AUGUSTA —Bills addressing issues ranging from slot machines to renewable energy to revamping a state-sponsored health care rides program await lawmakers Wednesday at the State House. The first week of the “short session,” which is set to end in April, starts this week. But topping the list is what appears to be a more than […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislature returns Wednesday for 2014 session
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers return this week to begin their work on a host of issues including the state budget and college affordability, but what’s likely to be one of the biggest, most partisan debates of the year isn’t a new one. Democrats, who control the Legislature, are renewing their push to expand Medicaid coverage […]
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New military recruiters bill proposed for Maine
AUGUSTA (AP) — A second effort is underway to pass legislation in Maine to guarantee that military recruiters would be allowed to wear uniforms in schools. A Republican-backed bill was narrowly defeated in the last session after acrimonious debate and accusations of anti-military bias. Opponents said the bill was unnecessary because there was no verified […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage lifts ban on commissioners attending legislative meetings
AUGUSTA — said Thursday that he’ll once again allow department heads to address lawmakers face-to-face in committee meetings. For months, LePage has upheld a policy that members of his Cabinet and other executive branch employees correspond with legislative committees in writing only. Democrats who chair legislative committees — especially the budget-writing Appropriations Committee and the […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine budget task force proposes eliminating $40 million in tax breaks
AUGUSTA — Democrats in the Legislature call a plan submitted to the budget-writing Appropriations Committee on Thursday a roadmap to closing $40 million worth of tax breaks — largely ones for businesses. Republicans quickly labeled it a scheme to increase taxes by $80 million. Sen. Anne Haskell, D-Portland — co-chairwoman of a special task force […]
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Bolduc’s email: Frustration plus really bad spelling
Police are familiar with all manner of nuisance complaints: The music is too loud. The car is “all over the road.” The kids are cutting through my lawn. And, yes, the perennial: My neighbor’s cat is doing his business in my flower beds. So we have no problem with Auburn resident Brian Bolduc asking police […]
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Rotundo continues to press LePage administration on supplemental budget
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s refusal to submit a budget revision bill this fiscal year has spurred Democrats in the Legislature to take the lead in crafting a supplemental budget, something that hasn’t happened in Maine in recent memory. But by taking the budget reins, Democrats drew strong criticism from Republicans. Sen. Dawn Hill, D-Cape […]
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State police say not all towns do mental health checks for concealed carry permits
AUGUSTA — Four in 10 municipalities in Maine that issue permits to carry a concealed handgun are not running the legally required mental health background checks, said a Maine State Police representative on Wednesday. Lt. Scott Ireland told a subcommittee of the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that a survey he conducted found […]
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Advocates say Riverview fix not working
AUGUSTA — A former chief justice for Maine’s high court told lawmakers Tuesday a bill they passed to resolve safety and funding problems at the state-run Riverview Psychiatric Center did not work. The bill, LD 1515, passed during an emergency session in August and signed by Republican Gov. Paul LePage, expanded the capacity of a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Lawmakers start crafting a supplemental budget
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers pushed forward with a plan to craft a supplemental budget Tuesday in order to address revenue shortfalls because Gov. Paul LePage says he won’t submit a proposal to fix a budget he tried to spike. The supplemental budget is typically submitted by the governor but LePage’s office says he doesn’t intend […]