AUGUSTA — The Maine House has overridden Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that will reduce taxes and fees on certain vehicles adapted to serve people with disabilities. The Democratic-led House unanimously voted in favor of overturning LePage’s veto of Rep. Arthur Verow’s bill on Thursday. Verow says the measure will encourage more […]
politics
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Legislature serves up fair pint bill to LePage
AUGUSTA — A bill designed to ensure that Mainers get to enjoy every sip of beer they pay for is on its way to Gov. Paul LePage. The Republican-controlled Senate gave Democratic Sen. John Patrick’s bill final approval on Thursday. Under the bill, bars and restaurants that advertise that a beer is a pint must […]
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Robert Samuelson: Both parties guilty of budget posturing
WASHINGTON — When it comes to the federal budget, what consistently unites Democrats and Republicans is their common capacity to lie to themselves, lie to the public and postpone any serious discussion of the central issues of government spending and taxes. I use the word “lie” reluctantly because it is an unforgiving moral marker. Still, […]
Posted inMaine
Bill for commission to review Maine’s veteran services moves forward
AUGUSTA — Legislation that creates a new state commission to review the services Maine provides for its veterans vaulted a key hurdle Wednesday when lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee unanimously approved the measure. The measure, LD 721, sponsored by state Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, next faces votes before the full Legislature. […]
Posted inMaine
Bill by Augusta Republican allows non-party voters primary participation
AUGUSTA — State Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, said Wednesday that he wants Maine to allow its large number of unenrolled voters to participate in party primary elections. Katz, considered a moderate Republican, said his bill, LD 744, would allow registered voters not enrolled in either party to cast a ballot for either a Republican or a […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine House OKs keno-blocking bill
AUGUSTA — The Maine House is supporting a bill that would prevent Gov. Paul LePage’s administration from introducing keno without legislative approval. The Democratic-led House gave the bill initial approval Wednesday with a 141-8 vote. It heads to the Senate. It was introduced in response to the administration’s plan to begin offering keno at retailers […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine GOP lawmaker adds ‘and’ & more gubernatorial oversight to energy bill
The agreement puts “and” back where legislators say it belongs in the part of a 2013 law that addresses funding for energy efficiency programs but also creates a new Cabinet-level energy commissioner and deputy commissioner, along with two other positions. Those positions would be funded by a mix of a federal grant and $300,000 from […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage vetoes 3 bills
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed a handful of bills that deal with taxes in Maine. One bill the governor vetoed Tuesday would reduce the length of time in which someone can appeal a municipality’s decision to take property because of unpaid taxes. LePage said that time period was recently reduced and enough […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage cites jobs for women in Maine National Guard fight
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage is opposing a plan to convert a key component of the Maine National Guard from engineers to infantry in order to maintain construction capability if there is a disaster and preserve military jobs for women. The governor’s office explained LePage’s stance after a tumultuous week in which he abruptly […]
Posted inMaine
Lawmakers hone focus on ‘glaring loophole’ in Maine clean elections law
AUGUSTA — A bipartisan group of state lawmakers continues to hone its focus on reforming the Maine Clean Election Act in an effort to keep those running for state office from forming and managing political action committees. The system is ripe for corruption and fraught with ethical pitfalls because candidates accept donations for their leadership […]