Gov. Paul LePage plans to introduce a bill in the House of Representatives on Tuesday that would remove the property tax exemption for land held for conservation or public access by 2017. With less than a month to go before the legislative session’s scheduled end and this being a significant policy change, the bill probably won’t go far in 2016. But it’ll touch off […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
National solar firms oppose Maine ‘net metering’ bill
AUGUSTA — Maine’s rooftop solar installers and the state’s major utilities have set aside their long-standing difference to strike a deal they say could increase solar power in the state tenfold in five years. National solar installation firms are trying to stop it. The Alliance for Solar Choice, a national group, and California-based Sunrun and […]
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Legislature dealing with a crowded agenda
AUGUSTA — The 2016 session’s end is in sight for the Maine Legislature, with a month to go until scheduled adjournment. The year started with deep contention between lawmakers and Gov. Paul LePage, the Republican who easily weathered an impeachment effort in January and has railed against lawmakers at town hall-style meetings across the state […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Democratic lawmakers reject business-backed minimum wage raise
AUGUSTA — Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives on Thursday dealt a crucial blow to business groups looking to undercut a ballot initiative from progressive groups to raise the state’s hourly minimum wage to $12. The House voted 78-69 — with only one Republican, Rep. Kevin Battle of South Portland, joining majority Democrats except […]
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Legislature OKs fund to lure big business to Maine
UPDATE: Eric Brakey stands alone against bill for big business fund AUGUSTA — Maine’s Legislature has approved a bill designed to attract big businesses to the state by creating a new fund for large employers. The Maine Senate approved the bill by a count of 33-1 on Thursday. The bill would create a fund to support […]
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Former Lewiston Police Chief Welch seeks state Senate seat
LEWISTON — Former Lewiston Police Chief Bill Welch has announced his candidacy for Maine Senate District 21, which covers the city of Lewiston. Welch, who will run as a Republican against incumbent Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, made the announcement in a news release on Tuesday. Welch joined the Lewiston Police Department following his four years […]
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Maine jails full of inmates awaiting trial
AUGUSTA — State lawmakers are considering a proposal to stem a growing trend of county jails being filled with people who have yet to be convicted of any crime. “Maine faces a serious problem with the rate of pretrial incarceration populations in its county jails,” according to a report issued in December by the Intergovernmental Pretrial Justice […]
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Legislature kills Gov. Paul LePage’s immigrant status bill
AUGUSTA — A proposal by Gov. Paul LePage to force municipalities to share information about immigrants was killed by House Democrats in a rare parliamentary maneuver practically before it saw the light of day on Tuesday. Republican Rep. Ellie Espling, the House minority leader, said she was furious with the move. LD 1652, which was […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage wants to raise law enforcement salaries
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage says his state needs to raise the wages of law enforcement officers to bring them in line with other states in New England. LePage has crafted a bill to provide pay increases for some law enforcement workers as a recruitment and retention tool. The proposal increases salaries by 12 to […]
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Gov. Paul LePage wants to suspend drug dealers’ driver’s licenses
Gov. Paul LePage has introduced a bill that would suspend the driver’s license of convicted drug dealers. LD 1647 would require a six-month suspension of the driver’s license of anyone who is convicted of violating the federal Controlled Substances Act. If a person convicted of trafficking or furnishing illegal drugs does not have a driver’s […]