Momentum is building for new food stamp restrictions that would ban the purchase of candy and soda. This week, however, the Trump administration denied a request from the state of Maine that would have placed such restrictions on its food stamp program. The denial, issued Tuesday, is the first sign that President Donald Trump’s Department […]
Paul LePage
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Eves lawsuit against LePage getting second hearing
In a highly unusual move, the full panel of judges for the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston has agreed to rehear an appeal of a federal court ruling dismissing former Maine House Speaker Mark Eves’ lawsuit against Gov. Paul LePage. The court said Friday that a majority of the six judges for the […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Feds again block junk food ban for food stamps but LePage to try again
For the second time in less than two years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has denied a request by Maine Gov. Paul LePage to ban food stamp recipientsfrom using their benefits to buy sugary drinks and candy. His spokeswoman, Julie Rabinowitz, said Friday that the administration would “revise our waiver request and resubmit it,” but she […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage will give his final State of the State address on Feb. 13
AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage is going to deliver his final State of the State address next month. His office confirmed that he’ll address a joint session of the Maine Legislature on Feb. 13. That’s the date proposed by Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon and Republican Senate President Mike Thibodeau. This will be […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Don't say anything at all
I have never written to the Sun Journal before, but I was so appalled at Gov. Paul LePage’s treatment of the teenager who wrote to him about net neutrality that I couldn’t resist. In this day of trying to teach children respect for anything, where are they supposed to learn it? They see many government […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bill proposed by Paul LePage aimed at growing manufacturing jobs
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s Republican governor is behind a bill to promote forest products and wood manufacturing jobs through incentives. Democratic Sen. James Dill is sponsoring Gov. Paul LePage’s bill, which is set for a Tuesday hearing. An energy project such as biomass energy from manufacturing residue that provides three jobs per installed megawatt capacity […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage blocks overdose drug
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage continues to block new rules allowing Mainers to obtain an overdose reversal drug without a prescription, five months after regulators approved the policy to help reduce the state’s record number of opioid-related deaths. The Maine Board of Pharmacy voted unanimously Aug. 3 to approve rules allowing pharmacists to dispense the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage plans push for voter ID again
AUGUSTA — Though there is no evidence of voter fraud in Maine, Gov. Paul LePage said Friday that he plans to ask the Legislature to require voters to show an identification card “as a simple way to safeguard the most sacred right we have in our democracy.” “We must discourage voter fraud, and we must […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage spending welfare dollars on after-school programs
Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage is spending $1.7 million of federal welfare dollars on after-school programs. The Bangor Daily News reports over a dozen nonprofit organizations received funding this year from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant. Since 2015, Maine’s asked such after-school programs to show how they help prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancies and encourage […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Court orders Paul LePage to release $3 million to workforce development board
AUGUSTA — A federal judge ordered the LePage administration on Wednesday to release several million dollars in workforce development funds to a Brunswick nonprofit that alleged the administration illegally withheld the federal money. U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock ruled that the law’s language is “mandatory and clear” that a governor must release money to […]