PORTLAND — The acting administrator of the Small Business Administration is stepping down. Jeanne Hulit announced Thursday that she’s returning to Maine next month to serve as president of the Northeast Community Banking Division at Northeast Bank. Her last day at the SBA is Feb. 7. She said Marianne Markowitz, regional administrator in the Midwest, […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Computer glitch delays unemployment checks to 2,200 Mainers
AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor says there’s been a delay in issuing unemployment benefits to 2,200 Maine workers, due to a problem with the computer system that processes the payments. The problem halted processing of unemployment checks, direct deposits, and other notifications Tuesday and Wednesday. Claimants who filed over the weekend or during […]
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Maine Medical Association urges lawmakers to compromise on Medicaid expansion
AUGUSTA — A band of health care providers speaking on behalf of the Maine Medical Association urged lawmakers Thursday to reach a bipartisan compromise to expand the state’s Medicaid program to cover a larger group of low-income residents. Doctors and a nurse practitioner speaking during a news conference at the State House said they favor […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Proposed mudflat regulations inch forward
AUGUSTA — Following a three-hour public hearing that drew hundreds of worm diggers and clam harvesters from up and down the Maine coast, a bill designed to prohibit the digging of blood worms in mudflats closed for conservation moved forward on Wednesday, albeit in a different form and with far fewer restrictions on worm digging. […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
New England governors ask for upgrages to energy infrastructure
AUGUSTA — The six New England states are requesting that the region’s power grid operator take action to diversify the region’s clean electricity portfolio and increase natural gas supply. ISO-New England administers the region’s energy market, including operation and maintenance of the physical infrastructure necessary to carry electricity to customers. Patrick Woodcock, director of Gov. […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine, sj-web
Municipalities, businesses clash over plan to restore revenue sharing
AUGUSTA — A plan to restore $40 million in state funding for municipalities already smarting from years of cuts elicited scorn Wednesday from several business groups and the state’s top finance officer. The proposal by leaders on the Appropriations Committee would pay for the municipal revenue sharing by ending several tax breaks for businesses and […]
Posted inMaine
Democrats trying to grow ‘bipartisan coalition’ to expand MaineCare
AUGUSTA — A key committee of the Legislature tabled a bill Wednesday that would vastly expand the state’s Medicaid program, as Democratic lawmakers worked to build a bipartisan coalition to support the expansion. The measure, LD 1578, is similar to two others vetoed by Republican Gov. Paul LePage in 2013. Further discussion was postponed by […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Municipal officials ask lawmakers to restore revenue sharing
AUGUSTA — Further reductions in state aid to Maine cities and towns will result in cuts to essential services and skyrocketing property taxes, municipal officials told lawmakers on Wednesday. Mayors, city council members and town managers are urging lawmakers to approve a measure that would prevent the reduction of $40 million in municipal aid next year […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Alexander Group defends report against claim of $575 million error
At question was a calculation by the Alexander Group in its Medicaid Expansion Feasibility Study that attempted to calculate the cost of a potential expansion. The group said that expanding Medicaid, known in the state as MaineCare, would cost Maine $807 million over 10 years. Crucial to that calculation is the projected contribution of the […]