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 […]
Paul LePage
Posted inMaine, sj-web
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 […]
Posted inMaine
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 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
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 […]
Posted inMaine
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 […]
Posted inOur View
A day of prayer might just do us some good
The world might be a better place if we all set aside a bit more time for prayer and personal reflection. So we see no harm in Gov. Paul LePage joining Texas Gov. Rick Perry in promoting a national religious rally to be held at a Texas football stadium. In June, LePage signed a proclamation […]
Posted inMaine
LePage trumpets Maine’s new health insurance law to D.C. crowd
Speaking before a friendly crowd in Washington, D.C., Maine Gov. Paul LePage this week touted a new state law that removed the “shackles” from insurance companies and provided residents with more options and lower costs. LePage was addressing attendees at a health care forum sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, a national conservative organization that has […]
Posted inConnections
Governor LePage visits Rumford
On June 25, Gov. Paul Lepage joined a sold out crowd at the Happy Days Celebration at the 49 Franklin Reception Center in Rumford. The governor was joined by the First Lady, Anne, his daughter, Lauren LePage, and his mother-in Law, Rita DeRosby. The governor delivered comments that summarized his goals, achievements and next steps […]
Posted inMaine
LePage’s marine resources chief abruptly steps down
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s Cabinet suffered a loss Wednesday as the chief of the state’s Marine Resources agency tendered his resignation. Norman Olsen, who signed on as the head of the Department of Marine Resources in January, abruptly announced he was leaving his post after meeting with the governor Wednesday. Olsen said he resigned […]