AUGUSTA — State revenues are coming up short, Gov. Paul LePage said Thursday during a radio interview. LePage said money flowing into state coffers came “to a complete screech” during November and December and are expected to remain low for at least the next couple of months. “We don’t know if that’s a […]
Maine Legislature
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
Mason retains Senate positions
AUGUSTA — In addition to retaining his position as Senate majority leader in his fourth term, Lisbon Falls Republican Garrett Mason will serve once again as co-chairman of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. Mason’s work on the panel during the last legislative session “was especially noteworthy, and I have no doubt he will be […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
Libby eager to begin work on watchdog panel
AUGUSTA — State Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, said Tuesday that he’s eager to get to work as a member of the Legislature’s watchdog committee. “The Government Oversight Committee is critically important in safeguarding the integrity and efficiency of state government,” Libby, the assistant leader of the Senate Democrats, said. The 12-member oversight panel, which Libby […]
Posted inLocal & State
Legislators no fans of term limits
AUGUSTA — The one sure thing about term limits is that the Legislature’s 186 members can’t stick around in the same position for too long. Nobody can serve more than eight consecutive years representing the same district before he’s forced to get out or at least run for a different office. But some politicians say […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
Brakey continues at helm of key committee
State Sen. Eric Brakey, an Auburn Republican, got the job he was hoping for in the new legislative session. Brakey will continue as the Senate chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, a perch that allows him to delve into the details of welfare and other issues in which he has a keen interest. […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage meets with Democratic legislators
A meeting between Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Senate Democrats on Tuesday left the leader of the Democratic caucus hopeful that a new era of cooperation with LePage has begun. Senate Minority Leader Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, said he invited a representative from LePage’s office to Tuesday’s meeting to answer questions about the upcoming session but […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Republicans up pressure on Democrats to OK LePage’s new mental health facility
Republicans are increasing the pressure on Democratic leaders to reverse last week’s decision to block Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed facilty to house forensic mental health patients in Augusta. The LePage administration has billed the new facility as a way to regain the federal certification that Riverview Psychiatric Center lost in 2013, putting millions of dollars […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
No surprises as Legislature elects Maine’s constitutional officers
AUGUSTA — Members of the new 128th Legislature re-elected all four of Maine’s constitutional officers Wednesday in secret-ballot elections at the State House. Treasurer Terry Hayes, Attorney General Janet Mills, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and State Auditor Pola Buckley were all returned to office. None of those elections came as a surprise. The political […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage swears in Legislature, warns of economic peril
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage swore in the new Legislature on Wednesday, but only after delivering a short speech to both chambers renewing his call to alter tax and minimum wage proposals passed by voters in November. It was a break for policy talk on the day of pomp and circumstance, mostly reserved for the […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine’s 128th legislature arrives in Augusta for swearing-in
AUGUSTA (AP) — The newly elected members of Maine’s legislature are traveling to Augusta to be sworn in. The session officially convenes on Wednesday. November’s election left the Legislature increasingly divided, and GOP Gov. Paul LePage and the Democrats’ nominated House Speaker Sara Gideon are already at odds over oversight of a proposed mental health […]