Category Archives: Events

LePage, Eves continue sparring over governor’s ‘absolute immunity’ claim

Good morning from Augusta, where Gov. Paul LePage and his attorney continue to claim “absolute immunity” for the governor regarding the lawsuit against him by House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick. In a legal argument filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, LePage attorney Patrick Strawbridge rebuffs Eves’ claims on several fronts, many of them centered […]

Maine Clean Election battle could heat up this week

Good morning from Augusta, where an already contentious election-year legislative session may get more complicated with wrangling over funding the campaign finance referendum that passed in November. You’ll likely recall that Question 1 contained a host of election reforms. They included new disclosure requirements and increased penalties for violations. But the most important and controversial change was that it […]

LePage: Asylum seekers ‘the biggest problem in our state’

Good morning from Augusta, where Tuesday began with a recognition day for Boy Scouts and ended with a Gov. Paul LePage town hall meeting in Freeport. It was reasonably hostile territory for the Republican, who gave his normal stump speech on energy, economic, welfare and drug issues. But there were a couple of highlights. At one point, […]

Clinton, Bush — likely losers in New Hampshire — hold Maine fundraising leads

Political eyes are trained toward New Hampshire on Tuesday, as record turnout is expected to decide the state’s first-in-the-nation primary that could change the 2016 presidential race. The prohibitive favorites are Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump, who respectively have greater than 99 percent and 69 percent chances of winning, according to polling forecasts by FiveThirtyEight. It’s […]

LePage makes final New Hampshire swing for Christie

Gov. Paul LePage has a full slate of events in New Hampshire today, where he’s campaigning with Republican presidential hopeful Chris Christie, who has staked his hopes on a strong showing in Tuesday’s primary. The New Jersey governor’s campaign probably depends on Maine’s neighbor, especially after Christie’s 10th-place finish in the Iowa caucuses on Monday. He’s […]

LePage: ‘Bring the guillotine back’ and other radio highlights

Gov. Paul LePage’s weekly radio interview on WVOM has become a bombastic, must-listen lately, and Tuesday’s appearance was no different. The Republican governor repeated a version of remarks on drug dealers the Morning Sentinel said he delivered at a recent speech in Waterville, saying legislative proposals to increase sentences for traffickers didn’t go far enough. He said “the death […]

Hillary Clinton to bring potential VP pick to Portland for fundraiser

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro will be in Portland on Monday for a fundraiser for Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, who has stoked rumors that he could be her running mate. The private event will be on Monday morning at Preti Flaherty, the law and lobbying firm headquartered at One City Center, according to an […]

EPA chief to discuss clean water rule in Maine today

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy will be at Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook today for a discussion with farmers about a proposed water rule that’s drawing criticism from farming interests. McCarthy is coming to Maine at the invitation of U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who has supported the rule, which would expand the […]

Collins, King rank among most popular U.S. senators in poll

Maine really likes its U.S. senators, according to a national survey from Morning Consult. Susan Collins, a Republican, scored an approval rating of 78 percent in a poll of 654 Mainers, the second-highest mark in the country, only behind independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who received an 83 percent rating. Independent Angus King’s mark wasn’t too shabby, either: His […]

Clearing up ‘confusion’ about the Maine GOP’s welfare-tax referendum push

Good morning from Augusta, where insiders’ eyes will be on the Legislative Council on Thursday. They’ll be deciding just how many of about 400 bills submitted for the 2016 session make it before the full Legislature. Here’s my scene-setter for that meeting, which starts at 10 a.m. You can listen in here if you like long committee hearings. […]