On Sunday, during an emergency meeting of the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Sen. Dawn Hill, D-York, did something that’s very hard. She stood up to the governor of the state, in full public view, with the cameras rolling. … Continue reading
Right now, Maine’s hospitals and Republicans in the Legislature have hitched their rhetorical wagon to a process argument. Democrats are moving forward with a plan to pass legislation that includes a massive payout to Maine’s hospitals coupled with a plan, … Continue reading
Ravaged by brain cancer, unable to work and living in his dead mother’s house that was falling down around him, my uncle needed help to put food on the table, to pay his bills, to get by. My mother, herself … Continue reading
Tuesday was a frustrating day. For the second straight day my email wasn’t working right. The calendar on my computer started going crazy. I found a stack of bills in a new, secret hiding place on the desk. I forgot … Continue reading
On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Paul LePage announced the co-chairs of his Blue Ribbon Commission on Maine’s unemployment compensation system. He picked two men who have unimpeachable credentials: George Jabar, an attorney in Waterville and a Kennebec County commissioner, and Daniel … Continue reading
Redemption. The word keeps running through my mind as I try to digest the terror of the attack in Boston. It’s a powerful word that can mean a lot of different things – to seek atonement, or, in a religious … Continue reading
I’ve got two kids. They aren’t teenagers yet, but they’re old enough that I can already see trouble coming. Even the best parents – and I’m not putting myself in that category – need help. Our kids are bombarded with … Continue reading
Gov. Paul LePage appears to have the law on his side in a dispute between Maine and the Passamaquoddy Tribe. But the law isn’t always enough, especially when dealing with the strained relations between the state and a tribal government. … Continue reading
The key to maintaining discrimination is segregation. If people are kept divided from one another – torn into “us” versus “them” – then it’s much easier to build the animus that allows discrimination to survive. Once we get to know … Continue reading
Gov. Paul LePage and Democrats in the Legislature have both placed a high priority on addressing what’s come to be known as the skills gap in Maine’s workforce. There are jobs available, but a lot of folks who need work … Continue reading
