state house
Maine celebrates Franco-American Day
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State House sprinkler leak damages offices
AUGUSTA — A pinhole leak in the sprinkler system at the State House last week caused a surprising amount of water to gush throughout the second and third floors, but damage was minimal and has for the most part been repaired. Grant Pennoyer, executive director of the Legislative Council, who oversees facilities concerns at the […]
Maine’s constitutional officers not guaranteed re-election by split Legislature
AUGUSTA — Maine’s treasurer, attorney general and secretary of state will have to find support from more than just Democrats if they are to survive elections at the State House that could unseat them. After being sworn in on Dec. 3, the 186 voting members of the 127th Legislature will elect the three constitutional officers […]
Maine DHHS commissioner lobbies feds for food stamp reform
AUGUSTA — Maine’s health and human services chief on Monday pressed members of the state’s congressional delegation to join her in pushing for federal changes to overhaul the food stamps program. In a letter, Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew said Maine residents are concerned about the “proliferation of welfare benefits and seemingly […]
State House candidates share views during Lewiston forum
LEWISTON — A forum featuring 19 candidates running for seats in the Maine Legislature touched on a wide range of issues during nearly two hours of discussion at the Franco Center on Wednesday. Hosted by the Young Professionals of the Lewiston-Auburn Area, candidates running for House and Senate seats talked about everything from hiking the […]
Artists could get State House copper to use
AUGUSTA (AP) — To some, the weathered green copper sheets that have been removed from the Maine State House dome may just look like scrap. But to the artists in Maine who are clamoring to get a piece, it looks like opportunity.The state had planned to recycle most of the 100-year-old metal that’s being replaced […]
New policy gives political appointees, LePage staff extra vacation time
AUGUSTA — A new policy instituted by in February substantially increased paid vacation time for 54 political appointees and governor’s office staff, by crediting prior, relevant work experience into how their time is accrued. For example, a political appointee employed by the state government for three years, but who had 12 years of relevant prior […]
LePage says DHHS in talks with consultant over plagiarized study
LEWISTON — Gov. Paul LePage said he hoped the problems around a controversial welfare study his administration commissioned on a $925,200 no-bid contract could be used as an “education moment,” during a visit to Lewiston on Thursday. LePage was visiting the Androscoggin Business to Business Trade Show at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee when he told […]
Auburn Mayor LaBonte to join LePage administration
AUGUSTA — Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte is joining state government. Republican Gov. Paul LePage announced Wednesday he was appointing LaBonte as director of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Management. The office was created to replace the State Planning Office. LaBonte will take over for former state lawmaker Richard Rosen, who was appointed acting commissioner […]