AUGUSTA — The state’s top law enforcement officer Friday sided with the Legislature and against Republican Gov. Paul LePage in a opinion that says LePage missed his deadline to veto some 19 bills that are now law. Attorney General Janet Mills, a Democrat, answering a request for advice from state Sens. Dawn Hill, D-Cape Neddick, […]
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LePage bill would void attorney general’s authority over new laws
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has drafted a bill to strip the attorney general of authority over the rulemaking process used by state agencies to implement laws approved by the Legislature. LePage has criticized judgments by Attorney General Janet Mills that some regulations he wanted were illegal. Rather than accept his lawyer’s legal advice, the […]
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Analysis: Maine Supreme Court ruling doesn’t end feud between LePage, Mills
When the state’s highest court on Tuesday released its determination in the latest spat between Gov. Paul LePage and Attorney General Janet Mills, both sides tried to spin the decision as a big victory. There’s an obvious element of political grandstanding in those responses. The governor and attorney general are both political positions, and no […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
AG Mills calls for stronger laws against elder abuse
AUGUSTA — Maine’s attorney general says the state needs to tighten laws that protect elderly residents from financial exploitation. Attorney General Janet Mills’ Task Force on Financial Crimes Against the Elderly is calling for the changes in a report issued Wednesday. The report says Maine suffers from barriers to the prosecution of people who exploit […]
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Maine Supreme Court splits opinions on hiring outside counsel for the state
PORTLAND — Gov. Paul LePage and Maine Attorney General Janet Mills each won a small victory Tuesday when the Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued an opinion on one question about the hiring of outside counsel to represent the state in legal matters but refused to consider the other. LePage posed the two questions in January: […]
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LePage wants bill to restrict AG’s control of settlement funds
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he’s introducing a bill to limit the powers of the attorney general when it comes to spending settlement money. LePage said it’s inappropriate that Attorney General Janet Mills has given herself sole discretion to spend Maine’s $21.5 million settlement with Standard and Poor’s. LePage said his bill “clarifies […]
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Maine joins task force of Eastern states against heroin
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Two more Eastern states have agreed to collaborate with four others in investigations of heroin trafficking that often cross state lines. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says Maine and Maryland have joined the task force established last year to pursue drug rings regionally. The task force members have agreed to […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Mills says court doesn’t need to rule on LePage request
AUGUSTA — Maine’s attorney general says the state’s highest court shouldn’t offer an opinion on whether Republican Gov. Paul LePage can hire private lawyers without her permission. LePage asked the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to weigh in on the issue last month. The Republican says giving Attorney General Janet Mills, a Democrat, power to deny […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage asks Maine high court to rule on AG’s refusals to represent
AUGUSTA — The ongoing dispute between Gov. Paul LePage and Attorney General Janet Mills will reach the state’s highest court in February, thanks to the governor’s “request for opinion” about Mills’ refusal to represent him in court on two separate occasions. The Republican governor wants the state’s Supreme Judicial Court justices to weigh the “proper […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Attorney General’s office says LePage refuses to approve funding for staff, equipment
AUGUSTA — Attorney General Janet Mills’ staff said Wednesday that they have been waiting since November for Gov. Paul LePage to sign financial orders that will clear the way for the hiring of two child protection prosecutors, a homicide attorney, matching funds for a federal grant and equipment for the state police crime lab. The […]