The towns of Cumberland and North Yarmouth, along with three conservation groups, buy a 215-acre tract that had been endangered by a political fight over Lands for Maine’s Future bond money. By Matt Byrne, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story A coalition of private conservation groups and two towns have pooled resources to buy Read More
land bond
Land for Maine’s Future Too Vulnerable to Governor’s Whims
The structure of the popular conservation program should be changed so one person can’t stall it unilaterally. By The Editorial Board Portland Press Herald editorial Members of the Land for Maine’s Future board have a right to be angry. For years, the program has worked without a hitch. A bond was approved by the Legislature Read More
Land for Maine’s Future, LePage At Odds over Voter-Approved Bonds
By A.J. Higgins MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine — Hamstrung by a governor who refuses to release voter-approved conservation bonds and who has now frozen their assets, members of the Land for Maine’s Future board want lawmakers to provide a legislative solution to their funding problems. Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves and Falmouth Sen. Cathy Read More
LePage Cabinet Members Skip Land for Maine’s Future Meeting
By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story AUGUSTA, Maine — The Land for Maine’s Future board of directors convened another meeting Tuesday without a quorum and was unable to vote on projects that have been awaiting action for months. Among those absent from Tuesday’s meeting were all three members of Gov. Paul Read More
LePage Cabinet Members Again Skip Land for Maine’s Future Board Meeting
Board members express their frustration with the governor’s intervention as he tries to assert control over the state’s largest land conservation program. By Steve Mistler, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story AUGUSTA –– Three of Gov. Paul LePage’s Cabinet members did not attend a board meeting for the Land for Maine’s Future program on Read More
LePage Has Halted Operating Funds for Land for Maine’s Future
The governor already has withheld $11.5 million in voter-approved bonds that have yet to be committed, but now has frozen the program’s existing cash on hand as well By Eric Russell, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Gov. Paul LePage has frozen operational spending within Land for Maine’s Future as his administration prepares to Read More
Governor LePage Tightens His Strangle Hold on the Land for Maine’s Future Program
By George Smith Bangor Daily News column Governor Paul LePage is withholding operating funds from the Land for Maine’s Future Program, strangling this important conservation program with more than 40 projects waiting for final funding. As one LMF Board member told me, “It just keeps getting worse.” The LMF Board now is struggling to get Read More
State Debates Where to Put Profits from Increased Timber Harvest
By A.J. Higgins MPBN news story AUGUSTA, Maine — A special legislative commission is taking a closer look at how the state can spend $8 million in funding generated from timber harvesting of public lands. Gov. Paul LePage has tried to use the money to pay for heating assistance for the elderly, but critics say Read More
Conservation Deal for Forest Near State House Expected to Close in October
The Kennebec Land Trust plans to purchase Howard Hill, a 164-acre parcel behind the State House, with the help of a loan after Gov. LePage withheld voter-approved bond funding promised to the project. By Paul Koenig, Staff Writer Kennebec Journal news story FAYETTE — The plan to preserve 164 acres of land behind the State Read More
