Tag Archives: Demi Kouzounas

Maine’s partisan rift over tax policy will again play out at the ballot box

Democratic gubernatorial candidates differ on how universal home care should be funded, but Republicans and Democrats are airing conventional tax plans more generally.

Here’s a look at Maine’s first ranked-choice voting state ballots

Want to fulfill your civic responsibility? Share Maine’s first ranked-choice ballot samples far and wide.

Despite Trumpian rhetoric, Waterville mayor shows he’s not ready to be the next LePage

Waterville Mayor Nick Isgro’s mix of stances may play well to Maine Republicans, but he’s trying to get gubernatorial candidates to adopt them instead of joining them himself.

LePage’s ‘right to work’ contract gambit clears state union votes

Two of the state’s largest public sector labor unions have agreed to eliminate the requirement that all employees pay union fees whether or not they are members. David Heidrich, a spokesman for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, said Thursday morning that both the Maine State Employees Association, which represents more than 9,000 executive […]

LePage: Medicaid expansion would ‘kill’ Maine

Gov. Paul LePage has turned his attention squarely at defeating the Medicaid expansion referendum on this November’s ballot, claiming again that broadening eligibility for the government-run program would drive the state into backbreaking debt. LePage’s ardent opposition to Medicaid expansion is nothing new. He has vetoed bids to do so six times during his tenure, […]

Maine Democrats are still sorting out who will run for what in 2018

Good morning from quiet Augusta. Following last week’s state shutdown drama, the holiday and the fact that July, for the most part, has been a breathtaking beauty so far, there’s not a lot of news to report. However, the BDN is ever at the ready to spring into action at any moment when news develops, […]

LePage administration to ask Trump to OK list of Medicaid changes

Good morning from Augusta, where the LePage administration revved up the news cycle this morning with a letter outlining changes to the state’s Medicaid program that they want green-lit by President Donald Trump. The impact of all of these proposed changes is unclear, but they include premiums and other changes that the Maine Department of Health and […]

Maine GOP chairman to leave post at term’s end in January

Good morning from Augusta, where the Maine Republican Party will have a new face at the helm by January’s end. Chairman Rick Bennett told the Bangor Daily News on Thursday that he’s leaving his post when his term ends on Jan. 28. Vice Chairwoman Demi Kouzounas said she’ll be running to replace him. Just about any way you […]

Martin Shkreli won’t participate in Collins-led drug pricing inquiry

Good morning from Augusta, where the Legislature is in session on Thursday and committees will work on bills that would change oil spill reporting standards and promote fundraising for the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. But the biggest news involving Maine politics yesterday came when U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced that controversial drug industry figure Martin Shkreli would invoke the […]