Wake-Up Call: Thursday, August 14, 2008

With the PolitickerME.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Maine's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerME.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Maine's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Pindell Report: Collins seat increasingly safe

Susan Collins' re-election bid, which was once of the country's most closely watched U.S. Senate races, is becoming increasingly more secure for Collins, a new Politicker.com analysis shows.

The race is currently ranked as the 12th most-competitive race out of the 35 U.S. Senate races this year. (PolitickerME.com, Staff)

Link: http://www.politickerme.com/editor/2164/pindell-report-collins-seat-incr...

Cutting through the spin: Breaking down the EFCA

There’s a lot of spin kicking around about the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as the “card-check” legislation. PolitickerME will attempt to break the bill down to determine what it really does. (PolitickerME.com, Jessica Alaimo)

Link: http://www.politickerme.com/jessicaalaimo/2180/cutting-through-spin-brea...

Choice for key Maine post gets bipartisan backing

AUGUSTA—Gov. John Baldacci's choice to take over Maine's sprawling state Department of Administrative and Financial Services won bipartisan backing Wednesday at a legislative confirmation hearing.

The Legislature's Appropriations Committee endorsed Ryan Low by a vote of 11-0. (Boston Globe, AP)

Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/13/choice_for_ke...

Standish starts emergency heating fund

The Standish Town Council voted Tuesday to create a new fund to help needy residents pay for heating fuel this winter.

Councilors allocated $500 from a contingency account. Two individual councilors, Terence Christy and Louis Stack, also donated $250 each to the fund. (Maine Today, John Richardson)

Link: http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/031488.html

Selectmen recommend cost-sharing option

KENNEBUNK — Discussion about the RSU 57 school consolidation plan at Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting wasn't so much about keeping options open, as it was about narrowing them down. (Seacoast Online, Steve Bodnar)

Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/NEWS/8...

State law may require Ogunquit to limit parking fees

OGUNQUIT — Last year the Town of Ogunquit reported $1.5 million in revenue from six parking lots and the sale of parking passes to residents. It reflects what has become a significant business in town, by the town's own admission. (Seacoast Online, Jim Kanak)

Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/NEWS/8...

Towns pay for state's error

LEWISTON - State revenue officials have admitted to making an error when calculating a specific tax reimbursement payment to Maine towns, resulting in overpayments to more than 100 towns and underpayments to more than 300 others. (Sun Journal, Rebekah Metzler)

Link: http://www.sunjournal.com/story/278617-3/MaineNews/Towns_pay_for_states_...

State puts brakes on electric vehicle

Tom Joyal of Kennebunk couldn't be happier with his new ride, an electric, three-wheeled vehicle that saves him plenty on fuel and draws an uncommon amount of attention from passers-by.

But the state has told him to park it. Joyal got a letter from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles informing him that the vehicle isn't a motorcycle, as it is registered, because it has a steering wheel instead of handlebars. (Portland Press Herald, Noel Gallagher)

Link: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=204633&ac=PHnws

Town close to decision on manager

Scarborough is nearing the finish line in its search for a town manager to replace Ron Owens, who is retiring.

The Scarborough Town Council met last week with four finalists for the job and has asked two to return for second interviews next week, said council chairman Jeffrey Messer. He declined to name any of the candidates. (Portland Press Herald, Edward Murphy)

Link: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=204620&ac=PHnws

Collins gossips about Edwards on radio show

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins believes that former presidential candidate and Sen. John Edwards (D-North Carolina) did have a child out of wedlock, according to her comments on a recent Q Morning Show interview.

Edwards recently admitted to having an affair. (PolitickerME.com, Jessica Alaimo)

Link: http://www.politickerme.com/jessicaalaimo/2184/collins-gossips-about-edw...

With the PolitickerME.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Maine's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.