They call him a bully and intimidator, but the governor’s allies say he was trying to fix problems and suggest political motives.

The bill would make it easier for local nonprofits to win contracts in hopes of fixing the rides-for-poor program.

A federal official says a Blaine House meeting and other state actions could be viewed as efforts to sway jobless aid rulings. The governor says that has ‘no basis in fact.’

The governor has withheld bonds over the controversial bill, but he lets it become law.

Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, sought the opinion after 26 Republicans asked him to recuse himself from votes and debate.

A key Republican says his proposal is bipartisan, covers 60,000 more people, provides an economic boost, takes advantage of federal funding and includes cost controls through managed care.

In a party-line vote, the panel endorses a bill to expand who can administer naloxone in an opiate overdose emergency.