AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Senate has rejected a bill calling for cell phone safety notifications, leaving its prospects for passage in doubt. Senators voted 20-13 on Thursday to reject the bill, which comes up a year after Maine lawmakers rejected a different bill requiring warnings about cellular phone use, and days after the […]
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House votes to sustain Maine governor’s 1st veto
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine House has voted to let Gov. Paul LePage’s first veto stand. Representatives voted Thursday to sustain a bill that would have prevented insurance companies from including clauses in their contracts with health care providers requiring the providers to give the insurers the lowest rates providers negotiate with any carrier. […]
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Maine lawmakers reject new study
AUGUSTA — The Senate on Thursday killed a bill that would have authorized a study into whether government-run health care is feasible in the state, with opponents cautioning against any move toward a new system just days after significant insurance changes were already enacted. The Senate vote was 19-16 on the bill, which updates past […]
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GOP dodges fallout from late-night quarrel over insurance bill
AUGUSTA — Hours after abandoning a late-night push to enact a controversial health insurance bill, Republican lawmakers Friday weathered criticism that their decision to exert majority power could impede passage of the state budget. Democrats have blasted the GOP for fast-tracking the proposal to overhaul the state’s insurance laws, calling the majority party’s quest for […]
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House chairman gives resignation after health insurance fracas
AUGUSTA, Maine — State lawmakers were assessing the political damage Friday from a late-night blowup over health insurance reform that prompted the Republican chairman of the powerful budget-writing committee to submit his resignation and has left Democrats fuming. Rep. Patrick Flood, R-Winthrop, submitted a letter of resignation to House Speaker Robert Nutting hours after a […]
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Maine Senate to vote on health care bill on Monday
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A Republican-backed health care overhaul bill aimed at encouraging competition and driving down insurance premiums in Maine has been put on hold until Monday. Republicans and Democrats debated through the night before the Senate decided shortly before 1 a.m. Friday to adjourn without a final vote. The House on Thursday approved […]
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State Senate moves health insurance reform forward
AUGUSTA — On a 21-13, party-line vote, the Maine Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that aims to reform the way Mainers buy health insurance, sending the legislation back to the House of Representatives for final approval. The controversial Republican measure was assailed by Democrats who said it would force the price of health insurance […]
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House to take up Maine health care overhaul
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The health care overhaul bill is up for another vote, days after the House approved the measure in a party-line vote. The measure comes up Tuesday for another go-around in the House as minority Democrats continue to plead for more time to consider the legislation. It would allow individuals to purchase […]
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LePage defends health care proposal
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage says the House did the right thing when it passed a health care overhaul bill. In his weekend radio address, LePage says the bill the House approved Thursday will increase competition in Maine’s health insurance market by allowing individuals and businesses to buy insurance from other New England […]
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Abortion, reproductive rights debate slated for this afternoon
AUGUSTA, Maine — A group of doctors, health care professionals and lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle on Tuesday urged a legislative committee to reject several bills that they claim will limit women’s access to abortions. The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee will consider three abortion-related bills on Tuesday afternoon. One measure, […]