Articles by Eric Russell
Angus King still deflecting questions about which party he’ll caucus with
BANGOR, Maine — Independent U.S. Senate candidate Angus King, viewed by many as the favorite to win Olympia Snowe’s seat, is again taking heat for putting off questions about which party he’ll caucus with and suggesting he may not accept committee assignments. Asked by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews which party King …
Expo offers chance for Greater Bangor businesses to network
BANGOR, Maine — Businesses in Greater Bangor, many of which are just trying to survive in a struggling economy, don’t get many opportunities to network with one another. That’s why the annual Bangor Business Expo, hosted by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, is so well-received, Chamber President John Porter …
Will North Carolina’s recent same-sex marriage ban affect Maine in November?
BANGOR, Maine — Advocates for same-sex marriage were dealt a blow Tuesday when voters in North Carolina passed a constitutional amendment that not only banned gay marriage but outlawed civil unions and domestic partnerships as well. So what does North Carolina’s 61 percent to 39 percent vote mean for Maine, …
Democrats accuse Republicans on budget committee of following LePage’s ‘secret marching orders’
AUGUSTA, Maine — Republicans and Democrats on the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee appeared to part ways on Monday during negotiations over a 2013 supplemental budget package for the Department of Health and Human Services. Some lawmakers had been holding out hope that the two sides might find common ground and pass …
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Snowe speaks to GOP convention for final time as member of Congress
AUGUSTA, Maine — U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe addressed the Maine Republican Party Convention on Sunday for the final time as a member of Congress and urged the audience to continue pushing the GOP as the “party of potential.” Snowe shocked Maine Republicans — and Mainers in general — when she …
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‘Get off the couch and get yourself a job’: LePage talks welfare reform at GOP convention
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage began his speech Sunday at the Maine Republican Party convention by saying he was glad he wasn’t campaigning. He then proceeded to give to a friendly and cheering audience 25 minutes worth of remarks that sounded a lot like a campaign speech. “This November …
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Ron Paul the big winner at Maine GOP convention, but Romney supporters will continue fight
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Republican Party convention devolved into full-blown chaos over the weekend, first on Saturday as supporters of Ron Paul successfully took control and then on Sunday as they secured a majority of the state’s national delegates. The 2012 state GOP convention, held over two days at …
Sen. Collins addresses Maine GOP convention, says state needs to stay red
AUGUSTA, Maine — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins paid tribute Saturday to her soon-to-be departing Senate colleague Olympia Snowe during remarks at the Maine Republican Party Convention. “What an honor it has been to serve alongside Olympia,” Collins said. “She has devoted her life to public service, and to serving the …
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As predicted, Ron Paul backers take over Maine GOP convention
AUGUSTA, Maine — Fervent supporters of Ron Paul assumed control of the Maine Republican Party convention on Saturday with hopes of using their new power to send a majority of delegates to represent Maine at the national convention. The narrow election late Saturday morning of Paul delegates as convention secretary …
LePage nominates Waldoboro engineer as PUC commissioner
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage has nominated an engineer from Waldoboro to serve as a commissioner of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Mark Vannoy, an engineer with Wright-Pierce of Topsham, would fill the seat that recently was vacated by Vendean Vafiades, who resigned earlier this year. Vannoy still needs …
Kevin Raye launches ‘cut the mustard’ congressional campaign tour
BREWER, Maine — Kevin Raye cut his political teeth as a staff member for U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe and he agrees with his mentor that Washington, D.C., is broken. But Raye, a four-term Republican state senator and Maine’s current Senate president, is more optimistic than Snowe about the future of …
Will sparks fly at Maine GOP’s weekend convention?
AUGUSTA, Maine — For the second time in two years, the annual convention of the Maine Republican Party could be marred by in-fighting, although if 2010 is any indication, that might not necessarily hurt the party. In the last few days, GOP Chairman Charlie Webster has come under criticism for …
POLL QUESTION
Moderate Republicans to LePage: Apologize for ‘corrupt’ comment
AUGUSTA, Maine — Two powerful moderate Republicans in the Maine Legislature are calling on Gov. Paul LePage to apologize for comments he made last week alleging corruption by midlevel managers in state government. Sen. Roger Katz of Augusta and Rep. Patrick Flood of Winthrop — the co-chairmen of the Appropriations …
LePage stirs ruckus after calling state workers ‘corrupt’
AUGUSTA, Maine — It’s no big secret that Gov. Paul LePage wants to shrink state government, but he took that idea a step further on Thursday by maligning an entire block of state workers as “corrupt.” According to press accounts of the event, LePage was asked a question about fees …
Lawmakers tentatively approve more than $95M in bonds but LePage could hold cards
AUGUSTA, Maine — Members of the Appropriations Committee late Thursday approved a series of bond proposals totaling more than $95 million that would fund highway projects, research and development, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, higher education and the Land for Maine’s Future. Republicans and Democrats on the Legislature’s budget committee …
U.S. Senate finance reports leave more questions than answers
AUGUSTA, Maine — As the 13 candidates for U.S. Senate canvass the state ahead of the June 12 primary, campaign finances may not be on voters’ minds, but the topic certainly will be on candidates’ minds. Campaign finance reports for the 1st quarter of 2012 were required to be filed …
LePage vetoes bill to increase county fees; sponsor says that will create shortfall
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage has issued another veto, this time of a bill that sought to increase filing fees charged by county registries of deeds in property transactions. When a Maine resident buys property, documents are filed with the registry of deeds in the county where the property …
Maine could afford to borrow millions, but political will to issue bonds is questionable
AUGUSTA, Maine — Lawmakers learned Tuesday that the state has the economic capacity to borrow roughly $24 million in general obligation bonds beginning with the 2014 fiscal year. That number doesn’t include what the state could borrow within the Highway Fund to help pay for repairs to aging roads and …
LePage signs budget minus the two items he vetoed
AUGUSTA, Maine — Without fanfare, Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday signed a supplemental budget package that pays the state’s bills through June 30, the end of the current fiscal year. The budget includes several million dollars worth of savings achieved through attrition and further departmental streamlining. It also includes new …
POLL QUESTION
Should Maine voters be setting tax policy?
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine voters could again be asked to help set government policy on spending and taxes if a political action committee is successful in putting a new initiative on the ballot. Later this spring, the group Maine Taxpayers United plans to begin gathering the more than 57,000 signatures …
More speed limit increases slated for Maine Turnpike starting Monday
NASCAR’s Tony Stewart pulls out of race after hitting, killing driver
The people of Gaza aren’t the terrorists. Israel — with our help — makes them out to be
What I’ve learned from my constituent survey, the campaign trail: More jobs, less welfare
All Maine voters, no matter their age, deserve to hear candidates debate
Bangor tops Canadian champions in Senior League World Series opener
Pujols’ homer in 19th lifts Angels by Red Sox
Computer classes aid Maine seniors wanting to use Facebook, technology
‘He never gives up’: Rockport teen awaiting heart transplant gets community support
Community rallies around Kennebunk family who lost son, home
‘8th and I’: An unforgettable Marine experience