The $1.7 million federal grant he accepted is separate from voter-approved bonds, but some say he’s superseding a state board with 30 projects lined up. By Steve Mistler, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has accepted $1.7 million in federal funding for a 13,875-acre conservation project in Piscataquis County, Read More
releasing land bonds
Republicans and Conservation — Not the Partnership It Used to Be
Teddy Roosevelt was a Republican who achieved the most remarkable conservation record of all of our presidents. By George Smith Kennebec Journal column April 29 was a sad day for this Republican. Sen. Roger Katz, of Augusta, also a Republican, was attacked for defending the projects and integrity of the Land for Maine’s Future program. Read More
Of LePage Bondage: Governor Holds One Bond Hostage, Proposes Another for State Buildings
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial Gov. Paul LePage has opposed many bond proposals during his tenure and is currently holding hostage bonds, already approved by voters, to fund land conservation through the Land for Maine’s Future program. So, the governor’s desire to borrow $112 million to rehab state-owned properties and build Read More
LePage’s Use of Bonds as Bargaining Chips Spurs GOP Infighting
By Mario Moretto, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A state senator known as a moderate on Tuesday called out Gov. Paul LePage for the “artificially created crisis” about voter-approved conservation bonds worth more than $11 million. LePage has refused to issue the bonds, jeopardizing more than 30 land preservation projects Read More
LePage Doubles Down on Effort to Trade Conservation Bonds for Timber Harvesting
By Mario Moretto, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story CUMBERLAND, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Monday reiterated that he will not authorize roughly $11.5 million in voter-approved conservation bonds unless the Legislature approves a new plan to cut more timber on public land and use the new revenue to pay for heating assistance Read More
Group Calls on LePage to Release Conservation Bonds
WCSH-6 TV news story CUMBERLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Lawmakers, town officials and conservationists are calling on the governor to release voter-approved bonds to preserve land. They held a press conference in Cumberland Monday, where they raised public and private money to buy a 215 acre parcel of private land. The remainder of the funding Read More
Legislation Escalates Augusta Clash Over Conservation Bonds Withheld by Governor
A bipartisan group hopes to force release of voter-approved funds caught in a political battle, as LePage calls again for expanded timber harvests on public lands. By Matt Byrne, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A bipartisan group of lawmakers will propose legislation Tuesday that would force Gov. Paul LePage to issue voter-approved bonds, Read More
LePage’s Refusal to Release Bonds Jeopardizes Conservation Projects
By Tom Porter MPBN news story CUMBERLAND, Maine — The LePage administration is still refusing to release more than $11 million worth of voter-approved bond money, earmarked for land conservation projects across the state, until lawmakers approve the governor’s proposal regarding timber harvesting on state land. Conservationists say they are frustrated by the political card Read More
Withholding Bonds an Attack on Maine’s Democracy
By Ann-Marie Mastraccio, William Noon and Patricia Hymanson Seacoast Online news story In 2010 and 2012, Mainers voted to approve over $14 million in bonds to fund projects by the Land for Maine’s Future program. These projects involve nearly 50,000 acres of conservation land used for recreation, agriculture, water access and wildlife preservation across the Read More
