AUGUSTA — Facing criticism from Democratic leaders in the Legislature, Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday continued to defend his policy instructing department heads to communicate with lawmakers in writing. That policy has largely kept department heads and other chief executive branch officials from showing up for questioning by lawmakers, which had been the normal practice […]
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Posted inMaine
Bill for Maine homeless veterans and others could still move forward
AUGUSTA — Citing “inside baseball” and political gamesmanship, state Rep. Corey Wilson, R-Augusta, said he would appeal the rejection of a bill that paves the way to create a shelter for some of the state’s homeless veterans. Wilson’s bill was rejected by the Legislative Council, a committee of Democratic and Republican leaders, earlier this month. […]
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Lawmaker plans to keep pressing for cold-case bill
EAST MILLINOCKET — State Rep. Steve Stanley, D-Medway, will appeal a Legislative Council decision rejecting one of two bills he proposed that are aimed at helping solve the 33-year-old murder of Joyce McLain, he said Tuesday. The Legislative Council voted 6-4 against taking up during the next Legislative session Stanley’s proposal that the state form a cold […]
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Republican lawmaker to get another chance to introduce human-trafficking bill
AUGUSTA — A bill that would allow Maine courts to vacate prostitution convictions from the records of those who are victims of human trafficking is likely to get another chance. Lawmakers on Maine’s Legislative Council rejected the bill in a 6-4 vote earlier this week as they attempted to sort more than 400 bills that […]
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Lawmakers want DEP to meet dam deadlines
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers want more scrutiny of the Department of Environmental Protection after the agency missed deadlines several deadlines for the relicensing of dams in Maine. The Portland Press-Herald reports a bill unanimously approved by the Legislative Council would require the agency to report to the Legislature on upcoming relicensing deadlines and make sure there […]
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Lawmakers put Medicaid expansion on 2014 legislative agenda
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers will consider expanding Medicaid and replacing a troubled program that provides rides to medical appointments for Mainers among other bills next session. The Legislative Council, the 10-member bipartisan group of House and Senate floor leaders and presiding officers, approved about 100 of nearly 400 bills for consideration when the Democratic-controlled Legislature returns […]
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Lawmakers get update on status of Riverview
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday were updated on the status of the state’s embattled Riverview Psychiatric Center. The state’s only “forensic” hospital that houses people with violent mental illnesses has for months been under the scrutiny of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The hospital is […]
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Fredette doesn’t have high hopes for his welfare reform bill
AUGUSTA — A bill by the state’s House Republican leader to require able-bodied Mainers to show they have applied for three jobs before receiving welfare benefits could be killed even before the Legislature reconvenes in January. Republicans in the State House have made clear that welfare reform will be their top priority in the truncated […]
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Legislators to discuss MaineCare transportation programs
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers are set to receive a briefing on the $40 million MaineCare rides program after reports of missed rides and thousands of complaints. The Portland Press Herald reports that Tuesday’s progress report could determine whether legislative leaders push to cancel any contracts with private companies that provide transportation to and from medical appointments […]
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Bill aims to help human trafficking victims clear prostitution convictions
AUGUSTA — A bill proposed by a Scarborough lawmaker would allow Maine’s courts to vacate prostitution convictions from the records of those who are victims of human trafficking. The move is needed because victims of human trafficking often face difficulty moving on from the situation that saw them exploited, and can be haunted by a […]