Politics & Co.
Gubernatorial candidates have begun testing the waters with the gentle criticisms of an early campaign, and the race for the state’s 2nd U.S. House District has a nearly full lineup of candidates for 2014. In both races, two return challengers recently put their hats into the ring. But before that battle begins, Democratic legislative leaders and the governor are lining up for another budget battle in 2014:
Try, try (and try) again
Independent Eliot Cutler formally announced his candidacy for governor shortly after publishing “A State of Opportunity,” partly a memoir of his 2010 run for the Blaine House and general policy statement. Former Maine Senate President Kevin Raye, a Republican, is also seeking redemption in 2014, running for Maine’s 2nd District seat for a third time. In his two previous contests, he went up against Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, who will be that party’s standard-bearer against Cutler and Republican incumbent Gov. Paul LePage.
Won’t budge(t)
LePage told the Sun Journal that he won’t offer the Legislature a supplemental budget in 2014, should the state find itself with a budget gap. In a rare 45-minute interview, LePage told the paper that lawmakers “inherited” the current budget by passing it despite his veto. Democratic leaders said they expect to craft a mid-cycle budget revision with or without the governor.
Out to sea
Controversy around state regulators’ consideration of two offshore wind projects continued in September as environmental groups, media outlets and a competing bidder put pressure on the Maine Public Utilities Commission to release details of an offshore wind power proposal from the University of Maine. Under the Freedom of Access Act, the commission said the proposal remains confidential as regulators consider whether to grant the university-led consortium pilot project status, which would allow it to receive ratepayer support. The Norway-based competitor Statoil already has an approved term sheet with the PUC but says it’s holding off a decision on whether to move ahead with a Maine-based pilot project until later this fall. Legislation pushed by LePage earlier this year reopened PUC bidding for pilot project status, allowing the university to submit a proposal. The Associated Press found that before pushing to reopen bidding, administration officials floated ideas aimed more specifically at derailing Statoil’s offshore plans. Critics say the efforts to complicate Statoil’s plan send a bad message to the international business community.
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