AUGUSTA — An effort to stop some Maine dog owners from misrepresenting their animals as “service” dogs by requiring more documentation was unanimously voted down by a key panel of state lawmakers Thursday. The legislation, which would have required dog owners provide proof in the form of training documentation and a letter from a health […]
Maine
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Data from Maine’s VA facilities show shorter wait times
Get appointment data from around the country PORTLAND (AP) — The nation’s oldest veterans’ hospital in Augusta is also among the VA sites where patients are less likely to have to wait a long time for treatment. The Associated Press analyzed six months of appointment data at 940 VA hospitals and clinics nationwide to identify […]
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Maine committee votes to tighten campaign finance laws
AUGUSTA — A legislative panel Wednesday rejected a bill that would change the way Maine replaces a U.S. senator in the the case of an absence. On a nearly unanimous vote, the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee shot down a bill offered by state Rep. Matt Moonen, D-Portland, that would have stripped from the […]
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Bill introduced for tribal casino in Aroostook County
AUGUSTA — A tribal representative for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians is asking the Maine Legislature to back his proposed bill that could lead to a casino for his tribe in Aroostook County. The legislation, as offered by Henry John Bear, the band’s nonvoting representative to the Maine House of Representatives, would also require […]
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Chin says ‘anytime, anywhere’ to debate with LePage on budget
Gov. LePage has challenged MPA to a public debate on his regressive budget proposal, which cuts health care and education to give a $10,000 average tax break to the top 1%. We accept. Posted by Maine People’s Alliance on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 AUGUSTA — Ben Chin, a candidate for the Lewiston mayor’s office and […]
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Bill would dock Maine lawmakers’ pay when they skip work
AUGUSTA — State Sen. Linda Baker thinks it’s important to show up. Especially if you’ve been elected to serve the people of Maine and are getting paid to do so, said Baker, a Topsham Republican and former schoolteacher. Baker is offering legislation that would dock lawmakers’ pay when they have poor attendance records. “If legislators […]
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As Maine eyes powdered alcohol ban, creator says Palcohol as safe as liquid booze
Powdered alcohol hasn’t even hit liquor store shelves yet, but some lawmakers want to make sure the new product never gets a shot in Maine. Just add water to the powdered form of vodka, rum and three cocktails, and you’ve got the alcoholic beverage known as Palcohol. Since the product gained federal approval in March, […]
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Maine lawmaker sponsors bill to search bags of children in residential care
AUGUSTA — A bill sponsored by an Aroostook County legislator seeks to allow administrators of children’s homes or residential care facilities to search the backpacks or travel bags of the residents. Rep. Dustin White, R-Washburn, who works at such a residential care facility in Aroostook County, said that many administrators already search the bags of […]
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New group forms to support faster Internet for all of Maine
PORTLAND — A group of businesses, nonprofits and policymakers supporting broadband expansion have formed the Maine Broadband Coalition to research and lobby in favor of bills supporting increasing Internet speeds in Maine. The group includes a number of organizations, companies and state officials who have previously advocated for expanding high-speed broadband and fiber-optic networks in […]
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Recreational marijuana bills could forestall statewide ballot measures
AUGUSTA — For state Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, it’s not a matter of if Maine will legalize marijuana for recreational use, but how it will do so. Also now at stake is whether Maine voters will get to weigh in this year or next. Russell and state Rep. Mark Dion, D-Portland, both have bills before […]