The Senate killed a Republican bill on Tuesday that would have increased scrutiny on voting college students in Maine. Five Republicans helped Democrats kill a bill from House Minority Leader Ken Fredette, R-Newport, that would have made cities and towns verify the residence of voters registered at a college dormitory. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap’s […]
Maine Legislature
Posted inLocal & State
Analysis: Does Maine have $150 million of unspent federal cash?
House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, this week unveiled her wide-ranging Leveraging Investments in Families Today bill, which aims to expand and enhance social service programs with federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant money that she says has gone unspent. Republican Gov. Paul LePage said Tuesday that Gideon and the Democrats are wrong about the availability of the […]
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Panel endorses Barry Hobbins, Paul LePage’s pick for public advocate
AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage’s pick for chief advocate for utility customers has received a key legislative committee’s unanimous support. The Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology committee voted on Tuesday to recommend long-time Democrat Barry Hobbins, following supportive testimony from Republican and Democratic leaders. The next step is Senate confirmation. The Associated Press reported […]
Posted inLocal & State
State Senate votes down Nate Libby’s lead paint bill
AUGUSTA — A Maine bill reinforcing federal requirements for training and certification to do renovation work on buildings containing lead is dead, leaving unresolved questions about the safety of renovating homes in Maine that contain lead paint or plumbing. The Maine House and Senate failed to come to agreement on the measure, with the Democrat-led House voting in favor of the […]
Posted inLocal & State
Why there are so many Fireball nips littering Maine
When I drove into the drug store parking lot the other day I found myself parked in a litter of little plastic liquor bottles. I mentioned this to an employee who told me they had someone who picked up the empty “nips” once or twice a day, but she dutifully grabbed a dustpan and brush […]
Posted inLocal & State
LePage bill wants health care workers to report substance abuse by pregnant women
AUGUSTA — Maine’s Republican governor wants to require everyone from a school bus driver to camp counselors to report a pregnant woman’s suspected substance abuse. The state says 8 percent of babies born in 2015 were affected by drugs, alcohol, or both. Currently, under state law, certain health care providers have to tell the state […]
Posted inLetters
Better citizens’ initiatives
While it makes perfect sense to ask the Law Court to weigh in on the constitutionality of a citizens’ initiative, that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many problems associated with citizens’ initiatives that have little to do with constitutionality; some are just poorly written. A law can be poorly written and […]
Posted inLocal & State
Heidi Brooks sponsors single-payer health care bill for Maine
AUGUSTA — As Congress debates the merits of the Affordable Care Act and its potential successor, some lawmakers think the time is ripe to create a single-payer health care system in Maine. “Here in Maine many people are struggling to get the care they need when and where they need it. Universal health care ideally […]
Posted inLocal & State
Sara Gideon introduces bill to expand welfare in Maine
AUGUSTA — House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, will introduce a new bill Monday that would expand and enhance Maine’s social services safety net, largely funded with what Gideon said is $150 million in federal funds that Gov. Paul LePage’s administration isn’t spending. Among the elements of Gideon’s wide-ranging bill are requirements for the state to use federal […]
Posted inLetters
Taxing nonprofit organizations
On May 9, the Taxation Committee for the Legislature will be voting on LD 1521, an Act to Amend the Property Tax Laws. Passage would allow municipalities to impose new taxes on nonprofit organizations in lieu of property tax exemptions. The legislation has language that helps protect organizations such as the Hope Association, but passage […]