But the big issue – property tax relief – remained unresolved. Legislators were trying to figure out how to provide relief. Here’s a look at how the day went.

2:30 p.m.: With five cameras pointed at him and a room full of reporters, Baldacci said he realized time was short, but was hopeful something would happen. “I recognize it’s the last day and there’s only a few hours left. When I talked to them (legislators) a couple of hours ago, they told me there was 10 hours, so I’m watching my watch.”

Throughout the day the House and Senate went in and out of session. Behind the scenes lawmakers met, and met.

5:15 p.m: Bells rang calling House members back into session, but there was no property tax plan to debate.

5:35 p.m.: With nothing left for the House to do, Speaker Pat Colwell called a dinner recess. Meanwhile, the Senate was out as behind-the-scenes meetings continued. “We’ve been working very hard to find a resolution,” Sen. Peggy Rotundo said. “We aren’t there yet.”

7:35 p.m.: The Senate went back into session.

7:50 p.m.: Bells rang calling House members back into session for final votes on several bills.

9 p.m.: Both bodies had recessed. Some senators held a press conference to announce they’d be supporting a resolution to endorse Question 1A on the upcoming June ballot, which they opposed last year.

10:40 p.m.: The House went back into session. Members took up the House property tax relief plan. Debate went on for more than two hours. It wasn’t pretty.

1:15 a.m. Friday: The House voted 76-62 to reject its property tax relief plan. (This reporter went home.) The House recessed, then went back in. Both bodies continued working through the early-morning hours.

7 a.m.: The Senate voted 20-14 against a resolution to back Question 1A in June.

8 a.m.: The House and Senate adjourned.

11:30 a.m.: At a press briefing Baldacci told reporters he was planning on calling lawmakers back to work in late August or early September.

Ghost Story II

Since our report last week about State House custodian Muriel Gervais hearing a ghost in the Governor’s Office, the governor’s ghost has been the talk of the halls, and beyond.

On Wednesday New England Cable Network reporter Kevin Kelley came to Augusta to ask about the ghost. His “Haunted State House” report aired on the Boston channel Wednesday night.

The Sci-Fi Channel has called considering airing a story.

“This has taken off,” Baldacci said last week. “I expect to see Muriel Gervais on television with Peter Jennings.”

A Baldacci spokesman said he had the business card of a woman who runs a paranormal business and has ghost-detecting equipment. “She’s going to come in.”

When asked if he’s heard the ghost, Baldacci declined comment. But it’s obvious he’s getting a kick out of the attention. While talking about a bill that failed this session, Baldacci commented, “Nothing’s ever really dead around here.”



Quote of the week: “They’re sin taxes. The real sin is that we have an executive on the second floor who boxed us in and is hanging us out to dry.” – Rep. Joanne Twomey, D-Biddeford, speaking against raising cigarette taxes and criticizing Baldacci for not raising the sales tax

Bonnie Washuk is the Sun Journal State House reporter.