Randy Billings
@randybillings.bsky.social
Political reporter at the Portland Press Herald/ Maine Sunday Telegram, musician
https://www.pressherald.com/author/randy-billings/
https://www.pressherald.com/author/randy-billings/
After being censured in a party-line vote, Libby refused to issue a formal apology, so the Republican lawmaker from Auburn will not be allowed to speak or cast votes on the House floor until she does, @rachelohm.bsky.social reports.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/25/m...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/25/m...
Maine lawmaker censured for posting photos of student she identified as transgender
The House votes 75-70 along party lines to censure Republican Rep. Laurel Libby for singling out a student who won a track championship to protest Maine's policy allowing transgender athletes to parti...
www.pressherald.com
February 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
After being censured in a party-line vote, Libby refused to issue a formal apology, so the Republican lawmaker from Auburn will not be allowed to speak or cast votes on the House floor until she does, @rachelohm.bsky.social reports.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/25/m...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/25/m...
“I’ve spent the better part of my career listening to loud men talk tough to disguise their weaknesses,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills said in 2022 while running against Paul “Trump before Trump” LePage.
It’s no surprise to Mainers that she stood her ground last week.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/24/t...
It’s no surprise to Mainers that she stood her ground last week.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/24/t...
The making of a moment: How Janet Mills became a foil for Donald Trump
Janet Mills, who has a long history of facing tough guys in the courtroom and in politics, finds herself in an unprecedented moment with the nation watching.
www.pressherald.com
February 24, 2025 at 11:26 PM
“I’ve spent the better part of my career listening to loud men talk tough to disguise their weaknesses,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills said in 2022 while running against Paul “Trump before Trump” LePage.
It’s no surprise to Mainers that she stood her ground last week.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/24/t...
It’s no surprise to Mainers that she stood her ground last week.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/24/t...
A 37-year-old former SpaceX worker is the first person to file papers to challenge U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in 2026 -- and he's running as an independent.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/14/f...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/14/f...
Former Elon Musk worker challenges Susan Collins for US Senate
Phillip Rench, a 37-year-old former engineer for SpaceX, has filed paperwork to run as an independent against Maine's senior senator.
www.pressherald.com
February 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A 37-year-old former SpaceX worker is the first person to file papers to challenge U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in 2026 -- and he's running as an independent.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/14/f...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/14/f...
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker said Thursday that plaintiff's have presented a strong argument that the 72-hour waiting period is unconstitutional.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/13/f...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/13/f...
Federal judge pauses Maine’s new waiting period for gun sales
Lawmakers passed the new waiting period as part of a slate of gun safety reforms following the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston that killed 18 people.
www.pressherald.com
February 13, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker said Thursday that plaintiff's have presented a strong argument that the 72-hour waiting period is unconstitutional.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/13/f...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/13/f...
Sen. Susan Collins (R) said she believed RFK Jr.'s vow during confirmation not to restrict vaccines, but Sen. Angus King (I) was incredulous about the prominent anti-vaxxer's 'miraculous conversion.'
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/13/a...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/13/a...
Angus King calls RFK Jr. ‘a danger.’ Collins votes yes
In a speech on the Senate floor leading up to the vote, King said he was incredulous about the notion that Kennedy has suddenly had a "miraculous conversion" after spending decades calling vaccines un...
www.pressherald.com
February 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Sen. Susan Collins (R) said she believed RFK Jr.'s vow during confirmation not to restrict vaccines, but Sen. Angus King (I) was incredulous about the prominent anti-vaxxer's 'miraculous conversion.'
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/13/a...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/13/a...
Collins' office confirms she will vote for RFK. This story has been updated with her response.
(Spoiler: She doesn't address questions about RFK's experience or his anti-vaccine past.)
(Spoiler: She doesn't address questions about RFK's experience or his anti-vaccine past.)
CNN's Manu Raju reported on X that Susan Collins is a 'yes' on RFK Jr as U.S. health secretary.
Collins' office hasn't confirmed this with me, or answered my questions about his anti-vaccine track record and why she thinks he's qualified.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/11/s...
Collins' office hasn't confirmed this with me, or answered my questions about his anti-vaccine track record and why she thinks he's qualified.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/11/s...
Sen. Susan Collins will support RFK Jr. as US health secretary
The Republican senator from Maine said she will vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the next secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
www.pressherald.com
February 11, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Collins' office confirms she will vote for RFK. This story has been updated with her response.
(Spoiler: She doesn't address questions about RFK's experience or his anti-vaccine past.)
(Spoiler: She doesn't address questions about RFK's experience or his anti-vaccine past.)
