AUGUSTA — After several delays and wavering support, the Senate on Wednesday narrowly passed a bill that will shift school funding from larger districts to those in rural areas. The bill passed 17-15, mostly along geographical lines and with the help of some procedural maneuvering. The bill was sponsored by Senate President Kevin Raye, R-Perry, […]
Maine Legislature
Posted inMaine
Support dries up for constitutional change diverting funds to wildlife programs
AUGUSTA — Two weeks of intense criticism from both ends of the political spectrum appear to have played a role in killing off a proposal that would have dedicated a portion of the state’s sales tax revenues to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Marine Resources. After receiving the necessary […]
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8 vetoes await Maine lawmakers as they return
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — When they return to Augusta to finish up work for the year after an 11-day rest, Maine lawmakers will have to decide whether to sustain or override eight bills Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed. Among them are proposals calling for a study by state health officials into the effects of wood […]
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High court decision to impact Maine clean elections law
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down a key provision of Arizona’s clean elections law in a decision expected to further arm opponents of a Maine law that awards public money to candidates facing well-heeled opponents in state races. In a 5-4 ruling, the court’s conservative majority sided with plaintiffs who argued that Arizona’s […]
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Senate votes down authorization of Biddeford-Calais racino
AUGUSTA — After months of hearing aggressive lobbying and behind-the-scenes vote-wrangling, the Senate on Tuesday rejected an attempt to directly authorize a Biddeford racino and a partner facility in Washington County. The Senate voted 15-19 against the authorization, meaning the project will likely go to the voters in November, along with a proposal for a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine law ending same-day registration challenged
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Opponents of a newly enacted law that ends Maine’s Election Day voter registration policy will outline the reasons they are challenging the law. Opponents plan a news conference Thursday at the State House. They filed a challenge Tuesday with the secretary of state’s office seeking a people’s veto vote on whether […]
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Despite bumpy start, GOP accomplished much
As the aptly named “long” legislative session lurched toward conclusion – a week after legislative pay stopped, and days after statutory adjournment – it seemed easy to fault Republican leaders, running the State House for the first time in four decades. Nevertheless, after a slow start – punctuated by eight GOP senators publicly telling Gov. […]
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Public pension managers eye bill making risky investment details private
AUGUSTA — Debate may be subsiding over the state’s public employee pension system, following the Legislature’s approval of a two-year budget that contains measures to address the system’s $4.3 billion unfunded liability. But with those reforms on the verge of implementation, the Legislature is poised to approve a bill that would make the pension system’s […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine lawmakers off until June 28, but work left
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine State House is quiet as legislators — now finished with a new two-year budget and scores of other bills — take some time off. But when they will return to work later this month they’ll have plenty to do. After giving final approval Thursday to a $6.1 billion state […]
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Legislature poised to repeal Maine’s prescription protection law
AUGUSTA — Maine could soon shed a 2003 law designed to protect consumers from high drug costs and fraud perpetrated by pharmacy benefit managers, the corporate middlemen between insurance providers and employers and pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers. Pharmacy benefit managers are contracted by employers who provide health insurance to process and pay prescription drug claims. […]