AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage on Monday made good on a previous threat to veto all Democrat-sponsored bills if the Legislature rejected his constitutional amendment to kill the income tax. Mere hours after the House of Representatives voted 82-64 against the bill, LePage released memos indicating he’d vetoed 10 bills sponsored by Democrats. Each of […]
politics
Posted inMaine
LePage says shutdown unnecessary, will call for continuing budget resolution
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage said Monday that State House Democrats resorted to scare tactics around a state government shutdown and he would attempt to avoid a shutdown with a short-term budget resolution. In a short and impromptu news conference in his office Monday afternoon, LePage said he would offer lawmakers a bill that […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Minimum wage increase makes it through Maine House
AUGUSTA — The Maine House of Representatives has supported a bill that would raise the state’s $7.50 minimum wage to $9.50 by 2018. The Democratic-controlled House voted 81-66 to give initial approval to Democratic Rep. Dillon Bates’ bill on Monday. It would raise the minimum wage to $8 in October. It would then go up […]
Posted inMaine
LePage’s referendum on income tax repeal rejected by Maine House
AUGUSTA — In a party-line vote Monday, Democratic lawmakers in the Maine House rejected a proposal by Gov. Paul LePage that would have asked voters whether they wanted to amend the state’s constitution to eliminate the income tax by 2020. The 82-64 vote against the bill was not unexpected but sets up a scenario where […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine’s universities, community colleges making credit transfers easier
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage joined leaders of Maine’s university and community college systems Monday for the signing of a landmark agreement that aims to ease student transfers between the systems. University of Maine System Chancellor James Page and Maine Community College System Acting President Derek Langhauser signed the deal at the University of Maine […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Supreme Court won’t hear Maine appeal over Medicaid cuts
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it would stay out of a dispute between Gov. Paul LePage and the federal government over whether Maine can eliminate Medicaid coverage for thousands of low-income young adults. The justices’ refusal to hear the case means LePage’s administration must adhere to a lower court’s ruling to continue providing […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Collins: Lewiston shelter helps homeless teens succeed
LEWISTON — A Lewiston-based program that helps homeless young people get off the street, stay in school and reconnect with their families was in the spotlight Friday, thanks to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Collins, along with a top official in President Barack Obama’s Cabinet, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, toured two of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Conservative groups push Maine Republicans to reject budget deal
AUGUSTA — Several conservative groups are calling on Republicans in the Maine Senate to reject a proposed budget that doesn’t include income tax cuts or significant changes to welfare programs. Senate Republicans struck a tentative budget deal with Democrats earlier this week but House Republicans say they refuse to approve that spending plan because it […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Raising minimum wage advocates start petition drive
PORTLAND — Advocates for a higher minimum wage in Maine are starting a drive to collect signatures to get a wage increase on the 2016 ballot. Mainers for Fair Wages started their Portland-area signature collection on Thursday. The liberal Maine People’s Alliance and the Maine AFL-CIO submitted paperwork about the drive to the state in […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Testing opt-out bill passes Maine House, goes to Senate
AUGUSTA — The Maine House has given initial approval to a bill that supporters say will ensure parents know their right to opt their children out of standardized tests. The House rejected an effort to kill the bill with an 80-62 vote Friday. The chamber then sent the bill to the Senate. Parents are already […]