By Michael Shepherd and Caitlin Andrews - March 16, 2022
Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up.

Good morning from Augusta. The State House will stay closed this week due to the effects of a burst water pipe. A Thursday legislative session was canceled.

What we're watching today

Long-term conversations are hard in Augusta, but that is where the governor's mind was on Tuesday. Two years after Maine's 200th anniversary, one of the last events of the delayed bicentennial celebration came Wednesday when Gov. Janet Mills and other officials sealed a time capsule to be opened in 2120 and introduced the young Mainers who will be charged with filling the capsule at other milestone dates when many of us are long gone.

Among the items placed in the 7-foot-tall capsule topped by a star were antique buttons from an archeological site in Kennebunk, a bicentennial flag signed by Mills and a Maine flag carried to the International Space Station by astronaut Jessica Meir. Mills spoke with some emotion when discussing a Maine-made COVID-19 test and nasal swab that also went in.

"This capsule will contain the bravery, the innovation, the endurance, the creativity of the Maine people and may it be a lesson for all those who may open it in the years, decades ahead," she said.

Hard-news brains will not see this as a major Augusta event. But it is rare and remarkable to see the political figures of our era try to figure out how they will be seen by history. Term limits for governors and lawmakers often lead to myopic focuses in the State House, where long-term visions often take a back seat to getting through the next election.

Every governor is a history buff in their own way. Mills pockmarked her 2019 inaugural address with references to Joshua Chamberlain and Fly Rod Crosby.Sen. Angus King, a former governor, is a big Chamberlain fan. But former Gov. Paul LePage, who is running against Mills in 2022, was not in a historic mood during his last State of the State address in 2018, quoting the late President Ronald Reagan.

"If anyone expects just a proud recitation of the accomplishments of my administration, I say let's leave that to history; we're not finished yet," he said. "So, my message to you tonight is put on your work shoes; we're still on the job."

LePage said he would work right up until his last day in office. He became a registered Florida voter on the day Mills got sworn in. Now he is back. We wanted to ask Mills about some of the hard issues facing her this year after the time-capsule event. Her spokesperson hustled her out of the state library building, saying Mills had no time for reporters. It's an election year.

🗞 The Daily Brief is made possible by Bangor Daily News subscribers. Support the work of our politics team and enjoy unlimited access to everything the BDN has to offer by subscribing here.

What we're reading

— Risking a showdown with Mills, Democrats on a legislative committee advanced a sweeping tribal sovereignty bill on Tuesday. The issue is wrapped up with the governor's smaller agreement with tribes that would hand them control of new online sports betting market.

The rumor mill: The BDN's Caitlin Andrews has learned a big change in Mills' offer to tribes may be released today. Stay tuned.

— The only top-tier Maine candidate facing a June primary is former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin. Caratunk Selectman Liz Caruso qualified for the Republican primary in the 2nd Congressional District ahead of a Tuesday deadline as other longshot challengers to Mills, LePage and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of the 1st District saw their bids end. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from the 2nd District, will also run unopposed in June.

— Golden tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. He was not at a recent House Democratic retreat in Philadelphia after which many other members contracted the virus and he is fully vaccinated and boosted, his office said.

— Higher gas prices are slamming Meals on Wheels programs in Maine. Drivers in some places have stopped due to fuel costs and programs are considering doing bigger but fewer deliveries in response.

📱Want daily texts from me tipping you to political stories before they break?
Get Pocket Politics. It is free for 14 days and $3.99 per month if you like it.

Follow along today

The State House is remaining closed this week due to the effects of a burst water pipe. Planned legislative floor sessions on Thursday are canceled, but committee work will continue.

9 a.m. The energy committee will hold public hearings on a raft of remaining utility measures. Watch here.

The tax committee will work on a rate-relief measure from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash. Watch here.

9:30 a.m. Two bills aiming to fight forever chemicals will be worked on in the agriculture committee. Watch here.

A Jackson bill aimed at ramping up sexual assault prevention policies at colleges and universities gets a work session before the education panel. Watch here.

10 a.m. A watered-down housing reform bill from House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, gets a work session before the housing panel. Watch here.

1:30 p.m. King will hold a virtual news conference after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Congress.

💰 Want to advertise in the Daily Brief? Write our sales team.

📷 Lead photo: Gov. Janet Mills attends an event at the Blaine House on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Augusta. (AP photo by Robert F. Bukaty)

Copyright © 2022 bangordailynews, All rights reserved.
You're receiving this email because you opted in at our website, or because you subscribed to the Bangor Daily News.

Our mailing address is:

bangordailynews

1 Merchants Plz

Bangor, ME 04401-8302

Add us to your address book

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.