Latest news with #Mainers'
Montreal Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Letters: What not to say at U.S. border
Letters To The Editor Pete Hoekstra, the American ambassador to Canada, has said Canadians facing device searches and detainment is 'not a pattern.' I've been told of two situations that might make Canadians uneasy about going to the U.S. A couple I know driving from Toronto to Buffalo were asked by the U.S. border officer 'what they thought of our new president.' When they replied they 'did not think very positively about him,' they were pulled aside and their entry was eventually denied. And the same person who related the above story told me he was asked the same question at the airport when he was preparing to fly to the U.S. on business. When he gave the same honest reply, he was pulled aside and his device was searched. If you are crossing into the U.S. and are asked what you think about the U.S. president, maybe just say you think he is wonderful. Graham Wright, Westmount By this measure, Trump is a success Re: ' Anand weighs in on Israeli strike ' (NP Montreal, June 14) Charlie Kirk, described as the founder of Turning Point USA and an ally of the Trump White House, is quoted as saying: 'No issue currently divides the (U.S.) right as much as foreign policy.' This could be partly because it is difficult for some to ascertain what Trump's foreign policy is. Kirk also refers to 'our insanely successful presidency' — which is, in a way, a rather unfortunate description of the situation. John Hall, Montreal Warm reception among 'Mainers' Re: ' Support, love and gratitude from Plattsburgh ' (Opinion, June 13) I recently spent two weeks in my happy place, Old Orchard Beach, Me. On Flag Day — June 14 — I drove by a crowd of people near the ocean who were holding up placards protesting against many of Donald Trump's latest policies. As I passed them, I heard a big cheer go up. I can only surmise that my Quebec licence plate elicited such a response. Mainers are among my favourite people in the world. It pained me to see the empty stores and restaurants, and the dearth of people on the beach. Seems like such a sad consequence of hastily enacted, mean-spirited policies against Canadians. Debbie Astroff, Dorval Voters must not sit out midterms Re: ' Sorry, but I am tired of apologies ' (Letters, May 21) I absolutely agree with the letter writer that U.S. voters need to return control of Congress to the Democrats next year, which is more plausible in the House of Representatives than it is in the Senate. But there is an important distinction to be made: Trump won a plurality of the vote, but not quite a majority, over Kamala Harris. More significantly, voter turnout was around 64 or 65 per cent (depending on the source), with Trump winning just 32 per cent or so of all potential votes and Harris around 31 per cent. As is often the case, those who stayed home helped determine the election. The couch potatoes had better show up in the November 2026 midterms to save whatever semblance of democracy remains south of the border. Stan Shatenstein, Montreal Submitting a letter to the editor Letters should be sent by email to letters@ We prioritize letters that respond to, or are inspired by, articles published by The Gazette. If you are responding to a specific article, let us know which one. Letters should be sent uniquely to us. The shorter they are — ideally, fewer than 200 words — the greater the chance of publication. Timing, clarity, factual accuracy and tone are all important, as is whether the writer has something new to add to the conversation. We reserve the right to edit and condense all letters. Care is taken to preserve the core of the writer's argument. Our policy is not to publish anonymous letters, those with pseudonyms or 'open letters' addressed to third parties. Letters are published with the author's full name and city or neighbourhood/borough of residence. Include a phone number and address to help verify identity; these will not be published. We will not indicate to you whether your letter will be published. If it has not been published within 10 days or so, it is not likely to be.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Could a new appeal prompt Maine's supreme court to reconsider its decision on decades-old child sex abuse cases?
