Tag Archives: Barry Hobbins

Maine Democrats could fight about these platform proposals at their convention

Maine Democrats will debate adding support for a universal health care program to their platform as they chart a path out of the difficult era of Gov. Paul LePage.

Maine lawmakers again consider a cap on the number of bills they can submit

Observers in both parties think it’s a good idea, but the Legislature has long been loathe to limit its responsibilities.

Maine bids to rename Columbus Day, Clean Election system falter

Good morning from Augusta. What’s in a name? A lot, as history has shown. What we call things has a lot to do with the development of public perception. It’s no accident that President Barack Obama’s administration called his health care bill the Affordable Care Act and that the campaign to label it a failure […]

Portland legislator’s fundraising haul ‘among’ the highest ever for Maine primary

A Democratic Portland legislator raised an eye-popping $89,000 for her June primary for a Maine Senate seat, a haul that state election officials called among the biggest ever at this point in a race. Rep. Diane Russell’s filing was the highlight of a batch of disclosures due to the Maine Ethics Commission on Friday, covering legislative campaign activities […]

Maine Legislature advances two anti-drug measures with third in limbo

The Maine Legislature looked poised on Thursday to pass measures allowing over-the-counter access to an overdose antidote and increasing penalties for drug traffickers, but another bill increasing possession penalties is in limbo. All face further votes and they were part of a 2016 legislative agenda around Maine’s opiate crisis. Last year, Maine set a record for overdose deaths with […]

Democrats Hobbins, Chenette to wrangle over Maine Senate seat

Good morning from Augusta, from which our attention has been diverted by Maine’s brief moment in the sun of presidential politics. But after the Saturday and Sunday caucus wins from Republican Ted Cruz and Democratic underdog Bernie Sanders, our eyes are back on the Maine Legislature, where there was also weekend political wrangling. Two Saco Democrats — Rep. Barry Hobbins and Rep. […]