Politics

New Poll Shows LePage with Slim Lead in Maine Governor's Race

By Jay Field • Apr 18, 2014

Republican Paul LePage has a slim lead over Democrat Mike Michaud in the Maine governor's race. That's according to the latest Pan Atlantic SMS Omnibus Poll, out today. The survey also shows independent candidate Eliot Cutler running nearly 20 points behind both candidates. Cutler's campaign dismissed the numbers, saying it's way too early in the political season to tell where things will end up in November. Both the LePage and Michaud campaigns, though, say the poll holds clues as to why their candidate will ultimately win.

New Poll Shows LePage with Slim Lead in Maine Governor's Race

By Jay Field • Apr 16, 2014

Republican Paul LePage has a slim lead over Democrat Mike Michaud in the Maine governor's race. That's according to the latest Pan Atlantic SMS Omnibus Poll, out today. The survey also shows independent candidate Eliot Cutler running nearly 20 points behind both candidates. Cutler's campaign dismissed the numbers, saying it's way too early in the political season to tell where things will end up in November. Both the LePage and Michaud campaigns, though, say the poll holds clues as to why their candidate will ultimately win.

Cutler Unveils Maine Tax Overhaul Plan

By Tom Porter • Apr 15, 2014

Independent Eliot Cutler is proposing a tax overhaul that would slash property taxes for many Mainers while raising the sales tax, either permanently or seasonally, to make up the difference. Cutler, who's in a three-way race for governor with Republican incumbent Paul LePage and Democrat Mike Michaud, chose tax day to unveil the plan, which he says would lower property taxes for most Maine homeowners by 20 to 40 percent by boosting tax relief through the homestead exemption.

Report: Maine's Unemployment Picture Mixed

By Barbara Cariddi • Apr 1, 2014

A closer look at job growth and unemployment numbers paint a mixed picture of Maine's economic recovery from the great recession.

That's according to a new report from the progressive Maine Center for Economic Policy, which indicates that, despite improvement in the statewide unemployment rate and growth in the number of Mainers with jobs, Maine's recovery is far from complete and is uneven based on age and geography.

MECEP Executive Director Garrett Martin is one of the report's authors.

Cutler Unveils 21-Point Transportation, Communications Plan

By Tom Porter • Apr 1, 2014

Seven months ahead of Maine's gubernatorial elections, independent candidate Eliot Cutler has announced what he desribes as the first in a series of policy proposals: a 21-point transportation and communications infrastructure plan. Cutler, who has launched his second bid for the Blaine House, says more than half of the roads in the state system haven't been properly maintained since the 1950s and many of Maine's bridges have deterioriated to the danger point.

Quebec Elections

By Jennifer Rooks • Mar 31, 2014

On April 7, people in Quebec will elect a new government, and for the first time in a while, the question of independence from Canada is part of the debate. It's been a raucous campaign, with polls shifting by the week. Learn what's going on and what's at stake as Quebec voters get ready to head for the polls.

Host Jennifer Rooks discusses Quebec's elections on April 7 with:

Tony Brinkley, Professor of English, Faculty Associate, Franco-American Centre

Louis Balthazar, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science of the University Laval

Conversations with the Candidates: Mike Michaud, (D)

Each of the candidates for Maine Governor will have a chance to outline his plans for Maine. Democratic candidate Mike Michaud stepped to the podium where moderators Richard Barringer, professor emeritus in the Muskie School, and MPBN's Irwin Gratz, directed the discussion.

This talk was recorded March 21, 2014 at the Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall, on the USM Portland Campus.

Conversations with the Candidates: Eliot Cutler, (I)

Each of the candidates for Maine Governor will have a chance to outline his plans for Maine. Independent candidate Eliot Cutler stepped to the podium where moderators Richard Barringer, professor emeritus in the Muskie School, and MPBN's Irwin Gratz, directed the discussion.

This talk was recorded March 14, 2014 at the Talbot Auditorium, Luther Bonney Hall, on the USM Portland Campus.

U.S. Senator Angus King

By Keith Shortall • Mar 26, 2014

Maine's junior U.S. Senator discusses the situation in Ukraine, his reaction to the President's plan to end the National Security Agency's collection of Americans' phone data, his recent trip to the Arctic and more.

Host Keith Shortall speaks with:

Maine's junior U.S Senator Angus King

Senate Candidate From Maine in DC for Rally

By AP • Mar 25, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Democratic Senate candidate Shenna Bellows is joining a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court that's sponsored by groups that support access to birth control.

The Supreme Court is hearing two cases dealing with access to birth control. Two companies want the right to decline to pay for birth control under their personal health insurance plans.

Bellows, who's challenging Republican Sen. Susan Collins, said birth control decisions should be made by a woman in consultation with her doctor, ``not the government and certainly not her boss.''

Remembering Ed Muskie

By Jennifer Rooks • Mar 24, 2014

A celebration of what would have been Edmund Muskie's 100th Birthday with a discussion of the Maine politician's career and legacy. From a modest childhood to state and national politics as Governor, US Senator and Presidential candidate.

Host Jennifer Rooks speaks with:

Pat Webber, Director, Muskie Archives & Special Collections Library, Bates College

Jim Witherell, Author: Ed Muskie: Made in Maine

A Discussion on Money in Politics

Lawrence Lessig is the author of Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress and a Plan to Stop It and the founder of Rootstrikers, an organization dedicated to changing the influence of money in elections. He serves as the director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University. He was recently listed by Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute as one of the Top 100 Global Thought Leaders and is a regularly featured TED Talk presenter.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree

By Keith Shortall • Mar 5, 2014

Congresswoman Pingree discusses the latest news and public policy issues in Washington and Maine.

Host Keith Shortall speaks with:

Chellie Pingree was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1955, the youngest of four children. Chellie moved to Maine as a teenager, attended the University of Southern Maine, and graduated from the College of the Atlantic, in Bar Harbor. After college, she moved to North Haven island.

Bear Hunting Measure Certified for Maine Ballot

By Maine Public staff • Mar 5, 2014

Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap says supporters of a referendum to prohibit the use of dogs, bait or traps to hunt bear have submitted enough valid signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.

Dunlap says supporters turned in 63,626 valid signatures, 6,349 more than required.

The signature petitions were submitted by the group Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting, which is seeking to end the practice of using bait, traps and dogs to hunt bear.

Maine's Michaud Ready to Unveil Economic Plan

By AP • Feb 19, 2014

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ Democrat Mike Michaud is set to make his first major policy address since announcing his campaign for Maine governor.

Michaud plans to announce an economic platform Wednesday in Portland. Afterward he will hold a series of events through the end of the week with business leaders and community leaders across the state.

Spokeswoman Lizzy Reinholt says the economic plan was borne out of conversations with business leaders and experts.

She said it's ''long on ideas and short on rhetoric.''

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