In politics, it’s unfortunate that one can find partisans getting oh-so-angry about something and then it turns out their facts are wrong or lack the proper context. A recent example involves transparency in the Maine Legislature, which currently has Democratic … Continue reading
When the news first broke of the Blaine House meeting between Gov. LePage and the Unemployment Insurance hearing officers, I suggested that a federal investigation was a possibility. Why so? Because the federal government expects states to carry out their … Continue reading
![Bangor Police Chief Ron Gastia (from left), Bangor Superintendent of Schools Betsy Webb and Penobscot County Sheriff Glen Ross read to students at the Penquis CAP Head Start Center at the Penobscot Job Corps Academy in Bangor on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. Ross, Gastia and Webb were on hand to promote early education programs that cut crime. [BDN photo - Kevin Bennett]](http://pollways.bangordailynews.com/files/2013/05/educ.1219362677_fe97-250x250-200x200.jpg "educ.1219362677_fe97-250x250")
In graphs posted by Mike Tipping, the result is clear: Gov. LePage’s school grades are highly correlated with income. As Tipping points out, this is expected. It’s exactly what could be predicted by reams of past studies using high-quality data. … Continue reading
The story of Gov. LePage holding a meeting at his official residence with unemployment hearing officers just keeps going. This week, the governor asserted that David Webbert, a lawyer who is asking for a federal investigation created the issue out … Continue reading
What if you went to a court or hearing, and the person taking evidence and making a ruling had been told how the decision should go? Or perhaps she hadn’t been directed what to do about your case in particular … Continue reading
Like many of you, I woke up this morning to the news of the killing of a security guard, an attempted robbery of a 7-11, a car-jacking and car chase, explosions and gunshots, a dead bombing suspect, and police officer … Continue reading
Those of us who follow Maine politics have tended to dismiss the idea that there could be a primary challenge to Senator Susan Collins. However, in an article about how proposed laws on guns are dividing the political parties, the … Continue reading
After the story broke about Gov. LePage’s March 21 meeting with Unemployment Insurance appeals hearing officers, I introduced four reasons why this could be a big deal. Here is some of what we know about those questions and issues: 1. … Continue reading
Reports that Gov. LePage admonished unemployment insurance hearing officers, telling them they were deciding too many cases in favor of workers, could be a very big deal. According to reporter Chris Williams: Administrative hearing officers, whose salaries are federally funded, … Continue reading
Expanding Medicaid is popular, so popular that Gov. Paul LePage, who strongly opposes government involvement in health care, has tried to appear interested in doing it. (His proposal includes elements counter to federal law and therefore can’t be accepted.) Passed 48 … Continue reading
