Maine: Mike Michaud

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s take from the federal stimulus package appears to be growing.

WCSH-TV reports that the state’s share of federal stimulus money is expected to be about $1.1 billion. Some of the money is being spent on transportation projects.

On Friday, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud announced that $5.5 million will go for improvements at three Maine airports.

The Dexter Regional Airport will get $3.8 million to rehabilitate a runway. The Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport and Augusta State Airport will get $1.2 million and $500,000, respectively, to build aircraft rescue and firefighting buildings.

I have never served in the military, and only have limited knowledge of how the VA medical system works. For example, I didn't realize that currently when a vet is treated at a VA hospital for something not related to her or his time in the service, the VA bills that person's 3rd party insurance company. And at first blush, this seems like a reasonable method.

The Obama administration is proposing that this billing system be extended to all treatment that a vet receives, and this troubles Rep. Mike Michaud, and he notes in this letter to Eric Shinseki, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs:

Dear Secretary Shinseki,

With the release of the Administration's first budget request, a new policy proposal has been introduced as a means of collecting revenue for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through billing of veterans' third-party insurance for the care and treatment of a disability or illness incurred as a result of honorable military service.

BANGOR, Maine — U.S. Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree have announced the formation of a five-member committee that will assist and advise them on their recommendation to President Obama on the appointment of the next U.S. attorney in Maine.

Michaud and Pingree are looking for the committee to complete its work by the end of March, according to a joint press release issued Friday.

The members of the advisory committee, all lawyers, are: Leigh Stephens McCarthy of Bangor; Donald Zillman, president of the University of Maine at Presque Isle; Jeff Thaler of Portland; and Virginia Davis and Walter McKee, both of Augusta.

WASHINGTON — During a speech in which Republican senators often remained seated while Democrats applauded, Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe stood up when President Obama referred to the passage of a $787 billion stimulus package. They and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., were the only GOP senators to vote for the bill when it passed the Senate.

After the president’s speech Tuesday night, Snowe released a statement lauding Obama’s “aggressive and ambitious agenda,” saying bipartisan cooperation will prove even more important now given the challenges facing the nation.

Snowe singled out Obama’s plan to reform the American health care system, the details of which the president said he would outline as soon as next week, as a good idea to address a “mounting crisis” affecting more than 47 million uninsured Americans.