Robert Long
State House Bureau
Chellie Pingree won’t run for governor in 2014
AUGUSTA, Maine — U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat who represents Maine’s 1st District, will not run for governor in 2014. Andrew Colvin, Pingree’s deputy communications director, confirmed Friday afternoon that Pingree has decided against a gubernatorial run. “After considering the decision carefully over the last few months, I have ...
Panel wants more information before investigating LePage’s role in unemployment decisions
AUGUSTA, Maine — Instead of asking for a new investigation of whether Gov. Paul LePage or anyone else exerted improper influence on hearings officers for unemployment claims appeals, the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee voted unanimously Friday morning to seek more information about two other probes of Maine’s unemployment system. Committee ...
Maine Senate delivers death blow to pair of ‘right-to-work’ bills
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Senate slammed the door on two bills that Republicans called “right-to-work” legislation with 21-13 votes Thursday. Both bills went to the full Legislature with divided “ought not to pass” recommendations from the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee, where they garnered support from minority ...
Bill to shield personal info about concealed firearms permit holders heads to LePage
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Legislature gave final approval Thursday to a bill that will shield personal information about concealed firearms permit holders from the public. After more than an hour of debate on what was expected to be a procedural second vote on the measure, the Maine House voted ...
Senator’s late vote breaks committee deadlock on Maine bill to limit gun magazines
AUGUSTA, Maine — A late vote by Sen. David Dutremble, D-Biddeford, will send to the full Senate a controversial bill to restrict the amount of ammunition that can be placed in firearms’ magazines. Sponsored by Senate President Justin Alfond, D-Portland, the bill, LD 997, essentially limits the number of rounds ...
POLL QUESTION
Legislative panel votes against letting Maine cities and towns pass their own gun bans
AUGUSTA, Maine — A legislative committee voted 8-3 Monday to recommend against a bill that would allow Maine cities and towns to set their own rules about firearms possession in government buildings. Rep. Matthew Moonen, D-Portland, sponsored LD 1122, An Act Allowing Municipalities to Enact Firearms Policies in Local Government ...
Letter from LePage helps Republican group decide to hold national convention in Portland
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Republican Liberty Caucus, a national organization with ties to the tea party and Ron Paul wing of the GOP, will hold its 2015 national conference in Portland. The RLC’s national committee announced Tuesday evening that it had voted unanimously to hold the group’s biennial convention April ...
Chellie Pingree renews push to help military sexual assault survivors receive benefits
WASHINGTON — A subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing Tuesday on a bill inspired by a Maine woman that would make it easier for veterans who are survivors of sexual assault in the military to receive compensatory benefits. The bill is named for Ruth Moore, ...
POLL QUESTION
Gun rights take center stage at Patriots Day rally in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Maine — When organizer Amy Hale opened Monday’s Maine Patriots Day rally in Capitol Park with “Greetings, fellow patriots,” she was addressing an eclectic mix of gun rights defenders, food sovereignty advocates, marijuana legalization supporters and Mainers who believe God has been wrongfully banished from government. The afternoon rally ...
Republican senators explain need for budget cuts in letters to municipal officials
AUGUSTA, Maine — Buffeted by complaints from municipal officials and constituents about potential negative effects of Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed two-year budget on property taxes and local services, Republican senators are responding in writing. Republican state senators are sending letters to municipal officials that attempt to put LePage’s call for ...
Legislature sends St. Croix alewife restoration bill to LePage
AUGUSTA, Maine — Emergency legislation to open the St. Croix River watershed to sea-run alewives easily won passage Wednesday in the Maine Senate and House. The bill, LD 72, now goes to Gov. Paul LePage, who has 10 days to sign, veto or let the bill become law. The House ...
Susan Collins says gun control groups, gun rights groups both have her position wrong
AUGUSTA, Maine — Sen. Susan Collins is pushing back in two directions against ads and mailers designed to pressure her before congressional votes on President Barack Obama’s proposals to toughen national gun laws. “This is one of those issues where out-of-state groups are targeting me from completely opposite directions,” Collins ...
