Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
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PublishedFebruary 22, 2024
Tensions rise as Legislature prepares to debate gun safety in wake of Lewiston shooting
A partisan fight over the hearing process for Gov. Janet Mills’ proposal to expand background checks on firearm sales and increase access to crisis mental health care suggests a bipartisan compromise may be elusive even after the mass shooting.
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PublishedFebruary 21, 2024
Critics blast Republican bill targeting foreign nationals as ‘blatantly racist’
Rep. John Andrews, R-Paris, is proposing a state-level anti-racketeering law and a prohibition against certain foreign nationals purchasing property in Maine in response to illegal marijuana growing operations.
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PublishedFebruary 21, 2024
Ban on paramilitary training camps barely clears first hurdle in Maine House vote
The bill passed the Democratic-controlled House 66-60 with 6 Democrats joining unified opposition from Republicans and 24 lawmakers absent.
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PublishedFebruary 18, 2024
Special funds let Maine lawmakers raise and spend with few limits
While restrictions remain for campaign contributions to a legislative candidate, businesses and individuals can donate unlimited amounts to political action committees run by candidates after they’re elected. And some of their expenditures might surprise you.
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PublishedFebruary 16, 2024
Golden joins effort to break impasse on border security, Ukraine aid
Rep. Jared Golden of Maine is part of bipartisan coalition of 10 lawmakers in the U.S. House who have launched a long-shot bid to break a stalemate over providing military assistance to Ukraine and taking steps to secure the southern border.
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PublishedFebruary 13, 2024
Border politics spill into Maine State House as Republicans attack spending on asylum seekers
Legislative Republicans say spending on asylum seekers is leaving behind ‘our homeless’ and veterans, but steer clear of talking about failed federal efforts to reform the immigration process.
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PublishedFebruary 8, 2024
Legislature approves subpoena power for Lewiston mass shooting commission
The emergency measure cleared the House of Representatives and the Senate Thursday morning, and now faces procedural votes before going to the governor for signature.
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PublishedFebruary 7, 2024
Should paramilitary training camps be banned in Maine? Lawmakers are divided
Republicans and a Democrat worried about how the bill would be used by prosecutors and its potential impact on self-defense courses.
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PublishedFebruary 7, 2024
Susan Collins 1 of 4 Republicans to back failed border security bill
Maine’s senior senator voted to advance the legislation, which needed 60 votes but got only 49. The proposal succumbed to opposition from Donald Trump, who said it would be a political gift to President Biden heading into the election.
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PublishedFebruary 6, 2024
Effort to use national popular vote to decide presidential winner hits snag in Maine
A proposal to have Maine allocate its 4 electoral votes to the popular vote winner was opposed by all Republicans in a legislative committee, while Democrats were divided over whether it should go to a statewide vote.
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