Maine’s forest products industry needs to react quicker to changing markets and find investments for new products, a group studying the sector said in a report released Tuesday. FOR/Maine, a group with representatives from industry, communities, government and others, said the forest products industry could maintain a leading role in the state’s economy if it […]
Finance
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn budget passes first reading, CIP fails
AUBURN — The City Council approved the first reading Monday of next year’s $86.7 million budget after two hours of discussion, but the work is far from over. The budget resolution, marking a 2.9 percent tax increase for 2018-19, passed 5-2, but the council voted down $8.49 million in bonds for next year’s Capital Improvement […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn council set to vote on $86M budget
AUBURN — After weeks of discussion — and a last-minute unexpected revenue gap — the City Council will vote Monday on next year’s $86.7 million budget. The budget will need five affirmative votes from the council during two readings in order to pass. The fiscal 2018-19 budget represents a 3.8 percent increase from this year, […]
Posted inConnections, Lewiston-Auburn
Free class offered to help people manage their money
LEWISTON — New Ventures Maine will offer “My Money Works,” a free four-week money management class starting Wednesday, May 2. It will help participants gain the skills and confidence to stretch their money, pay bills, reduce debt, find money for savings, plan for retirement and set personal financial goals. The class will be held from […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Susan Collins vote kills rule allowing consumers to sue banks, credit card companies
The four Mainers who represent the state in Congress split along party lines to repeal a proposed regulation that sought to protect the ability of consumers to join class action lawsuits against financial institutions. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, joined a 51-50 majority late Tuesday that blocked a proposal by the Consumer Financial Protection […]
Posted inLocal & State
Sen. Angus King, Rep. Beto O’Rourke push federal campaign finance reform
Maine’s independent U.S. Sen. Angus King is joining forces with a Democratic congressman from Texas to push for faster disclosure on federal campaign donations. King and U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke announced Wednesday they are reintroducing the Real Time Transparency Act, a bill that has so far failed to gain traction in Congress. The legislation requires […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Local & State
Group rallies around ballot question to reform Maine campaign laws
AUGUSTA – A group hoping to reform Maine’s campaign finance laws with a statewide ballot question this November rallied at the State House on Tuesday with about 200 supporters in tow. The ballot question requires more disclosures for political advertising and steep increases in the fines for campaigns and candidates that violate Maine election laws. […]
Posted inLocal & State
Maine lawmakers hear proposals to return missing ‘and’ to energy law
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers Wednesday took the first steps toward fixing what’s become known as a $38 million typographical error in a law that funds the state’s energy-efficiency programs. But looming over any potential fix is the less-than-subtle hint that Republican Gov. Paul LePage will veto the correction if it doesn’t also include the creation […]
Posted inLocal & State
Bill seeks to tax PAC-to-PAC transfers in Maine
AUGUSTA — The top Republican in the state Senate is offering a bill that would charge political action committees in Maine a fee for transferring large amounts of money between one another. The bill, LD 1192, offered by state Senate President Mike Thibodeau, R-Winterport, is the latest in a list of about a dozen bills […]
Posted inLocal & State
Maine committee votes to tighten campaign finance laws
AUGUSTA — A legislative panel Wednesday rejected a bill that would change the way Maine replaces a U.S. senator in the the case of an absence. On a nearly unanimous vote, the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee shot down a bill offered by state Rep. Matt Moonen, D-Portland, that would have stripped from the […]