AUGUSTA — The Maine Legislature faced an uncertain future Thursday as State House political leaders began pointing fingers and laying blame for a late-night stalemate over adjournment that left dozens of key bills in an unprecedented limbo. At a minimum, lawmakers are expected to return no earlier than May 1 to take up bills vetoed […]
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Maine House Democrats keep bills alive after legislative extension fails
AUGUSTA — In a bizarre series of political maneuvers early Thursday morning, House Democrats managed to keep alive dozens of important bills that do everything from funding the administrative costs of Medicaid expansion to cutting taxes. But in a show of resistance, minority House Republicans repeatedly blocked a longer extension of the legislative session and […]
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Medical marijuana reform bill advances
A bill to reform the state’s medical marijuana program appeared headed to Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday. The second major piece of cannabis legislation to pass both houses of the Legislature in as many days would expand the number of people who can qualify for a medical marijuana card, increase the number of state-licensed dispensaries […]
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Divided legislative panel endorses ‘red flag’ gun bill for Maine
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee split Tuesday on a bill that would allow a judge to order individuals to temporarily surrender their guns if they are deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others. On a 7-4 vote, Judiciary Committee members endorsed the bill, which would allow police or family members to seek a […]
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Bill to launch recreational marijuana market is on its way to Paul LePage’s desk
The Legislature is sending a bill to launch the adult-use marijuana market to Gov. Paul LePage Tuesday. LePage now has 10 days to take action on the bill – sign it, allow it to go into law without his signature, or use his gubernatorial veto to try to kill it, which is what the two-term […]
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LePage says he will veto retail pot bill
Gov. Paul LePage plans to veto the recreational marijuana bill once it reaches his desk because it would not combine Maine’s medical and adult-use marijuana programs. The two-term Republican has problems with having two regulatory systems and tax structures for different uses of the same plant, according to his press secretary, Julie Rabinowitz. If the […]
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Maine lawmakers: State unemployment filing system still not fixed
With an official investigation of the Maine Department of Labor looming, state legislators say they are still hearing from constituents that the new unemployment filing system is leaving them in the dark without their benefits. Rep. Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, and Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Manchester, both members of the legislative committee that has called for the […]
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Legislative panel divided on ‘red flag’ gun bill
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers struggled Friday to find a compromise on a proposal to allow police to temporarily confiscate the guns of individuals deemed to pose an “immediate and present danger.” After discussing the issue for several hours, members of the Judiciary Committee appeared to be heading down two paths on the only major gun-related bill […]
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Bill that allows over-the-counter naloxone for people younger than 21 clears Maine Senate
AUGUSTA — A bill that would remove age restrictions on Mainers who want to buy the anti-overdose drug naloxone without a prescription is on its way to the desk of Gov. Paul LePage after the Republican-controlled Maine Senate unanimously endorsed the measure Friday. Sponsored by Speaker of the House Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, the bill is […]
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Tempers flare as Maine House approves ban on conversion therapy
AUGUSTA — A House debate over legislation to ban conversion therapy in Maine devolved Thursday into an emotional and, at times, personal display of the lingering cultural divide at the State House over sexual orientation and religion. House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, sternly warned several speakers against “impugning the motives” of other lawmakers and even […]