A federal official says a Blaine House meeting and other state actions could be viewed as efforts to sway jobless aid rulings. The governor says that has ‘no basis in fact.’

Republican Lawrence Lockman is under fire after a liberal activist’s blog post details his comments on AIDS, rape and abortion.

Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, sought the opinion after 26 Republicans asked him to recuse himself from votes and debate.

A key Republican says his proposal is bipartisan, covers 60,000 more people, provides an economic boost, takes advantage of federal funding and includes cost controls through managed care.