Gov. Paul LePage is sounding more and more like he plans next year to challenge independent.Angus King’s bid for a second term in the U.S. Senate. During a radio interview Thursday, the governor indicated that the only declared major party challenger — state Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn — likely can’t win. “I don’t see it […]
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Susan Collins is going to run for governor, Paul LePage says
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage said Thursday he believes that Maine’s senior senator, Republican Susan Collins, has her eye on Blaine House.. “I think she knows what she’s doing. She’s planning to run for governor,” LePage told Portland radio station WGAN. Collins, who’s been in the Senate for two decades, has said she plans to […]
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Angus King ahead of Eric Brakey in contributions for 2018 U.S. Senate
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The latest federal campaign finance reports show U.S. Sen. Angus King is the top fundraiser in the 2018 U.S. Senate race. King reported raising about $650,000 during the spring and nearly $1.6 million in total this year. He received $20,000 apiece from aerospace and defense corporation General Dynamics and leadership PACs […]
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Paul LePage may seek U.S. Senate seat after all
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage said he may jump into the U.S. Senate race after all. Speaking to a Portland radio station Thursday morning, the governor said he’s getting pressure to reconsider his decision to steer clear of the 2018 contest. U.S. Sen. Angus King, a first-term Maine independent, has only one challenger to his […]
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Lawmakers reach tentative budget deal
Update: Gov. Paul LePage ends shutdown by signing $7.1B budget bill AUGUSTA — Lawmakers hoped late Monday that they had struck a deal that would allow state offices to open as usual on Wednesday. “We’re closing in on a budget deal” that Gov. Paul LePage will sign, said Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston. “The shutdown should end […]
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Paul LePage threatens budget veto, says shut down would be Dems’ fault
AUGUSTA — As lawmakers scramble to finish up this week, not everyone is impressed with what they’ve done. Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, pointed out the other day that the 186 members of the Legislature collectively churn out enough warmth from their own bodies to power about 38 homes. That, he said, “may very well be […]
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Lawmakers oppose plan to create safe centers for drug addicts
AUGUSTA — A seemingly radical idea to create a couple of places where drug-addicted Mainers could go to shoot up in safety drew passionate debate from lawmakers who ultimately turned down the idea. Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, said the notion of creating a safe, secure place for addicts to take prohibited drugs legally might seem […]
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Senate rejects Nate Libby measure for more welfare oversight
AUGUSTA — A proposal to create a new oversight commission for Maine’s welfare program faltered in the Republican-controlled Senate Thursday on a party line vote. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, calls for gathering more data and setting benchmarks to ensure low-income Mainers are doing better. It would also add a citizens oversight […]
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Public health nurses win over Senate, look to House next
AUGUSTA — The Republican-controlled Senate overwhelmingly gave its approval Wednesday to a proposal, opposed by Gov. Paul LePage’s administration, that would force him to more than double the size of its public health nursing division. Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, said that lawmakers “can sit by and idly watch the dismantling of our public health system” […]
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Eric Brakey’s bid to limit TANF payments faces long odds
AUGUSTA — A proposal to slice the lifetime time limit for adults to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits by 40 percent failed this week to secure support in the Senate and faces long odds in the House. Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, is seeking to reduce the cap on the federally-funded benefits from 60 […]