AUGUSTA — Six years after Maine became one of the first states to adopt new high school graduation standards, lawmakers are poised to roll back those requirements by allowing towns to decide whether to issue proficiency-based diplomas. The House and the Senate voted Tuesday night to eliminate the state mandate that students demonstrate proficiency in […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Lawmakers pass $41M package with funding for disabled, elderly, opioid treatment
AUGUSTA — The Maine Legislature returned to work Tuesday, passing one of two major spending packages that would add about $41 million to the state’s current two-year budget, with much of the funding aimed at helping those with disabilities, the elderly and people grappling with opioid use disorders. There was little partisan rancor on the […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Judge says LePage must submit Medicaid plan, despite appeal
AUGUSTA (AP) — A state judge has ordered Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration to file paperwork to expand Medicaid as voters demanded despite an ongoing appeal, and the governor vowed to fight the order Monday. Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy on Friday denied a motion filed by the LePage administration, which does not want […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine lawmakers agree to return for special session, over LePage’s objections
Maine lawmakers are poised to return next week for a special session to vote on a supplemental budget package, and perhaps other unfinished business, but Gov. Paul LePage already is criticizing them for taking “the easy way out.” House Republicans, who effectively had been the lone holdouts, agreed Thursday to come back after getting assurances […]
Posted inBusiness
Maine’s labor department pushing forward with next phase of unemployment insurance system
A lawmaker who has been critical of the Maine Department of Labor and its unemployment claims system continues to express concerns as the department plans to roll out the next phase of the controversial system following a botched rollout of the first phase in Decmeber. The department recently announced it will begin implementing the next […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Compromise in Augusta includes $4 million for program to deal with lead paint
AUGUSTA — A budget deal worked out among legislative leaders Monday includes a $4 million lead abatement program that would significantly boost efforts to combat a health issue that is especially severe in Lewiston and Auburn. “I’m pretty pumped” to learn the program made the cut, said Rep. Jared Golden, a Lewiston Democrat who has […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Coalition urges State House leaders to call special session
AUGUSTA — A diverse coalition of advocates for the environment, the economy and other interests are calling on State House leaders to reconvene the Legislature to finish work on a host of bills, including several spending measures and a highway and bridge bonding proposal that would support more than 3,800 construction jobs. But those pleas […]
Posted inFranklin, Lewiston-Auburn
Rep. Riley holding office hours
JAY — Rep. Tina Riley, D-Jay, will hold public office hours Thursday in all three towns in her House district. Riley will start the day at the Livermore Town Office from 10 to 11 a.m. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., she will be at the Livermore Falls Town Office, and will end the day at the Jay […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Battles continue over budget cuts to school funding
Last fall, it looked like Maine schools were poised to get a pretty significant increase in state aid. Even though the Legislature killed a voter-approved tax surcharge for education, a last-minute state budget deal added an extra $162 million toward schools to ease the sting. Yet when state allocations were announced this spring, many districts […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine voters soon to decide fate of ranked-choice voting
Maine voters will finally get their chance to try out the hotly debated ranked-choice voting system when they head to the polls to select party nominees for governor, Congress and the Legislature on June 12. While they’re in the voting booth, Mainers will also face Question 1 on their ballots, asking them if they want […]