The motion to punish Speaker Ryan Fecteau for a rules violation is the latest example of the partisan tensions at the State House.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Raise taxes on Maine’s wealthy? Some of them are OK with that
An added 4% tax on incomes over $1 million and capital gains over $250,000 could generate more than $200 million in annual revenue for the state, according to estimates provided to lawmakers.
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Posted inElections, News, Politics
Shenna Bellows announces campaign for Maine governor
Maine’s secretary of state is expected to be part of a crowded field of candidates in the 2026 race.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Angus King presses Tulsi Gabbard on leak of military attack plans
Sen. Susan Collins, who was ill and did not attend the hearing where senators grilled Trump’s director of national intelligence, said she also is seeking answers about why and how the breach occurred.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Gov. Mills fires back after Trump’s demand for ‘full throated apology’
The governor refutes the president’s claims that he is trying to protect women, saying that if he wanted to do that he would be focusing on the economy, health care, education and foreign aid.
Posted inPolitics
House Republicans try but fail to remove censure of Laurel Libby
The move delayed debate over an $11.3 billion state budget on Thursday.
Posted inNews, Politics
Gov. Mills signs budget bill into law, calls lawmakers back for special session
Gov. Janet Mills on Friday signed into law an $11.3 billion budget that was passed by Democrats early Friday over the objections of Republicans.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine lawmakers weigh property tax relief, even as Mills signals she won’t support most efforts
Inflation and a runaway hot real estate market have led to a spike in property taxes across Maine — an issue that came into focus last year when lawmakers repealed a new program that froze property taxes for older adults because it was financially unsustainable.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Social Security workers, union say staffing cuts would gut the agency
They warn that it is already understaffed and that further cuts, including the possible closure of the Presque Isle office, could lead to major disruptions for 355,000 older and disabled Mainers.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Senate Republicans’ budget bill rules out federal earmarks for state projects
While Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King voted for the spending measure to avoid a shutdown, it eliminates millions of dollars of so-called earmarks for projects in Maine and nationwide.