An increase in revenue sharing will reduce pressure on property tax rates, but lawmakers are divided on funding levels for UMaine, the community colleges and Maine Maritime Academy.
state budget
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Voicemail confirms that Paul LePage told lawmakers he would leave the state
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage and his staff have denied since Monday that he told lawmakers he was leaving town for 10 days during what at the time was an ongoing government shutdown, but a voicemail obtained by the Bangor Daily News with a public records request says otherwise. The 20-second voicemail was left for […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Analysis: Paul LePage, Sara Gideon already preparing for next budget battle
The two-year budget may be signed, but Gov. Paul LePage and the Legislature’s top Democrat have already teased their tacks for the next standoff, likely to happen sometime next year. The budget agreement reached by the Republican governor and House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, will likely require a supplemental budget in 2017 because it leaves […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Analysis: How the shutdown ended, and what's next
Good morning from Augusta, where we have a budget and have gone from constant action to no action in the State House. Weary reporters are still trying to adjust. But there’s a lot that didn’t make our stories from the long weekend. Here are some of them: The impasse popped out of existence like a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage ends shutdown by signing $7.1B budget bill
AUGUSTA — In the wee hours of Independence Day, Maine’s government shutdown ended, after lawmakers and Gov. Paul LePage reached a budget compromise that none of them liked but all of them could live with. The $7.1 billion spending plan wiped out the voter-approved surtax on high earners but still delivered an additional $162 million for education while barely […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine shutdown: Lawmakers to vote on budget deal
9 votes short of ending a shutdown. #mepolitics https://t.co/842As1xhIK — Chris Cousins (@Storytiller) July 3, 2017 Updated 1:59 p.m.: AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s partial government shutdown stretched in to its third day Monday with state employees and union activists calling for Republicans to support a budget compromise that could end the stalemate. The state Legislature failed […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage says he wants a budget, not more delays
AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage urged lawmakers to put aside “petty egos” and send him a budget on Sunday as a legislative panel sought common ground on a proposal promoted by House Republicans who torpedoed the previous spending bill. LePage posted a Facebook video in which he chastised Republican Senate President Michael Thibodeau […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
GOP lawmakers say they have budget plan to end shutdown
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Coverage of Maine’s budget impasse (all times local): Updated 7:35 p.m. Maine leaders say a bid to end the state’s government shutdown will wait until morning. House Republicans say on Saturday their new budget proposal can win the approval of Republican Gov. Paul LePage and end the stalemate. The proposal is […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage hammers Senate GOP on budget proposal
Gov. Paul LePage has again vowed to shut down state government if the Legislature votes for an increase in the lodging tax, which the governor himself proposed in February and which was resurrected Wednesday by Senate Republicans. That proposal drew fire from LePage on Thursday, who accused Senate President Mike Thibodeau, R-Winterport, of just wanting to “go home” […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislature moves closer to budget deal
A six-person special budget committee edged closer to a deal Wednesday afternoon but more work remains before sending a package to the full Legislature for votes. Meanwhile, the clock ticks as lawmakers must pass a budget with two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate and have Gov. Paul LePage act on it by 11:59 p.m. […]