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• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SHNOU64ZBOBIKWUF5IM6WSH7WA entitled4life

  It’s no surprise that the Natural Resources Defense Council is opposed to this, it’s what they do.   The group is not interested in helping Maine business, just in making sure that they protect the natural resources, whatever the cost and whatever the detriment and no matter if it can be done more cheaply and more fairly for the businesses involved.

• Anonymous

  It just doesnt matter to you guys what this man does…This Bias paper is always against what ever he does..We need jobs here.. This is a start in the right direction .. Why is it the Canadians can harvest timber  here cheaper than us..Answer regulations..He has a next to impossible job ahead of unstrapping all the red tape that your democrats buddys strapped on this state…Your time will come when sombody starts a balanced newpaper up here and that will happen

• Anonymous

  “Eliminating LEED effectively turns Maine’s once-great green building program into business as usual,” Yassa said in a prepared statement. “The governor has chosen to benefit a small segment of the state’s logging industry, often financed by out-of-state interests, who refuse to improve their practices.”Yassa said more than 60 organizations in Maine are members of the U.S. Green Building Council, which represents the state’s green building industry. The industry, Yassa said, employs more than 60,000 people.
  Yassa said exempting state projects from the FSC certification threatens more than $5 billion in economic activity by the state’s green building industry”

  ? did either of you read the story? looks like the governor will hurt mare than he helps

  Bill Beardsley, commissioner of the Department of Conservation, said the order demonstrated the state’s broadening commitment to “voluntary forest certification
  yeah and we all know what “voluntary” means to business

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T3YNF6MG3FPEAVTFIJC44VQUI Dlbrt

  The Only thing GREEN  about Lepage is his Teeth!

• Anonymous

  Is anybody surprised that the Republican agenda is absolutely about creating jobs right now, even if it means leaving a trashed and ugly America for the future. 

  However, only certain jobs that favor the interest of big business–

  Case in point:  Right now, Republicans in Congress are refusing to extend tax breaks for the middle class unless Democrats allow an oil pipeline down through America from Canada.  The pipeline goes right through the sensitive Sandhills region.

• Guest

  STOP WHINNING… Poor Penguin!

• Anonymous

  If we continue to tighten regulations and laws geared towards limiting industry then we will soon wake up jobless and homeless in the “green” utopia touted by the environmentalists.

  It is the cost of doing business!
  there will always be consequences of doing business, especially when it is natural resources.
  however, it’s either we encourage business and let it happen, or we continue to tighten policies and no business will come to the state.

• Anonymous

  The Maine logging industry is suffering right now from lack of orders. The governor’s approach is only intended to shore up the industry at a time when it really needs a boost. What creates environmental abuse due to logging is the feast or famine approach we are now seeing. When demand is high there is an emphasis on harvesting as quickly as possible to make up for those periods of low demands. This only encourages a lot of wood harvesting malpractices and environmental degradation.

• Anonymous

  “sustainable forestry practices” ensure that the forestry businesses will be viable in the future, and is not necessarily a cost burden to the company. LEED standards are tough, but Maine organizations are meeting them in new construction projects and are still purchasing their products from Maine companies – which is part of the LEED standards to reduce carbon footprint through reducing transportation distances.

• http://twitter.com/MarshallLeslie Marshall Leslie

  Both the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and your paper’s article, fail to disclose that the NRDC led the official initiative that created and funded the Forest Stewardship Council in the US more than a decade ago, and the NRDC has a very large conflict-of-interest on this issue. As well, the NRDC release, and your paper’s article, fail to disclose that the NRDC’s (then) Chief Scientist was the principle author of the LEED rating system (which by the way is based on a Canadian standard). The NRDC and LEED borrowed the idea of having a ‘credit’ for sustainable forest management from the Canadian standards system.

  Governor LePage’s order simply introduces an element of choice when specifying wood products – which LEED in fact already permits. Under LEED’s point system, SFI and PEFC certified wood can earn a ‘credit’ if they are produced and transported within a short radius of the building site – which one assumes is the policy objective of the Governor of Maine. (LEED will soon permit an even broader use of wood certified by different systems).

  What you should be sharing with your readers is this: most wood products aren’t certified by ANYONE, and most LEED certified building projects don’t earn ANY certified wood credit. So kudos to Governor LePage for increasing the opportunity for sustainable harvested wood products in Maine, and I hope other elected officials sit up and take notice.

• Anonymous

  If anyone doesn’t like what is going on in this state,then I have 1 word for you-MOVE!

• Briney

  Yassa said. “His (Le Page) support of unsustainable forestry defies the interests of his citizens and common sense.”
  Defies the interests of his citizens and common sense?  That about wraps up everything Le Page has done and said in his first year as Monarch of the State of Maine.

• Anonymous

  Another corporate friendly policy that does harm to real Mainers and how they make a living.  When will people see that this “business friendly” front from LePage is a rouse.  He is friendly to big, out-of-state corporations and damning local businesses and workers to a sad future.

