AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers have voted to override Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill aimed at helping Mainers get treatment to quit smoking. The Democratic-controlled House voted 131-10 in support of the bill that provides insurance coverage of costs for tobacco-cessation treatment for Medicaid program members. In his veto letter, Republican Gov. Paul […]
state house
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislative committee works on funding firearms for Maine forest rangers
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee paved the way for a potential funding debate on a bill that would arm the state’s forest rangers, recommending its passage while admitting that funding for the measure had not yet been nailed down. The committee voted 9-2 (with two absent members allowed to vote until noon on Friday) to […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bill would help towns withdraw from Regional School Units
AUGUSTA — A bill that would ease the requirements for municipalities that want to pull out of their regional school units is headed to the Legislature with a unanimous show of support from the Education Committee. LD 783, An Act to Change the Voting Requirements for the Withdrawal of a Municipality from a Regional School […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine House speaker offers ‘compromise’ Medicaid expansion bill
AUGUSTA — The House’s top Democrat on Wednesday morning presented what he called a “compromise” bill to expand Medicaid in the state to roughly 70,000 of the poorest Mainers. It’s the first glimpse at what Democrats, who hold a majority in the Legislature, hope will be a bill that can gain enough Republican support to […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine House overrides LePage’s veto on food bill
AUGUSTA — The House of Representatives voted by a thin margin Tuesday to override Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that would encourage schools and state government agencies to purchase food produced in Maine. LD 1254, An Act to Increase Consumption of Maine Foods in All State Institutions, was vetoed by LePage on Friday along […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Democrats say there is a $100 million shortfall in DHHS budget
House Majority Leader Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, told reporters during a news conference Friday that in addition to rumors he and his colleagues have heard this week, LePage confirmed the $100 million DHHS shortfall to legislative leaders during a meeting on Thursday. “This has been going around the building and through the grapevine,” said Berry. “The […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
LePage signs GMO labeling bill
AUGUSTA — A bill that requires labeling for genetically modified food is going to become law in Maine. The bill, approved by the Legislature in the last session signed by Maine Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday, will only go into effect if other Northeastern states approve similar measures. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage names Jim Rier to lead Department of Education
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage announced Monday that he has selected Jim Rier as his nominee for commissioner of the Department of Education. Rier, who has worked in the department for 10 years and who was appointed acting commissioner by LePage in October of last year, has been overseeing the department since former Commissioner Stephen […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
New military recruiters bill proposed for Maine
AUGUSTA (AP) — A second effort is underway to pass legislation in Maine to guarantee that military recruiters would be allowed to wear uniforms in schools. A Republican-backed bill was narrowly defeated in the last session after acrimonious debate and accusations of anti-military bias. Opponents said the bill was unnecessary because there was no verified […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
State forecasts tax revenue to rise next two years
AUGUSTA — The state expects tax revenue to increase in the next two fiscal years. The Maine Revenue Forecasting Committee forecasted Thursday that the general fund will increase about $12.86 million in fiscal year 2014 and $7.77 million in fiscal year 2015. “This is a sign that the economy is improving, but there is much […]