The Maine Legislature was back Thursday for what we thought was possibly their last day, but leaders quickly decided that the session that led to the first state government shutdown since 1991 will keep on giving into August.
That protracted budget fight set the Legislature’s other business back significantly, leaving them to consider $200 million in proposed bonds Thursday, hold final votes on several bills that affect state finances and act on more than 10 bills vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage.
Lawmakers did a lot of work yesterday, including sending a $105 million transportation bond to LePage’s desk alongside high-profile bills to raise the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 and ban cellphone use while driving, as well as a host of more minor proposals.
Those are all now subject to LePage’s veto pen, so legislative leaders set a date of Aug. 2 to vote to override any vetoes. But they also left a lot more work for summer’s dog days.
Two other bonds — $55 million for Maine’s biomedical industry and $40 million for a student debt relief plan backed by LePage and Democrats — were tabled in the House for lack of Republican support, leaving advocates to scramble for support or amendments by next month.
The highest-profile LePage veto never came up yesterday. That was on a hotly contested bill that would slightly liberalize solar policy in Maine.
Dylan Voorhees, a lobbyist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, which backs the bill, said on Twitter that a behind-the-scenes “political circus” held up a vote on Thursday. It’s being opposed by Central Maine Power.
So, we’ll see everyone back at the State House in August. Here’s your soundtrack. Let’s just hope it’s actually almost over.
