AUGUSTA — State lawmakers on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee are gaining steady ground as they work to create a supplemental budget that will balance spending and revenues for 2014 and 2015. The Maine Constitution requires a balanced budget, and without a supplemental budget offering from Republican Gov. Paul LePage, the committee has been left largely […]
Rotundo
Posted inMaine
Lawmakers to review Maine Medicaid study contract
AUGUSTA — The Auditor General for the State of Pennsylvania said Monday that he has his doubts about how well the Maine Department of Health and Human Services vetted a company that it awarded a nearly $1 million no-bid contract to in September. Meanwhile, two committees of the Maine Legislature are expected to discuss the […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine
Study misses deadline
AUGUSTA — The first part of a five-part study on Maine’s welfare system that had a target due date of Dec. 1 has not been submitted to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, a department spokesman said Monday. The Alexander Group, the consulting company awarded a nearly $1 million no-bid contract for the […]
Posted inMaine
Lawmakers challenge LePage on contract for Medicaid critic
AUGUSTA — Key state lawmakers, including a Lewiston senator, are questioning a nearly $1 million contract to hire a consultant to study an expansion of Medicaid in Maine. Lawmakers also are questioning the consulting firm’s objectivity and why Department of Health and Human Services officials in Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration awarded the no-bid contract under […]
Posted inMaine
State lawmakers push for consequences if MaineCare ride program is not fixed
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers Wednesday said they want a “Plan B” for a $40 million non-emergency ride program that’s foundered since it was transferred to the hands of third-party brokers in August. “I know in my community there are still very, very significant problems,” state Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, said Wednesday. Rotundo is House chairwoman […]
Posted inMaine
Dems say way forward for Riverview remains unclear
LEWISTON — Democratic state lawmakers on the budget-writing Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee are saying they were misled and misinformed when they agreed to back Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal aimed at preserving about $17 million in federal funding for the Riverview Psychiatric Center. Despite passage of a law change expanding the staff and treatment capacity […]
Posted inMaine
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. […]