Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

August 5, 2012

ON MAINE POLITICS: School choice still in forefront

By Steve Mistler smistler@pressherald.com
Staff Writer

and John Richardson jrichardson@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Gov. Paul LePage continued his effort to promote school choice last week by employing an old governor's trick -- designating a special day.

LePage proclaimed July 31, 2012, to be "Milton Friedman Day." The influential free-market economist was born 100 years ago last Tuesday and died in 2006. In his proclamation, LePage emphasized Friedman's support for school choice, something LePage says would boost student performance in Maine.

"Friedman's ideas have also helped lead to positive education reform in countries such as Chile and Sweden," LePage's news release said.

Wait, did someone say Sweden?

Only days before, LePage cited a Harvard University study of student achievement trends in 41 states and 49 countries as evidence of Maine's failing education efforts. He noted that Maine's rate of improvement was among the slowest among the states studied and got into some hot water by adding: "I don't care where you go in this country -- if you come from Maine, you're looked down upon."

In that same Harvard study, however, Sweden was dead last among the nations and actually saw its test scores drop at a dramatic rate. Chile, to be fair to Milton Friedman, was one of the most improved.

Snowe on Summers

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, opened up last week about her chilly relationship with the former staff member who wants her job.

The former staffer, Maine Secretary of State Charlie Summers, responded that it was all a misunderstanding.

Snowe has not committed any financial help to the Republican Senate nominee despite a long relationship between the two and $2.36 million left over in Snowe's campaign war chest.

It's been known for months that the fallout is a result of Summers declining to endorse Snowe while she was facing a primary challenge from Scott D'Amboise, a tea party activist. But Snowe had not said much about it publicly.

Snowe spoke her mind to a writer for the website Politico: "... asked if she would appear at any fundraisers for Summers this year, give him a donation or stump with him on the campaign trail, Snowe said matter of factly: 'Not at this moment.'

"When pressed for the reason, Snowe was equally as blunt: 'He didn't endorse me in my own primary. ... He worked for me for (more than) six years ... but he wasn't able to endorse me during my primary.' "

Some have speculated that Summers was thinking about his own political future at the time.

Asked about Snowe's comments, Summers said it was his current job that got in the way.

"I think a lot of this is just sort of much ado about nothing, in the sense that I think the world of Olympia Snowe, I've worked for her and I support her and have supported her," Summers said. "It was just a situation as a chief elections officer, I felt I could not get in and endorse candidates."

However, Summers said, he has not yet told Snowe his reason for withholding his endorsement. "I haven't had the opportunity to explain it to her but I intend to do so."

Ad targets state senators

The Maine Democratic Party began running television and direct-mail ads Thursday targeting five Republican state senators.

It's an early start for campaign ads about legislative races, which typically begin after Labor Day. It's also an indication of the high stakes attached to the battle for the Legislature.

The ads, dubbed "Paul Le-Page & The Rubber Stamps," hit the GOP in potential swing districts by linking the legislators directly to Gov. Paul LePage's policy agenda. The ad highlights the Republican 2011 health care overhaul, describing the new law as "cutting health care" while benefiting insurance companies. It also highlights the state's low ranking in job creation.

(Continued on page 2)

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