An estimated 6 percent of votes cast in Maine’s last election were cast by citizens who registered to vote on Election Day. If Maine fails to preserve Election Day registration at the polls on Nov. 8, we would be saying that — going forward — those citizens don’t matter and those votes shouldn’t count. That’s […]
Our View
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Casino vote a good bet for Lewiston-Auburn
The Maine Legislature faced a choice 10 years ago. Gambling was clearly inevitable in Maine, and the state could have developed a logical process for locating a handful of strategically placed casinos or racinos here. We could have sold licenses to developers and then determined how much revenue would go to the state and how […]
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A look back at the week’s news
Just when you think you are about to hear something new and important, you suddenly realize you’ve heard all this before. Jeers to the opponents of two ballot questions that would allow the construction of new casinos in Maine. In a near-breathless news release, they announced they had very big news to announce and would […]
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Saluting Paul LePage’s late honeymoon
Usually, a new governor enjoys what, in political circles, is called a honeymoon. Like a real honeymoon, it is usually short-lived — a brief period of political bliss in which the new governor has the goodwill of the people and the press. This is especially so when a governor wins by a large margin and […]
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Preserving citizenship leadership
On Monday, legislative leaders will meet to discuss Maine’s options in bringing our Clean Election Act into compliance with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on matching funds provisions. Our options are to either preserve or maim clean elections, a process by which qualifying state candidates have access to public money to fund campaigns. Maine […]
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Governor gets credit for jobs in East Millinocket
Another shout-out goes to Gov. Paul LePage who, on Monday, greeted paper workers returning to work in East Millinocket. About 250 workers have resumed making paper at Great Northern Paper Co.’s mill there. The governor and his administration brokered the sale of the mill to Cate Street Capital of Portsmouth, N.H. “This was a very […]
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Art Walks showed community spirit is alive and well here
A tip of the hat and congratulations to Michael Dostie who, on Friday, will receive the Community Involvement Award from the Young Professionals of the Lewiston-Auburn Area. Dostie will receive the award at YPLAA’s annual meeting for his work organizing the monthly art walks this summer in Lewiston-Auburn. Dostie helped set up two blocks’ worth […]
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Health care system sick and getting sicker
A New York Times reporter introduced us last week to Tammy Yancey, a $9.50-an-hour gas station attendant for Sam’s Club in Pinellas Park, Fla. Walmart, which also operates Sam’s Club, had just announced sweeping health insurance cuts and premium increases for its one million employees. Those increases included a steep penalty for employees who smoke. […]
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LURC group needs to balance reform and reality
When we argued in January that Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission was too important to scrap, online commenters made a pair of interesting points. “I have served on my town’s planning board,” wrote John Enos of Denmark, “so I can understand the complexities of the planning process.” Enos explained that towns have spent years developing […]
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A look back at the week’s news
As we approach the flu season, cheers to drafters of new policies that require all health care employees at Central Maine Medical Center and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center to get flu shots or wear masks. The move is designed to reduce the chance that already sick and weakened patients will get the flu from […]