Writing for the Lewiston, Me. Sun Journal , Liz Chapman said that Maine Governor Angus King is defiant in the face of criticism that the state plan to purchase 36,000 iBooks for seventh and eight graders is wrong. Chapman’s coverage comes in a new article entitled Governor vows to keep laptop idea alive.
The US$25 million plan has come under fire in the wake of a weakening economy that has left Maine with a dangerous shortfall in its state budget. Legislators have already proposed trimming millions off the plan to go to other programs, and Gov. King called the idea to shelve the plan all together “a historic mistake.”
King noted that the state received a generous deal from Apple, which provided iBooks, networking gear and other material for $10 to $15 million less than market value. King also noted that the state is getting favorable coverage elsewhere in the country and suggested that the state legislature would “look ridiculous” by backing out of the contract at this late date.
Regardless, King pledged to not “walk away from it,” and said that the longer he works on the initiative, the more committed to it he is.