitt last year that focused attention on the problem of people continuing to drive even though their licenses have been suspended.The legislation could have just as easily been named for Mark Blanchette.Blanchette […]

Maine guides flexed their muscles during a public hearing earlier this month and effectively derailed a bad idea from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.The rule changes would have forced guides to pass a criminal background check before they could qualify for a license. Any offense, no matter how minor, could have cost a […]

The news that the K-8 Catholic schools in the Twin Cities must merge if they hope to survive should come as no surprise to church members, who have watched as their congregations have aged and the number of children being baptized into the faith has dropped.To the general community, unaware of the internal dynamics, the […]