AUGUSTA — The Latest on veto overrides by the Legislature: UPDATED 4:39 p.m. (BDN): The Legislature has completed its work, at least as far as vetoes are concerned. The Senate took its vote on the final veto from Gov. Paul LePage at about 4:30 p.m. Friday. Of the 33 vetoes considered Friday, 12 were sustained and one […]
Maine Legislature
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Political Grind
Lawmakers override LePage veto on mental health services
AUGUSTA — An effort by Republican Gov. Paul LePage to move forward with a possible change in eligibility rules that would have reduced mental health services for thousands in Maine was rejected by the Legislature on Friday. Lawmakers in the House and the Senate overrode LePage’s veto of a bill that sets a moratorium on […]
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Posted inLocal & State
Move to stop recording, archiving Legislature’s activities stalled for now
AUGUSTA — In what could be a blow to public access to State House proceedings, a Lisbon lawmaker is questioning whether legislative committee meetings should continue to be recorded and archived. Streamed online, the public meetings of the Legislature and its standing committees are available to anyone with an internet connection. The sessions are also […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Analysis: How many vetoes can the Legislature overturn Friday?
AUGUSTA — Legislators will return to the State House on Friday to vote on overriding at least 33 vetoes from Gov. Paul LePage, with bills at stake that would expand access to an heroin overdose antidote and reform Maine’s solar industry. Those will highlight the last regularly scheduled daily session of Maine’s 127th Legislature, which has overridden 70 […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage vetoes solar bill
AUGUSTA — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed a bill that sought to modernize the state’s policies on solar power. The bill would change how solar customers are paid for their surplus power. Utilities would pay rates set by regulators instead of paying retail price. The Republican governor has been skeptical of the bill but […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Democrats in talks with Gov. Paul LePage to save solar bill
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage is considering an 11th-hour deal with Democrats that would allow a bill that would boost solar power in Maine to become law. The Republican governor said on WVOM-FM Tuesday that he has been working with Democrats to make the bill “more palatable,” but he doubted that a deal could be […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage vetoes election funding bill
AUGUSTA— Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed a funding fix that the Maine Legislature approved for the Maine Clean Election Fund. The fund makes public money available to qualifying candidates. The legislature approved an act earlier this month that advances $500,000 to the fund in August. Supporters of the act say it would provide the minimal […]
Posted inLocal & State
Maine Speaker Mark Eves calls for sanctions after secret meeting
AUGUSTA — House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, on Tuesday called on the state’s attorney general to take action over a closed-door meeting of a newly formed blue ribbon commission on public education. At least four lawmakers in leadership roles in the Republican and Democratic caucuses at the State House participated in the breakfast meeting […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Milo police chief criticizes LePage for Narcan veto
AUGUSTA — A small town police chief is criticizing Maine Gov. Paul LePage for vetoing a bill that would allow access to an opioid overdose antidote. Chief Damien Pickel of Milo, which has fewer than 2,000 residents, takes issue with the Republican governor’s contention that the antidote Narcan does not save lives. In a Facebook […]
Posted inLocal & State
Maine public education task force holds 1st meeting in secret
More coverage: Maine Speaker Mark Eves calls for sanctions after secret meeting Gov. Paul LePage says he’s out of the education commission What the education panel discussed at Monday’s closed meeting AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage and a handful of state lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, convened a secret meeting Monday morning of a legislative […]