Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, will present her bill that would enable Maine’s public colleges and universities enforce gun control policies on their campuses before the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee on Monday.

The bill does not call for or set any policies, but rather would allow public campuses the right to create and enforce their own policies, Rotundo has said.

Many campuses already have gun control policies, but Rotundo fears they do not carry the weight of law, because in only the Legislature can set gun control rules, according to state statute.

Signature change

Each year, there are countless attempts by “volunteers” to gather signatures to place statewide referendum questions on the ballot. Many are successful. But how much of the efforts are truly grassroots?

Rep. James Campbell, R-Newfield, has proposed legislation that would ban payment to signature gatherers for citizens’ initiatives or referendum petitions.

The practice has become customary, with several initiatives last year paying people for gathering signatures, including both the Oxford County casino initiative and the campaign to repeal the beverage taxes.

Compromise?

On this year’s November ballot, Mainers will be asked if they want to cut the vehicle excise tax in half. For years, people have complained about the unfair nature of the tax, which is assessed based on the vehicle’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price, regardless of the amount actually paid.

But municipal officials have expressed concerns about losing a substantial part of the revenue during already bleak economic times.

A bill sponsored by Rep. L. Gary Knight, R-Livermore Falls, attempts to strike a compromise. It would require the tax be based on 90 percent of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

Knight’s bill is scheduled for a public hearing before the Taxation Committee on Thursday.

Bill dead, but not idea

The bill proposed by Rep. Brian Bolduc, D-Auburn, to specifically include Franco studies in the Maine Learning Results was voted down 9-1 by the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee last Thursday.

But a similar bill, sponsored by Sen. Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, was modified from including Acadian history to all Francos, and still awaits a committee vote.

Bolduc’s lone supporter was Rep. Alan Casavant, D-Biddeford. Casavant’s vote means Bolduc will have a chance to debate his bill on the floor of the House, despite the committee’s overwhelming opposition.

– Rebekah Metzler

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