In the News
School choice, public funding for religious institutions headline LePage education plan
… “We need to build an education system around what each student needs,” LePage said. “Each student learns in different ways; we need to provide multiple pathways, and CTE plays a significant role in that.” Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, said the latter proposal has promise. However, he said, he was disappointed that the governor’s education...
Can LePage close Maine’s schools? No, but he can cut their state funds
… The looming DHHS shortfall, estimated at $120 million through June 30, is still no reason to threaten closing schools, argued state Democrats. “To use schoolchildren as some sort of weapon in negotiations is just shocking to me,” Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, said Friday. “It’s just unconscionable.” Even Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, the Senate president,...
Governor’s Budget Doesn’t Add Up
Despite independent analysis Governor continues PR campaign distorting facts Augusta—A letter from the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal and Program Review (OFPR) to Senate Democratic leadership confirms Democrats’ ongoing concerns that Governor LePage’s Department of Health and Human Services budget is not based on substantiated facts or data. Highlights of the one and half page letter...
Democrats issue symbolic rejection of LePage’s DHHS budget plan
… Sens. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, and Justin Alfond, D-Portland, acknowledged the break in tradition. However, they said, the governor’s proposal or method of delivering it wasn’t traditional, either. Alfond said the governor had developed a habit of treating the Legislature as if it worked exclusively for him. He noted how LePage “stomped” into Appropriations last...
Portland schools may move away from traditional grade levels, grading systems
… The Legislature approved a resolution in June that outlines a plan for statewide adoption of standards-based education. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, and was initially proposed as a law that would have eliminated credit-based graduation requirements and created statewide rubric systems for student evaluations. … Click here to read more...
Senator Alfond Celebrates Portland’s Small Businesses
PORTLAND – Senator Alfond (D-Cumberland County) attended two recent events that highlight the importance of small businesses to our economy. On Wednesday night three Portland-based businesses were honored for their roles in helping to stimulate Portland’s economy, and on Thursday Bangor Savings Bank was named as the overall top Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in...
