AUGUSTA (AP) – A legislative committee is being asked to support a bill that calls for the election of a president based on the national popular vote.

The bill before the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday proposes that Maine enter an interstate compact calling for popular election of the president. Maine would award its electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Pam Wilmott of the National Popular Vote Project said the bill is about more than one man-one vote.

University of Maine task force meets

BANGOR (AP) – A week after they were appointed, members of a task force that will recommend changes about the future structure of the seven-campus University of Maine System held their first meeting.

The 12-person task force, headed by former Central Maine Power Co. president David Flanagan, met at the system’s Augusta campus.

The task force will recommend possible changes in the size and role of the chancellor’s office, funding levels, missions and relationships among campuses amid shrinking revenues.

Flanagan, of Manchester, was on the university system’s board from 1985-95 and served a term as trustees’ chair.