Lynn Bromley

When it comes to leadership political action committees, two state senators have far more in their coffers than their colleagues.

Bill Diamond (D-Windham) had $31,722 in Diamond PAC, and Libby Mitchell (D-Vassalboro) had $19,657 in the Mitchell Leadership Fund, both as of the last filing period July 22.

Diamond said he will put the PAC money toward his re-election bid and community action programs such as Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

One week and one day left until statutory adjournment in the Legislature, and 208 bills to go.

Senate President Beth Edmonds reminded members of this before the body took a break Tuesday. Be prepared, she told them. Read the calendar. Have your amendments in order. 

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.

Current Rep. Lawrence Bliss, D-South Portland, will run for the state Senate this year, according to Ethics Commission filings.

He is termed out of the House, and looking to follow current Sen. Lynn Bromley, D-South Portland, who is termed out of the Senate.

The Senate District covers South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and part of Scarborough.

Well, the folks at Verizon took one step closer in their continued efforts to escape from behind the "maple curtain" of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. 

READ:  Republicans hope to take reigns of state Senate in ‘08

Open seats:

District 7, Southern Cumberland County: Sen. Lynn Bromley, D-South Portland, is termed out. Bromley safely won the seat in 2006, but replaced a Republican who had been termed out, though in 2000 she won the seat by nearly 4,000 votes.

Prediction: Safe Democrat