May 29—Sexual abuse survivors in Maine are hoping a new appeal — and a new justice — will tip the scales in their favor, as the state's highest court considers yet again whether people should be able to sue for decades-old claims. Earlier this year, 70-year-old George Eaton of Washington County won a lawsuit against Peter Boyce, 81, who Eaton said sexually abused him in the early 1970s. Eaton won by default because Boyce didn't respond to the complaint, according to court records. Boyce was ordered to pay Eaton $1.1 million on Feb. 26 — a month after the Maine Supreme Judicial Court overturned the 2021 law that made Eaton's lawsuit possible by "reviving" claims previously barred. Maine eliminated its statute of limitations for new claims in 2000, but until the 2021 law change people still couldn't sue for abuse that happened before 1987, Boyce, who now has an attorney, appealed that decision. Now, the same court that overturned the law will be asked to consider the issue again — but with one new justice confirmed in March and two justices who signed a dissenting opinion, some advocates hope the outcome will be different. Eaton's lawyer, Michael Bigos, declined to comment on the case. Boyce's attorney, Jed Davis, did not respond to requests Thursday to discuss the appeal and allegations against his client. Bigos represents more than a dozen people who sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland after the 2021 law passed, and whose cases were at the center of the court's decision. He and Timothy Kenlan said in February that their firm was representing at least 100 people whose claims were made possible by the overturned law, although not everyone had filed a complaint in court. The lawyers asked the high court a couple of weeks after the ruling to reconsider. Bigos recently told lawmakers that request was summarily denied. He told the Legislature's Judiciary Committee that he hopes this appeal will end differently. He cited the court's new composition and the arguments made by the dissenting justices, who "raised issues that we believe are unsolved." He said the court's majority opinion overlooked Mainers' rights to substantive due process under the state constitution, instead favoring principles dating to the 1600s "as a rationale for the majority to declare this unconstitutional." He was testifying on LD 1978, which would allow people to sue governmental entities whose employees sexually abused them as children. (Such employers, including public schools and law enforcement agencies, are immune from most lawsuits. There is no exception for child sexual abuse.) Rep. Ellie Sato, D-Gorham, noticed that the bill would eliminate a statute of limitation for those claims even after the supreme court's ruling in January. "How is this language different from that language, to make sure that the Law Court doesn't strike it down again?" Sato asked. Bigos said he believes the Legislature still has the right to pass laws that serve their constituents. "It is this practitioner's belief, and many others,' that the Maine judiciary exceeded its authority by impinging on the legislative authority, by declaring that (2021 law) unconstitutional," Bigos said. DEFAULT JUDGMENT Bigos and Davis have until later this summer to file briefs with the court outlining their arguments. In his civil complaint, Eaton said Boyce abused him around July 1970, when Eaton was 15 years old. He said Boyce had hired him to do odd jobs around his workplace at Johnson Bay Marine, according to the complaint. Over the following year, Eaton said he was abused several times in Boyce's home, workplace and on a trip to New York, often after being given alcohol. Eaton said he cut contact with Boyce in 1971 and told his parents what had happened. Now, more than 50 years later, Eaton said he still struggles with the trauma, the shame and betrayal. In awarding damages to Eaton, Superior Court Justice Harold L. Stewart quoted a psychological expert who testified on Eaton's behalf during a hearing Feb. 5, who said Eaton has difficulty trusting others and still experiences a constant "fear of the world." The expert said it's likely Eaton's medical costs for therapy and other treatment will exceed $100,000 in the next 15 years. Stewart wrote on Feb. 26 that he was aware of the high court's decision, but that it's the defendant's responsibility to raise the issue of a statute of limitations. This defendant never responded to the complaint against him. "The incident in this case occurred in 1970," Stewart wrote. "Plaintiff has lived with the effects and trauma of the sexual abuse committed by Defendant for 55 years." 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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jared Golden says he wants to stay in Congress, won't run for governor
May 20—U.S. Rep. Jared Golden said Tuesday that he will seek another term representing Maine's 2nd District in Congress. Golden, a Lewiston Democrat who has represented the district since 2019, may face a primary challenge from State Auditor Matthew Dunlap. Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage announced earlier this month that he is running for the seat. Golden, 42, has been raising money for another reelection campaign for Congress, but has also been mentioned as a possible gubernatorial or U.S. Senate candidate. "While I have considered many options for how best to continue serving the people of Maine, I have decided to run for re-election because the surest way to restore balance in Washington is for Democrats to win back the House of Representatives," Golden said in a statement. "While the election is still 18 months away and I remain focused on my responsibilities to my constituents and my family, I also know the path to the majority runs through Maine. And I am going to do what it takes to make sure no one like Paul LePage blusters his way into Congress." Golden's voting records and public statements — including his willingness to work with President Donald Trump and his support tariffs — have angered some Maine Democrats who want to see him face a primary challenge. But Golden also has had the support of the national party because of his ability to hold a seat in a district that has repeatedly backed Donald Trump. