The bill would have allowed municipalities to assess fees on vacant year-round homes, as long as the revenue was used to increase affordable housing.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Launching re-election bid, Gov. Mills says there’s more to do
Janet Mills, the state’s first female governor, could face former Gov. Paul LePage in what’s expected to be an expensive general election between well-known candidates with a history of conflict.
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Posted inMaine, Uncategorized
Lawmakers endorse batch of child protection reforms
The bills supported by a legislative committee Monday will be debated by the full Legislature in the coming weeks.
Posted inMaine
Bill would curb police power to pull over vehicles
The bill is aimed at reducing racial profiling, but police say it will make the roads less safe and remove tools used to get drunken drivers off the road.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Gov. Mills barely mentioned opioid crisis in State of the State, and people noticed
Although the governor’s speech drew some criticism, administration officials say they’re focused on the epidemic of fatal overdoses and making systemic changes to improve services and save lives.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Paul Paul LePage criticizes Gov. Janet Mills on budget surplus while submitting petitions to run for governor
Paul LePage was joined by dozens of supporters when he submitted nomination papers seeking to become the first person to serve a third nonconsecutive term in the Blaine House.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Gov. Mills unveils budget blueprint for projected $822 million surplus
The release of the supplemental budget proposal will kick off negotiations in the Legislature – a process complicated by election-year politics, with the governor’s office and the entire Legislature up for grabs.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Gov. Mills’ proposed $500 checks would reach more Mainers than previous relief payment
About 800,000 taxpayers would benefit from the proposal, including 275,000 people who were ineligible last year because they were retirees, self-employed or business owners.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Gov. Mills calls for $500 checks to Maine residents, investments in education and health care
In her State of the State address Thursday, the governor touted progress the state has made in fighting the pandemic while sounding caution about the uncertainties that lie ahead.
Posted inMaine, Politics, Schools & Education
Gov. Mills unveils $20 million plan for free tuition at Maine community colleges
About 8,000 students would be eligible under the program, funded by a one-time transfer to the Maine Community College System.