AUGUSTA — For close to six hours Monday afternoon, the Joint Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs at the State House heard arguments from an overflow crowd of concerned teachers, parents and students on the pros and cons of proficiency-based learning. In 2012, state legislators passed a law that requires high school students to show […]
legislation
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage slams municipal group as ‘enemy of elderly’
Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday lambasted a legislative committee for watering down a bill he initiated to try to protect the elderly from tax-lien foreclosure and urged Mainers to contact legislators. LePage also went after the Maine Municipal Association, which he said “has proven that it is the enemy of the elderly in Maine” by supporting the […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine, sj-web
What the education panel discussed at Monday’s closed meeting
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage and his education chief want every student in Maine to reach grade-level proficiency in reading by third grade, according to an attendee of a new task force that met behind closed doors Monday morning at the Blaine House. Democratic Sen. Justin Alfond of Portland, a former Education Committee member and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bill restricting video of voters goes to Gov. Paul LePage
AUGUSTA — A bill that aims to make it harder to use video cameras to intimidate voters is on its way to the desk of Gov. Paul LePage. The Maine Senate on Tuesday voted unanimously to enact the bill, which the House approved last week. The bill would establish a 15-foot minimum distance between video […]
Posted inMaine
Report: Maine’s Bureau of Veterans Services should be upgraded, expanded
AUGUSTA — A new report released Friday is recommending Maine’s Bureau of Veterans Services be expanded and revamped so it can better serve the state’s estimated 140,000 military veterans. The report shows it’s been more than 15 years since the bureau has received any updated policies or targeted funding, and that younger veterans — those from […]
Posted inMaine
Rotundo bill aims to secure funding for college aspirations program
LEWISTON — New legislation proposed by state Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, aims to protect and secure funding for a local nonprofit that has been working to increase the number of people in Androscoggin County with college degrees. Rotundo said the bill is necessary because an intended $75,000 appropriation meant for the organization in 2015 was […]
Posted inMaine
Collins supports federal bill to help homeless youth
An Auburn woman joined iconic 1980s pop singer Cyndi Lauper, among others, Wednesday to testify before a congressional committee in Washington, D.C., on the issue of youth homelessness in the United States. Brittany Dixon spoke to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee about her experience with homelessness in Maine, urging lawmakers to support […]
Posted inMaine
Funding for Lewiston-Auburn passenger train study gets House OK
AUGUSTA — A bill that funds a $500,000 study and plan for bringing passenger rail service to Lewiston-Auburn passed the House of Representatives with little fanfare late last week. The bill, LD 323, sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, has enjoyed strong bipartisan support at the State House as well as the backing of Lewiston’s […]
Posted inMaine
Bill expanding list of those prohibited from possessing guns passes key Maine committee
AUGUSTA — A bill that would ban gun ownership for individuals convicted of non-felony domestic violence crimes passed a key legislative committee Friday. The Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 5-3 in favor of LD 600, a bill offered by state Rep. Richard Pickett, R-Dixfield. Pickett is a former police chief and state […]
Posted inMaine
Wilton’s Saviello says state should take over General Assistance
AUGUSTA — A Wilton Republican said Wednesday if the state wants its General Assistance program run with fairness and consistency, it should take over administration of the program, which currently is run by town and city officials. “I am tired of the argument about one town not doing this the right way,” state Sen. Tom […]