AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has proposed amending his hospital debt repayment bill in an effort to address questions Democrats have raised about whether it’s constitutional to use a state-issued revenue bond to pay off the state’s $484 million debt to its hospitals. A key Democratic legislative leader welcomed the move but wasn’t convinced the […]
Paul LePage
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Report: Expanding Medicaid could mean 3,500 more Maine jobs
AUGUSTA — Expanding Medicaid in Maine would stimulate $350 million in economic activity, create more than 3,100 jobs and generate as much as $18 million in state and local taxes annually, according to a policy report released Tuesday. But if Maine decides against expanding Medicaid, it stands to lose to other states the $256 million it […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Pay raise for Maine public defenders unclear
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawyers who represent indigent clients in state court proceedings are scheduled to get a pay raise, but the start date and even the amount remain unclear because of budget woes. The funding shortage has raised concerns that there won’t be enough qualified lawyers to represent people who can’t afford one and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage addresses legislative panel on hospital debt
“Paying this debt is the right thing to do,” LePage told the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee in a rare appearance by a governor before a legislative panel. He said his proposal has nearly universal support from Maine’s hospitals, some of which are using letters of credit to get by. The Republican governor is proposing […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage repeats his pledge to veto non-hospital legislation
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday reiterated his pledge that no bills passed by the Legislature will get his signature until lawmakers agree to pay off debts to Maine hospitals with proceeds from a renegotiated liquor contract. “If they don’t pay the hospitals, what can you do?” said LePage, apparently referring to Democrats who […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage budget proposal has no money for clean election fund in 2014 campaign
AUGUSTA — Maine’s clean election system would be canceled effectively for at least the 2014 campaign under Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed biennial budget, the program’s director told the Appropriations Committee on Tuesday afternoon. LePage’s budget proposal seeks to sweep a total of $4 million from the Maine Clean Election Fund in 2014 and 2015. Jonathan […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Inside Maine: Governor’s bond moves ‘incoherent’
When Gov. Paul LePage took office, he made it clear he doesn’t like debt – really doesn’t like it. Rather than the routine financial transaction it is for most states, businesses and families, LePage spoke as if borrowing money were morally damaging. Still, at the time no one knew how far he’d go to slay […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage to let supplemental budget pass without his signature
AUGUSTA— Gov. Paul LePage will let the $153 million supplemental budget approved overwhelmingly by lawmakers Thursday become law without his signature, he said Friday. In a letter to legislators, LePage said he had “deep concerns” with the budget bill that landed on his desk and signaled that his administration might have to return to the […]
Posted inOur View
Pragmatism, compromise of budget talks
Norway Town Manager David Holt is a pragmatist. Always has been, and it’s a trait he’s putting to good use while staring at the possibility of significantly reduced revenue sharing under Gov. Paul LePage’s budget proposal for the coming biennium. If LePage’s plan to s…Norway Town Manager David Holt is a pragmatist. Always has been, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Tax foundation criticizes LePage’s proposal
AUGUSTA — The Tax Foundation on Wednesday accused Gov. Paul LePage of slipping a “stealth tax increase” into his proposed 2014-15 biennial budget. The foundation’s analysis found that the governor’s proposal to forgo adjusting income tax rates to inflation in 2014 and 2015 will raise average tax rates “in all cases.” If LePage’s proposal to […]