Ep. 168 - Rep. Katrina Smith on Fraud in Augusta, Prison Issues, and the 2026 Legislative Session

Rep. Katrina Smith, Republican Whip and Assistant Minority Leader in the Maine House, joins Chuck Ellis on the Muddywaters Podcast. They break down the 2026 legislative session including: major fraud issues in DHS and autism services that have been exposed, the failure of bipartisan efforts to increase oversight on child deaths in state care, how Democrat leadership used procedural tactics on the last day to kill bills that had already passed both the House and Senate, the passage of the new millionaire’s tax, the approval of the data center moratorium, rising school budgets, and the ongoing problems in the women’s prison involving male inmates. Rep. Smith also shares what day-to-day life is like in the minority and what it will take for Republicans to flip seats in the House, Senate, and Governor’s office in November. Straight discussion on the real issues facing Maine state government right now. muddywaters.us Follow for more episodes.