CNN's Manu Raju reported on X that Susan Collins is a 'yes' on RFK Jr as U.S. health secretary.
Collins' office hasn't confirmed this with me, or answered my questions about his anti-vaccine track record and why she thinks he's qualified.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/11/s...
Collins' office hasn't confirmed this with me, or answered my questions about his anti-vaccine track record and why she thinks he's qualified.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/11/s...
Sen. Susan Collins will support RFK Jr. as US health secretary
The Republican senator from Maine said she will vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the next secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
www.pressherald.com
February 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
CNN's Manu Raju reported on X that Susan Collins is a 'yes' on RFK Jr as U.S. health secretary.
Collins' office hasn't confirmed this with me, or answered my questions about his anti-vaccine track record and why she thinks he's qualified.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/11/s...
Collins' office hasn't confirmed this with me, or answered my questions about his anti-vaccine track record and why she thinks he's qualified.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/11/s...
Maine and 21 other states sue Trump over NIH funding cuts, marking the 4th lawsuit in three weeks.
Sen. Susan Collins also opposes the "poorly conceived" cuts. She said RFK Jr. told her that he'd re-examine the initiative "as soon as he's confirmed."
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/10/m...
Sen. Susan Collins also opposes the "poorly conceived" cuts. She said RFK Jr. told her that he'd re-examine the initiative "as soon as he's confirmed."
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/10/m...
Maine joins 21 states suing Trump over medical research funding cuts
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said she also opposes "the poorly conceived directive" from the National Institutes for Health.
www.pressherald.com
February 10, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Maine and 21 other states sue Trump over NIH funding cuts, marking the 4th lawsuit in three weeks.
Sen. Susan Collins also opposes the "poorly conceived" cuts. She said RFK Jr. told her that he'd re-examine the initiative "as soon as he's confirmed."
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/10/m...
Sen. Susan Collins also opposes the "poorly conceived" cuts. She said RFK Jr. told her that he'd re-examine the initiative "as soon as he's confirmed."
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/10/m...
The trip comes after a week of Elon Musk-induced chaos and Senate votes on controversial Trump nominees, including Russ Vought, an architect of Project 2025 who Collins supported, despite his views that a president can defund congressionally approved programs.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/07/s...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/07/s...
Susan Collins heads to Mar-a-Lago with Republican senators to meet with Trump
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has been more critical of the Trump Administration than most of her Republican colleagues, but also will play a key role in any budget deals.
www.pressherald.com
February 7, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The trip comes after a week of Elon Musk-induced chaos and Senate votes on controversial Trump nominees, including Russ Vought, an architect of Project 2025 who Collins supported, despite his views that a president can defund congressionally approved programs.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/07/s...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/07/s...
Maine Sen. Angus King called Russ Vought “one of the ringleaders of this assault on our Constitution" and "the last person who should be put in the job at the heart of the operation of our government.”
Sen. Susan Collins plans to support Vought.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/06/a...
Sen. Susan Collins plans to support Vought.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/06/a...
Angus King urges Senate to protect the Constitution, reject Trump budget nominee
While the Maine independent is joining Democrats in opposing Russell Vought's nomination to lead of the White House budget office, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she plans to vote to confirm h...
www.pressherald.com
February 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Maine Sen. Angus King called Russ Vought “one of the ringleaders of this assault on our Constitution" and "the last person who should be put in the job at the heart of the operation of our government.”
Sen. Susan Collins plans to support Vought.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/06/a...
Sen. Susan Collins plans to support Vought.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/06/a...
Here's the rest of my interview with Sen. Susan Collins.
We talked about Elon Musk, her support of Trump's budget director despite his views on the president's power to upend spending, and efforts to root out FBI agents who worked on J6 cases.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/05/s...
We talked about Elon Musk, her support of Trump's budget director despite his views on the president's power to upend spending, and efforts to root out FBI agents who worked on J6 cases.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/05/s...
Susan Collins meets with other lawmakers critical of Elon Musk’s moves to cut agencies, workforce
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said during an interview Wednesday that Musk has exceeded his legal authority, and she criticized the administration's moves to withhold congressionally approved funds.
www.pressherald.com
February 5, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Here's the rest of my interview with Sen. Susan Collins.
We talked about Elon Musk, her support of Trump's budget director despite his views on the president's power to upend spending, and efforts to root out FBI agents who worked on J6 cases.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/05/s...
We talked about Elon Musk, her support of Trump's budget director despite his views on the president's power to upend spending, and efforts to root out FBI agents who worked on J6 cases.
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/05/s...
I spoke with Sen. Susan Collins today. Here's what she and other members of Maine's congressional delegation said about Trump's plan to turn war-torn Gaza into "the Riviera of the Middle East."
