Jamie Klatell's blog

America has chosen its next president. The House and Senate are set (mostly). So now it's time for the Politicker team to get some rest.

Check back here on Monday for all the latest and greatest political news. For now, enjoy our coverage of Election 2008 from the earliest announcements, through the conventions, to the big day.

$29,521,553: That’s total value of the 54 pork barrel projects secured from the federal government by Maine’s Congressional delegation, according to the 2008 Pig Book.

It's a small number compared to the $17.2 billion national total that Citizens Against Government Waste found in FY 2008’s 12 appropriation bills.

Maine ranks 41st out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with $22.41 of pork per capita.

The Department of Homeland Security is giving Maine a couple of extra days to make its decision on Real ID.

According to a DHS statement:

Following lengthy discussions today with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Senator Susan Collins, who is Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, announced that Maine will have two additional days to apply for a REAL ID extension. Secretary Chertoff agreed to Senator Collins' request to give the state until 5 PM on Wednesday, April 2nd to respond.

The Maine Legislature passed a resolution last year barring the state from participating in a national ID program. Pursuant to the resolution Maine will not make a request for an extension in meeting Real ID standards, according to Gov. John Baldacci’s office.

The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would require repeat OUI offenders to install an ignition lock in their cars that prevents the engine from starting if they have too much alcohol on their breath.

“This important tool has been shown to successfully reduce repeat drunk driving offenses in other states, and we hope to repeat those results here,” said Senator Lynn Bromley (D-Cumberland County), the bill’s sponsor, in a news release.

Retired college professor and Farmington Selectman John Frary announced that he has collected the necessary signatures to make the ballot as a Republican challenger to U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud (D-East Millinocket).

“It was really very humbling to see all those names flooding in giving me the writ of the voters to interrupt my opponents coronation,” Frary said in a news release. “I didn’t have to pay anyone to do it, and there was very little begging. Some, but very little.”