The parent companies of Maine’s two largest investor-owned power utilities, Central Maine Power and Versant Power, have reported hundreds of millions of dollars in profits since they began raising rates last year. Electricity bills for many Maines skyrocketed earlier this year after the Maine Public Utilities Commission announced an 83% increase in…
On this week’s Beacon podcast, Ben and Mike discuss Portland’s referendum and Charter Committee proposals, the newly opened House seat in Bangor, how Maine’s anti-abortion rights candidates get funding, and Discuss how to evaluate state legislators. Ask questions or leave comments about upcoming shows at (207) 619-3182. Subscribe to the podcast…
A Maine small business group and a national advocacy group released a report on Wednesday that sounded alarm bells about the impact of billionaires on America’s political process.The ultra-wealthy will mostly endorse Republican candidates by 2022. tens of millions of dollars poured into the 2018 midterm elections. This report was compiled by Americans for Tax…
Maine’s frontline advocates in the fight against toxic substances slammed a recent letter from more than 50 trade groups, including the Maine Chamber of Commerce, urging the Mills administration to provide companies with information about their products. We are demanding delays in enacting laws that require us to provide them. Including PFAS starting in 2023…
In their latest campaign finance filing, the Maine Real Estate Association reports that it will give individual contributions of up to $425 each to 16 state legislators seeking re-election. All are Republicans, and all 16 are supported by the Christian Civic League of Maine.
Organizers of a campaign to replace Maine’s unpopular investor-owned utility with a consumer-owned model have surpassed signature-gathering goals during this month’s primary election, launching a referendum in November 2023 He said he plans to collect the necessary number of petitions soon to do so. Power, the grassroots coalition spearheading the consumer-owned utility campaign, has announced…
The Dinner, a local committee set up to help candidates oppose mandatory COVID vaccines for health care workers in Maine during the COVID pandemic, according to a recently released campaign finance report. Table PAC has raised about $100,000 in small donations so far this year. As of June 13, the Richmond-based group had a cash balance of approximately $190,000…
While there is widespread agreement that the state’s investor-owned utilities, Central Maine Power and Versant, have not met the needs of consumers, Affordable, Reliable, and Climate-Friendly Power to Mainers The committee that oversees the best way to deliver is best divided. forward pass. After a working session on 18 March, the Energy, Utilities and Technical Committee…
A bill to deal with large retailers that challenge local valuations to slash property tax bills and a proposal to rescind Maine’s restrictive needle-swap policy get first votes in the House and Senate. passed and both bills were set for final legislation. Approved. “Dark Store” bill as a beacon…
A bill that would require local government candidates and PACs in Maine’s three largest cities to release their campaign finance reports passed the Maine House and Senate this month, but the bills for “software upgrades” are unclear. I’m facing concerns about a million dollar accounting note. A proposal sponsored by Rep. Grayson Rückner (Democratic Portland), LD 1658 is…