Stories about Politics

"Historic" energy bill clears legislative committee, 12-1

AUGUSTA — A bill aimed at lowering the costs of energy while dramatically changing the way Mainers consume it vaulted out of a key legislative committee on a 12-1 vote Friday. The vote came after months of hearings, negotiations, compromises and outright wrangling among Democrats, Re... 3

Auburn Democrats to meet

AUBURN — The monthly meeting of the Auburn Democratic City Committee will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at Auburn Hall. Jonathan Hillier, field director of the Maine Democratic Party, will address the committee. Steve Woods, chairman of the Yarmouth Town Council and a bus...

LePage wastes no time vetoing bill linking hospital debt, Medicaid

AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage handed down an instant veto Thursday, minutes after the Senate gave final passage to a bill that links repayment of Maine’s hospital debt to an expansion of the state’s Medicaid program. LePage, during an impromptu appearance in the State House ... 27

Agitated LePage says he will move governor's office from State House

AUGUSTA — To protest not being able to have a television display outside his office, Gov. Paul LePage says he will move out of the State House. Democrats said LePage was angry because he was not allowed to have a television screen outside his office displaying the number of days sinc... 86

Lawmakers push off pay-freeze bill until 2014

AUGUSTA — State lawmakers Wednesday iced a bill that would have docked lawmakers' pay if the Legislature failed to reach a budget agreement and Maine government shut down. Despite saying they favored 5

Bill would require ex-legislators to wait 1 year before becoming lobbyists

AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers who look to take up lobbying after their state service would be subject to new rules in a bill approved by the Legislature is signed by the governor. The Senate on Tuesday gave final approval to the bill and sent it to Gov. Paul LePage. It would prohibit a f... 5

Veto likely for bill to pay hospitals

AUGUSTA —  Even though Gov. Paul LePage's office made it clear Wednesday he'll veto a bill to pay off a $484 million debt to Maine hospitals because of an amendment to expand Medicaid, Democrats professed hope the Republican governor will relent and considered passage a victory. 59

New law requires suicide prevention training for Maine schools

AUGUSTA — A bill that state Rep. Paul Gilbert has called the most important of his legislative career was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Paul LePage. The bill, LD 609, is aimed at increasing suicide awareness and prevention in the state's public schools by requiring training for all... 2

Maine lawmakers refuse to repeal health care law

AUGUSTA— The Legislature has said no to a move to bar enforcement of the national health care law. The Senate on Tuesday agreed with the House and voted to kill a bill that labeled the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 a violation of the United States Constit...

Lawmakers get first look at bill that overhauls Maine's tax system

AUGUSTA — A bill that would make sweeping changes to the way Maine collects taxes on income, sales and property received a mixed reaction from members of the Legislature's Taxation Committee Tuesday. The bill, 2