Steve Mistler
Maine Public
Maine, United States
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Past articles by Steve:
Maine's Legislature is cooperating, for now. But big battles loom
The calendar will soon flip to February. It’s time to empty the notebook with a look back and ahead. → Read More
Voting in Maine elections is almost over. Here’s what’s next
In this week’s Pulse: Election Day is Tuesday. Here's what comes next. → Read More
Absentee ballot requests surpass Maine's 2018 midterm elections
According to the secretary of state, more than 211,000 people have requested absentee ballots. → Read More
Maine Public's Your Vote 2022 guide to the general election
Here’s everything you need to know before you hit the polls. → Read More
Paul LePage tries to make a comeback in Maine. Will independent voters bite?
Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, known for his aggressive conservative politics, is challenging sitting Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who faces an enthusiasm gap. It's shaping up to be a tight race. → Read More
With latest bill likely to fail, Maine tribes vow to keep pushing for sovereignty
Leaders of Maine's Native American tribes say a sweeping bill that would restore their sovereignty is unlikely to become law, but that they’ll continue pushing for the same status as more than 500 other federally recognized tribes. → Read More
Democrats resolve differences to advance Mills’ utility accountability measure
The Democratic legislators who support a takeover of Maine's two largest electricity utilities dropped their opposition Wednesday to a bill designed to hold those same companies more accountable to regulators. → Read More
Utility accountability bill backed by Gov. Mills stalls in the House
The Senate initially backed the bill Tuesday, but it stalled in the House after Republicans united with Democratic advocates of an outright utility takeover that failed in the legislature last year but could end up on next year's ballot. → Read More
Checks, PFAS relief, free college: Here's the latest plan for spending Maine's $1.2B surplus
More than half of it will go back to residents via direct checks. The spending plan also calls for significant investments in education, including Democratic Gov. Janet Mills’ $20 million plan to provide free community college tuition for high school students graduating between 2020 and 2023. → Read More
Maine lawmakers reject proposed hike of vehicle inspection fees
Most Mainers outside of Cumberland County pay $12.50 for a non-commercial inspection sticker and the proposal would have increased that fee to $25. → Read More
LePage claims out-of-staters stuffed ballot boxes — but 2 secretaries of state say it's impossible
LePage provided no evidence, and state election officials say the claim is demonstrably false. But the former governor's assertion fits a pattern of baseless voter fraud allegations now often used by Republicans to pass new voting requirements or restrictions. → Read More
Maine Legislature on track to pass $12 million proposal to support child care providers
The proposal, sponsored by Democratic House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, of Biddeford, boosts pay for child care workers by about $200 per month while also providing professional development opportunities. → Read More
It's unclear when Maine's State House will reopen after flooding closes it for 2 days
Water from a burst pipe on Monday flooded the first floor of the building and cascaded into the tunnel that connects the State House and Burton Cross Office Building. → Read More
After hearing from Zelenskyy, Maine's senators call on Congress to provide more aid to Ukraine
Collins and King were among 280 members of Congress who heard Zelenskyy's pleas for additional assistance. → Read More
Angus King: Whether Ukraine falls or not, 'Putin has lost the war either way'
Angus King says that Vladimir Putin has grossly underestimated the resistance of the Ukrainian people, as well as a unified western alliance that has already deployed sanctions to cripple the Russian economy. → Read More
Checks or tax cuts? Budget surplus spurs first policy debate of Mills-LePage matchup
In this week's Pulse: The first official policy debate of Maine’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign, Republicans say their message hasn’t changed, Trump-Collins tensions, and the Hancock County election is set. → Read More
Lawmakers consider proposal to boost climate change education in Maine schools
The proposal creates a three-year pilot program that would allow school districts to apply for $3 million in grants and partner with nonprofits so that teachers can receive training in climate science education. → Read More
Mills leads LePage in fundraising, but spending by outside groups looms
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills hasn't made her reelection campaign official, but campaign finance reports currently show she has more than double the available cash to spend on a contest against Republican challenger and two-time Gov. Paul LePage. → Read More
Maine’s members of Congress had different perspectives of the Jan. 6 riot. They still do
Maine's four members of Congress were scattered throughout the capitol complex with different vantage points on the Jan. 6 attack. One year later, they have divergent perspectives about its lasting impact on the country. → Read More
Maine’s new broadband agency is readying its plan to expand high-speed internet
The Maine Connectivity Authority is just six months old, but the quasi-governmental agency is already sitting on $21 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan that Democrats in Congress passed earlier this year, and it will soon submit its proposal to the U.S. Treasury Dept. to spend $128 million more. → Read More