The Price of Transparency: How Maine DHHS Turned Public Records into a Paywall
A Maine citizen’s Freedom of Access Act requests began with a promise of $0 and a four-week turnaround, only to grow into invoices totaling $450 and $50,875, months of delays, and ultimately no records produced. This investigative report examines the timeline, escalating costs, procedural hurdles, and broader questions surrounding transparency, public records, and accountability within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
Paper Trail Deep Dive: The Cost of Accountability
Before Episode 002 of Paper Trail Deep Dive premieres, review the email correspondence at the center of the investigation. This documented chain involving Senator Trey Stewart, Peter Schleck of OPEGA, and Maine’s oversight process raises important questions about transparency, accountability, public records, and what it actually takes for an ordinary citizen to seek review of government conduct.
Levasseur Urges All Gubernatorial Candidates to Sign DHHS Oversight Letter; Glowa First to Join
A call for DHHS oversight is emerging as a political flashpoint in Maine’s 2026 gubernatorial race, as Derek Levasseur urges all candidates to sign a joint letter—so far, only John M. Glowa Sr. has stepped forward.