AUGUSTA -- The state will continue to fight for the return of a 1776 copy of the Declaration of Independence, despite a recent court setback.

State Archivist David Cheever said the state will appeal a Feb. 22 ruling by a Virginia judge who said a private collector can keep a copy of the declaration that originally belonged to Wiscasset.

The collector, Richard L. Adams Jr. of Virginia, purchased the copy in 2001 from a London broker for $475,000 and then sued the state to get clear title to the document. The state had been trying to figure out who bought the document when Adams filed suit.

The declaration was originally sold at an estate auction of the descendants of former Town Clerk Sol Holbrook, who held the position from 1886-1929. For years, the declaration sat in an attic of a duplex occupied by Holbrook's daughters.

Cheever said the state will appeal the decision because they feel the declaration is a public document that is "owned by the citizens of Wiscasset."

Cheever said the state will appeal the decision because they feel the declaration is a public document that is "owned by the citizens of Wiscasset."

Maine gets a "C"

A national study by the Government Performance Project that was featured in the March edition of Governing Magazine gave Maine a "C" for its performance on a number of government functions. Those functions include money, people, infrastructure and information.

Part of the problem is the state's "off-again" interest in requiring performance measures to be included as part of the budgeting process, according to an excerpt on the report from Governing. It praises the state for adopting a different budget format, which the magazine characterizes as "critical, given Maine's shaky history of fiscal decision making."

If you want to see the details, go to governing.com.

Giant rubber duck

Groups pushing for one bill or another go to great lengths to get the attention of legislators. They leave apples on their desks or stage protests in the Hall of Flags. But the practice reached a new level last week when a coalition of environmental groups hauled a giant -- and I do mean giant -- inflatable yellow duck into the Statehouse.

Said to be 20 feet tall, the duck laid on its stomach, getting an infusion of air every few minutes to keep its bill from hitting the granite floor. And to top it all off, about 35 of the activists sang a modified version of Sesame Street's "Rubber Ducky" song. The bill they are supporting would require certain chemicals to be removed from children's toys -- including rubber ducks.

Medical errors bill moves on

A bill that would not allow health care providers to charge for costs associated with medical errors received the support of a majority of the members of the Health and Human Services Committee.

It now moves forward to the full House.

Sponsored by Rep. Patsy Crockett, D-Augusta, the bill puts into law what hospitals say is their practice -- not to charge for common mistakes.

New artwork

One of the cool things about visiting the Statehouse is taking a little time to check out the artwork.

Not only are there gorgeous portraits of former governors and major state politicians, but there are rotating exhibits in the halls and in some offices.

The latest are the photographs of Ralph Farnham Blood (1905-1972), which are now on display in the house clerk's office on the third floor. The photos of Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth Light and the Edna Hoyt, a five-masted schooner, have all been hand colored by Blood's wife, Laura M. Blood.

The 11 photos are hanging throughout the office and in the legislative retiring room that adjoins it. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Survey sez!

Market Decisions recently completed a quarterly Maine Survey in which it asked 400 randomly selected Mainers about taxes and the state budget.

Here's a quick glance at what they found:

n 7 in 10 Mainers are somewhat or very familiar with issues concerning the state budget.

n Nearly 9 in 10 are very or somewhat concerned about the state budgetshortfall.

n Eight in 10 Mainers would somewhat or strongly oppose increasing taxes temporarily to address the budget shortfall.

Public hearings

The last in a series of cribbage bills will be heard today at 1 p.m. by the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee in room 437 of the Statehouse.

Public hearings on the budget will be held Tuesday (8:30 a.m.) and Wednesday (9:30 a.m.) by the Appropriations Committee in room 228 of the Statehouse.

For a complete list, go to: maine.gov/legis/senate/Documents/hearing/ANPHFrame.htm

Susan Cover -- 623-1056