AUGUSTA — When it comes to making law in Maine, you win some, you lose a lot. Whether minor changes or sweeping reforms, state lawmakers had varying degrees of success in getting the bills they penned passed into law during the first half of 2013. In all, lawmakers and Gov. Paul LePage offered 1,577 bills […]
Maine Legislature
Posted inOp-Eds
Wayne Werts: Legislative session productive but plenty of work lies ahead
Eight months ago I found myself headed to Augusta as part of Lewiston-Auburn’s delegation to the State House. My race had been very close and was decided by just a handful of votes after a recount. I felt fortunate for the opportunity to serve and promised to keep my focus on local issues and support […]
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Posted inLetters
D. Lovejoy: Small farmers are losing out
If the Maine Senate can’t muster enough votes to overturn Gov. LePage’s veto of “An Act to Help Small Farmers in Selling Raw Milk and Homemade Food Products” (story, July 10), then the people need to make themselves heard. It is about food choice and those who would rather have raw milk for the health […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Session ends, but haggling over bonds continues
AUGUSTA — The Democratic-controlled Legislature finished their business for the session early Wednesday, but a bitter partisan battle over borrowing money to fix the state’s roads and bridges remained heated. Lawmakers adjourned after midnight following a long day of votes on more than 30 bills vetoed by Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who has rejected more […]
Posted inOur View
Uniform access for all education, career recruiters
Late Tuesday, the House rejected a bill that would require Maine’s schools to grant uniformed military recruiters the same access and opportunity to meet with secondary students as are provided to other postsecondary and career recruiters. Key word? “Uniformed.” The measure required 101 votes to pass as a mandate but failed 96 to 45, just […]
Posted inLocal & State
Legislative Analysis: Why it didn’t look like the Democrats were in the majority
AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrats campaigned in 2012 with a promise to end the authoritarian rule of Republican Gov. Paul LePage. That message resonated last November with voters who returned Democrats to majority status in both the House and Senate after giving Republicans control of the Legislature in 2010, the same year LePage won the Blaine […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine Senate Democrats choose Jackson as leader
AUGUSTA — The lawmaker from northern Maine who came under attack last month by Gov. Paul LePage is now the top Democrat in the state Senate. Maine Democrats announced Wednesday that Sen. Troy Jackson of Allagash will serve as majority leader following the resignation of former Senate Democratic leader Seth Goodall of Richmond, who has […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Legislature ends session with a tension-filled day
AUGUSTA — Political tension that has been building throughout the legislative session went into overtime Tuesday as lawmakers scrambled through dozens of gubernatorial vetoes and other business in an attempt to adjourn for the summer by the end of the day — some 20 days later than the targeted adjournment date of June 19. While […]
Posted inFranklin, Local & State, The Franklin Journal
Bill allowing Livermore Falls to vote on leaving Androscoggin County moves forward
AUGUSTA — Livermore Falls voters will have the opportunity to decide whether they want to leave Androscoggin County and join Franklin County, after a late vote in the Maine House of Representatives on Tuesday. After a series of back-and-forth votes and a lengthy floor debate, the House voted to allow the town to vote on […]
Posted inLocal & State
Bill to allow uniformed recruiters into public schools falls short; Republicans say 19 Democrats flipped on votes
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers who are also military veterans were angered Tuesday when a host of their colleagues switched votes on a bill that would have required public schools to give recruiters in uniform access to school grounds. According to the Maine Department of Education, a handful of schools in Maine have disallowed uniformed recruiters but […]