AUGUSTA — The Maine House on Wednesday, with broad bipartisan support, passed an amended version of a Gov. Paul LePage bill that adds drug enforcement agents, judges and prosecutors to the state’s payroll in an effort to bring under control the state’s growing opiate drug problems. The measure also increases funding to the Maine Department […]
LePage
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage says, “Spinning makes me dizzy.”
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Posted inMaine
Maine House sends welfare reform measure to state Senate
AUGUSTA — In a series of party-line votes Thursday, the Maine House sent to the Senate a slate of bills aimed at reforming Maine’s welfare system, including how state-issued electronic benefit transfer cards could be used. Four bills offered by Republican Gov. Paul LePage were either watered down into legislative resolves or defeated outright by […]
Posted inMaine
LePage allows 2014 supplemental budget to pass into law without signature
AUGUSTA — The political battle over how to best fill about a $40 million shortfall in the state’s 2014 fiscal budget came to an unceremonious end early Thursday when Republican Gov. Paul LePage allowed a bill filling the gap to pass into law without his signature. LePage had opposed many of the proposed fixes to […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Sheriffs and lawmakers worry about veto of county jail fix
AUGUSTA — The creators of a bill meant to restructure Maine’s system of county jails — which is days from a vote in the Maine Legislature — say they’re worried the bill might fail on the governor’s desk. “I do worry about a veto,” Rep. Mark Dion, D-Portland, co-chairman of the Legislature’s Criminal Justice Committee, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Litchfield GOP committee to hold meet and greet
LITCHFIELD — The Litchfield Republican Committee will host a public meet and greet with candidates at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Town Office, 2400 Hallowell Road. Candidates scheduled to attend are Bruce Poliquin, Sen. Garrett Mason, Randall Greenwood and Timothy McDonald. Poliquin, a businessman and former state treasurer under Gov. Paul LePage, is […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Survey: Mainers struggle to pay medical bills — even those with insurance
Many Maine residents, even those with health insurance, struggle to afford their medical bills, a new statewide survey has found. While the poorest Mainers reported the most difficulty affording health services, more than a quarter of residents with health coverage ran into trouble paying medical bills, according to the survey released Wednesday by the Maine […]
Posted inMaine
Maine committee on health and human services rejects LePage welfare reforms
AUGUSTA — On mostly party-line votes, a package of bills offered by Republican Gov. Paul LePage meant to reel in misuse of electronic benefit cards was rejected Wednesday by a legislative committee. The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee watered down two of the proposals, changing them to legislative resolves directing the Maine Department of […]
Posted inMaine
Senate unplugs LePage bill to remove Maine’s cap on hydropower
More energy coverage: House passes bill with rebates for solar panels, heat pumps AUGUSTA — By a broad bipartisan margin, the state Senate on Wednesday again unplugged a proposal in which Republican Gov. Paul LePage sought to remove a 100-megawatt cap on hydropower, which is required in the state’s renewable energy portfolio. LePage has argued that […]
Posted inMaine
Maine committee reviews bills aimed at welfare fraud and abuse; told to save Parents as Scholars Program
AUGUSTA — Ask Heidi Hart about a state program that helped lift her and her daughter out of poverty and Hart will tell you the Parents as Scholars Program was essential to changing her life and the lives of hundreds of other Maine families. Hart, now a lawyer, urged lawmakers Tuesday to reject a proposal […]