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| 📷 House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, applauds after Gov. Janet Mills takes the oath of office on Jan. 4, 2023, in Augusta. (BDN photo by Troy R. Bennett) |
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👊 Maine's Republican senator and progressive speaker align on a big issue.
◉ Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, wrote a letter to President Joe Biden's administration on Monday asking it to slow the arrival of asylum seekers in part by verifying that they have a "safe and reliable destination" upon entry.
◉ More than 700 asylum seekers have come to Portland since January, with city officials saying last week that shelters are filling and nearing a tipping point at which services may not be able to be delivered.
◉ Collins' letter was criticized by some immigrant advocates, but the city told Maine Public it supports her actions. The letter came after the senator met with Talbot Ross, who said in a statement that she brought up address verification and the need to shorten the six-month wait for work visas for asylum seekers when she talked with Collins.
◉ "Ultimately, Maine needs additional support, resources and immediate action from the federal government to ensure our new Maine residents have an opportunity to succeed," Talbot Ross said in a statement.
⚔️ Both parties put Maine's 2nd District high on 2024 priority lists.
◉ Maine's swing congressional district is stretching its run of being one of the nation's most competitive to a decade. Both parties' campaign arms put the 2nd District at the top of recently released defensive and offensive priority lists.
◉ Golden was among 29 vulnerable Democrats identified last week by his party who will qualify for more help and resources, while Republicans put him among their 37 top targets as they look at growing a thin majority.
◉ President Donald Trump could be on the ballot for a third-straight election in 2024, but Golden won a split with Trump in 2020 and survived a challenge from former Rep. Bruce Poliquin in 2022. The congressman is now in his third term and while the district will always be tough, he is looking as entrenched as ever. |
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What we're reading
💡 A Maine lawmaker sees malls as a solution to the housing shortage.
🔎 Family of a 3-year-old who died of drug exposure says caseworkers did not heed their warnings, Maine Public reports.
🇺🇦 John Bapst is trying to keep four Ukrainian students for another year.
🚔 Bangor-area police are adjusting recruiting to deal with staff shortages.
🪵 Maine's dwindling cedar supply challenges a log-home company. Here's your soundtrack.
⚫ Holden police chief and radio host Chris Greeley died at 60. |
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