Offshore wind pilot project advances, decision eyed in 2014
AUGUSTA, Maine — An international energy development firm announced Monday that it’s moving ahead with plans for an offshore wind energy pilot project in the Gulf of Maine, with a goal of making a final decision on the project next year. As a test site for more extensive development of ...
VIDEO
LePage supporters’ hospital debt ad ignites political firestorm
AUGUSTA, Maine — A new television ad from Maine People Before Politics, a group that supports Republican Gov. Paul LePage, inflamed partisan hostilities in Augusta and across Maine’s political spectrum Thursday. The ad criticizes LePage’s predecessor, Democrat John Baldacci, for leaving behind a Medicaid “welfare” debt to the state’s 39 ...
Party-line vote in Maine Senate sends earned-income tax credit bill to LePage
AUGUSTA, Maine — Voting along party lines, the Maine Senate voted 19-16 Thursday in favor of a bill that would expand earned-income tax credits for low-income Mainers. All Democrats voted for the bill. All Republicans opposed it, as did independent Sen. Richard Woodbury of Yarmouth. The bill, LD 455, sponsored ...
POLL QUESTION
Poll: Cutler would lead LePage in 2014 governor’s race — if he ran as a Democrat
AUGUSTA, Maine — If independent Eliot Cutler ran for governor as a Democrat in 2014, he would lead incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage by almost eight percentage points, according to a poll released Wednesday. The Pan Atlantic SMS Group survey of 403 Maine residents, conducted by veteran Portland pollster Patrick ...
State won’t immediately investigate drama-plagued Portland charter school
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee decided Tuesday to wait before determining whether to seek an investigation of Baxter Academy, the controversy-plagued Portland charter school scheduled to open this fall. Specifically, committee members chose to let the Maine Charter Schools Commission address Baxter Academy’s issues during the commission’s ...
Maine Senate passes bill that would raise minimum wage to $9 an hour by 2016
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Senate on Tuesday voted 19-16 along party lines in favor of a bill that would raise the state’s minimum wage to $9 an hour by 2016 and index future minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index. Democrats unanimously supported the bill. All Republicans opposed ...
Bill to remove St. Croix alewife barriers clears committee hurdle
AUGUSTA, Maine — Emergency legislation calling for removal of barriers that block sea-run alewives from full access to the St. Croix River watershed won unanimous endorsement Monday from the Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee. The committee’s recommendation that LD 72, sponsored by Passamaquoddy Tribal Rep. Madonna Soctomah, pass came quickly and ...
ANALYSIS
If LePage is ‘The Boss,’ who would Baldacci be in Red Sox-Yankees rivalry?
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees open their 2013 seasons Monday with a game at Yankee Stadium. As Opening Day approaches, it’s hard not to view everything through the prism of the Bronx-Beantown baseball rivalry. Even politics. So let’s make up a new game based ...
LePage tells legislative leaders he’s moving out of State House because of ‘censorship’
Nichole Cable’s friends, family attend accused killer’s emotionally charged court appearance
Lincoln’s Coffee Pot Cafe shuts its doors
Maine Sports Hall of Fame member, DJ Dana Wilson convicted of child pornography possession
Community members rally in memory of Nichole Cable; events, fundraisers planned
Guest Post: “I’m about ready to name my daughter Revolution.”
Rep. Diane Russell’s fool’s errand
Help Maine charter schools succeed before adding more
Goodwin steps down as Brewer High School boys basketball coach
Tommy Lawrence pitches UMaine baseball to victory in first America East tournament game
Garcia sorry after ‘stupid’ Woods fried chicken jibe
Live Updates: UMaine baseball vs. Binghamton in America East championship
Live updates: UMaine baseball vs. Stony Brook at America East Championship
Maine School of Science and Mathematics alumni drawn to give back to magnet school
Federal agencies eye return to restored historic Custom House in Portland
It’s hard to keep secrets from a friend who is clairvoyant
New York City rumble showcases Maine’s lobster roll dominance