Author Archives: Steve

Manipulating the process?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Steve

Another day in the Maine Legislature.  We are now just over two weeks from when all of the legislature’s committees are supposed to report out all of their bills.  But we still haven’t seen all of the bills from Governor … Continue reading →

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What’s going on in the statehouse?

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Steve

I’m sitting in the House as we announce pages for the day and do very little.  This session is moving slowly.  We have yet to see the governor’s supplemental budget.  All of the governor’s proposals on educational reform haven’t come … Continue reading →

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Governor Lepage & Education, and of course Politics

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Steve

Serving on the Education & Cultural Affairs Committee in Augusta this year is pretty interesting.  Of course, it could be better if we actually knew what the gov. is planning to spring on us.  So far this year house sessions … Continue reading →

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“Students first” was Lepage’s idea of a joke!

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Steve

  Once again the governor is threatening schools!  According to the Bangor Daily News he has stated that if the legislature doesn’t enact his budget, including the Medicare cuts, DHHS will run out of funding by April 1st. and he … Continue reading →

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Governor’s Lepage’s State of the State speech – part 2

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Steve

The governor’s speech had some good things in it, and some that I have a real problem with.  Certainly the last topic he talked about, ending domestic abuse, is one that everyone can support.  The devil is in the details … Continue reading →

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Governor Lepage’s State of the State

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Steve

Tonight is the State of the State speech by Governor Lepage.  It will be interesting to see what he comes out with tonight.  Rumors have it that there are gong to be some initiatives that will really impact education, and … Continue reading →

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The anti-bullying issue and pending legislation

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Steve

This week we took up the anti-bullying bill that was carried over from last session.  Early in the week we tabled it in order to try and get the parties involved including the sponsor, Representative Morrison of South Portland, the … Continue reading →

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How NOT to make your schools look better on standardized tests!

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Steve

This link is exactly how Maine and other states should not go in terms of educational policy.  Maine education policy seeks to have as many students included in standardized testing as possible.  South Dakota is trying to reduce the number … Continue reading →

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Are we leaving $30,000,000 on the table?

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Steve

This past week several members of the education committee met with attorneys at Drummond Woodsum and learned that Maine schools may be unable to bill approximately $30,000,000 to Medicare that we were able to in the past.  While we were … Continue reading →

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The new legislative session have begun!

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Steve

The Maine legislature started the 2012 session on the 4th.  To no one’s surprise there will be a lot of controversy and probably a lot of conflict.  Certainly Governor Lepage has set the stage for a lot of hot button … Continue reading →

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