AUGUSTA — The Maine House approved a bill Monday allowing asylum-seeking immigrants to collect up to 24 months of General Assistance payments from cities and towns. The bill faces additional hurdles in the Legislature and a likely veto from Republican Gov. Paul LePage. The House of Representatives, controlled by Democrats, largely split along party lines. […]
politics
Posted inLivermore Falls Advertiser, Maine
Junk food bill passes House
AUGUSTA — A bill that would see Maine ask the federal government for permission to disallow the purchase of junk food with state and federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds, once called Food Stamps, cleared the House of Representatives on a 73-70 vote Monday. The bill, LD 526, directs the Department of Health and Human […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine tribal casino bill rejected by state Senate
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate has dealt a blow to an effort by the state’s American Indian tribes to open a casino. The Republican-controlled Senate voted 18-16 against the bill Monday. The House approved it last week. If the two chambers can’t work out their differences, the bill will die. It would allow a casino […]
Posted inLivermore Falls Advertiser, Maine
Maine House rejects stricter rules for ballot intiatives
AUGUSTA — A proposal that could make it harder for groups to get a ballot question before voters has failed in the Maine House of Representatives. The 92-54 vote on Monday fell several votes short of the two-thirds support necessary to pass such a measure. It sought to amend the constitution to require that a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine House snuffs out marijuana legalization
AUGUSTA — The Maine House of Representatives has rejected a bill that seeks to legalize marijuana for recreational use in the state. The Democratic-controlled House voted 98-45 against the bill on Monday. It will now be considered by the Republican-controlled Senate. The bill would allow people ages 21 and older to possess up to an […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage allows 7 bills to become law without signatures
AUGUSTA — While Gov. Paul LePage continues to veto dozens of bills, he’s also letting a handful go into law without his signature. A spokeswoman for LePage said that seven bills became law Monday because the Republican governor didn’t take action on them. Among them is a bill to allow an adult to transfer their […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Maine
Legislature overrides Paul LePage’s veto of bill to study hayride regulations
Also on this page: Legislators busy overturning vetoes AUGUSTA — The Legislature on Monday overturned a veto of a bill to create a task force to examine the safety and possible regulations for farm amusement rides, such as the haunted hayride that claimed the life of an Oakland teen last fall. The House voted 146-0 to overturn by […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Medway, Millinocket to have nonbinding votes on proposed national park
MEDWAY — Two Maine towns will soon host nonbinding referendums about a controversial proposal to create a national park east of Baxter State Park. Medway’s vote is scheduled for Tuesday and East Millinocket’s is slated for Monday, June 29. The park would be made up of 75,000 acres owned by Roxanne Quimby, founder of Burt’s […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Sen. Angus King plans surgery to remove prostate cancer
In a statement, King, 71, said he had no symptoms but a medical exam and blood test in April indicated possible prostate cancer. A biopsy was performed and confirmed the diagnosis. King said body scans found no sign of the cancer beyond the prostate area. “So it might seem unusual to say this, but today, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine legislators working on more than state budget
AUGUSTA — Debate over the $6.7 billion Maine budget dominated discussions at the State House last week, but lawmakers were also busy slogging through dozens of bills as they try to wrap up their work for the year. Even those measures approved by the Democrat-controlled House and Republican-led Senate face an uncertain future. Republican Gov. […]