AUGUSTA — Shortly after a legislative hearing focused on the failings of mental health care for Maine veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ inspector general issued a report hailing improvements by the VA’s Maine Healthcare System. All four members of the state’s congressional delegation said in a joint statement they were “pleased to see improvement” […]
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Legislature holds bill that would make insurers pay for naturopathic treatments
AUGUSTA — A Maine bill designed to prevent insurers from discriminating against naturopathic health care providers will likely have to wait several months to determine its potential impact on the insurance industry. The bill was submitted on behalf of the Maine Association of Naturopathic Doctors and opposed by state superintendent of insurance Eric Cioppa. The […]
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Ranked choice voting coming to Maine unless Legislature says no
AUGUSTA — Whatever the state Supreme Court advises about whether ranked choice voting violates Maine’s Constitution, the new voting method would apparently still apply to primaries and congressional elections. “The majority of the elections should be governed by this in 2018,” said Kate Knox of Bernstein Shur, representing the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting that […]
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Bill would exempt retirees age 70 or older from paying state income tax
AUGUSTA — A proposal to exempt Mainers who are both retired and at least 70 years old from paying any state income tax is under consideration by the Legislature’s Tax Committee. Though its sponsor, Rep. Robert Foley, R-Wells, said the idea “may be too drastic a step right now,” he urged colleagues this week to […]
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Withdrawal process back before Newry voters on June 13
NEWRY — Voters will go to the polls June 13 to decide whether they want to end the school withdrawal process, which is intended to lead to a vote on whether to leave SAD 44. The referendum vote was prompted by a petition submitted to selectmen earlier this month by former Selectman Steve Wight. Negotiations […]
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Report finds for-profit college students have heavier debt loads
Hussein Adan, left, a senior, works with Lewiston High School Aspirations Coordinator Doug Dumont in the school’s aspirations lab. Dumont (once $80,000 in student debt) urges: Have a plan. Don’t do what I did in college. Learn more about how to plan better for college financing: The college debt crush What’s the real cost of college, […]
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Lawmakers weigh proposal to stymie unconstitutional ballot questions
AUGUSTA — A bipartisan group of senators has proposed a measure that would create a method to hit the brakes on referendum proposals deemed unconstitutional. “The constitutional rights of Maine people should never be subject to a majority rule process,” said state Sen. Eric Brakey, an Auburn Republican whose bill is co-sponsored by seven other […]
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Maine Democrats, Republicans at odds over sick leave bill
AUGUSTA (AP) — Democrats want to advance a universal sick leave bill despite opposition from Republicans on a legislative committee. The Legislature’s Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee this week voted 5-4 in favor of the bill. Two other Republicans and two Democrats who weren’t present have until Thursday to cast their votes. The […]
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Paul LePage says he’ll veto ‘death with dignity’ legislation
Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he’ll veto legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe medication that a patient may self-administer to hasten death. AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he’ll veto legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe medication that a patient may self-administer to hasten death. The Legislature’s health and human services […]
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Lawmakers push to add more public health nurses
A virulent flu that reached Maine early in the autumn of 1918 quickly overwhelmed the capacity of authorities to deal with a sudden public health emergency. By early October, Lewiston and Auburn had shut down schools, churches, theaters, pool rooms and dance halls — indeed, almost everything except Bates College and key war industries — […]