AUGUSTA — The Legislature has sent Gov. Paul LePage a bill that would move Maine back to a statewide presidential primary in 2020. It’s a move LePage has said he supports, but at least a handful of state lawmakers are questioning whether all taxpayers should have to foot the $1 million to $2 million bill […]
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By one vote Maine Senate agrees to expand Medicaid, bill faces all-but-certain veto
AUGUSTA – By a single vote Tuesday night, Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, secured approval of his proposal to expand the state’s Medicaid system, MaineCare, by using federal funds to buy private insurance for the state’s poorest residents. But Saviello was joined by only two of his Republican colleagues, as well as the entire caucus of […]
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State Senate approves county jail funding
AUGUSTA — The Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation providing nearly $2.5 million in new funding to the state’s county jails. The bill, LD 1614, was amended to cover the costs using part of an anticipated increase in federal Medicaid matching funds the state expects to receive for 2016. It does not, however, offer a […]
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Legislature overturns LePage veto on wrongful death suits bill
UPDATED 3 P.M.: AUGUSTA (AP) — A bill that gives families of homicide victims more time to file a lawsuit will become law over the objections of Gov. Paul LePage. The Maine House and Senate on Monday voted nearly unanimously to override LePage’s veto of the bill, which extends the statute of limitations for filing […]
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Bill to fund county jails gains bipartisan support in Maine Legislature
AUGUSTA — A bill that would pump about $2.4 million into Maine’s county jails in 2016 easily cleared the House of Representatives on a 102-44 vote Monday. The legislation, which will bail out foundering jail budgets in Lincoln and Oxford counties, faces additional votes in the Senate. “We’ve heard loud and clear from sheriffs […]
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Report says Riverview failed to adequately track staff behavior
AUGUSTA — A report released Friday by the Maine Legislature’s watchdog group found that Riverview Psychiatric Center hasn’t tracked staff behaviors that could undermine safety at the facility. It was among minor problems flagged at the hospital, which was decertified by the federal government in 2013 after violations including restraint and use of a stun […]
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Maine Senate OKs bill targeting hunger
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate has given initial approval to a proposal designed to improve administration of federal rules so hungry children and seniors in the state can get access to nutritious food. The Senate approved the bill by a count of 29-6 on Thursday. Supporters say the bill would improve administration of the federal […]
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Last-minute budget plan panned by legislative Democrats
AUGUSTA — An 11th-hour House Republican supplemental budget, and conditions attached to it, were being rejected by Democrats in the Maine Legislature late Thursday. House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, said House Minority Leader Ken Fredette, R-Newport, offered the budget proposal that includes almost all of the items that were in a budget package that […]
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Maine Senate passes ‘In God We Trust’ resolution
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate has adopted a resolution that reaffirms “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States. The Senate adopted the resolution on Thursday. The resolution supports the display of the motto in homes, houses of worship, public buildings, public schools and other government institutions. The resolution states that […]
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Lawmakers consider home birth regulations
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate is considering a bill that would regulate home births in an attempt to ensure that they are safe. The bill states that it proposes to license and regulate certified professional midwives who practice in the state. It would create criteria for licensure and oversight, and require data collection for quality […]