AUGUSTA (AP) — The Maine Legislature’s budget-writing committee on Friday endorsed a $42 million bill that replenishes the rainy day fund while also restoring money for programs Gov. Paul LePage wanted to cut. Democratic Rep. Peggy Rotundo, co-chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, said the 8-5 party line vote Friday represents a compromise […]
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LePage vetoes virtual charter school bill
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a bill on Thursday that would direct the state to work toward creating a state-run virtual charter academy, citing concerns with part of the proposal that places a moratorium on cyber schools until next year. In his veto letter, the Republican governor said the bill aims to halt […]
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Maine budget committee eases forward with fix ideas for 2014 and 2015
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 […]
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Maine bill would ban replica guns in schools
AUGUSTA (AP) — Fake guns on school grounds would be prohibited in Maine, under a bill state lawmakers plan to take up at a public hearing Monday. The bill would make it a crime to have replica firearms on school property — from pellet guns to fake guns that don’t shoot anything. The bill is […]
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In wall of GOP Medicaid expansion opposition, a crack appears
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 […]
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LePage vetoes five bills passed last year, lets another 11 go into law
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage announced Friday evening that he has vetoed five bills that were passed by the Legislature last year and let another 11 go into law without his signature. All of the bills were passed last year within 10 days of the end of the legislative session, which by law means the […]
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Collins, King hail $607 billion defense spending bill
AUGUSTA — A sweeping $607 billion military spending authorization bill brimming with provisions that will support Maine’s defense contractors and overhaul the military’s justice system has been sent to President Barack Obama for his signature. Late Thursday night, the U.S. Senate passed the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 84-15. The U.S. […]
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Defense bill moves ahead without Mike Michaud’s buy-American provision
U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud expressed disappointment Friday with a decision by the House of Representatives to move ahead with a defense authorization bill that does not contain a provision that would force the Department of Defense to purchase footwear from U.S. manufacturers. Michaud has made requiring the military to buy American-made footwear one of his […]
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Collins defends vote against drone civilian casualty reporting
AUGUSTA — Sen. Susan Collins’ vote against an amendment to an intelligence budget bill that would require the U.S. to tally and report civilian casualties in drone strikes has caught the attention of a national blogger who argues Collins’ early vote could put the entire 2014 Senate Intelligence Authorization Act at risk. The vote could […]
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
Board approves modified sewer bill
JAY — Selectpersons voted Monday to approve a modified sewer bill for the owner of a 13-unit apartment building, as allowed under the town’s sewer ordinance. If the board had not agreed to follow a provision under the ordinance, the bill would have been $11,118 for the year, instead of the modified amount of $6,503. […]