BATH — Democrat Eloise Vitelli of Arrowsic claimed the Senate District 19 seat on Tuesday, garnering 4,621 votes to Republican Paula Benoit’s 4,339, with just 3 percent of ballots separating the candidates. Green Independent candidate Daniel Stromgren of Topsham received 357 votes — 4 percent of the total votes cast. The win maintains a 19-15-1 […]
Maine Legislature
Posted inLocal & State
Maine Legislature ad-hoc committee mulls Riverview funding crisis
AUGUSTA — Whether the state chooses to expand a mental health unit at the state prison in Warren may have little bearing on whether the federal government cuts off $20 million in funding from Maine’s Riverview Psychiatric Center. An ad-hoc committee of lawmakers, hastily formed last week in light of the looming funding crisis, contemplated the […]
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Legislature to start work on $150 million borrowing package in earnest Thursday
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers on the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee will convene Thursday to start work on a $150 million state borrowing package. Republican Gov. Paul LePage and leaders in the Democratic majority reached a tentative deal late Friday on a bonding package they hope to send out for voter approval in November. […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
LePage wants Democrats to cap bond package at $150 million
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage said Wednesday that he and legislative leaders are “all pretty much in the same place” on the importance of what has been a contentious bond package following a meeting in Senate President Justin Alfond’s office Wednesday morning. LePage told reporters that he will support a borrowing package of up to […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
LePage says he kept department heads from hearing
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday said he barred his department chiefs from making themselves available at a Tuesday meeting of the Appropriations Committee. “The state is not going to be run by committees, it’s going to be run by the chief executive of the state,” LePage told reporters outside the State House. LePage […]
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LePage and legislators continue to spar over bonds
Gov. Paul LePage’s statement on his $100 million transportation bond AUGUSTA — State lawmakers and Gov. Paul LePage continued a political battle over how much Maine should borrow to fix roads and bridges and when voters should be asked to approve that borrowing Tuesday as the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee met for an […]
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Money pouring into special election for ex-Maine Senate majority leader’s seat
AUGUSTA — Democrats and Republicans have already poured more than $43,000 into a special election later this month that both parties see as a portent to the 2014 legislative elections. Voters in Senate District 19 head to the polls on Aug. 27 to elect a replacement for Seth Goodall of Richmond, a three-term incumbent Democrat […]
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Switch to third-party vendor leaves MaineCare patients without rides
LEWISTON — A change in the way MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program, provides transportation for clients without vehicles has left many stranded or missing appointments in recent weeks. On Monday, Tracy Bennett of Bethel said she’s been stood up for a ride at least 10 times in the last week. Bennett, who is being treated […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
State police say they can’t process concealed weapons permits in time required
AUGUSTA — Thanks to inadequate staffing, crushing demand and strict legal requirements, state police say something needs to change in how Maine issues permits to carry concealed weapons. State law dictates that new permits must be issued or denied within 60 days of the application date, and renewals must be decided within 30 days. But […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage wants Legislature to fast track $100 million transportation bond
AUGUSTA — In a letter sent to the Democratic legislative leadership Wednesday, Republican Gov. Paul LePage said time is running out to reconvene the Legislature and approve sending his proposed $100 million transportation bond to voters this November. Both parties say they support the transportation bond, but there is disagreement over how quickly it needs […]