By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial At his rant-filled press conference Friday, Gov. Paul LePage said he was launching an investigation of the Land for Maine’s Future program. The governor has refused to sign off on bonds to fund projects that have already been approved by LMF, putting dozens of land conservation Read More
timber harvesting
LePage: Stalling Conservation Bonds Helps ‘Poor’ in Battle with ‘Rich’
By John Swinconeck, The Times Record Times Record news story reprinted on bangordailynews.com BRUNSWICK, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Monday clarified the reasoning behind why he ordered an investigation into the Land for Maine’s Future program. “Just rumors. When you hear a lot of chatter, look into it,” said LePage, speaking after an assembly at Read More
LePage’s LMF Moves Threaten Democratic Process, Former Conservation Officials Say
The hold-back of land bond funds defies a voter mandate, say a former commissioner and deputy commissioner. By Richard B. Anderson and Mark Sullivan Portland Press Herald op-ed Next to its people, Maine’s bounty of natural resources is our state’s greatest asset. For more than a quarter-century, the Land for Maine’s Future Program, with overwhelming public Read More
LePage Violating State Responsibility with Public Reserved Lands Harvest Plan
By Catherine B. Johnson, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Gov. Paul LePage threatens to increase logging on Maine’s Public Reserved Lands beyond sustainable levels and divert the revenues to unrelated purposes. But his plans run contrary to the origins, unique characteristics and purpose of these Lands. Maine has about 600,000 acres of Read More
LePage Says He has Ordered Investigation of Land for Maine’s Future
By Christopher Cousins Bangor Daily News news story Gov. Paul LePage made news on several fronts during a nearly hour-long press conference Friday at the Blaine House, which by now you’ve probably read something about. One of the tidbits we know the least about was LePage’s statement that he has called for an investigation into Read More
Legislative Committee Scuttles LePage’s Energy Initiatives
Among the proposals rejected is one that would use money from timber harvesting on state land to help low-income residents with heating costs. By Tux Turkel, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Several initiatives by Gov. Paul LePage, including a proposal to use money from timber harvesting on state land to help Read More
LePage Administration’s Timber Harvest Proposal Meets Resistance
Environmental and conservation groups caution that the governor’s plan to fund heating assistance could lead to intensive logging on public lands and create a dangerous budget precedent. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The LePage administration made its case Wednesday for funneling money from logging on state-owned lands into Read More
Bill’s Supporters Push to Force LePage to Issue Land Conservation Bonds
Republican Sen. Roger Katz, who introduced the bill, says the Legislature will ‘set a terrible precedent’ if it lets the governor withhold the voter-approved bonds. by Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s hardball political tactics came under bipartisan criticism Monday from lawmakers who are considering a bill Read More
Critics Say LePage ‘Cherry-picking’ Land Conservation Deals
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