AUGUSTA — The debate over Medicaid expansion has dominated the 126th Legislature, and will continue to do so as the session winds down and lawmakers prepare to head back to their districts. On Thursday night, the last scheduled day of session, House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, plans to present a last-ditch effort based on […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Feds fine Maine $7 million for not meeting work-to-welfare goals
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says Maine faces more than $7 million in federal fines because it’s not meeting work participation requirements for welfare recipients. LePage said Thursday that Maine needed an overall work participation rate of 47.5 percent and 87.5 percent for two-parent families in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program in […]
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Posted inMaine
Maine Senate amends, approves bill to expand access to anti-heroin drug
AUGUSTA — After unanimous votes Wednesday in both chambers, the Maine Legislature sent Gov. Paul LePage a bill that broadens access to a medication meant to counter deadly overdoses of opiate-based drugs, including prescription painkillers and heroin. Slight changes to the bill that originated in the Senate on Wednesday reportedly will make it more acceptable […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Senate sustains veto, pulls blinds on solar energy rebate bill
AUGUSTA — The state Senate on Wednesday, by sustaining the governor’s veto, pulled the blinds on a bill that would have allowed homeowners to get rebates for installing solar panels. Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed the bill that also created a rebate program for low-income families who install electric heat-pump systems because it funded the […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Androscoggin County Democrats to host candidate forum
LEWISTON — The Androscoggin County Democratic Committee will host a forum for 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidates Emily Cain and Troy Jackson. The state senators are from Orono and Allagash, respectively. The forum will be held from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the University of Southern Maine Lewiston-Auburn College, Room 170. The […]
Posted inMaine
Legislature passes budget fix for 2015 despite LePage opposition
AUGUSTA — The Legislature on Tuesday easily passed a $32 million state budget fix for 2015. The House passed the bill on a vote of 136-8; the Senate passed the bill 35-0. Lawmakers wanted to put the bill on Gov. Paul LePage’s desk by the time they adjourned later this week. LePage already threatened a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Cutler proposes lowering property taxes by raising sales tax
AUGUSTA — Independent candidate for governor Eliot Cutler continued his roll-out of policy ideas Tuesday with a new proposal to lower property taxes while also increasing state aid to local communities, funding for education and the budget for marketing the state of Maine. Cutler has also outlined options to pay for the $185 million plan […]
Posted inOp-Eds
David Sirota: Bills coming due in Chicago, and elsewhere
In America, there is regular ol’ corruption, and then there is Chicago Corruption, with a capital “C.” America’s third largest city is so notoriously corrupt, all you have to do is say “Chicago politics” and many people instantly start making jokes about payoffs and reciting lines from “The Untouchables.” Yet, while the Windy City’s brand […]
Posted inMaine
Maine House honors state’s long-serving finance commissioner Millett
AUGUSTA — Democrats and Republicans stood on the floor of the House of Representatives on Monday to speak fondly of state finance commissioner H. Sawin Millett Jr. Millett, 76, of Waterford is retiring as commissioner of the Department of Administration and Financial Services under Republican Gov. Paul LePage on May 30. He was also […]