AUGUSTA — Maine Republican lawmakers continue to push for proposals to overhaul the state’s welfare program, but they face significant opposition from majority Democrats. Dozens of Republicans gathered outside of the State House on Friday to support the measures, which among other things would limit the use of electronic benefit cards to alcohol and cigarettes. […]
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Maine House votes to override veto on health care price bill
AUGUSTA — Maine’s House of Representatives has voted to overturn Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that makes changes to the law requiring health care providers to make available a price list of common procedures. The House voted 138-4 on Friday in favor of overriding the bill that requires providers to tell patients […]
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Maine House sends welfare reform measure to state Senate
AUGUSTA — In a series of party-line votes Thursday, the Maine House sent to the Senate a slate of bills aimed at reforming Maine’s welfare system, including how state-issued electronic benefit transfer cards could be used. Four bills offered by Republican Gov. Paul LePage were either watered down into legislative resolves or defeated outright by […]
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Committee approves bill to tidy Maine interstate signs
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee on Thursday unanimously approved a bill that would help align the state’s interstate landscape with federal rules by moving and removing dozens of signs. The Transportation Committee also made several changes to the bill to allow several signs to stay on the Maine Turnpike and to allow others to purchase […]
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Maine Senate passes bill overseeing possible sale of FairPoint
AUGUSTA — A bill to make sure Mainers benefit from any merger, reorganization or sale of the state’s largest telecom utility, FairPoint, won approval in the Senate Thursday morning. FairPoint, which owns and operates the backbone of Maine’s telephone infrastructure and provides DSL broadband services, was involved in a contentious reorganization of the utility in […]
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Maine’s finance chief plans to retire
AUGUSTA — Maine’s finance chief, who has worked for decades in various levels of state government, is retiring next month. Republican Gov. Paul LePage said Thursday that Department of Administrative and Financial Services Commissioner Sawin Millett will step down at the end of May. Millett says he’s decided that it’s time to cut back his busy […]
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Historic preservation bill clears hurdle in Maine Senate
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate on Thursday gave initial approval to a bill meant to clarify the state’s historic preservation tax credit law. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, has ramifications for efforts to redevelop the historic Bates Mill No. 5 in downtown Lewiston. “People have been hesitant about investing in large […]
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LePage allows 2014 supplemental budget to pass into law without signature
AUGUSTA — The political battle over how to best fill about a $40 million shortfall in the state’s 2014 fiscal budget came to an unceremonious end early Thursday when Republican Gov. Paul LePage allowed a bill filling the gap to pass into law without his signature. LePage had opposed many of the proposed fixes to […]
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Maine House defeats bill to move state to popular vote for president
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers in the state’s House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a bill that would have put Maine among a group of states seeking to move away from the Electoral College to the popular vote for electing a U.S. president. The bill, LD 511, was defeated 60-85. The issue is now all but dead in the […]
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King votes to declassify secret CIA report
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate intelligence committee has voted to release parts of a classified report that harshly criticizes CIA terror interrogations after 9/11. Sen. Angus King said he voted to release the report. “Our credibility around the globe depends on our reputation. Today we took an important step forward in living up to our reputation […]