2 hours ago

Democrats aren’t buying Trump’s shutdown-ending ‘compromise’

In a bid to break the shutdown stalemate, President Donald Trump offered to extend temporary protections for young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children and those fleeing disaster zones

23 hours ago

Mills makes Maine Farmland Trust leader her final Cabinet pick

In her last Cabinet nomination, Gov. Janet Mills announced Friday afternoon that she has chosen the president of Maine Farmland Trust to head the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

3 days ago

Maine GOP pressures Collins to support Trump’s border wall demands

The Maine Republican Party is pressuring U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to approve President Donald Trump’s wall along the southern border, a request that’s at odds with the Republican Senator’s expressed desire to end the partial federal government shutdown first.

3 days ago

Democrats aren’t racing to run against Susan Collins in 2020

The field of potential opponents to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins hasn’t expanded much since her 2018 vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh that looks to have rearranged the Republican’s base of support along party lines.

4 days ago

Former House Speaker Hannah Pingree to lead Mills’ promised ‘future’ office

Former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree was introduced Thursday as Gov. Janet Mills pick to run a rebranded policy office aimed at focusing on the state’s economic future, though its ramp-up will require legislative approval.

5 days ago

Mills’ vow not to raise taxes puts her at odds with some Maine Democrats and their allies

Good morning from Augusta. Gov. Janet Mills has said she won’t call for higher taxes in her first two-year budget proposal. She also wants to spend more to work toward fully funding Maine’s share of education costs, increase property tax relief and pay for Medicaid expansion.

6 days ago

Golden named to House Armed Services Committee

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat who ousted incumbent Republican Bruce Poliquin last year in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, will serve on the House Armed Services Committee, his spokesman announced Tuesday.

7 days ago

Mills pledges to deliver food stamps early despite government shutdown

Fearful that the federal government shutdown will have lasting effects on Mainers, Gov. Janet Mills on Monday announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients in Maine will receive their February benefits early.

7 days ago

LePage, a ‘cult of personality’ and what’s next for Maine Republicans

Good morning from Augusta. The state’s two main political parties picked their leaders over the weekend, with the candidates favored by former Gov. Paul LePage and Gov. Janet Mills winning out in the Republican and Democratic parties, respectively.

1 week ago

LePage laid off state workers during the 2013 federal shutdown. Mills has no plans to do so.

Good morning from Augusta. The partial shutdown of the federal government — which has lasted nearly three weeks now — is affecting Mainers from Coast Guard families to people who want to close on homes using federal loan programs.

2 weeks ago

First 500 Mainers approved for coverage under Medicaid expansion

More than 500 Mainers are now covered under Medicaid expansion as Gov. Janet Mills moves to implement the voter-approved law during the Democrat’s first days in office with surplus revenue in a state account.

2 weeks ago

Collins, King, LePage keep steady approval ratings in latest poll

Good morning from Augusta, where politicians’ popularity, Medicaid expansion and human trafficking are churning the conversation.

2 weeks ago

What has to happen before the new governor’s Cabinet can be sworn in

Good morning from Augusta. The 129th Maine Legislature officially convened a week ago today, which means Gov. Janet Mills has roughly two weeks to formally post her 14 Cabinet nominations before legislative committees can begin candidate interviews.

2 weeks ago

Mills remains cautious as lawmakers propose changes to Maine’s gun laws

State lawmakers are proposing an array of changes to Maine’s gun laws, including instituting background checks for all private sales and transfers.

2 weeks ago

Mills picks community college president to be her top legal adviser

Gov. Janet Mills on Monday tapped the leader of the state’s community college system and a longtime aide to serve as her top two legal advisers.

2 weeks ago

LePage weighs in on who should lead Maine Republicans after 2018 election losses

Good morning from Augusta. Maine’s two biggest political parties are readying to hold elections for party chairs this weekend in contested elections that former Gov. Paul LePage and Gov. Janet Mills are taking keen interests in at very different times for their parties.

2 weeks ago

Collins says Senate should consider bills to reopen government

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said Sunday that lawmakers should move to reopen most of the federal government as a standoff over a proposed border wall on the U.S.-Mexico border threatens to prolong the partial government shutdown.

2 weeks ago

Collins says funds to end shutdown shouldn’t be held hostage by border wall stalemate

President Donald Trump told congressional leaders Friday that he would keep the federal government closed for “months or even years” amid a dispute over border wall funding, as the White House scrambled to unify the GOP behind Trump while some Republicans are showing impatience with the now 2-week-old shutdown.