The American Principles Project conducted the ‘Maine Today & Public Insight’ poll and said it soon could launch anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant and anti-critical race theory ads attacking Gov. Janet Mills. LePage’s campaign strategist said his team was not behind the poll.
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
COVID-19 now the 3rd leading cause of death in Maine
The 2022 Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment also highlights concerns about mental health, access to health care and rising rates of substance use.
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Posted inLocal & State, Politics
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree tests positive for COVID-19
In a written statement Monday, Pingree said she is fully vaccinated and boosted and was experiencing mild symptoms.
Posted inPolitics
LePage takes new tack in old quest to eliminate income taxes
The former Republican governor now says he would eliminate them from the bottom up, and may not need to increase increase sales taxes to pay for it – a claim some experts question.
Posted inHealth
Individuals could see 15 percent rate increase for ACA insurance
A variety of factors are driving Affordable Care Act rate increases in Maine and across the country, including COVID-19, the expiration of tax credits, inflation, and health care workforce shortages.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
LePage would seek to cut state support for asylum seekers
In an interview after a Republican rally in Lewiston on Friday, the former governor said that if re-elected, he would once again try to take away their eligibility for assistance to pay for food, shelter and other needs while awaiting federal authorization to work.
Posted inLocal & State
Abortions in Maine rose at twice the national average over 3-year period
A research group that supports abortion rights said a national increase reverses a 30-year downward trend and is likely the result of policies such as Maine’s decision to expand insurance coverage of abortion.
Posted inLocal & State, Uncategorized
Maine legislator steps down to focus on consumer-owned power effort
Rep. Seth Berry of Bowdoinham has dropped his re-election bid, leaving it up to the Sagadahoc County Democratic Committee to name a replacement.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Big win in state Senate special election buoys Democrats
But Republicans dismissed the defeat as a ‘low stakes’ race that in no way indicates what will happen in November when both candidates face off again with former Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills at the top of the ticket.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
AG rules that state appointees can’t run for political office
The governor’s office had initially advised at least one Democratic candidate that she would only need to resign if she won based on what it now says is ‘a longstanding, but erroneous, understanding of the law’ that preceded the administration.