Gov. Paul LePage’s remarks about the video and potential welfare fraud in Maine. Stay on the latest political news by following Steve Mistler’s blog, The Maine Political Pulse AUGUSTA — In a dramatic press event designed to show that the state’s welfare system is vulnerable to fraud, two conservative policy groups unveiled a 45-minute secretly […]
Paul LePage
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LePage won’t take sides on Quimby’s national park plan
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage is watching the debate over Roxanne Quimby’s proposal to turn 70,000 acres adjacent to Baxter State Park into a national park, but has no plans to stake out a position immediately, Conservation Commissioner William Beardsley said Wednesday. “I think he feels that the dialogue is under way,” Beardsley said […]
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LePage says he’ll help Snowe on campaign trail if asked
AUGUSTA — U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said recently that support from Gov. Paul LePage is “critical” to her victory in a Republican primary in 2012. LePage has previously said he would back Snowe in her bid for a fourth Senate term. However, it’s never been clear whether the governor would actively campaign for her, […]
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LePage: No public events for Texas governor’s day of prayer
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage announced last month that he was supporting Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s national day of prayer and fasting. But LePage is neither attending Saturday’s event at Houston’s Reliant Stadium nor holding any public gatherings here in Maine. “The governor just thinks tomorrow should be a time of reflection and prayer,” said […]
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Gov. LePage asks for $100M in savings
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage wants to find an additional $100 million in savings, in part because of the deficit-reduction plan approved by Congress. A bipartisan task force analyzing state departments and agencies with the aim of prioritizing services, consolidating functions and eliminating duplication and inefficiencies is charged by law with finding […]
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Gov. LePage calls special session for redistricting
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage is setting the date for a special legislative session for lawmakers to consider a congressional redistricting plan. LePage announced Thursday the session will be held Sept. 27. A bipartisan commission last month began the process of redrawing the boundaries of Maine’s two congressional districts after a federal […]
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LePage remains open to lobster by-catch
AUGUSTA — The LePage administration this week reaffirmed that it was open to changing rules that would allow some groundfishing boats to land and sell lobsters in Maine. The governor’s willingness to consider the practice, known as by-catch, comes on the heels of the messy divorce between Gov. Paul LePage and ex-Department of Marine Resources […]
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Work begins on restructuring, shrinking of state planning agency
AUGUSTA — Maine’s new, two-year, $6.1 billion budget includes a proposal to reorganize and shrink the State Planning Office, a measure supported by Gov. Paul LePage. On Tuesday, a special group went to work on fulfilling that mandate, which will be folded into legislation at the end of the year. LePage, who originally proposed eliminating […]
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Gov. LePage taking steps toward establishing 5-year high school plan in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Following up on a campaign promise, Gov. Paul LePage is announcing the first step toward giving Maine students the option of a five-year high school education. The governor’s executive order Tuesday will create a 19-member task force to study and set the stage for the change. The Republican repeatedly raised the […]
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Administration: Ex-DMR chief angered constituents; Olsen says LePage buckled
AUGUSTA — Norman Olsen’s opponents began mobilizing in mid-March, days after the now-resigned commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources verbally charged into one of the most sensitive debates in the state’s fishing industry. Olsen, a former fisherman and lobsterman, told attendees at the annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum in Rockland that groundfishermen should be […]