John Baldacci

Latest Articles

We sing, we dance, we steal things

Politics and other mistakes
Last week, I profiled the Democrats running for governor of Maine in 2010. Thousands were taken ill.
By AL DIAMON | November 26, 2008

UMaine feels the economic pinch

Tuition pressure
The University of Maine system is being asked by the state to describe how it would cut $10.6 million from its budget — the equivalent of 5.3 percent of the state money it gets — on top of the $19.1 million in cuts imposed earlier this year.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | November 19, 2008

Council sinks pier deal, floats arts TIF

City beat
Three pieces of big news came out of Monday's Portland City Council meeting. Make sure you stay in the loop.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | November 19, 2008

Here come the bugs

Politics and other mistakes
I'm not one of those people who assumes that just because somebody casually mentions they're thinking about running for governor of Maine in 2010, that they should be restrained, subjected to electro-shock therapy, and deported to someplace where they can't do any harm.
By AL DIAMON | November 19, 2008

All the ugly people

Politics and other mistakes
Why did Maine voters give overwhelming approval to a tax-repeal referendum on Nov. 4, while simultaneously returning to office even more of the Democratic legislators who passed the unpopular tax in the first place?
By AL DIAMON | November 12, 2008

Maine task force to seek offshore power

Energy in the drink
A new Ocean Energy Task Force, created by Governor John Baldacci last week, is charged in part with investigating the realities of drilling for oil and gas off the coast of Maine.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | November 12, 2008

Falling down

Mistreatment of Maine prison guards lands heavily on inmates
Critics of the state Department of Corrections say the hostage-taking last June at the Maine State Prison dramatically illustrates that the concrete, high-tech lockup in Warren is showing cracks from stress on the prison guards.
By LANCE TAPLEY | November 05, 2008

Three years and counting

The Portland Phoenix' s prison scoops keep piling up
For the past three years, Portland Phoenix contributing writer Lance Tapley has been the only reporter in Maine to pay attention to the appalling conditions suffered by inmates in the Maine State Prison
By PORTLAND PHOENIX STAFF | November 05, 2008

Maine House candidates

Who wants to go to Augusta?
As with the candidates for Maine Senate, we compiled some biographical information on each candidate and then asked each person what they would take action on right up front, if they were elected.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | October 29, 2008

Baldacci raids the cookie jar

The governor’s secret Dirigo Health bailout
Under the American system of government, the legislative branch is supposed to decide how your tax money is spent, but . . .
By LANCE TAPLEY | October 15, 2008

Illusion of progress

Politics and other mistakes
As the world teetered on the brink of another Great Depression, I was comforted by the knowledge that if civilization collapsed, I’d still have quality health care.
By AL DIAMON | October 09, 2008

It’s not about the art

Looking behind the effort to paint South Portland oil tanks
The Art All Around project proposes to paint original artists’ designs on several Sprague Energy Corporation oil tanks in South Portland.
By JEFF INGLIS | September 03, 2008

Maine: state of deception

How a budget surplus emerged from a back room
Surprise! When the 2008 fiscal year ended, on June 30, the state had a General Fund surplus of $56 million, so the shortfall in reality was considerably smaller than predicted — $134 million.
By LANCE TAPLEY | August 27, 2008

Letters to the Portland editor, August 22, 2008

Rogue Dead Guy Ale is not an IPA
We don’t expect every customer to love our establishment.
By LETTERS TO THE PORTLAND EDITOR | August 20, 2008

I've heard that story before

Politics and other mistakes
Each year, Governor John Baldacci announces his top priority in the next legislative session will be reducing the state income tax. (“Lack of political clout? What lack of political clout?”)
By AL DIAMON | August 20, 2008

Time for a clean sweep?

A former guard calls for prison reform
In early 2007, Rhonda Dawson, a thoughtful, candid, 45-year-old African-American guard at the Maine State Prison in Warren, quit her job after four years because, she says, of racist taunting from her fellow correctional officers.
By LANCE TAPLEY | July 23, 2008