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In the news
SENATE PASSES HISTORIC MEASURE TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE COVERAGE AND REPAY HOSPITALSDems say the plan saves lives and saves money AUGUSTA—Today in a 20-15 vote, the Senate passed an historic measure to repay Maine’s hospital debt and accept federal funds to expand healthcare coverage for nearly 70,000 Mainers. “The time for delaying and denying healthcare to thousands of Maine people has passed. The time for...
DEMOCRATS SLAM GOVERNOR’S INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORDems refuse to let LePage hijack hearing AUGUSTA—After Governor Paul LePage interrupted an Appropriations Committee hearing to lecture lawmakers, Democrats said he was an embarrassment to the state. “The Governor has no clue what he is doing, other than to cause conflict, which he does well and seems to thrive on,” said Assistant Majority Leader...
GOVERNOR’S 11th HOUR “CRISIS” DEBUNKEDDems: “We are here to solve problems, not create a crisis” AUGUSTA—During a two hour meeting on Sunday with the state’s budget-writing committee, Governor Paul LePage’s claims of an eleventh-hour crisis in the Department of Health and Human Services were debunked by representatives of his own Administration. The emergency meeting was held in response to letters LePage...
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...
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