Eric Russell
State House Bureau
- 207.990.8167
- erussell@bangordailynews.com
LePage’s domestic violence legislation focuses on abusers
AUGUSTA, Maine — Some days it seems there is little common ground among Republicans and Democrats at the State House, and the partisan divide can be especially wide in an election year. But there is at least one area where the two parties have come together this year: domestic violence. ...
Maine AG wants Obama to reverse contraception policy; women’s groups cry foul
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s attorney general has joined several other state attorneys general in signing a letter recently that asks President Barack Obama to reverse his administration’s stance on requiring health insurance companies to provide contraception coverage. “A recently proposed federal mandate requiring religious employers that provide health insurance coverage ...
Snowe primary challenger unenrolls from Maine GOP after caucus
AUGUSTA, Maine — A primary challenger to U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe and a self-proclaimed tea partier has unenrolled from the Republican party in the wake of the state GOP’s recent caucuses. Andrew Ian Dodge of Harpswell announced on Tuesday that he was severing ties with his party but said he ...
CAPITOL INCITE
Gov. LePage to greet marines returning from overseas
on Feb. 22, 2012, at 11:48 a.m.
PORTLAND, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage is expected to make an appearance at Portland International Jetport on Wednesday afternoon to greet approximately 130 U.S. Marines and sailors who are returning from a 10-month deployment overseas. Because of security, the event in Portland is not open to the media, the governor’s ...
Head of Maine National Guard stepping down
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maj. Gen. John W. “Bill” Libby, head of the Maine National Guard since 2003 and commissioner of the state Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, is stepping down. Libby, 67, informed Gov. Paul LePage this week that he would retire effective March 16. No reason was ...
CAPITOL INCITE
Senate President Raye’s wife hospitalized; DHHS budget action delayed
on Feb. 21, 2012, at 2:34 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — The sudden hospitalization over the weekend of Karen Raye, wife of Senate President Kevin Raye, prompted Senate leadership to postpone action Tuesday on the Department of Health and Human Services supplemental budget. The budget passed through the House last Thursday but stalled in the Senate after a majority ...
Gov. LePage marks domestic violence awareness day, previews legislation
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage, flanked by advocates from across the state, marked Tuesday as the second annual Domestic Violence Awareness Day in Maine — one day before he was expected to unveil legislation aimed at strengthening state laws. The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence welcomed to the ...
Bill would eliminate pensions for any state employees who commit felonies
AUGUSTA, Maine — An after-deadline bill submitted by a Republican lawmaker would allow courts to revoke pensions for state employees convicted of felony crimes in connection with their work. The bill was submitted just two weeks after it was learned that the former Maine Turnpike Authority director, who has pleaded ...
Transportation Committee passes bill for east-west highway study
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Legislature’s Transportation Committee on Thursday approved a resolve that would dedicate $300,000 from the state’s highway fund to pay for a new feasibility study for an east-west highway. Republicans on the Transportation Committee said the request is more than reasonable given the fact that the money ...
House passes, but Senate rejects DHHS budget
AUGUSTA, Maine — Senate Democrats late Thursday blocked passage of a supplemental budget for the Department of Health and Human Service just hours after their counterparts in the House approved it. The compromise budget bill, LD 1816, cuts approximately $120 million from the current fiscal year DHHS budget through a ...
POLL QUESTION
Bill would require electronic tracking of cold, allergy medication sales to fight meth production
AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill that would require sales of cold and allergy medications to be tracked electronically because the drugs are often used to make methamphetamine was passed unanimously this week by the Legislature’s health committee. “Methamphetamine abuse is a major problem in Maine and has ruined a lot ...
Maine GOP will count Washington County results in state caucus tally
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Republican Party has reversed course and will recommend that delayed caucus results from Washington County be included in its final presidential poll tally. The party also is reconfirming results from local caucuses in the wake of the recent controversy over how its presidential caucuses were ...
CAPITOL INCITE
Gov. LePage shows sense of humor while swearing in new Democratic senator
on Feb. 16, 2012, at 11:07 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Republican Gov. Paul LePage has displayed a pretty good sense of humor at times this year. He showed it during the State of the State address last month when he turned at one point during his speech to ask House Minority Leader Emily Cain of Orono, “How’s ...
Could Democrat win in vacant Senate seat be harbinger for 2012?
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Democrats proclaimed Tuesday’s special election in Senate District 20 that saw Democrat Chris Johnson upset Republican Dana Dow as a “repudiation of the Republican agenda” in Augusta. Party Chairman Ben Grant said the message from the election was clear and it had little to do with ...
Budget action held for one more day to accommodate amendments
AUGUSTA, Maine — House Republicans postponed debate and action on the Department of Health and Human Services supplemental budget on Wednesday to allow proposed amendments to be drafted, a process that could make or break a deal. Last week, members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee agreed unanimously on a compromise ...
CAPITOL INCITE
Could Democrat win in vacant Senate seat be harbinger for 2012?
on Feb. 15, 2012, at 11:58 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Democrats are giddy over Tuesday’s special election in Senate District 20 that saw Democrat Chris Johnson upset Republican Dana Dow. Party Chairman Ben Grant said the message from the election was clear and it had little to do with Johnson or Dow. “Paul LePage’s agenda is ...
VIDEO
Waldo County Republicans call for censure of state GOP chairman after caucus controversy
AUGUSTA, Maine — Members of the Waldo County GOP Committee voted Tuesday evening to recommend a censure of Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster for his handling of the party’s presidential caucuses. Raymond St. Onge, who leads the Waldo County GOP, said the initial motion was to call for a ...
Democrat wins Lincoln County Senate seat
AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrat Chris Johnson of Somerville won a special election Tuesday over Republican Dana Dow of Waldoboro to fill a vacant seat in the state Senate. With all but two of the 22 towns that make up District 20 reporting, Johnson had 3,191 votes, or 54 percent, according ...
CAPITOL INCITE
Democrat Johnson wins Lincoln County Senate seat
on Feb. 14, 2012, at 10:25 p.m.
Democrat wins Lincoln County Senate seat| AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrat Chris Johnson of Somerville won a special election Tuesday over Republican Dana Dow of Waldoboro to fill a vacant seat in the state Senate. With all but two of the 22 towns that make up District 20 reporting, Johnson had ...
Veterans court bill gets initial approval
AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill that would create a special treatment court for veterans dealing with drug addiction and mental illness was approved unanimously Tuesday by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Maeghan Maloney, D-Augusta, would authorize the chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to ...
Rosa Scarcelli suing stepfather for not firing her mother
Man shot in Hermon home invasion arrested for second time Friday, released Tuesday
Bangor police looking for Florida firefighter
Scarborough boy, 11, rocking open mike nights at Lewiston restaurant
What’s more important — presidential or party preference?
Toilet-papering spree in Bangor neighborhoods a result of high school swimmers’ success
No. 8 Houlton stuns No. 1 Orono, will face Stearns in semifinal
Cianbro has 150 job openings
Gambling board approves Maine’s first casino: Hollywood Slots becomes Hollywood Casino Bangor
Maple syrup producers concerned about mild winter
Maine inspires chefs and foodies nationwide
Photos of Mainers who served in Vietnam War needed for national center
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