AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage is drawing a line in the sand on killing Maine’s income tax. In a letter sent to legislative leaders from both parties on Monday, LePage revealed that he’s filed preliminary paperwork on a bill (LR 1983, “Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Eliminate the Income Tax,”) to […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Fryeburg, Poland Spring water deal faces court challenge
PORTLAND — The group Food and Water Watch and Fryeburg resident Bruce Taylor have asked Maine’s top court to toss out state regulators’ approval of a controversial 25-year deal between Poland Spring owner Nestle Waters and local Fryeburg Water Co. The group has asked the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to consider specific parts of the […]
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Posted inMaine
Funding for Lewiston-Auburn passenger train study gets House OK
AUGUSTA — A bill that funds a $500,000 study and plan for bringing passenger rail service to Lewiston-Auburn passed the House of Representatives with little fanfare late last week. The bill, LD 323, sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, has enjoyed strong bipartisan support at the State House as well as the backing of Lewiston’s […]
Posted inMaine
Bill expanding list of those prohibited from possessing guns passes key Maine committee
AUGUSTA — A bill that would ban gun ownership for individuals convicted of non-felony domestic violence crimes passed a key legislative committee Friday. The Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 5-3 in favor of LD 600, a bill offered by state Rep. Richard Pickett, R-Dixfield. Pickett is a former police chief and state […]
Posted inMaine
Maine panel rejects bill to block foreign law in state courts
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee voted 8-2 Thursday to reject a bill that attempted to codify the state and U.S. constitutions as the law of the land. The legislation, LD 330, sponsored by state Rep. Michael McClellan, R-Raymond, was modeled after a law passed in Tennessee aimed at preventing the use of Muslim Sharia law […]
Posted inMaine
Wilton’s Saviello says state should take over General Assistance
AUGUSTA — A Wilton Republican said Wednesday if the state wants its General Assistance program run with fairness and consistency, it should take over administration of the program, which currently is run by town and city officials. “I am tired of the argument about one town not doing this the right way,” state Sen. Tom […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
MPA, AFL-CIO start referendum campaign to raise minimum wage
AUGUSTA — Mainers could take to the polls in 2016 to decide whether to raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2020. The referendum campaign, spearheaded by the Maine AFL-CIO and the progressive Maine People’s Alliance, was kicked off Thursday, when the group turned in the signatures necessary to begin the process […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Powdered alcohol creator faces possible ban in Maine, other states
AUGUSTA — The creator of powdered alcohol is furiously trying to fend off efforts to ban the product in Maine and across the country before it even hits stores. After winning federal approval last month, Palcohol founder Mark Phillips is preparing to soon begin selling the powder, which makes vodka and rum drinks or cocktails […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage willing to compromise but not on income tax
During nearly 40 minutes at the microphone, LePage said that if he and the Legislature can’t agree on a tax reform package by July 1, when a new two-year budget takes effect, he’ll push for a statewide referendum in November 2016 that asks Mainers if they want to eliminate the income tax. “If it doesn’t […]
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Maine Senate votes to prohibit cellphone use while driving
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would make it illegal to use a mobile phone while driving if it is not connected by a “hands-free” device. In a 24-10 bipartisan vote, senators rejected an effort to kill the measure and passed it in a procedural vote. The measure substantially beefs […]