Friday, July 3rd, 2009, 3:25 pm
Sarah Palin to step down as governor
by William P. DavisSarah Palin announced Friday she will not seek re-election as Alaska’s governor but will instead step down at the end of the month. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be sworn in on July 25 in Fairbanks.
The New York Times said:
There had been wide speculation that she would seek to be the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in 2012. Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, who is also considered to be a Republican candidate for president in 2012, recently announced that he would not seek re-election.
By leaving office early, Ms. Palin will be able to travel around the country more freely and not have to deal with the constraints of being a governor.
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009, 1:10 pm
Baldacci signs gay marriage bill into law
by William P. DavisGov. John Baldacci signed L.D. 1020, An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom, making Maine the fifth state in the U.S. to allow gay marriage.
Baldacci, who hadn’t indicated previously whether he would sign the bill, held a press conference at 12:30 to announce his decision. “I have followed closely the debate on this issue. I have listened to both sides, as they have presented their arguments during the public hearing and on the floor of the Maine Senate and the House of Representatives. I have read many of the notes and letters sent to my office, and I have weighed my decision carefully,” Baldacci said in a press release. “I did not come to this decision lightly or in haste.”
The bill will go into effect in 90 days.
The bill passed both the House and the Senate with wide support, though not with the two-thirds supermajority needed to override a veto. The Senate passed the bill 21-14 initially and 21-13 after the House voted on it. The House passed the bill 89-57.
Polling shows the state essentially tied on the issue. More than 4,000 people attended an 11-hour open forum in Augusta where more than 200 people voiced their opinions on the bill before the judiciary committee. There is support for a referendum that will in effect be a citizen’s veto. However, the referendum won’t be able to come up to a vote until next year.
Maine follows Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa in allowing same sex marriages. New Hampshire’s legislature is expected to approve a similar bill this week.
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009, 11:48 pm
Gay marriage bill voted out of committee
by William P. DavisL.D. 1020, a bill that would redefine marriage to allow gay couples to marry, was voted “ought to pass” by the Judiciary Committee today, 11-2-1. One member proposed sending the bill to referendum.
The bill was the subject of a lengthy open forum last Wednesday in Augusta, which was attended by an estimated 4,000 people. Hundreds of people testified before the committee during the 11-hour hearing. Although a fairly even number of people spoke, the crowd was overwhelmingly in support of the bill.
The bill will now go to the state senate and house for consideration. Gov. Baldacci has not publicly voiced support or opposition for the bill, but it is likely he will sign it if it passes.
Open forum part 1:
Part 2:
Video produced by William P. Davis with assistance from Kaley Roberts
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009, 11:51 am
Specter to switch parties
by William P. Davis
Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylavania announced today he will switch to the Democratic party, bringing the Democrats one step closer to the filibuster-proof supermajority needed to ensure legislation will pass. “I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” Specter said.
A statement released by Specter said, “Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats.”
According to the White House, Obama called Specter shortly after the announcement to congratulate and thank him. Specter was one of three moderate Republicans in the Senate who helped push Democratic legislation through Congress. Specter and Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both of Maine, were the only Republicans in either house of Congress to vote for President Obama’s stimulus bill.
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009, 10:48 am
Vermont legalizes gay marriage
by William P. DavisThe Vermont legislature voted today to legalize gay marriage, becoming the fourth state in the union to do so. Vermont was also the first state in the country to allow civil unions nine years ago.
The legislature voted 23-5 in the state Senate and 100-49 in the state House to override Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto of the bill. The three other states to allow gay marriage are Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa. All of those states had bills banning gay marriage that were struck down by the courts.
Friday, April 3rd, 2009, 9:37 am
Iowa Supreme Court: Gay marriage ban unconstitutional
by William P. DavisThe Iowa Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on gay marriage, saying the law violates the constitutional rights of gay couples.
The unanimous ruling makes Iowa the third state in the country to legalize gay marriage.
According to the court, “On our review, we hold the Iowa marriage statute violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution. A statute inconsistent with the Iowa Constitution must be declared void, even though it may be supported by strong and deep-seated traditional beliefs and popular opinion.”
A proposed amendment to Iowa’s constitution banning gay marriage failed to pass the legislature in 2008, but the Iowa House’s Republican leader is urging legislators to sign pass a new amendment.
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009, 8:05 pm
Blagojevich indicted on corruption charges
by William P. DavisRod Blagojevich, former governor of Illinois, was indicted on 16 felony counts today, including racketeering conspiracy and extortion conspiracy. Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell President Barack Obama’s senate seat, among other things. Prosecutors caught Blagojevich on tape talking about selling the seat, and was soon arrested for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. Blagojevich quickly became fodder for late-night comedy for his looks (especially hair) and strong speaking manner (he is known for his expletives). He was impeached in January, despite professing his innocence, but not before appointing Roland Burris to Obama’s seat, over very strong objections from many prominent politicians.
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009, 7:52 pm
Stevens case dropped; Calls for special election in Alaska
by William P. DavisThe Justice Department dropped all charges against Ted Stevens, former senator from Alaska, on Wednesday. Stevens was convicted on seven felony counts of ethics violations and narrowly lost his re-election bid to the Senate. The Republican Party has started a campaign for a special election, insisting Stevens has been found innocent and Alaskans should have a chance to elect him again. Randy Ruedrich, the Republican Party chairman, said in a release Thursday, “The only reason Mark Begich won the election in November is because a few thousand Alaskans thought that Senator Ted Stevens was guilty of seven felonies. A special election will allow Alaskans to have a real, non-biased, credible process where the most qualified person could win, without the manipulation of the Department of Justice.”
The Department of Justice moved to drop the case after it was revealed FBI agents mishandled evidence and prosecutors witheld it from the defense team. A judge will decide whether or not to approve the Justice Department’s request on April 7.
On a side note, apologies for not updating the blogs recently. We’ve all been busy here at The Maine Campus.
Thursday, March 19th, 2009, 6:06 pm
90 percent tax on bonuses
by William P. Davis
Protesters outside of A.I.G.
After the uproar surrounding A.I.G. giving bonuses after a government bailout, the House swiftly passed a 90 percent tax on all bonuses granted by companies who have received more than $5 billion in bailout money. The vote was a decisive 328 to 93, and a similar measure will be considered in the Senate next week.
The New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo requested and received the names of employees who received bonuses from A.I.G., and the company has requested employees give half their bonuses back. However, outrage has continued, with protests staged outside A.I.G. headquarters.
Monday, March 16th, 2009, 4:46 pm
Obama orders Geithner to stifle bonuses
by William P. DavisFollowing the news A.I.G. executives are set to receive $165 million in bonuses despite the recent government bailout of the company President Obama has ordered Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to “pursue every single legal avenue to block these bonuses and make the American taxpayers whole.” (video below)
Several public figures immediately denounced A.I.G.’s bonus program immediately following the news on Sunday. Barney Frank, representative from Massachusetts and the chairman of the House Financial Services committee, excoriated A.I.G., saying, “These bonuses are going to people who screwed this up enormously.” Maine Representative Mike Michaud also blased the company, saying, “It is simply unconscionable that American families are subsidizing executives who have contributed to the economic mess we are now in.”
