The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee plans to review proposed rule changes from the LePage administration that providers say would cut services for thousands of Mainers with mental illnesses. Those rules aren’t typically reviewable by the Legislature, but affected individuals used a provision allowing them to petition the committee for review and got the […]
legislature
Posted inOxford Hills
Dillingham to run for re-election
OXFORD — Rep. Kathleen Dillingham, R-Oxford, has announced she will run for re-election in November. She is currently serving her first term representing District 72 in the Maine House of Representatives, which includes the towns of Mechanic Falls, Otisfield and Oxford. “It’s been an honor to serve the people of Oxford, Mechanic Falls and Otisfield in […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine House OKs public vote on GMO labels
AUGUSTA — The Maine House of Representatives has given initial approval to a proposal that would allow residents to vote on whether packages of foods produced from genetically modified organisms should be labeled. Maine has a GMO labeling law on the books, but it doesn’t kick in unless enough other states pass similar laws by […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislative committee splits on welfare reforms
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers split along party lines repeatedly Thursday as they debated and voted on a series of bills aimed at reforming the state’s welfare system. Democrats on the Health and Human Services Committee expressed outrage over proposals by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services that would spend some of more than $110 million […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislators recall video voter bill from LePage’s desk
AUGUSTA — A bill designed to create a 15-foot buffer zone for video recording voters at the polls was recalled Wednesday from Gov. Paul LePage’s desk for an amendment. LD 1574 was introduced by Democratic Sen. Bill Diamond of Windham this year after reports on Election Day 2015 that an organization calling itself Project Dirigo […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Senate OKs ‘right-to-try’ bill for dying patients
AUGUSTA — A bill that would give dying patients the right to use experimental drugs is winning support in the Maine Legislature. The Senate on Wednesday gave initial approval to the so-called “right to try” bill. The vote was 20-11. The House on Tuesday approved the bill. The legislation would allow patients to use drugs […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Senate votes to kill estate tax
AUGUSTA — A bill that would eliminate the state’s tax on inheritances worth more than $5 million gained approval in the Republican-controlled Maine Senate on Wednesday on an 18-13 party-line vote. But the GOP victory against what they call the “death tax” is likely to be short-lived, as the Democratic-controlled House voted Tuesday to reject […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Democrats and Republicans poised for new clash on welfare reform
AUGUSTA — Maine Republican and Democratic lawmakers are poised to clash Wednesday over a package of bills aimed at tightening welfare spending and increasing scrutiny for those on the state’s benefits system. Republicans say one measure, offered by Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, will be little more than a paper tiger if it’s amended as Libby […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Land trusts fire back at Paul LePage’s plan to tax them
AUGUSTA — A bill unveiled Tuesday by Gov. Paul LePage is the second attempt in a year to allow land held for conservation to be taxed, and an official from a top conservation group said while it wouldn’t apply to a large share of land, it’s a “slap in the face of land trusts.” It’s […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine House votes down bill that would kill the estate tax
AUGUSTA — Legislation that would eliminate the tax that Mainers pay when they inherit large estates is running into opposition from Democrats. The Maine House on Tuesday has cast an initial vote to reject the bill. The party-line vote was 77 to 65. Under current law, estates valued at nearly $5.5 million are exempt from […]