NEWS CENTER Maine’s Political Brew: Sunday, October 9, 2022

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This week’s analysts are Ray Richardson of WLOB Radio and legal professional Ken Altshuler, a longtime WGAN Morning Information co-host.

MAINE, USA — The first televised debate between Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, Republican nominee Paul LePage, and impartial Sam Hunkler was seen Tuesday night time on Maine Public.

And the candidates coated numerous floor.

When the subject of abortion got here up, LePage and Mills agreed that Maine’s present regulation shouldn’t be modified. When pressed, LePage mentioned he would veto a invoice that may ban most abortions 15 weeks.

Ray Richardson thinks the query was “a rip-off setup” as a result of LePage by no means took steps to alter Maine’s abortion regulation throughout eight years as governor.

However Ken Altshuler identified that the query must be pursued as a result of LePage “by no means had Roe v. Wade being overturned, and I believe that is the distinction.”

Gov. Mills sidestepped a query about what Republicans argue have been inappropriate classes designed for kindergarten college students with reference to gender id. The lesson in query was taken off the Division of Training web site when this problem was first raised earlier this yr.

Our analysts agree that Mills ought to deal with this topic immediately. Altshuler mentioned, “She needs to be forceful about confronting it and saying it is flawed, it was on my watch, it will not occur once more.” He added, “I do not blame her for the video.”

However Richardson counters, “She’s the top of state authorities, which oversees the Division of Training; this was on the DOE web site; Governor Mills owns this problem.”

Lengthy-shot impartial candidate Sam Hunkler acquired his first vital publicity on this debate. However Richardson and Altshuler have been unimpressed and did not consider his presence would have an effect on the race’s end result.

“It is like he determined to run for governor after which did not examine the problems,” Richardson mentioned. Altshuler mentioned, “I admire him saying, ‘I do not know the reply to that, however I am open to discovering out.’ I do know that is actually sincere. However most individuals need somebody to know the solutions.”

The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration held a listening to in Portland on rules designed to guard endangered rights whales, guidelines which pose a menace to Maine’s lobster business.

All of Maine’s high elected officers have condemned the rule-making course of. Nonetheless, Republicans are attempting to pin the issue on Gov. Mills and Rep. Jared Golden for supporting so-called radical environmentalists.

Altshuler mentioned the governor and the Congressional delegation are all saying the fitting issues about defending the lobster business, including, “I do not assume anyone an elected workplace in Maine will get caught with this” by voters.

“If that is the case,” Richardson mentioned, “it means individuals aren’t paying consideration.” He believes Legal professional Normal Aaron Frey needs to be suing NOAA over this.

Our analysts additionally mentioned whether or not there’s any message to be taken by the truth that thus far, Democrats are outpacing Republicans 5 to 1 in absentee poll requests and the potential political influence of OPEC’s announcement that it’ll slash oil manufacturing by two million barrels per day.

Political Brew airs Sundays on NEWS CENTER Maine’s Weekend Morning Report.