AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers have submitted nearly 400 bills for consideration for the legislative session beginning in January, reflecting their hopes ahead of the November elections. There are caveats: We only have bill titles, and the Maine Legislature won’t consider them all in 2016, since all bills submitted in even-numbered years must be deemed an […]
legislature
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislative committee wants LePage education officials to testify
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee reviewing allegations that Gov. Paul LePage threatened to withhold funding for a private school that tried to hire a political opponent wants to interview three members of the administration. The Government Oversight Committee has asked acting Education Department Commissioner Tom Desjardin, chief legal counsel Cynthia Montgomery and a senior adviser, […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine
Maine Democrats say they will fight to protect Planned Parenthood
AUGUSTA — Democratic leaders in the Maine Legislature said Thursday they intend to fight a “baseless” attack against Planned Parenthood by a trio of Republican lawmakers planning to sponsor legislation to cut funds to the organization. Planned Parenthood, which provides low or no-cost health care and other services to women, including cancer screenings, birth control […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Mike Thibodeau emerges from budget scuffle as unlikely peacemaker
NORTH FRANKFORT — Mike Thibodeau has been called a lot of things: truck driver, father, road builder, husband, shovel-maker, Republican state representative and now, most recently, president of the Maine Senate. No one ever branded him liberal until Gov. Paul LePage. It came as a startling statement about a guy who has been one of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine government functions even without Paul LePage’s nominations
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s recent move to further delay a round of nominations to Maine boards and commissions has drawn attention to the appointment process — normally one of a governor’s least controversial responsibilities. But it’s important: Maine’s governor has the authority to appoint more than 2,000 people to sit on more than 300 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage says nominations on hold during ‘cooldown period’
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage came under attack Tuesday for his decision to delay nominations to boards and commissions until January instead of allowing the Senate to take them up this fall. Senate Democratic leader Justin Alfond said the governor needs to do his job and quit playing games after Maine Public Broadcasting Network reported […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Turner, Lisbon lawmakers call for Healthy Maine Partnership investigation
AUGUSTA — Two Republican lawmakers want the state to investigate Healthy Maine Partnership’s finances. According to Maine Public Broadcasting Network, Rep. Jeffrey Timberlake of Turner and Sen. Garrett Mason of Lisbon Falls want the Government Oversight Committee to conduct a formal review. Healthy Maine Partnerships is a network of community health organizations throughout the state that addresses […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Beverly Daggett, 1st female president of Maine Senate, dies
AUGUSTA — Beverly Daggett of Augusta, a former legislator who was the first woman to serve as Maine Senate president, has died. She was 69. The Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home in Augusta confirmed Daggett died Sunday in Lewiston. Daggett was first elected to the Maine Senate in 1996 after serving five terms representing Augusta […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislative panel delays decision on expanding LePage investigation
AUGUSTA — A Maine legislative committee has delayed making a decision on whether the state’s watchdog agency should investigate allegations that Republican Gov. Paul LePage forced the president of the World Acadian Congress to step down. Democratic Reps. Ronald “Danny” Martin and Robert Saucier asked the Government Oversight Committee last month to initiate an investigation […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Mark Eves expands case against Gov. Paul LePage
AUGUSTA — Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves expanded his federal lawsuit Wednesday that alleges Republican Gov. Paul LePage pressured a school for at-risk youth where Eves was president into firing him. Eves’ lawsuit, filed last month, accused the governor of violating Eves’ First Amendment rights. He now argues the governor also violated Maine law. The lawsuit […]