Wake-Up Call: Friday, August 15, 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...

Baldacci calls on prison shop to repair office furniture

For all most people know, there could be remnants of “John loves Olympia” etchings in the furniture in the Governor’s office. It has, after all, been around since John McKernan was governor from 1987 to 1995.

Current Gov. John Baldacci isn’t replacing it, but it is time for a touch up, said communications director David Farmer Wednesday. (PolitickerME.com, Jessica Alaimo)

Link: http://www.politickerme.com/jessicaalaimo/2193/baldacci-calls-prison-sho...

Maine candidate asks court stay

AUGUSTA—Independent U.S. Senate hopeful Herbert Hoffman is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block a state high court ruling that effectively removed his name from Maine's November ballot.

Hoffman's lawyer Thursday filed a 38-page brief asking the nation's highest court to stay the Maine supreme court's ruling that invalidated some nominating petitions Hoffman needed in order to get on the ballot. It asks the court to rule by Aug. 29. (Boston Globe, AP)

Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/14/maine_candida...

Blaine House celebration this weekend

AUGUSTA -- Gov. John Baldacci and first lady Karen Baldacci will celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Maine governor's mansion -- the Blaine House -- this weekend. (Maine Today, Susan M. Cover)

Link: http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/031557.html

Maine Republicans urge session on home heating aid

AUGUSTA—Republican lawmakers are pressing their call for a special legislative session to transfer $10 million in surplus funds to Maine's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. (Boston Globe, AP)

Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/14/republicans_r...

Maine towns shorted on payments

LEWISTON—Some Maine towns are being overpaid and some underpaid in a state tax reimbursement program that compensates landowners for maintaining woodlands. (Boston Globe, AP)

Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/14/maine_towns_s...

Wayne manager search down to one

WAYNE -- The search for town manager is nearing its end.

The committee charged with choosing the town's next manager has narrowed an 18-applicant field down to one finalist after interviews with three candidates. (Maine Today, Matthew Stone)

Link: http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/031544.html

Maine food stamp benefits to rise

AUGUSTA - Federal officials have granted the state's request to adjust food stamp benefit levels to reflect higher home heating and other utility costs, which will result in an estimated 59,000 households in Maine getting about $23 a month more beginning next month. Thousands more now also will qualify for the federal program. (Bangor Daily News, Mal Leary)

Link: http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=168453&zoneid=500

Mitchell to receive public service award

BANGOR- Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell will receive the Scales of Justice Award from Equal Justice Works.

The award will be presented on Oct. 16 in at a banquet in Washington, D.C. (Bangor Daily News, Judy Harrison)

Link: http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=168459&zoneid=500

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.