The recent suggestion by Republicans to eliminate the Labor Committee is purely political and will hurt every one of Maine’s workers. The Republicans have not offered any good reasons for their proposal ”“ this move will not save taxpayers money, will not keep our workers safer or healthier and will not help the unemployed get […]

The political compromise on tax cuts and the extension of unemployment insurance benefits between President Obama and the Republican leaders has been easier to announce than to deliver. Against this compromise are upset liberals and progressives in the Democratic Party that could be labeled as the now “party of protest,” replacing the Republican’s reputation of […]

U.S. Senators failed last week to take a discriminatory policy off the books despite support from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which bans gays from serving openly in the country’s armed forces. Senate Republicans blocked the legislation Thursday on procedural grounds, saying the Senate needed to […]

As education officials around the state publicly prepare their upcoming budget requests, it’s at least as eye-opening seeing what they value most as it is observing where they’re contemplating cuts. Electronics and added tech support are at or near the top of nearly every administrator’s wish list. Laptop computers are of particular interest; many superintendents, […]

Contrary to what some may think, the woodland experience is not one of static permanency. Each year, I see changes, some subtle, some not, that suggest to me nature is endlessly rearranging the furniture. It could be a shrub that wasn’t there last year, or maybe it was but wasn’t yet large enough to notice. […]

Thumbs up to all the volunteers who donated time, money and services to the renovation of the Saco Food Pantry, which includes an addition to house the Open Hands Open Heart free clothing program. The new roof, new windows and siding for the pantry, as well as the washer/dryer for the clothing program, will help […]

Many people enjoy discovering, using and improving local trails. The Eastern Trail Alliance pursues these goals in a big way. Over the past 14 years it has labored to link separate trails into a cycling and hiking artery between Portland and Kittery, following the right-of-way once used by the Eastern Division of the Boston & […]

The rise of the unemployment rate in November continues a bleak trend ”“ 19 months in which the unemployment rate has not dipped below 9 percent. There were hopes that November might mark a turnaround in the employment market. Instead, unemployment rose to 9.8 percent, a discouraging tally that does not even count the millions […]

The Federal Communications Commission has taken a new and promising step toward ensuring net neutrality. Unrestricted access to the Internet, taken for granted in its earlier days, now needs such support. Although some claim that the free market will preserve the Internet as we know it, broadband providers are taking a more proprietary interest in […]

If the president wants to grow more jobs, he is going to need a clear plan for what needs to be done. So far, the administration has tried a lot of measures that have been costly, but not successful enough. A turnaround in tactics is needed to chart a course to create jobs. Business uncertainty […]