The Latest
Track the issues shaping Maine’s future with up-to-date coverage on Maine politics, legislation, and statewide news. Explore current bills, news, and conservative commentary that helps us understand how the government affects our daily lives.
In the News
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Mary Katharine Ham and Caroline Downey to Headline Free Fall Festivals in Auburn and Bangor
AUBURN, Maine — Mary Katharine Ham, a national conservative commentator, will headline the Turn the Tide Fall Festival in Auburn on Saturday, Oct. 3.…
Read full story: Mary Katharine Ham and Caroline Downey to Headline Free Fall Festivals in Auburn and Bangor -
Lead Maine 2026 Policy Picnic
Thanks to all who made the first annual Policy Picnic a success! The Lead Maine community gathered for a September evening at an Auburn…
Read full story: Lead Maine 2026 Policy Picnic -
Amid ongoing concerns over MaineCare oversight, hearing set for proposed rule changes
AUGUSTA — A public hearing is set for September on proposed rule changes for MaineCare that supporters say will tighten regulations without cutting benefits.…
Read full story: Amid ongoing concerns over MaineCare oversight, hearing set for proposed rule changes -
Maine health department to review Medicaid oversight after Republican push
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services initiated a process Wednesday that may lead to stricter oversight of the MaineCare program, which state…
Read full story: Maine health department to review Medicaid oversight after Republican push -
Lead Maine Releases List of 32 Mills-Era Tax and Fee Increases as Pingree Promises Affordability
AUGUSTA, Maine — A conservative advocacy organization founded, by state Rep. Laurel Libby, has released a detailed accounting of what it describes as 32 tax…
Read full story: Lead Maine Releases List of 32 Mills-Era Tax and Fee Increases as Pingree Promises Affordability -
DHHS to consider MaineCare oversight changes amid fraud concerns
A conservative advocacy group says it has gathered enough signatures to force the state to consider rule changes to its Medicaid program amid concerns…
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Republican-led group petitions DHHS to pass tougher MaineCare oversight rules
A Republican-led group is seeking to require the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to adopt new anti-fraud rules for the state’s Medicaid…
Read full story: Republican-led group petitions DHHS to pass tougher MaineCare oversight rules -
Plan to boost child care in Maine gains support, but funding remains uncertain
Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, opposed LD 1955 and said it didn’t address the structural problems she sees and hears about from constituents. She said…
Read full story: Plan to boost child care in Maine gains support, but funding remains uncertain -
Maine towns are using AI for policing, lawmaking and budgets. Safeguards are optional.
Maine municipalities are turning to AI like ChatGPT for tasks including policy drafting, emails, and budgets amid staffing shortages, with some using surveillance cameras…
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A new charter school will open near Maine Mall this fall
Maine’s 10th charter school is coming to South Portland. MOXIE Public Schools’ building will be able to support up to 420 students.
Read full story: A new charter school will open near Maine Mall this fall
Opinions & Insight
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A New Federal Tax Credit Could Fund Scholarships for Maine Kids
Read full story: A New Federal Tax Credit Could Fund Scholarships for Maine KidsHere’s why Maine isn’t using it yet. A new federal tax credit could help Maine families pay for tutoring, special-needs services, tuition, and transportation for their kids. It’s called the Education Freedom Tax Credit, or EFTC. But Maine kids can’t use it next year, because the state hasn’t signed up. If you’ve never heard of this, you’re not alone. Here’s what it is, who it helps, and what’s standing in the way. What the credit is Congress created this tax credit in 2025, as…
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We Pay the Bill. Zip Codes Pick the School
Read full story: We Pay the Bill. Zip Codes Pick the SchoolMaine families are stuck in a bad deal. We carry one of the heaviest property tax burdens in America. We…
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LTE: In support of proposed rule changes for MaineCare
Read full story: LTE: In support of proposed rule changes for MaineCareThis letter was published in the Portland Press Herald. As a taxpayer and a project management professional, I appreciate the…
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LTE: I support greater oversight of MaineCare
Read full story: LTE: I support greater oversight of MaineCareThis letter was published in the Portland Press Herald. As a retired financial advisor and taxpayer in southern Maine, I…
Current Legislation
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An Act to Establish Procedures for Restricting Access to State Property, Access to State Services and Communication with or Through State Entities
Read more: An Act to Establish Procedures for Restricting Access to State Property, Access to State Services and Communication with or Through State EntitiesThis bill gives new authority to state agencies so they are allowed to restrict Mainers’ access to government property, services, and communications for up to 90 days *without* prior court…
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An Act Making Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations from the General Fund and Other Funds for the Expenditures of State Government… for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027
Read more: An Act Making Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations from the General Fund and Other Funds for the Expenditures of State Government… for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027This supplemental budget proposal exists because Augusta has overtaxed Maine people, even during tough economic times, and is faced with a “revenue surplus.” Lawmakers should use this to pay for…
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An Act to Bring Fairness in Income Taxes to Maine Families by Adjusting the Tax Brackets and Tax Rates
