The parade of opponents to Gov. Paul LePage’s tax overhaul continued Monday as lawmakers on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs and Taxation committees received testimony on proposed increases to the sales tax and broadening the tax to include new goods and services. As was the case last week on hearings devoted to the income tax […]

Happy Monday. Lawmakers are returning from break this week. Some, specifically those on the Appropriations and Taxation committees, never really left as the committee held several hearings last week on the governor’s two-year budget. The public hearings will continue on the budget Monday and through the week. Members of legislative leadership were largely absent, although […]

Good morning and, for some of you, happy shoveling. Thursday marks the third consecutive day of public hearings on the governor’s budget and related tax overhaul before the Legislature’s budget and taxation committees. The hearings have been linked to specific portions of the budget and the tax plan in particular. Tuesday’s hearing was devoted to […]

Yes! More snow. ‘Cause we need it. Yeah. Light schedule at the State House on Friday. The budget committee will discuss and possibly vote a number of bills, including a supplemental budget proposal designed to bail out at least five county jails running deficits. The proposal has been altered since it was introduced Tuesday. First, […]

It’s been relatively placid at the State House. Democratic lawmakers aren’t blasting Gov. Paul LePage and the governor has refrained from barbs against liberals. After all, he might need a few of them if he wants to pass his budget. But the armies for both sides are marching. The governor’s town hall meeting in Westbrook ended […]

Forget whoopie pie vs. blueberry pie. It’s time for black lab vs. shelter dog (or Golden retriever, or border collie, etc…) On Wednesday, the Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee will hear public testimony on a bill by Sen. David Dutremble, D-Biddeford, that would designate the Labrador retriever as Maine’s official state dog. It seems […]

It’s still a little early, but the paid advocates whose clients could be affected by Gov. Paul LePage’s budget are already lining up to influence the state lawmakers charged with approving the spending plan. The names of the lobbyists will be familiar to those who regularly comb through the disclosure lists posted by the Maine […]

Good morning and happy Friday. The legislative schedule is very light today as no committee hearings or meetings are scheduled. Thursday was a relatively busy day, however, a budget briefing by the LePage administration to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee was postponed. That briefing will be held on Thursday. * * * The Center […]