By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial The Land for Maine’s Future ship that Gov. Paul LePage tried to topple last year seems well on its way to being righted — at least in the interim. LePage late last year said he would finally back down from his refusal to release $5 million Read More
Governor Paul LePage
Report on Land for Maine’s Future Doesn’t Back Up Governor’s Claims
An extensive inquiry by the LePage administration recommends minor fixes to the popular program but finds nothing to suggest that it is ‘corrupt.’ Portland Press Herald editorial Of all the insults Gov. LePage has leveled at the Land for Maine’s Future program, the most damaging and accusatory is that it is “corrupt” – not a Read More
Bill to Revive Land for Maine’s Future Bonds Heads to LePage’s Desk
The bill would reauthorize, for five years, $6.5 million in bonds that expired last fall while Gov. Paul LePage used them as leverage with lawmakers. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA — The Legislature unanimously approved a bill Thursday that revives $6.5 million in bonds for the Land for Maine’s Read More
Landslide House Vote Good Sign for End to Land for Maine’s Future Bond Fight
Portland Press Herald editorial There is only one reason for Gov. LePage to seek a six-month renewal of now-expired Land for Maine’s Future bonds, and that’s to gain leverage to continue a fight that has left almost everyone else exasperated. So after several years of fending off the governor’s attempts to turn the popular conservation Read More
Maine House Votes to Renew $6.5 Million in Conservation Bonds
By A.J. Higgins MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine — After some last minute wrangling, the Maine House voted to give all but final approval to $6.5 million in land conservation bonds that expired last fall. The vote was unanimous. A plan agreed to last week by the House, Senate and the governor gave the state Read More
Maine House Unanimously Backs Bond Bill Despite LePage Pressure
by Michael Shepherd, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill to revive $6.5 million in expired conservation bonds sailed unanimously through the Maine House of Representatives on Tuesday, despite Gov. Paul LePage’s desire for a shorter sunset provision. The bipartisan deal was struck last week between legislative leaders. However, just Read More
We Need to Let Land for Maine’s Future Make Good on Its Commitments
By Russell Black, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed Early winter is just about my favorite time of year to be in the woods. The leaves are off the hardwoods, a few apples cling to the old orchard trees, a crunchy layer of snow is (usually) on the ground and, if I’m lucky, Read More
Central Maine Project the First to Receive Land for Maine’s Future Funds
The central Maine project benefits after new funding is released for the land conservation program. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A conservation group has purchased more than 2,700 acres in central Maine and donated the land to the state as part of the first project to benefit from the thaw Read More
LePage’s Opposition on Conservation Program Begins in Augusta’s Backyard
The governor has released $11.5 million in Land for Maine’s Future bonds, but some conservationists fear his efforts to scuttle the Howard Hill project are not over. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The epicenter of the political brawl over the Land for Maine’s Future program literally looms behind the State Read More