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/05/m...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/05/m...
Maine delegation rejects Trump’s plan to take over Gaza as dangerous, unserious
Sen. Susan Collins suggested the plan might be a negotiating tactic, while Sen. Angus King and Rep. Jared Golden bristled at the possibility of sending American troops overseas.
www.pressherald.com
February 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I spoke with Sen. Susan Collins today. Here's what she and other members of Maine's congressional delegation said about Trump's plan to turn war-torn Gaza into "the Riviera of the Middle East."
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/05/m...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/05/m...
Democrat U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree says there's little the minority party can do to stop Trump and Musk without Republican support, other than call out "the bluster and the chaos and this blatantly unconstitutional and illegal activity."
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/04/c...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/04/c...
Chellie Pingree blasts ‘illegal’ actions of Trump, Elon Musk amid outcry from constituents
The Democrat says Musk's access to sensitive personal information and aggressive efforts to cut federal spending have caused fear among many Mainers.
www.pressherald.com
February 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Democrat U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree says there's little the minority party can do to stop Trump and Musk without Republican support, other than call out "the bluster and the chaos and this blatantly unconstitutional and illegal activity."
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/04/c...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/04/c...
“Ms. Gabbard addressed my concerns regarding her views on Edward Snowden,” Sen. Susan Collins said. “I look forward to working with Ms. Gabbard to strengthen our national security.”
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/03/s...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/03/s...
Susan Collins will support Tulsi Gabbard as Trump’s national intelligence director
Gabbard faces confirmation votes this week and still must win over some other Republican senators.
www.pressherald.com
February 3, 2025 at 11:47 PM
“Ms. Gabbard addressed my concerns regarding her views on Edward Snowden,” Sen. Susan Collins said. “I look forward to working with Ms. Gabbard to strengthen our national security.”
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/03/s...
www.pressherald.com/2025/02/03/s...
All eyes were on U.S. Sen. Susan Collins today, but it was Sen. Angus King who posed tougher questions at Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing.
And Collins allowed RFK Jr. to blame a drop in vaccine uptake on distrust, without challenging his anti-vax past.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/30/s...
And Collins allowed RFK Jr. to blame a drop in vaccine uptake on distrust, without challenging his anti-vax past.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/30/s...
Susan Collins questions Tulsi Gabbard, RFK Jr. at separate confirmation hearings
Sen. Angus King also pressed Tulsi Gabbard, who has been nominated by Trump to oversee national intelligence, on her past support for Edward Snowden, who leaked classified details of U.S. surveillance...
www.pressherald.com
January 30, 2025 at 7:25 PM
All eyes were on U.S. Sen. Susan Collins today, but it was Sen. Angus King who posed tougher questions at Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing.
And Collins allowed RFK Jr. to blame a drop in vaccine uptake on distrust, without challenging his anti-vax past.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/30/s...
And Collins allowed RFK Jr. to blame a drop in vaccine uptake on distrust, without challenging his anti-vax past.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/30/s...
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins told reporters in D.C. on Friday that there are "a lot of obvious issues" with Gabbard.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/29/s...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/29/s...
Susan Collins in spotlight for Tulsi Gabbard, RFK Jr. confirmation hearings
Maine's Republican senator plans to question both during separate hearings scheduled for Thursday morning, and she is seen as a possible swing vote.
www.pressherald.com
January 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins told reporters in D.C. on Friday that there are "a lot of obvious issues" with Gabbard.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/29/s...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/29/s...
Maine's governor took on critics of her budget proposal from both parties and used her primetime address to come out against a citizen referendum to adopt at red flag law.
She also had strong words for a commission that appoints attorneys for indigent clients.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/28/w...
She also had strong words for a commission that appoints attorneys for indigent clients.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/28/w...
Gov. Mills uses budget address to call for compromise by lawmakers in both parties
The governor also came out against a citizen referendum for a red flag law and challenged a commission that oversees legal representation to indigent clients to change its practices rather than reques...
www.pressherald.com
January 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Maine's governor took on critics of her budget proposal from both parties and used her primetime address to come out against a citizen referendum to adopt at red flag law.
She also had strong words for a commission that appoints attorneys for indigent clients.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/28/w...
She also had strong words for a commission that appoints attorneys for indigent clients.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/28/w...
Maine Gov. Janet Mills released her budget, which includes tax increases and service cuts, two weeks ago.
How will she respond to criticisms from both the left and the right? Will she touch on Trump's early executive actions?
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/28/g...
How will she respond to criticisms from both the left and the right? Will she touch on Trump's early executive actions?
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/28/g...
