There are two problems with the Trump administration’s tax reform proposal. First, it’s not Trump’s. It comes from the Republican Congress, just as did all of his claimed health care “repeal and replace” proposals. It’s not “reform.” The proposal’s main purposes are to cut corporate taxes and taxes paid by the wealthiest investors. Like almost […]

Editor, Maine is a small business state. While not perfect, the recently proposed federal tax reform benefits small businesses by allowing them to keep more of their earnings here to spur economic growth, hiring, higher wages.  For these reasons, Senators Collins and King should support federal Republicans tax bill: “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.” As […]

Halloween parties thrown by adults tend to be well-stocked with booze. Being lubed up with Johnnie Walker is just about the only legitimate excuse there is for a bunch of thirty- and fortysomethings to dress up as fictional characters from comic books and sci-fi movies — but it makes one thing in particular somewhat complicated. […]

On Oct. 23, the governor called the Legislature in for a “Special Session” to deal with two items that he felt needed the Legislature to fix. One, the Food Sovereignty Law, which would allow the sale of farm products to the open market and funding for a state agency that provides GIS mapping data for […]

Editor, It has again become painfully clear in the most recent mass murders and the lack of subsequent public debate on gun violence that one of the greatest frauds inflicted upon the American public is the gun lobby’s version of the Second Amendment, claiming that it guarantees the right of every individual to have any […]

Wild sarsaparilla is not a flashy forest dweller. It doesn’t soar overhead, or have showy blossoms. Or produce copious amounts of fruit or nuts that benefit wildlife. Or even envelop large areas of the forest floor. In fact, it is quite a nondescript little plant, though one with a disconcerting, but superficial, Wild Sarsaparilla bears a […]

As we celebrate Veterans Day this year, it is instructive to consider the contributions of our presidents to our nation’s defense and military. Of America’s 44 presidents, 31 have served in the military. Ten, most notably George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Dwight Eisenhower, attained the rank of general. Five others held the […]

Editor, Saturday, Nov. 11,  2017 we will pause at the 11th hour of the 11th month to celebrate Veteran’s Day and honor all veterans who have proudly served our nation and those who are serving at home and around the world.  We give thanks to them and their willingness to risk all to keep our beloved […]

Editor, Senators Susan Collins and Maria Cantwell are to be commended for reporting on the GAO study of the future costs of climate change. We have spent over $350 million dollars already  to begin repair and recovery efforts in Houston, Florida and Puerto Rico. There is probably double that left to do. How, I wonder, […]

A Maine referendum next week may tell a lot about where voters across the country stand on one of the central political issues of the day: whether government should be reduced or expanded to meet agreed needs. It may be obvious that the vote will send a message to Washington about public support for one […]