AUGUSTA — A $400,000 state-funded study aimed at developing a plan to bring passenger train service to Lewiston-Auburn remains on track despite an attempt by Gov. Paul LePage to derail it. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate on Friday overturned a LePage line-item veto of the study that was part of the state’s new, […]
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Maine lawmakers move ahead despite Paul LePage’s historic veto actions
AUGUSTA — Probably the only thing liberal about Republican Gov. Paul LePage has been his use of the veto pen, but state lawmakers continue to rebuff him, voting time and again to overturn vetoes in recent weeks. In 47 minutes on Friday, the Republican-controlled state Senate took 128 votes, each one overturning, by broad margins, […]
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Paul LePage’s vetoes take toll on finances, lawmakers’ nerves
AUGUSTA — An unprecedented spree of vetoes by Republican Gov. Paul LePage is taking a toll on the Legislature in more ways than one. LePage on Thursday issued 64 line-item vetoes in a $6.7 billion, two-year spending package, objecting to what he considers wasteful spending. He also said he intended to waste lawmakers’ time. A […]
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LePage uses toy pig, Christmas tree to protest secret budget deal [Video]
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage called on the people of Maine to hold state lawmakers accountable for crafting secret budget deals in closed-door meetings and beyond the view of the public. LePage on Wednesday stood before a small artificial Christmas tree decorated with the photos of a bipartisan group of lawmakers who LePage said […]
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Maine House OKs budget deal that includes tax cuts, welfare reform
AUGUSTA — A two-year state $6.6 billion budget deal tentatively agreed to by Maine’s top Democratic and Republican lawmakers and awaiting votes in the Legislature will include income tax cuts and welfare reforms but not to the extent Republican Gov. Paul LePage wanted. Lawmakers did accept some of LePage’s budget proposals including the elimination of the […]
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LePage renews push to end Maine’s ‘death tax’
AUGUSTA — As the top party officials at the State House continued their ongoing negotiations on a two-year budget for Maine, Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Friday renewed his push to do away with the state’s estate tax. LePage and his conservative allies call the tax paid on inheritances valued at over $2 million a “death […]
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Legislature overturns onslaught of LePage vetoes
AUGUSTA — Nearly as fast as Republican Gov. Paul LePage can sign veto letters, lawmakers are overturning those vetoes. It’s putting LePage on pace for another entry in Maine’s political record books: the most overturned governor in state history. The Maine House of Representatives on Tuesday overrode 11 of LePage’s vetoes and the House and […]
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LePage to attend Flag Day events at Auburn American Legion post
AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul R. LePage will join flag muralist Scott LoBaido, who is now on a 50-state “Painting Flags Across America Tour,” to reveal a massive flag mural created exclusively for American Legion Post 31 in Auburn. The unveiling of the mural coincides with the 99th anniversary of Flag Day and includes a […]
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LePage says shutdown unnecessary, will call for continuing budget resolution
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage said Monday that State House Democrats resorted to scare tactics around a state government shutdown and he would attempt to avoid a shutdown with a short-term budget resolution. In a short and impromptu news conference in his office Monday afternoon, LePage said he would offer lawmakers a bill that […]
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Maine budget in full stall as lawmakers grapple for compromise
On Thursday, LePage again turned up the heat by going public about his displeasure with the state Senate’s Republican majority leadership. During an hourlong radio chat Thursday morning, LePage blasted Senate Republicans, again accusing them of siding with House Democrats in stymieing his efforts to lower and eventually eliminate Maine’s income tax. “The conflict is this,” […]