AUGUSTA — Negotiations between Maine legislative leaders over the state budget ended abruptly on Wednesday, with both sides blaming each other for the breakdown that could lead to a state government shutdown if a deal remains elusive at the end of the month. The leaders of the House and Senate have been meeting behind closed doors […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage wants to use timber revenue as heating aid for low-income households
AUGUSTA — Maine Governor Paul LePage says he wants to use surplus revenue from timber harvests on public lands to defray heating costs for low-income residents. The state’s Public Reserved Lands Management Fund receives revenue from the sale of timber from public lands. LePage says the fund has a balance of about $8 million because […]
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Maine cold case squad loses LePage’s support
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage withdrew his support for the state’s first cold case squad Tuesday because the bill funding it doesn’t include money for all the new state narcotics agents he sought. “This is what’s important: The state of Maine is currently losing on average one overdose a day and three babies addicted to […]
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Maine economic growth mostly flat, says federal report
PORTLAND — Maine’s total economic output largely was flat from 2013 to 2014, rising an estimated 0.2 percent, behind national and regional output growth over that time. Preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis found the change in Maine driven by an increase in output from health care, social assistance and management sectors. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislators work on budget deal that would cut Maine income tax
AUGUSTA — Top legislators are working feverishly behind closed doors on a budget deal that would include broad income tax cuts and an expansion and increase in the sales tax. A document obtained by the Bangor Daily News on Tuesday outlined several pieces of a tax reform plan being considered by leadership in the House […]
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Key to jail funding eludes lawmakers
AUGUSTA — A final fix to problems with the way the state helps fund county jails could be put off for another year, according to lawmakers who said Tuesday neither of a pair of bills that could settle the matter will gain the support of Republican Gov. Paul LePage. “Our bills, no matter which one passes, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Senate Democrats block LePage’s income tax repeal
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s bid to ask Maine voters if they want to eliminate the income tax was blocked in the Senate by Democrats on Tuesday. The bill garnered support from majority Republicans in the Senate but resistance from Democrats kept it from getting the necessary two-thirds support. LePage’s bill, LD 1367, will be […]
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Lewiston Democrat’s bill passes without LePage’s signature
AUGUSTA — On the same day Republican Gov. Paul LePage said he was following through on his promise to veto every Democratic-sponsored bill that comes to his desk, he let a bill by Rep. Michel Lajoie, D-Lewiston, go into law without his signature on Monday. LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett provided the information about the bill […]
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House Speaker Mark Eves to lead Good Will-Hinckley school
AUGUSTA — House Speaker Mark Eves of North Berwick has been named president of Good Will-Hinckley campus in Fairfield, which includes several high-profile institutions. Eves announced Tuesday that he has been in the running for the job for nine months and was selected unanimously by Good Will-Hinckley’s board of directors. “I’m honored and excited about […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
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 […]