AUGUSTA — Lawmakers in Maine are considering an unprecedented legislative move to block a casino vote. The Press Herald reports that Republican Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason and Democratic Rep. Louis Luchini are working to block the citizen initiative. Mason and Luchini say the language in the ballot question misleads voters. The pair says casino […]
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Push for new Equal Rights Amendment vote in Maine sputters
AUGUSTA — Gender equality is up for debate again in the Legislature and again, it could face a rocky road. On Thursday, the House passed a resolution that could lead to a change in the Maine Constitution guaranteeing equal rights between the genders but only by a slim 78-65 margin. The vote was purely partisan, […]
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You can now have a pet hedgehog in Maine; no permit needed
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife agrees with some Mechanic Falls students that hedgehogs would make fine pets. The agency added them to a list of allowable pets. State Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, submitted a bill on behalf of Mechanic Falls sixth-graders who asked a legislative committee in February if the state could ease […]
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Bipartisan support for victim’s bill of rights in Maine constitution
AUGUSTA (AP) — Republicans and Democrats are supporting a measure to create a constitutional victims’ bill of rights. Republican Senate President Michael Thibodeau’s resolution would allow voters to amend Maine’s constitution to enshrine specific rights for crime victims. Those would include the right to prompt and full restitution and the right to be informed when […]
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Maine legislature considers bills to restrict disclosing salary history
AUGUSTA (AP) — Two Democrats say their bills would target the gender pay gap by restricting a hiring employer from asking for salary history. The state Department of Labor and retail, innkeepers and restaurant groups oppose the bills. Bills sponsored by Sens. Cathy Breen and Mark Bryant are set for a work session Thursday. Breen […]
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Maine Dems, GOP compromise on minimum wage for tipped workers
AUGUSTA — Maine Democrats have lined up to support a Republican’s bill to tweak the voter-approved minimum wage increase, while the parties are at odds over a measure to eliminate a new tax on the state’s highest earners. Supporters are cheering a legislative committee’s 11-2 vote Wednesday to recommend the minimum wage bill, which would […]
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Maine Senate kills college voter verification bill
The Senate killed a Republican bill on Tuesday that would have increased scrutiny on voting college students in Maine. Five Republicans helped Democrats kill a bill from House Minority Leader Ken Fredette, R-Newport, that would have made cities and towns verify the residence of voters registered at a college dormitory. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap’s […]
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Analysis: Does Maine have $150 million of unspent federal cash?
House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, this week unveiled her wide-ranging Leveraging Investments in Families Today bill, which aims to expand and enhance social service programs with federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant money that she says has gone unspent. Republican Gov. Paul LePage said Tuesday that Gideon and the Democrats are wrong about the availability of the […]
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Panel endorses Barry Hobbins, Paul LePage’s pick for public advocate
AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage’s pick for chief advocate for utility customers has received a key legislative committee’s unanimous support. The Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology committee voted on Tuesday to recommend long-time Democrat Barry Hobbins, following supportive testimony from Republican and Democratic leaders. The next step is Senate confirmation. The Associated Press reported […]
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State Senate votes down Nate Libby’s lead paint bill
AUGUSTA — A Maine bill reinforcing federal requirements for training and certification to do renovation work on buildings containing lead is dead, leaving unresolved questions about the safety of renovating homes in Maine that contain lead paint or plumbing. The Maine House and Senate failed to come to agreement on the measure, with the Democrat-led House voting in favor of the […]