  I can see why Charles and David Koch would want this policy.  I can also see why Mainers might be concerned.  Unsustainable harvesting is bad for the next generation but good for this quarter’s financials. 

  I’m sure ALEC has policies for this kind of forestry mismanagement but it surely isn’t of Mainers, by Mainers and for Mainers.

• Anonymous

  I read your posts often.  I am sure if the NRDC said that eating arsenic is bad for you, you would make the argument that arsenic is good for you.  Unsustainable forestry is not in the best interests of Mainers, period.  You can make the case for out-of-state businesses but not for us.  There are too many ways we rely on the forests for our way of life.

• Briney

  Maine has had 23 Democratic governors and 37 Republican governors.  There have been 2 Independent and 6 Democratic- Republican governors. Also, 4 Whig governors. 

  For anyone with time on their hands, they could review and unravel the red tape,  and find out what governor and what administration was responsible for weaving the most. 

  But it is interesting to note that since Republican Gov. John Reed finished an 8-yr term in 1967, he was succeeded  by two Independents, 2 Republicans and, just one Democrat, Gov. John Baldacci.  

  Since Governor Reed began his term in 1959, this means that 52 years have passed with just one Democrat – Governor John Baldacci  serving from 2003 to 2011. 

  The article presents both sides of the issue.

• Anonymous

  so… any suggestions?
  how are we supposed to have any business in this state?

  The service sector?
  fast food?
  banking?

  Not Sustainable!

  there needs to be some business here that is productive. and every single opportunity to have a productive business is generally shot down by the environmentalists as “bad for mainers”

  fishing, forestry, manufacturing, wind power, rail transportation…
  everyone has to have a say in it, and discourage it.
  at this rate, Maine will be a nice green wilderness filled with absolutely no one because no one will be able to find work or live here!

• Anonymous

  Curtis and Brennan?  Longley, much like Cutler, was a Democrat until it became apparent that he’d be unable to win a primary.  King’s start in Maine politics was working for Democratic politicians as well.

• PabMainer

  The greatest disservice to our woodlands is not to reasonably and sensibly harvest our most abundant natural resource….Softwood harvesting is down approx. 25% over the last decade…..the rate of maturing trees becoming harvestable comes approx. every 20 years supplying new marketable wood…..this rate of growth is increasing and is projected to increase yearly thru 2030…..Our woods are a mess and one needs to just drive some mature wood lots to see that undergrowth and non-harvested mature wood is overtaking itself….Appropriate wood management involves adequate harvesting balanced by appropriate growth and re-growth…..no one wants to see our woodlands abused, but not using them to their potential is wasteful and not good land management…..people want jobs, and hopefully this effort will increase jobs and business while protecting any misuse of the natural resource itself..

• Anonymous

  “AUGUSTA, Maine — A national environmental group says Gov. Paul LePage’s recent executive order expanding the standards for “green” timber required for state construction projects would lead to unsustainable wood harvesting.” 

  This knocks the props out from under the anti-National Park people claims to being such great managers of our sustainable resources.

• Anonymous

  “It’s no surprise that the Natural Resources Defense Council is opposed to this, it’s what they do.   The group is not interested in helping Maine business …”  

  Who are you going to believe ? 
  The Heritage Foundation’s front man ? 

  Meanwhile , is there any new business to be discussed, yet, Govenah ? 

• Anonymous

  “there will always be consequences of doing business, especially when it is natural resources.
  however, it’s either we encourage business and let it happen, or we continue to tighten policies and no business will come to the state.” 

  So why don’t business people accept those costs ? Opening a course for blackjack dealers at a State school is a current good example of them getting the State to pay their training costs. Why isn’t  that corporate welfare ?  

  Now that the GOTea Party has a record, the broad general statements, all the bromides,  
  don’t fly anymore. 

  Get real, conservatives.

• Anonymous

  Do you support corporate welfare, Mr. Monk ? 

• Anonymous

  Yours is a false choice. There is no need to damage the environment to create jobs. This is a ploy to get corporate resource hogs higher profits. It does nothing for Maine or Maine people. Show me how using sustainable forestry is going to hurt any aspect of our economy….I challenge you!

• Anonymous

  Voici une autre raison pourquoi l’un ne devrait pas avoir confiance dans cet grenouille-la. I still want to see his birth certificate.

• Anonymous

  Just another example of what an idiot our governor is

• Anonymous

  Oh, the poor Koch brothers. If only oppressive regulations weren’t keeping them down. Why have we punished these men for their success? They are only worth $25 billion! How are they supposed to create jobs?

• Anonymous

  Like you, I believe it is more important to play the blame game than to fix something.

• Anonymous

  The Natural Resources Defense Council objects to cabins in the woods.

  The more headlines I see like this, the more respect I have for LePage

• Anonymous

  I’m confused by the masses thinking the government is suppose to make jobs for people.
  First Thers New Qorld Order people were jumping for joy about bot even knowing
  it’s what Hilter was trying to do. Ask Europe
  how’s it’s working out for them.
  Next, why do people think the government is
  going to create jobs when they helped them leave?
  Lastly every time someone whines about little
  stupid things and incites the government in it
  creates more problems and cost more tax dollars.
  So I ask why do people expect the government to
  help and why would they even ask crooks for help,
  Thank you for an intelligent response.

