AUGUSTA – Advocates for raising Maine’s minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2020 say their opponents are distorting research data in an attempt to mislead lawmakers and the public in advance of a statewide ballot question in November. The opponents — a coalition of Maine business organizations including the state’s restaurant association and the […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Committee votes against anti-national monument bill
AUGUSTA — The first legislative review of Gov. Paul LePage’s attempt to prevent the creation of a national monument within Maine began badly for him when one of the state’s top environmental attorneys advised that no state law could accomplish the governor’s goal. The Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government recommended against passage of a governor’s bill, LD 1600, […]
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Posted inLivermore Falls Advertiser, Maine
Maine panel votes 7-4 to reject blood testing for drivers on marijuana
AUGUSTA — Voting 7-4, a Maine legislative panel Thursday rejected a bill to set a blood-level limit that could have been used as evidence to convict a person for driving under the influence of marijuana. The vote split largely along party lines, with Democrats voting against the proposed standard and Republicans voting for it. The […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Democrats’ welfare plan bans funds to buy lottery tickets, alcohol
AUGUSTA — Legislative Democrats released a welfare reform agenda on Thursday, mixing proposals to ban using cash assistance to buy lottery tickets with other changes aimed at increasing accountability and transitioning recipients to work. It puts Democrats in a difficult place: Republicans said the plan was an election-year ploy to capitalize on a popular conservative argument […]
Posted inMaine
Lawmakers say Maine DHHS dragging its feet on new lead standards
AUGUSTA — A bipartisan group of Lewiston-Auburn lawmakers is again asking the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to pick up the pace on implementing new lead-poisoning standards that were passed into law more than eight months ago. The change, which would see Maine conform with federal blood-lead levels for children, could set in […]
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Legislature passes tax, school funding bill
By signing the tax & edu bill we send a msg that we are investing in ME Business, families, & students. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/uBTQ5YpSAb — Paul R. LePage (@Governor_LePage) March 10, 2016 AUGUSTA — A compromise on tax conformity sailed through the Legislature on Wednesday, which should be signed by Gov. Paul LePage and put to […]
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Chief Justice Leigh Saufley calls to keep addicts out of jails
AUGUSTA — Maine Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Leigh Saufley advocated Wednesday for more diversion programs to keep drug addicts out of jail during her annual State of the Judiciary address at the State House. Central in Saufley’s recommendations was the hiring or contracting of more case managers to help addicts accused of drug crimes […]
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LePage administration opposes solar power compromise
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s administration says a compromise that would increase Maine’s solar power capacity from about 18 megawatts to 250 megawatts over five years would hurt ratepayers. Energy office staff members tell The Portland Press Herald that the plan keeps subsidies for homeowners who install rooftop solar panels. They say they prefer a […]
Posted inMaine
Bill to allow guns in Section 8 properties hits stalemate
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers on Tuesday continued their debate over the best way to balance the rights of landlords with those of tenants who are receiving public housing subsidies and want to keep firearms. A new proposal offered by Sen. Andre Cushing, R-Hampden, would allow landlords who own and live in multiunit properties with four apartments […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage agrees to put $15 million toward education in tax deal
AUGUSTA — Maine legislative leaders and Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday were closing in on a bipartisan compromise combining federal tax conformity with $15 million in school funding. Senate President Mike Thibodeau, R-Winterport, and Senate Minority Leader Justin Alfond, D-Portland, said legislative leaders from both chambers agreed on that potential framework, are presenting it to members […]