The Maine Wire: “Ethics commission meets over complaint against state lawmaker” plus 3 more‏

Ethics commission meets over complaint against state lawmaker Posted: 01 Apr 2014 12:27 PM PDT AUGUSTA – The Maine Ethics Commission met Tuesday to discuss a complaint filed against a Maine state legislator alleging a violation of legislative ethics. “We received a complaint alleging a violation of legislative ethics,” said Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the Maine Ethics Commission. “The commissioners did meet today regarding an ethics complaint,” he said. […]

Study: Minimum wage laws increased unemployment, slowed job creation in 2013 Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:18 AM PDT In 2013, minimum-wage increases were associated with increases in unemployment and decreases in job growth, with teenagers hit especially hard, according to a new research paper from the American Action Forum. “[T]he analysis finds that in 2013, a $1 increase in the minimum wage was associated with a 1.48 percentage point increase in the unemployment […]

Daily Catch: Covered California Enrolling GOP to Vote Democrat, Koch Wars, Speechless Sebelius, and more Posted: 01 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT It Begins: Is Obamacare going to be used to recruit voters into the Democratic Party? In La Mesa, Calif., a couple received a voter registration card – pre-marked with an “x” in the box next to Democratic Party – after signing up for Covered California, the state’s Obamacare exchange. The letter and voter registration card […]

Bill to Nullify Alexander Group Contract Draws Bipartisan Opposition Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:48 AM PDT From House Communications Director David Sorensen:  AUGUSTA – The Maine House of Representatives late Monday afternoon voted 77-57 in favor of LD 1794, a politically-motivated bill to nullify a contract between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Alexander Group, a Medicaid consulting firm hired to reduce costs in the MaineCare system. Six […]