This is a week of great change and movement in Maine’s political world.
We go over the end of the legislative session in Augusta, and how (and why) the Democrats ultimately decided to support two absurd, destructive policies — $300 “relief” checks funded by the Rainy Day Fund, and a dramatic income tax hike.
(Spoiler alert: it happened because of political desperation on the part of Gov. Janet Mills, and backroom deals.)
Speaking of Mills, we have been detailing how deflated her campaign for U.S. Senate has become, but this week the wheels seem to be falling off. The governor has gone quiet on the airwaves, pulling all of her advertising across all platforms, abandoning her attacks on Graham Platner. She’s also now being accused of ducking a key debate, and now reports are circulating that national Democrats are panicking over Mills’ poor performance, and believe she may imperil their ability to retake the majority in the U.S. Senate.
We also got new language for the upcoming ballot question that seeks to protect girl’s sports in Maine. Predictably the question was terrible, with Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (once again) choosing to act like an ultra-partisan activist rather than a public servant.
This and more on this episode of the Pine Tree Pulse.