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was quick to back Golden after Dunlap said he was considering a primary challenge. "Rep. Golden has proven he is uniquely-suited to win tough races, and the DCCC is proud to work to reelect him once again next November," DCCC Spokesperson Nebeyatt Betre said. Jordan Kathleen Burns, Golden's campaign manager, said Golden is "a proven winner and the right choice to beat a candidate like Paul LePage and restore checks and balances in Congress." "The stakes are clear: While the GOP in Congress is working overtime to take away Mainers' health care and further rig the tax code for the rich, Jared is standing up for our health care, workers' rights, reproductive freedom and Maine's heritage industries," Burns said in a statement. Golden narrowly won reelection in 2024 against his Republican challenger, former state Rep. Austin Theriault. Theriault endorsed LePage in a post on X, saying he considered another campaign but decided to sit it out to spare his party a primary contest. "A crowded, divisive primary would only hurt our chances in November," he wrote. "I'll be supporting Governor LePage in his race for Congress, and I hope you'll join me," Maine's 2nd District has become a battleground in recent elections, as Trump has won one of the state's four electoral votes in the rural district composed of northern and western Maine in each of the last three presidential races. Republicans have eyed the district as a seat to flip in 2026. Golden, a centrist Democrat, said prior to last year's election that he was "OK" with Trump winning. Golden won his seat after a ranked choice runoff against Republican Austin Theriault, a first-term state lawmaker. This story will be updated. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maine union workers call on Congress to protect federal clean energy tax credit
Democratic Rep. Kilton Webb of Durham joined other union workers at the State House on April 23, 2025 to call on Congress to protect the federal tax credits for energy development that have kept him and others living and working in Maine. (Photo by AnnMarie Hilton/ Maine Morning Star) When IBEW Local 567 member Kilton Webb started his career as an electrician in 2018, his first job was on a solar field in Kennebunk. The two years that Webb, who now represents Durham in the House of Representatives, spent traveling from town to town building dozens of solar farms as renewable energy projects proliferated allowed him to pay off debt, purchase a home and advance to a journeyman electrician. That's why the Democrat joined other union workers at the State House Wednesday morning to call on Congress to protect the federal tax credits for energy development that have kept him and others living and working in Maine. Congressional Republicans are currently negotiating a federal spending plan that is expected to include significant cuts to pay for an extension of the 2017 tax cuts as well as bolstering funding for border security and defense. 'These clean energy tax credits — which have been in force now for more than two years — they are working,' said Francis Eanes, executive director of the Maine Labor Climate Council. 'They are doing exactly what they are intended to do: lowering Mainers' energy bills, investing in good-paying jobs right here at home and powering Maine with independent, homegrown energy. Win. Win. Win.' Part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Investment and Production tax credits allow business and tax-exempt entities to deduct part of the cost of developing renewable energy systems from their federal taxes. They include labor requirements for the projects such as paying workers prevailing wages and hiring apprentices for a certain number of hours. Among Maine's congressional delegation, Democratic Reps. Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree, as well as independent Sen. Angus King, voted in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. However, Republican Sen. Susan Collins voted against it. The tax credits are a 'huge lever for driving clean energy and growing the pipeline of skilled tradespeople we so badly need,' Eanes said. Hayley Lawrence, who lives in Augusta, said it would be a 'mistake' to take away the tax credits that have helped create jobs for people like her. Prior to graduating from an apprenticeship program, Lawrence was living in her car. Just days after completing her program, she was able to get work on solar projects that allowed her to rent an apartment. While some energy development projects are only eligible for one of the credits, multiple solar and wind technologies, as well as municipal solid waste, geothermal, and tidal projects are eligible for both. The tax credits can offset development costs by up to 30%, which provides a 'meaningful savings' that can be passed on to the utility and ultimately, ratepayers, Eanes explained. If those credits disappear for projects that are counting on them, developers may have to renegotiate contracts or pass cost increases onto ratepayers. Eanes and other labor leaders feared that Maine could be disproportionately hurt if the tax credits end because the rural state has significant untapped capacity for new projects that could utilize the benefit to develop homegrown energy and good jobs. There are 145 utility-scale projects either operating or in development across Maine that could be eligible for federal energy tax credits, according to information provided by the Maine Labor Climate Council. This includes the Lincoln Battery Storage Project, Northern Maine Renewables Program, County Line Wind Farm and more. Together, those projects support more than 9,100 jobs, $8.8 billion in investment and nearly 5,000 megawatts of power generation or storage, the council said. But, Eanes said, 'they are depending on the certainty from Washington D.C. to keep these clean energy tax credits going.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal appeals court agrees to keep Maine's 72-hour law on hold
Apr. 10—A federal appeals court in Boston ruled Thursday that Maine's 72-hour waiting period on gun purchases will remain on hold pending a larger appeal from the state attorney general's office. State lawmakers passed the 72-hour bill last year along with several other gun safety reforms following the mass shooting in Lewiston in October 2023 that killed 18 people and wounded more than a dozen others. It required any gun seller who violated the waiting period to pay fines between $200 and $1,000, depending on the nature of the violation. Gun rights advocates quickly sued the state in November after Gov. Janet Mills allowed it to become law without her signatures. Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker then granted their request in February to temporarily pause the law, siding with their arguments that the waiting period likely violated their constitutional right to bear arms. The Office of the Maine Attorney General immediately appealed that decision to the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. Chief Deputy Attorney General Christopher Taub has argued the law saves lives and that it doesn't infringe on Mainers' constitutional ability to bear arms. Taub asked Walker if the law could be temporarily restored, pending the appeal, which Walker also denied in March. The appeals court is still weighing that aspect of the case. View this document on Scribd The 1st Circuit wrote in Thursday's ruling that the question at the center of Maine's case is so new, "in an emerging area of constitutional law involving a legal standard that is difficult to apply and subject to varying interpretations," that they are not persuaded the law should be restored at this point in the legal battle. Copy the Story Link
