AUGUSTA — Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives advanced their two-year budget proposal on Monday, but it was merely a procedural move that pushed the Legislature closer to a little-used process that will place the budget in the hands of a new panel. It likely means that a committee of three Republicans and three […]
Maine Legislature
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By a single vote, House knocks out bill sought by pro-life activists
AUGUSTA — By a single vote, the House Friday opposed a measure that would allow the family of a viable fetus at least 24 weeks old who dies before birth to bring a wrongful death suit. Opponents worry the proposal is meant to jam a foot in the door by abortion foes in the hope […]
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Maine casino referendum attorneys refuse to accept ethics panel’s subpoenas
AUGUSTA — Attorneys for the backers of a York County casino referendum walked out of a hearing on Friday without accepting subpoenas for financial records after the state’s ethics watchdog voted to investigate them. The probe will focus on $4.3 million in campaign funds as of March’s end given to Lisa Scott, a Miami woman […]
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Maine House upholds veto of bill to release $15M senior housing bonds
AUGUSTA (AP) — The Maine House has failed to override the governor’s veto of a bill aimed at forcing him to release $15 million in bonds for senior citizen housing that voters approved two years ago. The Maine House vote on Thursday was 89-58, short of the two-thirds necessary to overturn the veto. That followed […]
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Feds want Maine to pay back $51 million in Riverview funds
AUGUSTA — A federal health care watchdog has again found fault with Maine’s treatment of people with acute mental illness at the Riverview Psychiatric Center, ordering that the state repay $51 million in federal aid. Gov. Paul LePage announced Thursday that the state will appeal the decision, calling it a “financial tsunami.” At issue is […]
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Senate rejects Nate Libby measure for more welfare oversight
AUGUSTA — A proposal to create a new oversight commission for Maine’s welfare program faltered in the Republican-controlled Senate Thursday on a party line vote. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, calls for gathering more data and setting benchmarks to ensure low-income Mainers are doing better. It would also add a citizens oversight […]
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Two Republicans, union say LePage emptying Washington County prison
AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage is taking steps to empty out a minimum-security state prison and force a closure over the objections of state lawmakers, according to union representatives and two Republican legislators from Washington County. Republican Sen. Joyce Maker, Republican Rep. Will Tuell and representatives of the American Federation of State, County […]
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Camden lawmaker wants Maine to go along with Paris climate deal
AUGUSTA — Frustrated by President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the country out of the Paris climate agreement, a state senator is pushing for Maine to comply with the goals of the accord on its own authority. “We can’t stop trying,” Sen. Dave Miramant, D-Camden. Miramant plans to ask the Senate Thursday to ask the […]
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Public health nurses win over Senate, look to House next
AUGUSTA — The Republican-controlled Senate overwhelmingly gave its approval Wednesday to a proposal, opposed by Gov. Paul LePage’s administration, that would force him to more than double the size of its public health nursing division. Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, said that lawmakers “can sit by and idly watch the dismantling of our public health system” […]
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Maine Senate overrides Paul LePage’s veto of nips bill
AUGUSTA — Without much opposition Wednesday, the Senate followed the House’s lead to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a measure to require deposits for small liquor bottles known as nips. The move, which adds a nickel deposit to the 50-milliliter bottles starting in 2019, secured the required two-thirds vote by a 29-6 margin. LePage […]