AUGUSTA — A legislator is proposing to give permanently disabled people free admission to Maine State Parks. The proposal by Saco Democratic Rep. Donna Bailey would apply to people who have been determined to be permanently disabled by an official body such as the U.S. Social Security Administration or a workers’ compensation board. The access […]
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Sen. Garrett Mason seeks to end 40-year-old financial disclosure rule
AUGUSTA — A proposal by Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason would decrease the information voters have before Election Day about political contributions made to Maine candidates. Mason, a Lisbon Falls Republican, proposed eliminating a requirement that candidates in the final weeks of a race report contributions of more than $1,000 within 24 hours because it […]
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Legislative committee to consider domestic violence bills
AUGUSTA (AP) — Legislators are set to present bills addressing domestic violence in the state. A state panel found that half of Maine’s 46 homicides from 2014 to 2015 stemmed from domestic violence. A number of domestic violence bills are scheduled for public hearing before the Legislature’s criminal justice and public safety committee Friday. Two […]
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GOP House leader Ken Fredette wants to require private well water testing
House Minority Leader Ken Fredette AUGUSTA (AP) — The Republican leader of the Maine House wants to require testing of private wells that provide drinking water. Half of Maine’s population gets it drinking water from private wells, and the state says it assumes very few of them are routinely tested. In contrast, public water supplies […]
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Jared Golden fires back at Paul LePage on ID cards for veterans
AUGUSTA — A Lewiston Democrat called out Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday for criticizing legislative inaction to help provide identification cards to veterans who need them to access federal health care facilities in New Hampshire. “For the last eight days, an emergency bill which would solve this very issue and passed unanimously in the Senate […]
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Lawmakers blast Maine casino bid after lobbyist admits offshore backing
AUGUSTA — A lobbyist hastily hired by an offshore firm run by controversial developer Shawn Scott told a confrontational panel of Maine legislators Wednesday that the firm is behind the 2017 ballot question to add a casino in York County. He also said that if voters pass the question, the firm plans to sell the […]
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Lawmakers consider $1.50-a-pack hike in cigarette tax
The Legislature’s Taxation Committee is considering a bill that would raise the state cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack. AUGUSTA — Proponents of raising the state tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack hope this session to overcome opposition that has stymied the anti-smoking effort for years. Sponsor Rep. Joyce “Jay” McCreight, D-Harpswell, called it […]
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U.S. legislatures consider anti-Sharia proposals
State Rep. Heidi Sampson, R-Alfred, has proposed legislation to prevent Islamic code from being used in Maine courts. Muslims complain they are frivolous bills meant to spread fears and sow suspicion of their religion in a nation divided. But supporters of state proposals to prevent Islamic code from being used in American courts argue they aren’t […]
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Eric Brakey's birth control bill would ease prescription requirement
State Sen. Eric Brakey is sponsoring a bill that would allow women to buy birth control pills and patches over the counter with an expired prescription. Brakey sees it as a free-market approach: women could skip the current time and expense of an annual visit to the doctor for a new prescription and buy it […]
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Bill would increase reimbursement rates for homecare workers
AUGUSTA — Advocates say that a Republican’s bill would help the state address a looming shortage of home health care workers. Assistant House Minority Leader Ellie Espling’s bill would direct the state Department of Health and Human Services to increase reimbursement rates for home-based care services. Her bill is set for a public hearing Monday. […]