AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate, without debate, Wednesday amended a bill that allows adults 21 years old or older to carry concealed handguns without permits. The amendments ensure veterans and active-duty military members who are at least 18 would also be able to pack heat. The bill, LD 652, sponsored by state Sen. Eric Brakey, […]
LePage
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislature’s budget committee rejects LePage tax plan
AUGUSTA — At the same time Gov. Paul LePage was promising Lisbon residents he would take his campaign to end Maine’s income tax to the people in a statewide ballot vote, lawmakers at the State House voted against his tax and budget proposals. Tuesday evening, the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee nixed an income tax cut […]
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GOP House leader vows to fight ‘tooth and nail’ for income tax cuts in Maine budget
AUGUSTA — House Republicans have entrenched themselves against the rest of the Legislature — including their fellow GOP Senators — and are vowing to fight a state budget being crafted in the Legislature because it doesn’t include income tax cuts or welfare reforms favored by Gov. Paul LePage. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans said they have forged […]
Posted inMaine
Video: LePage goes on offensive against Democratic rivals
AUGUSTA — In a nearly hourlong news conference Friday, Republican Gov. Paul LePage unleashed a barrage of criticism against his Democratic rivals in the Legislature — at one point suggesting Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, be placed in a “playpen.” “I just had lunch with sixth-graders,” LePage said, “and they are more mature than the leadership […]
Posted inMaine
GOP push for state Department of Energy highlights desire to lower Maine’s energy costs
AUGUSTA — The $38 million fallout from a missing “and” along with a push by Republican lawmakers and Gov. Paul LePage to create a new Cabinet-level Department of Energy is highlighting the ongoing struggle the state’s top policymakers face as they try to combat Maine’s high energy costs. But a disagreement over funding has Democrats […]
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Gov. LePage and First Lady to honor veterans over Memorial Day weekend
AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul LePage and first lady Ann LePage will pay tribute to Maine’s veterans by joining hundreds of volunteers to place American flags on the gravestones of veterans over Memorial Day weekend. Nearly 15,000 American flags will be placed in Maine Veterans’ Memorial cemeteries in Augusta, Caribou and Springvale beginning at 9 […]
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Health committee Dems reject LePage’s call to drug test all TANF recipients
AUGUSTA — Democrats who hold a majority on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee voted on Wednesday to reject a bill from Gov. Paul LePage to drug test everyone who receives cash benefits in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said the vote indicates that Democrats are “not serious […]
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SAD 17 board approves $38.2M budget
PARIS – The SAD 17 Board of Directors unanimously approved the proposed $38.2 million fiscal 2016 budget at its meeting Monday night. The warrants for the June 4 budget meeting for voters in all eight district towns were expected to be delivered to each town office and posted Tuesday. The budget meeting will be held […]
Posted inMaine
Does GOP budget divide signal ‘lame duck’ status for LePage?
AUGUSTA — Recent actions by State House Republicans could be a signal the power of firebrand Republican Gov. Paul LePage is waning as he heads toward the sixth month of his second term. Last week, Legislative Republican leaders split with LePage on his two-year state budget proposal, rejecting key LePage policy objectives around tax and […]
Posted inMaine
GOP plan offers $380 million in income tax relief; Democrats question how it will be paid for
AUGUSTA — Republican leaders in the Maine Legislature on Friday made official their proposal for the state’s next two-year budget that includes an income-tax cut they say will save Mainers $380 million. Parts of the proposal, first leaked Thursday, shows a plan that diverges significantly from what Republican Gov. Paul LePage had asked for in his […]