Articles by Scott Thistle
Municipal association files suit over LePage plan to stop reimbursing cities that aid undocumented immigrants
AUGUSTA, Maine — In a suit filed Thursday, a statewide association that represents Maine cities and towns is asking a judge to rule on the legality of a new policy from the administration of Gov. Paul LePage that would cut funding to communities that provide welfare benefits to undocumented immigrants …
Maine Democratic legislative leaders call LePage ‘irresponsible’ for meeting with ‘delusional’ group that accused them of treason
AUGUSTA, Maine — A new book by progressive blogger and columnist Mike Tipping asserts that Gov. Paul LePage met regularly with a group that believed it could arrest both Maine Speaker of the House Mark Eves and state Senate President Justin Alfond and put the pair on trial for high …
CAMPAIGN 2014
Angus King joins sponsors of bill to limit ‘dark money’ in campaigns; Bellows prods Collins to back measure
Reiterating his concern that undisclosed campaign funding is undermining American democracy, U.S. Sen. Angus King , I-Maine, said he is joining members of the Senate’s Democratic Caucus to reintroduce a bill that would “shine a light on so-called dark money.” Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Shenna Bellows on Tuesday called on …
CAMPAIGN 2014
Federal report on economic growth spurs partisan attacks in Maine
LEWISTON, Maine — A new federal report on economic growth — or lack thereof — is providing fertile ground for criticism from Democrats and Republicans running for office in Maine. The federal Bureau of Economic Analysis on Tuesday released the latest data on economic growth in the U.S., including a …
CAMPAIGN 2014
National bipartisan group Cutler helped create praises Michaud for work in Congress
LEWISTON, Maine — In an odd twist Monday, a national group that aims to temper the partisan divide in American politics, gave U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-2nd District, its “problem solver seal of approval.” The seal is not an endorsement of Michaud’s 2014 bid for the governor’s office in Maine …
‘The Walk’ has long history in Maine politics, starting with William Cohen
LEWISTON, Maine — When Shenna Bellows walks into Lewiston on Aug. 4, if all goes as planned, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate will be at least figuratively following in the footsteps of some mighty Maine Republicans. Bellows, the former executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of …
Advocates for legalizing pot in Maine tout study showing no spike in teen use in states with medical marijuana
LEWISTON, Maine — Supporters of legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Maine said Wednesday that recent reports show teen pot-smoking wouldn’t increase with legalization. A study in the Journal of Adolescent Health looked at the impact of marijuana use by teenagers in states that had enacted medical marijuana laws and …
High-profile crash pits trucking safety advocates against Collins
A high-profile fatal accident on the New Jersey Turnpike has Sen. Susan Collins, Maine, and several of the state’s top advocates for trucking safety squaring off in the national spotlight. The crash on June 7 killed comic James McNair, who goes by the stage name Jimmy Mack. Seriously injured in …
LePage says he’s decided against meeting with Alexander Group CEO but state is negotiating fix for flawed welfare study
LEWISTON, Maine — Maine’s Republican Gov. Paul LePage said during a visit to Lewiston on Thursday that 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.” He also told reporters he now no longer plans …
CAMPAIGN 2014
Cutler renews call for election reforms as Maine Democrats and Republicans hold primaries
LEWISTON, Maine — Eliot Cutler, an independent candidate for governor, marked primary day for Maine’s political parties Tuesday by calling attention to state election laws he says are unfair and do not reflect a true democracy. On Tuesday, he renewed calls to reform Maine’s election system to allow for open …
POLL QUESTION
‘It’s about just letting people be free’: Pot legalization advocates push for Lewiston vote
LEWISTON, Maine — Advocates hoping to make legal the possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana for recreational use have launched an effort to collect enough voter signatures to put the issue on a Lewiston municipal ballot in November. “The petition process will spark a public dialogue about marijuana …
POLL QUESTION
Maine primary candidates in congressional race span political spectrum
LEWISTON, Maine — The outcome of Tuesday’s primary to pick the contenders to replace U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud in Congress will be a bellwether for both political parties in the summer and fall political campaigns. Democratic and Republican primary voters in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes the vast majority …
Supporters for recreational marijuana use turn focus to Lewiston
LEWISTON, Maine — Organizers hoping to make recreational marijuana use legal in Maine’s second-largest city will launch their citywide signature gathering campaign Monday, David Boyer, the state political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, said Friday. Lewiston City Clerk Kathy Montejo said the group turned in its initial petition request …
LePage appoints Auburn mayor to serve as Office of Policy and Management director
AUGUSTA, Maine — Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte will be joining the administration for Republican Gov. Paul LePage. LePage announced Wednesday that he has appointed LaBonte to serve as director of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Management. The office was created to replace the State Planning Office. LaBonte takes over …
CAMPAIGN 2014
Cutler says he can pay for his education plan
PORTLAND, Maine — Independent candidate for governor Eliot Cutler rolled out his education platform during stops in Bangor and Portland on Tuesday. Cutler, from Cape Elizabeth, is running against incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Maine’s 2nd District U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, a Democrat from East Millinocket. Michaud is leaving …
New copper dome to provide historic change to State House
AUGUSTA, Maine — On a staging that reaches 200 feet in the air, carpenters, coppersmiths, engineers and other workers are making historic changes to the exterior of the State House dome. The effort, which involves replacing more than 7,000 square feet of copper sheeting that covers the dome, is expected …
Federal officials to review legality of Alexander Group report
LEWISTON, Maine — The state of Maine may have a difficult time recovering any of the more than $500,000 it already paid a private consultant to develop a study and analysis of Maine’s welfare system following the revelation that parts of the study contained plagiarized material, a Maine law professor …
Legislators up in the air about what to do with copper that topped State House dome
AUGUSTA, Maine — Like the material itself, plans for what the Maine Legislature will do with the more than 7,000 square feet of copper being replaced on the State House dome remain up in the air. The Legislative Council met Tuesday and set in a motion a plan to get …
Arkansas officials call Maine GOP’s claims about Medicaid expansion in their state ‘misinformation’
AUGUSTA, Maine — Officials in the state of Arkansas are saying “not so fast” to claims being made by leaders in Maine’s Republican Party that an expansion of Arkansas’s Medicaid program has led that state to fiscal crisis and Maine was wise not to expand its low-income health care program. …
CAMPAIGN 2014
Cutler campaign gains support from prominent Maine women, but Michaud claims they distort his record
PORTLAND, Maine — A group of prominent Maine women, both Democrats and Republicans, said Wednesday they were supporting Eliot Cutler, an independent candidate in Maine’s 2014 gubernatorial race. Among those offering support is a former U.S. attorney, current and former members of the Maine Legislature, successful businesswomen and philanthropists. Cutler, …
The 61% calculus: Why November’s election isn’t shaping up to be a repeat of 2010
Sinkholes combine with E. coli — suspected from dog poop — to force closure of Rockland waterfront park
Get ready for a ‘supermoon’ summer
Treat all Maine moms right: Give them the economic security of paid maternity leave
Men really need to stop calling women crazy
When government is too open, it can’t work well
14-year-old UMaine hockey recruit heading to prestigious Shattuck-St. Mary’s School
Suspended UMaine hockey player Lomberg may leave school, return to junior league
10 Maine high school students receive scholarships from Red Sox
NBA star LeBron James says he is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Billionaire submits plans to build MDI mansion
Remembering Maine’s deadliest plane crash, 70 years later
Verve owners opening Orono brewery at former Dr. Records location
Hampden woman serves community by recording history of rape response organization