AUGUSTA — Lawmakers on the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee will convene Thursday to start work on a $150 million state borrowing package. Republican Gov. Paul LePage and leaders in the Democratic majority reached a tentative deal late Friday on a bonding package they hope to send out for voter approval in November. […]
legislature
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage wants Democrats to cap bond package at $150 million
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage said Wednesday that he and legislative leaders are “all pretty much in the same place” on the importance of what has been a contentious bond package following a meeting in Senate President Justin Alfond’s office Wednesday morning. LePage told reporters that he will support a borrowing package of up to […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage says he kept department heads from hearing
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday said he barred his department chiefs from making themselves available at a Tuesday meeting of the Appropriations Committee. “The state is not going to be run by committees, it’s going to be run by the chief executive of the state,” LePage told reporters outside the State House. LePage […]
Posted inMaine
LePage and legislators continue to spar over bonds
Gov. Paul LePage’s statement on his $100 million transportation bond AUGUSTA — State lawmakers and Gov. Paul LePage continued a political battle over how much Maine should borrow to fix roads and bridges and when voters should be asked to approve that borrowing Tuesday as the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee met for an […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Money pouring into special election for ex-Maine Senate majority leader’s seat
AUGUSTA — Democrats and Republicans have already poured more than $43,000 into a special election later this month that both parties see as a portent to the 2014 legislative elections. Voters in Senate District 19 head to the polls on Aug. 27 to elect a replacement for Seth Goodall of Richmond, a three-term incumbent Democrat […]
Posted inMaine
Switch to third-party vendor leaves MaineCare patients without rides
LEWISTON — A change in the way MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program, provides transportation for clients without vehicles has left many stranded or missing appointments in recent weeks. On Monday, Tracy Bennett of Bethel said she’s been stood up for a ride at least 10 times in the last week. Bennett, who is being treated […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
State police say they can’t process concealed weapons permits in time required
AUGUSTA — Thanks to inadequate staffing, crushing demand and strict legal requirements, state police say something needs to change in how Maine issues permits to carry concealed weapons. State law dictates that new permits must be issued or denied within 60 days of the application date, and renewals must be decided within 30 days. But […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage wants Legislature to fast track $100 million transportation bond
AUGUSTA — In a letter sent to the Democratic legislative leadership Wednesday, Republican Gov. Paul LePage said time is running out to reconvene the Legislature and approve sending his proposed $100 million transportation bond to voters this November. Both parties say they support the transportation bond, but there is disagreement over how quickly it needs […]
Posted inMaine
For the most part, legislators reported for votes
AUGUSTA — There’s a political adage that nobody cares about government when it works like it’s supposed to. Still, it’s worth noting that for the most part, Maine’s elected representatives in Augusta showed up when they were called on for their most important task: voting. According to figures released by the House and Senate offices […]
Posted inMaine
Success of Maine lawmakers varies widely for 2013
AUGUSTA — When it comes to making law in Maine, you win some, you lose a lot. Whether minor changes or sweeping reforms, state lawmakers had varying degrees of success in getting the bills they penned passed into law during the first half of 2013. In all, lawmakers and Gov. Paul LePage offered 1,577 bills […]