A New York bill that would allow police to use a “textalyzer” device to determine whether drivers have been using their phone at the scene of a car accident is causing concern among some civil liberties groups, who say that it could interfere with people’s cellphone privacy. The proposed bill, which would make New York […]
politics
Posted inMaine
House passes bond bill for transportation, as Maine lawmakers scurry to finish
AUGUSTA — The Maine Legislature on Friday passed a package of bonding bills that will ask voters to borrow as much as $150 million in the state’s next budget cycle. Included in a series of bills that were approved by lawmakers is $100 million for highways, bridges, ports and intermodal facilities, $45 million to fuel […]
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Gov. Paul LePage effort to raise minimum wage falls short
AUGUSTA – An attempt by Republicans and Gov. Paul LePage to set a minimum wage lower than the eventual $12 an hour voters will decide about in November fell short Thursday night in the state Senate. A Republican-led effort to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2020 garnered a vote of 22-12, […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Feds buy $13 million worth of wild blueberries
PORTLAND — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will buy up to 30 million pounds of wild blueberries to help stabilize prices and supply in one of Maine’s signature industries. The members of Maine’s congressional delegation told The Associated Press on Thursday that the agency will pay up to $13 million for the wild blueberries. The […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
School funding bill would help towns that lose major employer
A last-minute bill to change Maine’s school funding formula to help struggling mill towns was amended amid confusion and urban-rural divide by the House of Representatives on Wednesday night. It was proposed by Gov. Paul LePage is a response to recent paper mill closures. Last month, the mill in Madison announced that it will shut […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Secretary of State will review marijuana signatures again
AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap won’t appeal a judge’s ruling overturning his decision to invalidate a marijuana legalization referendum, potentially clearing it for the November ballot. His office will now review thousands of signatures that it threw out in March, and a top proponent said “we’re confident that we collected far more valid […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage makes Beardsley the Education ‘public service executive’
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has approved a financial order that will keep the man who is Maine’s de facto education commissioner — but hasn’t been confirmed by legislators — in office through 2018. The order allows acting Education Commissioner William Beardsley to be “public service executive” in his department through April 2018, calling the position one […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
House fails to overturn LePage veto on DHHS bill
Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed an effort by the Legislature to intervene in a move by the Department of Health and Human Services to change eligibility criteria for Medicaid-funded services for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. The veto was sustained late Wednesday evening with an 83-66 vote in the House, which is short of the […]
Posted inMaine
Legislature approves bill to create presidential primaries in Maine
AUGUSTA — The Legislature has sent Gov. Paul LePage a bill that would move Maine back to a statewide presidential primary in 2020. It’s a move LePage has said he supports, but at least a handful of state lawmakers are questioning whether all taxpayers should have to foot the $1 million to $2 million bill […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage plans ‘to go after’ Sen. Angus King
In comments at the Orono-Old Town Kiwanis Club Tuesday evening, Gov. Paul LePage lashed out at independent U.S. Sen. Angus King, criticizing the former governor for his private dealings in the energy sector, which LePage said have benefited King to the tune of more than $100 million. Hat tip to Bangor Daily News reporter Abigail Curtis […]