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 […]
Maine Legislature
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Lawmakers skeptical of LePage plan to build psychiatric unit
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s pledge to move a proposed mental health facility out of Augusta to bypass legislative approval caused disappointment among lawmakers who said that wouldn’t be necessary if LePage’s administration would share its plans in public. At issue is the LePage administration’s attempt to build a stand-alone facility for mentally ill patients […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
Lewiston has new clout as Legislature gets to work
AUGUSTA — When a newly elected Legislature gathers for its first session Wednesday, Lewiston lawmakers will be right in the thick of it. Two of the city’s Democratic lawmakers — state Sen. Nate Libby and state Rep. Jared Golden — are among the dozen members chosen by their colleagues to lead them through what may […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Democratic leaders block Gov. LePage’s $3 million Riverview plan
AUGUSTA — Construction of a crucial forensic psychiatric unit in Augusta was dealt a blow by Democratic legislative leaders who, using an oft-overlooked oversight power, voted against Gov. Paul LePage’s administration’s plan on Wednesday. LePage and the Department of Health and Human Services have been trying for months to start work on the building, which […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
GOP leader Ken Fredette doubts Legislature has the ‘courage’ for tax reform
Battle lines are already drawn in another tax reform attempt that lies in wait at the State House for the newly elected Legislature. Republican Gov. Paul LePage and the executive branch have been working for months on crafting a state government budget proposal for the next two years, which will likely be presented to lawmakers […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine House Democrats nominate Sara Gideon for Speaker
AUGUSTA — Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives put Assistant House Majority Leader Sara Gideon on track for the chamber’s top spot on Friday, nominating her to succeed House Speaker Mark Eves of North Berwick. Gideon, 44, was the odds-on favorite for the speaker’s chair after Democrats held their majority in the chamber in […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine Ethics Commission proposes new campaign finance rules
The Maine Ethics Commission has introduced a slate of new campaign finance rules that future candidates would have to follow if they win legislative approval. Some of the new rules, according to Jonathan Wayne, the ethics commission’s executive director, are the result of a 2015 referendum that was initiated by citizen petition. Other rules are […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine Senate Democrats elect Troy Jackson as minority leader
AUGUSTA — Democratic Sen.-elect Troy Jackson of Allagash, who returns to the Legislature this year after a two-year hiatus, was elected Senate minority leader Monday evening by a vote of his fellow senators. In secret-ballot voting, Jackson bested Sen. Dawn Hill of Cape Neddick, who has been the assistant minority leader for the past two […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Ken Fredette, Ellie Espling keep House GOP leadership positions
AUGUSTA — Maine House Republicans have wasted little time in selecting leaders after Election Day. The 73 members of the House Republican caucus on Thursday voted to stick with House Speaker Ken Fredette of Newport as GOP leader and Rep. Ellie Espling of New Gloucester as assistant GOP leader. This is Fredette’s third term as […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Garrett Mason and Maine Senate GOP leaders keep posts
AUGUSTA — The Republican leadership of the Maine Senate will remain unchanged for the next two years, following elections at the State House on Thursday. Sen. Mike Thibodeau of Winterport will return as Maine Senate president after his 17 colleagues in the newly seated body elected him unanimously. With the vote, Thibodeau became the first […]