But lawmakers uphold the governor’s veto of a ban on cellphones and other handheld electronics while driving.
Scott Thistle
Scott Thistle is the State House reporter for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He has covered politics and government in Maine since 2006. Prior to that he served as the State House reporter for the Duluth News Tribune in Duluth, Minnesota. A Maine native, Thistle has worked in journalism since 1990, when he got his start at a weekly newspaper in rural Oxford County, Maine. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and an active volunteer with the National Ski Patrol. He resides with his wife, Amy and his two sons Finn and Kai, in Auburn, Maine. @thisdog
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine’s secretary of state says he will reject second request for voter registration data
Matt Dunlap said he won’t share data unless a federal voter fraud commission he serves on sets goals and resolves privacy concerns.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
State ends fiscal year with $111 million surplus
The LePage administration will deposit $46 million from the surplus into two funds that stabilize the state budget and provide income tax relief.
Posted inLocal & State, News
LePage takes aim at alleged abuse of woodland tax breaks
The governor has previously said the state’s tree growth tax program and nonprofit land trusts are robbing municipalities.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
Sen. Collins heard on live mic saying ‘I’m worried’ about Trump, Farenthold is ‘so unattractive’
Maine’s senior U.S. senator was talking with Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who said the president is ‘crazy.’
Posted inLocal & State, News
Gov. LePage on 2 bills he vetoed: Stop ‘social engineering’
He rejects laws to ban the use of hand-held devices while driving and raise the legal age for buying tobacco to 21, but legislators will have a chance to override.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
ACLU calls on LePage to stop censoring posts to his Facebook page
The group wants him to stop deleting comments he doesn’t like and cutting off access to some citizens, but a spokesman says the governor doesn’t control the page.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Luxury hotels, fine dining for LePage on taxpayers’ dime
Some of the $35,000 spent by the governor and staff in D.C. is reimbursed, but he withholds details on expenses and dozens of ‘private appointments.’
Posted inLocal & State, News
Bill raising legal age to buy tobacco products awaits LePage’s signature
The governor’s position is unknown, but his signature would make Maine the fifth state to raise the age to 21.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
House passes bill to require agriculture department to test marijuana for safety
But the measure faces further votes in the Legislature and scrutiny from Gov. LePage, who wants the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to oversee recreational pot.