The latest figures from Maine’s Department of Labor put the unemployment rate at 8 percent, slightly below the national average. High jobless claims and the economy are national issues. But several candidates in the Maine gubernatorial race have localized the problem, saying the state isn’t doing enough to create jobs and encourage business growth. Some […]
Paul LePage
Posted inOur View
Gubering our way toward a new governor
Why would anyone want to be Maine’s next gubernator? Or, even gubernatrix? After all, our gubernaculum is facing an $800 million deficit and and voters are plenty angry. And angry people, as we all know, are hard to guberno. Yes, they are all actual words, words which did not survive the transition from Latin to […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Democrats attack LePage on nuclear power
PORTLAND (AP) — The Brunswick Democratic Town Committee is targeting Maine Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul LePage over remarks he made about nuclear power. On Thursday, the committee unveiled a website targeting LePage’s support of nuclear power. It cited a radio interview before the June primary in which LePage said that 20 years from now he’d […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Hospital debt irks LePage
AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul LePage on Thursday accused Democrats, including Blaine House rival Libby Mitchell, of doing too little to pay down a nearly $400 million debt that the state owes hospitals for Medicaid services. “Decisions made in Augusta are putting a burden on the backs of Maine hospitals,” LePage said following […]
Posted inOur View
Candidates endure nasty surprises on the campaign trail
Candidates for statewide office never know what will come back to haunt them, and the race for Maine governor has already been full of “gotcha” moments. For gubernatorial candidate Libby Mitchell, it became a party photo showing the laughing candidate holding a plaque with a sticker identifying former President George W. Bush as an “international […]
Posted inOur View
Sending back federal money seems unlikely
One of the sidelight issues in the current campaign for governor has become Paul LePage’s belief, stated several times now, that the state should only receive back from the federal government an amount equal to what it contributes. That may be a noble thought, but it seems impractical and would likely deprive the state and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
New poll shows Mitchell and LePage in statistical dead-heat
The results from today’s Critical Insights poll are showing Democrat Libby Mitchell running even with GOP Paul LePage, a significant change from previous polls giving the Waterville mayor a double-digit lead. Also noteworthy are demographic crosstabs showing LePage polling strong in the 18- to 34-year old demographic, while Mitchell leads with Franco-American voters. For up-to-the-minute […]
Posted inMaine, News, sj-web
LePage: I’d tell Obama to go to hell
PORTLAND (AP) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul LePage told a group of fishermen at a GOP forum that he won’t be afraid to tell President Barack Obama to “go to hell.” LePage, a favorite of tea partiers, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he regretted the words he chose Sunday in the small coastal […]
Posted inMaine
Gubernatorial candidate Kevin Scott’s driving history spotty
LEWISTON — A driving records check on the ballot candidates running for governor in Maine shows three of the five have fairly average driving records. But one — Kevin Scott of Andover — has been convicted of 35 motor vehicle violations and had his driving privilege suspended on 21 occasions, Maine Secretary of State Matt […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Mississippi governor to raise money for LePage
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is coming to Maine to raise money for Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul LePage’s campaign. Barbour is to host a fundraising luncheon for LePage at DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant in Portland on Monday. Barbour is past chairman of the Republican National Committee and current chairman of the Republican Governors’ […]