Fed up with slow Internet speeds offered by commercial services, some Maine cities and towns are turning to a new way to get high-speed broadband for their residents and businesses: doing it themselves. Maine ranks near the bottom of all 50 states in Internet speeds, which frustrates consumers and puts a damper on business. Legislators […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Senate confirms Richard Rosen as DAFS commissioner
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate has given approval to Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s nominee for finance chief. The Republican-led Senate voted unanimously in favor of Richard Rosen becoming the commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services. Rosen has been the acting commissioner of the department since former department head Sawin Millett stepped down […]
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Maine Senate confirms McLean’s nomination to PUC
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate has confirmed Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s pick for the Public Utilities Commission. The Republican-controlled Senate voted unanimously in favor of Carlie McLean’s nomination to the board on Thursday. She was unanimously endorsed by the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee last week. The three-member PUC is in charge of regulating electric […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
PUC nominee Carlie McLean gets energy committee endorsement
AUGUSTA — A Maine committee has endorsed Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s nominee to the Public Utilities Commission. The Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee unanimously supported Carlie McLean’s nomination to the board on Thursday. LePage picked McLean to fill the seat that’s being vacated by PUC Chairman Thomas Welch, who resigned before his term was supposed […]
Posted inMaine
Lawmakers hear from Maine’s conservation commission on ranger restructure
AUGUSTA — Maine’s agriculture Commissioner Walter Whitcomb on Tuesday shared new details of a plan that would restructure the state’s Forest Service, including the elimination of between 12 and 13 forest ranger positions. Whitcomb told a joint meeting of the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations and Agriculture committees that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation wanted […]
Posted inMaine
Maine jails are pressed for cash and facing funding crisis
AUGUSTA — The outgoing executive director of the state Board of Corrections, Ryan Thornell, confirmed for lawmakers Tuesday that Maine’s county jails are indeed facing critical funding shortfalls and public safety could be at risk. Thornell and Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry told a joint meeting of the Legislature’s Appropriations and Criminal Justice and Public […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Forum focuses on tax reform and LePage budget plan
LEWISTON — The chief architect of a state tax reform plan that was rejected by the Legislature in 2013 said Friday that he sees hope on the horizon for a Gov. Paul LePage budget proposal that includes similar reforms. Former state Sen. Dick Woodbury, a Yarmouth independent, said LePage’s 2016-17 state budget proposal, currently being […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislative session covers everything from getting a state dog to getting rid of cash bail
AUGUSTA — Just a guess, but creating in law an official state sweetener (maple syrup, of course) will probably go easier than naming Maine’s official dog (Labrador retriever?). Among the 1,514 bills proposed by lawmakers this year, there’s an attempt to make maple syrup the state sweetener, courtesy of Rep. Russell Black, R-Wilton, and to […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Lawmakers to consider 1,700 bills this session
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers have their work cut out for them with about 1,700 bills to sort through this session. The Maine Public Broadcasting Network reports that lawmakers have submitted 1,540 proposals for consideration. Legislative Council Executive Director Grant Pennoyer says that there are an additional 140 bills that will be considered, including those submitted […]
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LePage budget plan reforms Maine tax policy
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage on Friday made good on his promise to “go after” Maine income taxes in his next two-year budget. LePage’s 2016-17 spending plan for state government includes sweeping reforms to Maine’s tax policy, dramatically changing the sources of state revenue from the income tax to a broader and higher sales tax. The […]