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In the news
Measure to Expand Early Education in Maine Receives Robust SupportSenate Majority Leader Seth Goodall promotes universal voluntary Pre-K in schools across Maine AUGUSTA– A bill to expand early childhood education to every school district in Maine was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall (D-Richmond) earlier today in front of the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. “Early childhood education is one of those...
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND WORKFORCE BILL GAINS INITIAL APPROVAL FROM MAINE SENATEAUGUSTA—The Senate gave initial approval to Maine’s first-of-its-kind workforce measure addressing the skills gap and workforce training. LD 90, ”An Act To Strengthen Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future,” is an omnibus piece of legislation that renews the partnership between government, education, workers, and businesses, and addresses the specific factors contributing to the skills gap. “By passing this...
SENATE REPUBLICANS RUBBER STAMP GOVERNOR’S VETORepublicans flip flop on their own AUGUSTA – A majority of Senate Republicans failed to override Governor LePage’s veto of LD 521, a Republican sponsored measured aimed at improving the central school budgeting process for alternative organizational structures (AOS). The bill received unanimous bipartisan support in the Education Committee, and was passed unanimously in both...
MEASURE TO STRENGTHEN MAINE LAWS ON MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT RECEIVES UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM COMMITTEEBill sponsored by Senator Valentino directs Adjutant General to conduct an assessment of the Maine Code of Military Justice AUGUSTA-This morning, the state’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee unanimously approved a measure sponsored by Senator Linda Valentino (D-Saco) to address military sexual assault. “No matter where it occurs, sexual assault must not be tolerated,”...
ECONOMIC LEADERS APPLAUD FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND WORKFORCE BILL“Hats off” to Maine’s Workforce Committee for bipartisan collaboration AUGUSTA—Business, education, and labor leaders gathered today to celebrate with lawmakers a first-of-its-kind measure addressing the skills gap and workforce training. “This measure is good for Maine’s economy and businesses,” said Dana Connors, the President of the Maine State Chamber. “This effort is so...
MAINE DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE SCHOOL EVALUATION SYSTEM OF FAIRNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITYDems say assessment must involve stakeholders and measure student progress AUGUSTA—On Wednesday, leaders of the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee announced a fair system to evaluate Maine schools. Democrats said the proposal offered a contrast to Governor LePage’s flawed A-F grading system and was consistent with their effort to strengthen public education for...
SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY PASSES MEASURE AIMED AT GROWING MAINE’S DOWNTOWNSBill to invest in Maine’s downtowns AUGUSTA—Earlier this morning, the Senate passed a measure to strengthen and grow Maine’s downtowns and Main Streets by a vote of 34-1. “Our downtowns are key components of our economy, our way of life, and our community,” said Senator Seth Goodall of Richmond, the sponsor of the measure....
MAINE’S WORKFORCE PANEL PASSES COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE ADDRESSING MAINE’S SKILLS GAP AND WORKFORCE CHALLENGESFirst of its kind legislation gets green-light AUGUSTA—The Legislature’s Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future unanimously passed a comprehensive measure addressing Maine’s skills gap and workforce challenges. LD 90, “An Act To Strengthen Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future,” is an omnibus piece of legislation that renews the partnership between government, education,...
SENATE DEMOCRATS CONDEMN SCHOOL “SCARLET LETTER” GRADESGrading system is a flawed, biased PR-gimmick AUGUSTA—Senate Democrats condemned the “A” to “F” school grading system announced by Governor Paul LePage and Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen this afternoon. “It is shameful that the governor once again divides our state—this time with another attack on education. This proposal does nothing to help students and instead...
Weekly Radio Address: Senator Boyle says, “We cannot let politics or ideologies get in the way of proven energy efficiency solutions”Weekly Radio Address: Senator Boyle Good morning. This is State Senator Jim Boyle from Gorham. I’d like to talk to you today about something that impacts us all. Energy costs. We all use it and need it and, bemoan its expense. Businesses and families alike share these concerns. But here’s...
LEGISLATIVE ETHICS PANEL TAKES INITIAL STEPS TOWARD INVESTIGATING LEPAGE HEARING OFFICER MEETINGAUGUSTA — On Friday morning, the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee voted unanimously to ask the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) to gather information from federal investigators and the governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission before launching an investigation. The Committee asked OPEGA to determine if federal investigators and the governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission...
ANTI-WORKER MEASURES STRONGLY REJECTED BY SENATERight-to-work-for-less bill defeated AUGUSTA–Earlier today, the Maine Senate strongly rejected two anti-worker measures that, if passed, would have weakened and undermined Maine’s economy and workforce. Two years ago, under Republican-control, similar measures were also rejected by the Legislature. “Right to work was a bad idea in 1948 when Maine voters rejected it by a...
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