Republicans, Democrats reinforcing ‘unity’ messages in wake of contentious...
The Maine Republican Party will hold a candidate rally Friday in Bangor featuring most, if not all, of the party’s top-of-the-ticket candidates in the November general election. As reported by the BDN...
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House Speaker Mark Eves: I want fewer confrontations with LePage this session
North Berwick Democrat Mark Eves is returning to the rostrum as House Speaker when the Legislature swears in new members in early December, but his position in the balance of power in the State House...
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Here they come: New Legislature to return to Augusta, plus 7 stories you...
BDN photo by Troy R. Bennett. The swearing in of the new Legislature on Wednesday marks the beginning of what are sure to be two years of partisan squabbles led by Gov. Paul LePage and Republicans...
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LePage team preparing for inauguration festivities
Gov. Paul LePage shakes hands with members of the VIP section as he walks toward the stage during his first BDN file photo by Kevin Bennett. In 21 days, thousands of attendees will cram themselves into...
View ArticleDaily Brief: Expect construction traffic! Plus, the politics of tax reform
Good morning from the state’s capital city, where yesterday’s seemingly endless snowfall has abated just in time for the 74th annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show to kick off at the Augusta Civic...
View ArticleIn letters, LePage takes Katz fight to GOP, backs wind project
Good morning from Augusta. Today’s Daily Brief is brought to you by two letters from Gov. Paul LePage’s administration that caught our eye last week. LePage isn’t big on Roger Katz these days LePage...
View ArticleThis ad in Lewiston’s mayoral race doesn’t make sense
This ad for Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald’s re-election bid was spotted in a local weekly paper yesterday, and I’m still struggling to understand it. Macdonald, a two-term incumbent known for being...
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Despite agreement against Question 1, LePage’s rift with Thibodeau continues
On Thursday, the Bangor Daily News published a column co-authored by Gov. Paul LePage, Senate President Mike Thibodeau and House Minority Leader Ken Fredette which had some people wondering whether...
View ArticleGE: House vote on Export-Import Bank won’t keep future jobs in Bangor
The revival of the U.S. Export-Import Bank passed the House of Representatives last week, but General Electric Co. says that won’t save 80 future jobs that could have been brought to Bangor. U.S. Rep....
View ArticleThibodeau: Maine legislators close to deal that includes hiring 10 more drug...
The Maine Legislature’s top Republican said Monday that leaders of both parties have made strides on a plan to fight the state’s drug epidemic. That plan includes hiring 10 new drug agents, a demand...
View ArticleMaine Democrats to kick off Senate campaigns on Monday
You know the even-year legislative session is near when the State House news conferences begin and the campaigning revs up. That’s happening Monday, when the Maine Senate Democratic Campaign Committee...
View ArticleMayhew to address Legislature’s watchdog committee on Riverview
Good morning from Augusta, where the story of the day will be long-awaited testimony from Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew on staffing concerns at Riverview...
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Bruce Poliquin’s fundraising doubles his two Democratic opponents’ combined
Good morning from Augusta, folks. Let’s put on some relaxing music from one of my favorite bands before we get started. If you like that song, check out this one. Now that we’re all grooving, on to...
View ArticleLePage endorses conservative challengers in Maine Senate primaries
Good morning from Augusta, where today’s Daily Brief will function as a digest of Gov. Paul LePage’s greatest hits over the past two days. The Republican governor made a first-time move on Thursday,...
View ArticleIt looks like conservatives push-polled Mike Thibodeau’s district
Good morning from Augusta. This is the time of year that your phone will start to ring with political robocalls and polls. Today, we lead with one that looks particularly dirty, courtesy of a...
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GOP opposition, Constitution makes legislative action against LePage unlikely
Gov. Paul LePage, left, and Senate President Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, during the governor’s second inauguration in 2015. (BDN file photo by Troy R. Bennett) Legislative leaders are meeting on...
View Article‘Dark money’ from California backs Maine Democrat challenging Senate president
A California-based political organization has pledged $50,000 to the Democrat in one of Maine’s most-watched Senate contests, again highlighting that money from out-of-state is pouring into legislative...
View ArticleMaine Democratic Party leader will have to fight to keep job
Good morning from Augusta, where Tuesday’s election is already providing fallout for Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett. Outgoing state Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, confirmed late...
View ArticleLegislature slates hearing on LePage mental health facility, but it could be...
Good morning from Augusta, where the Maine Legislature will hit the ground running with a big hearing next week. But the issue they’re examining may be moot in a big way. I’m talking about the struggle...
View ArticleMaine Legislature’s top Republican, Democrat near agreement on pot moratorium
Good morning from Augusta, where it’s only the second day of the 2017 legislative session, but the Daily Briefs are getting longer and marijuana has become the signature policy issue after Mainers...
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