Read more: An Act to Bring Fairness in Income Taxes to Maine Families by Adjusting the Tax Brackets and Tax RatesChanges Maine’s income tax scheme starting in 2026, including an increase to top income tax rate from 7.15% to 8.95%. This increase would bump us from the 11th highest top…
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An Act to Permanently Fund 55 Percent of the State’s Share of Education by Establishing a Tax on High-income Earners
Read more: An Act to Permanently Fund 55 Percent of the State’s Share of Education by Establishing a Tax on High-income EarnersLD 1089 would impose a 2% income tax surcharge on income above $1 million for single filers, $1.5 million for heads of households, and $2 million for married couples filing…
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An Act to Facilitate the Development of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities by Exempting Certain Facilities from the Requirement to Obtain a Certificate of Need
Read more: An Act to Facilitate the Development of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities by Exempting Certain Facilities from the Requirement to Obtain a Certificate of NeedMaine’s Certificate of Need (CON) law requires healthcare facilities to get state approval before building, expanding, or spending more than $3 million on projects. Originally created in the 1970s to…
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An Act to Lower Electric Rates for Maine Ratepayers by Requiring the Payment of Certain Costs from the General Fund
Read more: An Act to Lower Electric Rates for Maine Ratepayers by Requiring the Payment of Certain Costs from the General FundRight now, every Maine electricity customer pays a hidden charge on their monthly bill to cover the cost of the state’s Net Energy Billing (NEB) solar subsidy program. These “stranded…
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An Act to Amend the Requirements Governing Self-insurance Plans in the Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program
Read more: An Act to Amend the Requirements Governing Self-insurance Plans in the Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits ProgramIn 2023, Maine created a Paid Family and Medical Leave program that costs businesses about 1% of every worker’s paycheck. Businesses can either buy insurance or pay for it themselves…
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An Act to Create a Residential Rental Unit Registry
Read more: An Act to Create a Residential Rental Unit RegistryLD 1806 would require owners of residential rental properties to register annually with the state, submitting detailed ownership and unit information to be maintained in a government-run database. While promoted…
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An Act to Define “Public Education” and Clarify That a Private School Receiving Approval for Public Tuition Must Be Located in the State
Read more: An Act to Define “Public Education” and Clarify That a Private School Receiving Approval for Public Tuition Must Be Located in the StateLD 2109 seeks to codify a specific definition of “public education” and impose a requirement that private schools seeking approval to receive public tuition funds must be located within the…
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An Act to Abolish 72-Hour Waiting Period for Gun Purchases
Read more: An Act to Abolish 72-Hour Waiting Period for Gun PurchasesLD 1230 would restore the ability of law-abiding Mainers to complete firearm purchases without an arbitrary 72-hour state-imposed delay, affirming that once an individual has passed all required background checks,…
I asked Carla what she says to a Maine parent who feels trapped. No school choice. No money for private tuition. No confidence they could homeschool. She starts with humility. If it is not working, other people probably already know. Seek help. Do not give up. And if you are in public school, go have the direct conversation with the principal instead of hoping the system notices.
Maine’s solar subsidies are costing every Maine household an extra $250 per year. Here’s how it works: Big solar companies give discounts to some customers. The rest of us pay the difference through higher electric bills. Thanks to Governor Janet Mills and Troy Jackson, utilities have to credit these projects at ABOVE-market rates. That extra cost gets tacked onto every bill… even for people who didn’t opt in! Even after the 2026 pause on new contracts, it STILL adds up to nearly $180 million a year, or about $250 per Maine household. Did YOU sign up for that?
Why have our electricity rates soared SEVENTY percent in 8 years??
Have you heard?? 96% of Maine kids could be eligible for more funding and opportunity for their education through the new federal tax credit! But we STILL need Gov. Mills’ to opt us in. It is hard to explain to a parent that their child qualifies on paper and still gets NOTHING because the Governor hasn’t filed the paperwork. The deadline for her to opt in is January 1. If you are done waiting, call Governor Janet Mills at 207-287-3531 and tell her to opt in for Maine kids!
Mainers submitted 1,123 comments through the official portal before the MaineCare oversight comment period closed on September 20. DHHS must respond to every one in writing by January 18, 2027, and I plan to be there when it does. It started with more than 1,750 people who signed two citizen petitions. The Department opened rulemaking because Mainers spoke up to make it happen! Here is my presentation to the Medicaid roundtable with former Governor Paul LePage, House Majority Whip Congressman Tom Emmer, Steve Robinson of The Maine Wire, and others, on Lead Maine’s MaineCare Accountability Project MaineCare spent $1.52 billion in state funds last year and covers nearly one in three Maine adults. Every dollar deserves a real look.
Should the government…. NOPE!
Are you tired of campaign mail yet? 📨 📪
This is where we’ll be on October 17th: Crosspoint Church, 1476 Broadway in Bangor. Band here, food trucks along there, bounce houses for the kids. If you’re up in Penobscot County, you know the drill, two hours in the car for everything. Not this one! Ten to two, completely free. See you there!
Are you tired of all the campaign mail? Do you know how to make it STOP??
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