AUGUSTA (AP) — A group of legislators concerned with political groups taking their words out of context has begun exploring whether lawmakers can copyright audio recordings of public hearings. The little-known panel has spent the last year mulling what to do with the archived audio recordings. Some legislators have called for immediately deleting the recordings […]
Maine Legislature
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Larry Lockman’s immigration bill fails in Maine House
AUGUSTA — An anti-immigrant bill proposed by Rep. Larry Lockman, R-Amherst, that drew a torrent of criticism from Mainers who are sympathetic to newcomers fleeing war and oppression overseas failed to pass muster in the House on Wednesday. The Republican lawmaker pushed a trio of related bills taking aim at cities that offer sanctuary to […]
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LePage veto keeps groceries closed on 3 holidays
Tozier’s owner Dale Tozier, left, talks with Holly Smith at the store in Bucksport in a 2014 file photo. AUGUSTA — A Maine “blue law” barring small grocery stores from opening on Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter will stay in effect after Republicans failed to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto, with the governor saying a bill […]
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Analysis: Maine budget negotiators remain far apart on school funding
A meeting Tuesday of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee showed just how far apart Democrats and Republicans are on education funding with a key deadline on the state’s two-year budget looming in less than a week. After closed-door partisan caucuses over the Memorial Day weekend, the committee met yesterday to take votes on agreed-upon items in […]
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Paul LePage to decide fate of truancy measure for youngest students
AUGUSTA — A measure that would let educators extend truancy enforcement rules to 5- and 6-year-old students enrolled in public school is heading to Gov. Paul LePage’s desk, where its fate is uncertain at best. The bill, which secured final passage Tuesday in a unanimous Senate vote, aims to ensure that enrolled youngsters show up […]
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Gov. Paul LePage says lawmakers reneged on deal to close prison
Gov. Paul LePage claimed Tuesday that members of the Legislature are reneging on a deal regarding the closure of the Downeast Correctional Facility in Machiasport, but didn’t provide many details. Noting that state government sends more aid to Washington County than it receives in revenue from Down East, LePage said during a radio interview Tuesday […]
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Maine governor, many lawmakers at odds with 4 referendums
PORTLAND — Maine voters thought they approved sweeping changes to the state’s rules on marijuana, taxes, voting and the minimum wage when they went to the polls last year. But think again. The four referendums have hit roadblocks as Republican Gov. Paul LePage, the state Legislature and the courts have weighed in. The final rule […]
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Two Maine House Democrats unenroll from the party
PORTLAND — Two Democratic House representatives have unenrolled from their party, eliminating the party’s outright majority in the chamber and reducing their advantage over Republicans to four representatives. Reps. Denise Harlow, I-Portland, and Ralph Chapman, U-Brooksville, confirmed their withdrawal from the party Friday in messages to the Bangor Daily News. Though unenrolling, Harlow said she […]
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Legislature sends marijuana regulatory bill to governor
The Legislature took a big, yet perfunctory step toward implementing marijuana legalization on Thursday. With a final vote in the Senate, a bill sponsored by House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, went to Gov. Paul LePage’s desk. It would: Move regulatory control of recreational marijuana from the Department of Agriculture — as the 2016 ballot initiative prescribed — to […]
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GOP House leader says LePage walking back from June prison closure
AUGUSTA (AP) — A leading Republican says Maine’s governor is walking back from a proposal to close a minimum-security prison in June. Republican Gov. Paul LePage proposed shutting down Downeast Correctional Facility to save $5 million annually as part of his two-year, $6.8 billion budget. A legislative panel expressed support for funding the prison months […]