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Maine: Common Cause

February 10, 2009 - 01:46 pm
NEWS FEED: Turn Maine Blue

The financial bailout: Your tax dollars gone missing

By JonB

ok, this is a bit lazy, but I am swamped right now.
here's a press release we sent out today...

The financial bailout: Your tax dollars gone missing

Portland, ME - The financial industry bailout was intended to help stem foreclosures, free up credit for consumers, and help local communities.   What's happened right here in our own backyards?

As CEOs from the largest banks that received bailout funds prepare to testify Wednesday in front of Congress, Common Cause Maine is releasing a report describing how bank recipients of bailout funds have failed to increase lending to the residents of Maine.

The Common Cause report, The financial bailout: Your tax dollars gone missing, calls on state and local political leaders to do more to hold banks accountable for helping local communities with the public tax dollars they have received.

Read More at Turn Maine Blue >
There have been 69 comments posted in response to this story.

Sat, 10/25/2008 - 14:57

Catching up with the candidates: Chellie Pingree

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

Below: Photo slideshow

FREEPORT – Campaigning in Freeport Saturday, 1st Congressional District candidate Chellie Pingree (D-North Haven) said that through the 18 months she has been on the trail, the conversation has changed drastically.

In the beginning – facing a six-way primary – she said the debate centered on the Iraq War and energy policy. Now – especially with the recent Wall Street bailout – it focuses almost entirely on the economy.

There have been 41 comments posted in response to this story.
Fri, 06/27/2008 - 13:19

Leave it alone, MCEA proponents say

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

Click here for a previous report on the issue.

In the last legislative session, state lawmakers approved measures that made it 30 percent harder for candidates for governor to qualify for public financing. They also required all gubernatorial candidates to be audited by the Ethics Commission.

Read More >
There have been 49 comments posted in response to this story.
Mon, 04/07/2008 - 17:10

Pearson tapped as Common Cause's VP for Programs

By Zach Silber

Arn Pearson, previously Common Cause's campaign finance reform efforts, has been named the organization's national vice president for programs.

In his new capacity, Pearson will be responsible for developing and overseeing Common Causes' legislative and grassroots campaigns on a wide array of democracy reform issues.

Read More >
There have been 40 comments posted in response to this story.
Wed, 04/02/2008 - 17:16

Senate approves National Popular Vote initiative

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

UPDATED Apr. 2 at 9:30 p.m. with more details on the debate

The state Senate passed a bill Wednesday allowing Maine to participate in the National Popular Vote interstate compact. The bill will next go before the House for consideration.

Read More >
There have been 74 comments posted in response to this story.
Mon, 03/17/2008 - 17:19

Hightower, Common Cause head visit Maine, praise MCEA

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

Click here for photos of the Jim Hightower event. See below for video of Hightower’s speech.

Read More >
There have been 38 comments posted in response to this story.
Wed, 03/12/2008 - 22:55

NPV vote redo expected Thursday

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

Update: The issue was tabled Thursday. 

The National Popular Vote bill is expected to come up for a second debate and vote Thursday in the Maine Senate.

The issue first came up in the Maine Senate Monday. With Sen. David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, absent, they voted 17 to 17. On Tuesday, Hastings said he is against the bill so, providing everyone is there and votes the same, it won’t pass.

There have been 36 comments posted in response to this story.
Mon, 03/03/2008 - 23:30

Bill creates pathway for citizens to complain about their legislators

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

Maine House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, is pushing legislation to redefine conflict of interest, undue influence and abuse of office in state government.

At the heart of his bill, which was heard in the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee Monday, is a clause allowing citizens to come to the Ethics Commission with complaints about their legislators.

Read More >
There have been 41 comments posted in response to this story.
Mon, 03/03/2008 - 23:29

Edmonds: Expand public disclosure

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

UPDATED: 11:07 a.m. Tuesday with more links

Senate President Beth Edmonds wants to give lawmakers a few more forms to fill out.

She presented a bill to increase public disclosure to the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee Monday, which would require legislators and executive branch officials to disclose the following:

There have been 34 comments posted in response to this story.