• Anonymous

  who’s

• Anonymous

  not even close

• Anonymous

  OK Maine we say you cannot log no more…..the national environmental groups only criticize, they should come up with solutions… if they could think.

• Anonymous

  amen

• Anonymous

  Cut it all…. Let God sort and stack it.

• Anonymous

  The dems have held a death grip on the Senate and house for over 30 years as well…OOOh those pesky facts again…LOL…

• Anonymous

  That settles it …. 

  Me Forest (Gump ?) has spoken. 

• Anonymous

  Whose ( I think you mean) , Forrest.

  Credible is as credible does.

• Anonymous

  EARTH FIRST…WE”LL LOG THE OTHER PLANETS LATER…LOL..

  LePage is doing what’s right…How can I tell you say ??? The BDN and the usual suspects have their collective panties in a bunch…LOL…

• Anonymous

  Me whinning……Look who whinning every time Paul. makes a decisons that effects you run are down in augusta and protest …Since 75% of you dont work you can occupy down there months at a time,crying “why us” “I dont want to work”I know every time Iam on here I have 90% of the Bangor daily News blogging on here in defence of this BIAS paper..People are getting real sick of reading this   negitive Left leaning paper.. Keep on reporting unbalance crap..There will be a fair reporting newspaper that will be comming out…I promise you that.. 

• Anonymous

  who’s birth certificate

• Anonymous

  SINCE HE GOT IN THERE MORE GREEN IN MY WALLET!

• Anonymous

  LePage, who else? I’m not convinced he’s a U.S. citizen. Why do you think he printed all of those campaign stickers in French? That and he has been less than forthcoming about his early life with his birth parents and that English is his second language. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to find out he was born on the wrong side of the St. John River, if you know what I mean.

• Anonymous

  He could even be an illegal alien.

• Anonymous

  What else would one expect from laplague and his gang in Augusta but more of the same. Nothing good for the people of Maine, helps profits at a few big outfits though.

• Anonymous

  those “jobs” you speak of: mostly canadian drivers/loggers.

• Anonymous

  Your “death grip” reference to dems control of the Maine Senate and House was accomplished through free elections or will of the people.

• Anonymous

  huh?

• Anonymous

  wow, and I can’t build a deck on my camp because it’s too close to the water at 94 feet.  

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T3YNF6MG3FPEAVTFIJC44VQUI Dlbrt

  $ 134.00 average Maine family Tax Savings!

  Great, buy yourself a cardboard box to live in with the change!

  Your a gonna need it!

• Anonymous

  They speak French in Lebanon, don’t they ? 

  I want DHS to see his birth certificate. 

• Anonymous

  Just like the Sahara and Great Gobi Forrests ?

• Anonymous

  Ouch! lol. Ease up with the pertinent facts, you will make some people cry.

• Anonymous

  this bais paper even puts are comments down at the bottom now…They dont like what we have to say…there time will come

• Anonymous

  Poor Paul’s stock just went up in Quebec. Does anyone, even his supporters, believe he is talking about logging jobs for Mainers?

• Anonymous

  So I’m just checking. 

  The short answer to the right wing propaganda about everything being the faults of 
  30 years of Democratic rule, is to dare them to show thirty years of Democratic Governors since Gov. Reed … who was first appointed Governor in 1959, right ?  

  How should we put that ? 

  Name two Democrat who were Gov. of the State of Maine since 1959 ?   

  Any other suggestions ? 

• Anonymous

  Okay, thank you.
  Now , we are getting somewhere on this lie. So at 8 years each, given they seemed to re-elected, I notice, that is still only 24 years, and only 15 years rre since 1980… the past thirty yrs, right ? Cool, the wing nuts are only bout half wrong…. that is way better than their usual average, and there is room to compromise with them, now. 

• Anonymous

  I’d like to that “death grip” documented, too. 

• Anonymous

  I don’t think that the beautiful Maine environment should be taken for granted. I for one am currently training as a professional out of state and intend to return to Maine to open my business, and doing so will create more jobs. However, I will only bring my business to the state if it stays as beautiful and outdoorsman-friendly as it is now. Why else would I return to Maine as a young, highly educated professional, when clearly opportunities are bigger and better elsewhere? Would I return for the high number of affluent consumers available to bring revenue to my business, or for the swinging city life, or maybe for the high number of professional positions available (please note heavy sarcasm)? Please, Maine’s environment is the only thing it has that is worthwhile. If Maine’s environment degraded then I would swiftly pack up for another state and take my business with me, because I can assure you that I would make far more money elsewhere in the career I intend to enter into.

• Anonymous

  Natural Resource Defense Council is an enemy of Northern Maine they are a job killing organization, Governor Lepage is moving Maine in the right direction, after years of Democrats and Environmentalist controlling our state we now have hope for a brighter future for our children, Thank You Governor.