AUGUSTA — A hayride accident that claimed the life of a teenage girl from Oakland and sent 22 others to hospitals this past October has prompted an outpouring of proposed law changes in Maine. The titles of six bills released Thursday suggest lawmakers hope to prevent the type of tragedy that claimed the life of […]
politics
Posted inMaine
Public health group warns of heavy budget cuts to Maine CDC
Health advocates are decrying proposed funding cuts in Gov. Paul LePage’s two-year budget that would “decimate Maine’s public health system,” including programs aimed at reducing smoking and staffing at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. LePage’s budget “drastically” reduces funding for the state’s tobacco program and “all but eliminates” the Healthy Maine Partnerships, […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage wants $2 million for legal fees in state budget
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage wants to set aside $2 million in Maine’s budget to cover legal fees in cases not supported by the state’s top attorney, a Democrat who has disagreed with the governor on a number of issues during his first term. The $6.3 billion budget proposal that LePage unveiled last week […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Attorney General’s office says LePage refuses to approve funding for staff, equipment
AUGUSTA — Attorney General Janet Mills’ staff said Wednesday that they have been waiting since November for Gov. Paul LePage to sign financial orders that will clear the way for the hiring of two child protection prosecutors, a homicide attorney, matching funds for a federal grant and equipment for the state police crime lab. The […]
Posted inMaine
LaBonte says LePage plan helps more than hurts, but lawmakers have questions
AUGUSTA — As Maine lawmakers continued Wednesday to dig into Gov. Paul LePage’s recent budget proposal, which includes sweeping changes to the state’s tax policy, Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said taxpayers would gain more than they would lose. Among other changes, LePage’s proposal would eliminate about $62 million in state revenue-sharing with cities and towns […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Federal health care exchange enrolls 59,126 Mainers
AUGUSTA — Nearly 60,000 Mainers have enrolled in plans on the health care exchange. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that 59,126 Maine residents had signed up for coverage as of Friday. The open enrollment session began Nov. 15 and extends through Feb. 15. Thursday is the deadline for people to […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
House passes immigration bill targeting Obama exective orders
WASHINGTON — The House has passed legislation to overturn President Barack Obama’s immigration actions and remove protections for immigrants brought illegally to the country as children. The measures were part of a $39.7 billion spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The vote was 236-191. The legislation faces tough prospects in the Senate and […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Robert Samuelson: Real budget issues ignored while politicians squabble
WASHINGTON — The dustup over “dynamic scoring” is a small indicator of the routine irrelevancy of Washington’s budget debate. Instead of facing the real issues — how much we should spend, on what, who should be taxed and how much — Republicans and Democrats find it easier to argue over technical questions that, in the […]
Posted inMaine
County jails may face funding crisis
AUGUSTA — With the resignations of one member of the Maine Board of Corrections and its only two staff members, county jails could be facing a critical funding shortage. The board, down to two members, lacks a quorum to do its business, including authorizing state funding for county jails. Amy Fowler, a Waldo County commissioner, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage says he was kidding about running for U.S. Senate
Listen to the interview from HowieCar.com Your browser does not support the audio element. AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he was just joking when he talked about running for U.S. Senate. He was asked Monday night by conservative radio talk show host Howie Carr if he was going to run against independent Sen. Angus […]