AUGUSTA (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell will address Maine lawmakers this week. The former Democratic senator will give a speech to the joint Legislature on Tuesday on his work with The Mitchell Institute, which provides scholarships for high school students to attend postsecondary degree programs. After his speech, there will be an unveiling […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
DHHS chief Mayhew says budget gap only totals $78 million
AUGUSTA — The projected budget shortfall for the state’s Health and Human Services Department will be significantly less than originally projected, the department’s commissioner said Friday. DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew told lawmakers on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee that the updated forecast incorporates six months of data from the current fiscal year, leading to a $30 […]
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Legislative committee rejects Maine ‘religious freedom’ bill
AUGUSTA — A bill intended to protect religious freedom, but which opponents said would have opened the door to the use of religion to justify illegal discrimination and Maine Human Rights Act violations, suffered a serious blow Thursday when the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee voted 8-4 against passage. Thursday’s vote came after considerable debate, which drew […]
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Proposed mudflat regulations inch forward
AUGUSTA — Following a three-hour public hearing that drew hundreds of worm diggers and clam harvesters from up and down the Maine coast, a bill designed to prohibit the digging of blood worms in mudflats closed for conservation moved forward on Wednesday, albeit in a different form and with far fewer restrictions on worm digging. […]
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Municipalities, businesses clash over plan to restore revenue sharing
AUGUSTA — A plan to restore $40 million in state funding for municipalities already smarting from years of cuts elicited scorn Wednesday from several business groups and the state’s top finance officer. The proposal by leaders on the Appropriations Committee would pay for the municipal revenue sharing by ending several tax breaks for businesses and […]
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Democrats trying to grow ‘bipartisan coalition’ to expand MaineCare
AUGUSTA — A key committee of the Legislature tabled a bill Wednesday that would vastly expand the state’s Medicaid program, as Democratic lawmakers worked to build a bipartisan coalition to support the expansion. The measure, LD 1578, is similar to two others vetoed by Republican Gov. Paul LePage in 2013. Further discussion was postponed by […]
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Municipal officials ask lawmakers to restore revenue sharing
AUGUSTA — Further reductions in state aid to Maine cities and towns will result in cuts to essential services and skyrocketing property taxes, municipal officials told lawmakers on Wednesday. Mayors, city council members and town managers are urging lawmakers to approve a measure that would prevent the reduction of $40 million in municipal aid next year […]
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Maine women’s coalition sets legislative agenda
AUGUSTA (AP) — A coalition of Maine organizations focusing on women’s issues is backing a bill to expand Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul among other measures this Legislative session. The Coalition for Maine Women said that Medicaid expansion under the Accordable Care Act will provide low-income women access to things like preventative health […]
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Critics fear ‘religious freedom’ bill would allow legalized discrimination
AUGUSTA — Sen. David Burns, R-Whiting, says Mainers need protection from state laws that may impede their religious freedom. But the law he proposes to achieve it is drawing fierce criticism from those who say his bill would create an open door to legalizing discrimination. Burns said his proposed legislation, LD 1428, would codify into […]
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Maine House overrides veto of bill helping tobacco-cessation treatment
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers have voted to override Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill aimed at helping Mainers get treatment to quit smoking. The Democratic-controlled House voted 131-10 in support of the bill that provides insurance coverage of costs for tobacco-cessation treatment for Medicaid program members. In his veto letter, Republican Gov. Paul […]