AUGUSTA — Democrats in the House of Representatives supported bids to make social services easier to acquire for veterans, homeless people and elderly Mainers, but the bills are unlikely to be enacted with most Republicans and Gov. Paul LePage leaning hard against program expansions. In preliminary House votes, LD 689 and LD 1538 were supported 80-66 and 78-68, respectively. LD 689 would […]
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Maine ethics watchdog questions casino referendum funding
AUGUSTA — Maine’s ethics watchdog may soon begin an investigation into the bid for a new casino in York County by a group that has been giving them plenty to think about during the past few months. Staff at the Maine Ethics Commission will recommend at a June 9 meeting that commissioners authorize an investigation […]
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Paul LePage vetoes deposit bill for nips
AUGUSTA — To nobody’s surprise, Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a measure to require a deposit for the tiny liquor bottles known as nips. In his veto message, the governor complained about the cost of the proposal but also offered an alternative way to address the littering problem created by the increasingly popular 50-milliliter bottles. LePage […]
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Lawmakers expect ‘long, tough fight’ over Maine budget
AUGUSTA (AP) — As lawmakers spend the weekend haggling over the budget behind closed doors, Gov. Paul LePage said this week that he’ll veto any budget that increases education funding without big changes to the system. Democrats and Republicans remain at odds on the Republican governor’s $6.8 billion, two-year budget proposal, with both parties this […]
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Lawmakers consider copyrighting public meeting audio
AUGUSTA (AP) — A group of legislators concerned with political groups taking their words out of context has begun exploring whether lawmakers can copyright audio recordings of public hearings. The little-known panel has spent the last year mulling what to do with the archived audio recordings. Some legislators have called for immediately deleting the recordings […]
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Larry Lockman’s immigration bill fails in Maine House
AUGUSTA — An anti-immigrant bill proposed by Rep. Larry Lockman, R-Amherst, that drew a torrent of criticism from Mainers who are sympathetic to newcomers fleeing war and oppression overseas failed to pass muster in the House on Wednesday. The Republican lawmaker pushed a trio of related bills taking aim at cities that offer sanctuary to […]
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LePage veto keeps groceries closed on 3 holidays
Tozier’s owner Dale Tozier, left, talks with Holly Smith at the store in Bucksport in a 2014 file photo. AUGUSTA — A Maine “blue law” barring small grocery stores from opening on Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter will stay in effect after Republicans failed to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto, with the governor saying a bill […]
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Analysis: Maine budget negotiators remain far apart on school funding
A meeting Tuesday of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee showed just how far apart Democrats and Republicans are on education funding with a key deadline on the state’s two-year budget looming in less than a week. After closed-door partisan caucuses over the Memorial Day weekend, the committee met yesterday to take votes on agreed-upon items in […]
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Paul LePage to decide fate of truancy measure for youngest students
AUGUSTA — A measure that would let educators extend truancy enforcement rules to 5- and 6-year-old students enrolled in public school is heading to Gov. Paul LePage’s desk, where its fate is uncertain at best. The bill, which secured final passage Tuesday in a unanimous Senate vote, aims to ensure that enrolled youngsters show up […]
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Gov. Paul LePage says lawmakers reneged on deal to close prison
Gov. Paul LePage claimed Tuesday that members of the Legislature are reneging on a deal regarding the closure of the Downeast Correctional Facility in Machiasport, but didn’t provide many details. Noting that state government sends more aid to Washington County than it receives in revenue from Down East, LePage said during a radio interview Tuesday […]