Nuggets from the notebook while waiting to see if Gov. Paul LePage’s attempt at zero-based budgeting will fare better than that of former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter … The concept of zero-based budgeting has been bandied about, in some cases attempted, for decades. ZBB burst into the American nomenclature in 1976 when Carter, a Democrat […]
Maine Legislature
Posted inMaine
GOP to unveil new redistricting map; Androscoggin County would move to 1st District
AUGUSTA — Republican lawmakers say they’ll unveil a new compromise map when the Legislature’s bipartisan reapportionment commission meets Tuesday to vote on proposals that redraw boundaries for Maine’s congressional districts. The GOP announced Friday evening that the new proposal was designed to appease Democrats’ concerns, including keeping Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree’s hometown of North […]
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LePage administration purges DHHS of four more appointees
AUGUSTA — Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Thursday that four program directors have been relieved of their duties by the LePage administration. DHHS employees were notified of the staff changes late Wednesday in an email from Commissioner Mary Mayhew. The four directors are considered political appointments who serve at the […]
Posted inMaine
Parties refocus on consensus redistricting; some GOP lawmakers hedge on ‘radical’ map
AUGUSTA — Lead negotiators on the Legislature’s reapportionment commission on Wednesday vowed to work on a consensus plan to redraw the boundaries for Maine’s congressional districts, just one day after a partisan blowup appeared to foreshadow court intervention in the mapping process. Sen. Debra Plowman, R-Hampden, and Sen. Seth Goodall, D-Richmond, who both serve on […]
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LePage orders new state regulations to go through him
AUGUSTA — When it comes to approving new state regulations, Gov. Paul LePage wants the buck to stop at him. That has some people — environmentalists in particular — concerned. LePage this week signed an executive order that empowers the governor to delay and alter rule-making procedures at all state agencies if he deems them […]
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GOP withdraws compromise from congressional redistricting hearing
AUGUSTA — With time running out for the Legislature’s reapportionment commission to reach a consensus plan to redraw the boundaries for Maine’s congressional districts, Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday took a step closer toward partisan entrenchment. Just moments before a public hearing that drew testimony from more than 45 residents, the commission’s GOP representatives withdrew […]
Posted inMaine, Op-Eds, The Franklin Journal
Political Pulse: The political calculus of special elections
Nuggets from the notebook while exploring the political maneuvering for the soon-to-be vacant District 20 Senate seat … Last week, state Sen. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, announced he will resign his Senate seat to take over as the executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine. Trahan’s plans to join SAM were reported last month. At […]
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House Speaker weighing options for lawmaker charged with threatening man with a gun
AUGUSTA — The state House of Representatives may have to decide if it will expel a Garland lawmaker charged in May with threatening a man with a handgun. House Speaker Robert Nutting, R-Oakland, said Friday that he hopes to have someone representing House District 24 by the beginning of the second legislative session in January. […]
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LePage announces special session for congressional redistricting plan
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday announced a special session for the Legislature for lawmakers to consider a new congressional redistricting plan. The session will begin Sept. 27. The congressional redistricting plan is spurred by recent population changes revealed by the U.S. Census. The plan is being drafted by a reapportionment committee composed of […]
Posted inMaine
Maine awaits fallout as dust settles on Congress’ debt ceiling bill
AUGUSTA — State lawmakers say impending cuts in federal spending will have a significant impact in Maine, a state reliant on federal funding. Congress and President Barack Obama this week averted a government default by reaching a last-minute deal to raise the federal debt ceiling in exchange for about $2.2 trillion in deficit reduction. State […]