Gov. Mills set to deliver annual address to Legislature. Here’s what to look for.
Mills' 2-year budget proposal includes service cuts and tax increases to meet the state's constitutional mandate to submit a balanced budget.
www.pressherald.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Maine Gov. Janet Mills released her budget, which includes tax increases and service cuts, two weeks ago.
How will she respond to criticisms from both the left and the right? Will she touch on Trump's early executive actions?
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/28/g...
How will she respond to criticisms from both the left and the right? Will she touch on Trump's early executive actions?
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/28/g...
The Mills administration wants to return General Assistance to its original mission as a short term safety net. But advocates worry the proposed limits will force people into homelessness.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/18/g...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/18/g...
Gov. Mills proposes 3-month limit on emergency housing assistance
The proposal in the governor's update to the current budget is intended to rein in ballooning costs in the state's General Assistance program.
www.pressherald.com
January 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The Mills administration wants to return General Assistance to its original mission as a short term safety net. But advocates worry the proposed limits will force people into homelessness.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/18/g...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/18/g...
Maine Republicans are looking to exploit a smaller Democratic majority to repeal a 3 day waiting period for gun sales that just barely cleared the Legislature and went into effect without the Democratic governor's signature, @rachelohm.bsky.social reports.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/16/r...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/16/r...
Republican proposal would repeal 72-hour wait on firearms purchases
House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham is sponsoring a bill that would repeal the waiting period approved by lawmakers last year.
www.pressherald.com
January 16, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Maine Republicans are looking to exploit a smaller Democratic majority to repeal a 3 day waiting period for gun sales that just barely cleared the Legislature and went into effect without the Democratic governor's signature, @rachelohm.bsky.social reports.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/16/r...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/16/r...
A Republican bill to end the issuance of Real IDs in Maine has four Democratic co-sponsors and support from the ACLU of Maine.
It's part of a multistate effort to force Congress to end the program ahead of the May enforcement date for commercial flights.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/14/m...
It's part of a multistate effort to force Congress to end the program ahead of the May enforcement date for commercial flights.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/14/m...
Maine lawmakers want state to stop issuing Real ID cards
State Rep. Laurel Libby said her bill to end the Real ID program in Maine is one of several being submitted nationwide in hopes of convincing President-elect Trump and Congress to end the controversia...
www.pressherald.com
January 14, 2025 at 6:52 PM
A Republican bill to end the issuance of Real IDs in Maine has four Democratic co-sponsors and support from the ACLU of Maine.
It's part of a multistate effort to force Congress to end the program ahead of the May enforcement date for commercial flights.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/14/m...
It's part of a multistate effort to force Congress to end the program ahead of the May enforcement date for commercial flights.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/14/m...
“Those (revenue) increases were really unprecedented,” said Mike Allen, the Maine’s associate commissioner on tax policy. “The other crazy thing about the growth rate was we were cutting taxes during that period.”
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/12/h...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/12/h...
How the pandemic ‘sugar high’ led to Maine’s budget crunch
The days of eye-popping revenue growth are over, and lawmakers face a gap of $450 million in the next budget cycle.
www.pressherald.com
January 13, 2025 at 3:00 PM
“Those (revenue) increases were really unprecedented,” said Mike Allen, the Maine’s associate commissioner on tax policy. “The other crazy thing about the growth rate was we were cutting taxes during that period.”
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/12/h...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/12/h...
Maine’s Democratic governor, Janet Mills, and legislative Republicans have a similar message for Democrats in control of both chambers: Deal with a projected $450 million shortfall with cuts, not by raising income taxes or raiding the rainy day fund.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/m...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/m...
Mills administration warns lawmakers about looming budget gap
The governor's budget office told lawmakers that spending cuts, program changes and new revenues would likely be needed, but also warned against relying on rainy day funds or income tax increases.
www.pressherald.com
January 7, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Maine’s Democratic governor, Janet Mills, and legislative Republicans have a similar message for Democrats in control of both chambers: Deal with a projected $450 million shortfall with cuts, not by raising income taxes or raiding the rainy day fund.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/m...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/m...
It’s official. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins takes over the Senate Appropriations Committee, where she’ll play a key role in budget decisions. She becomes the first Mainer to hold the job in 92 years.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/s...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/s...
Susan Collins officially named chair of powerful Senate committee
Maine's senior senator is now chair of the Senate's Appropriations Committee, which oversees spending decisions.
www.pressherald.com
January 7, 2025 at 11:07 PM
It’s official. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins takes over the Senate Appropriations Committee, where she’ll play a key role in budget decisions. She becomes the first Mainer to hold the job in 92 years.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/s...
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/s...