August 2012

LePage’s ‘special session’ won’t come without price tag

by renascence August 16, 2012 Gov Paul LePage

In a recording taken Wednesday night at a Republican fundraiser in Bangor, LePage revealed to his fellow Republicans that he plans to call back the Legislature before Election Day. Republican leaders said the governor’s plans came as a complete surprise. Democrats said that any significant policy change should be vetted in public, not secrecy. And [...]

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Private east-west highway study slowed due to public outcry

by renascence August 16, 2012 Economy

Influenced by public concerns about eminent domain and environmental damage, the state senator who led the push for a $3000 feasibility study of an east-west highway across Maine has asked Governor LePage to suspend the study until the Legislature can enact protections for residents and property owners. “I’m out campaigning door to door and people [...]

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Shadowy highway bid process unveiled; LePage forced to backtrack

by renascence August 16, 2012 Economy

The Maine Department of Transportation secretly began seeking bids from contractors to conduct a feasibility study of the superhighway two weeks before Governor LePage signed the bill authorizing the study. The names of the bidders have not been released to the public, circumventing the public oversight and legal controls that are required with a large [...]

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Maine Heritage Policy Center overlooks big picture on health care

by renascence August 10, 2012 Health Insurance

The conservative advocacy group Maine Heritage Policy Center released a report today entitled Why Maine should NOT expand Medicaid under Obamacare. In the report, MHPC argues, “Maine’s own experiment with Medicaid expansion has resulted in little to no reduction in our uninsured rates while private insurance enrollment has decreased.” The report notes: “Maine’s uninsured rate [...]

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LePage’s “facts” on Maine’s education system ignite debate and investigation

by renascence August 9, 2012 Education

LePage’s recent contradictory statements on Maine’s education—that Maine was paying too much for lackluster student performance, and that we’re 40th in the country in terms of teacher salaries—has prompted an investigation into the governor’s information and anecdotes. This week, the Maine School Management Association launched a new web feature, Real Story About Maine Schools, to [...]

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Tea Party not buying Maine’s air time

by renascence August 9, 2012 Campaign Finance

Americans for Prosperity, the Tea Party organization backed by the Koch brothers, has launched a $25 million advertising assault against President Obama–its largest to date. The ad, “President Obama: A One-Term Proposition,” pummels the president on the issue of the growing budget deficit, which Democrats note President Obama inherited from Bush and that conservative political [...]

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