Politics

Groups Press For Maine Bill That Eases Or Eliminates Some Drug Laws

By Steve Mistler - Maine Public • May 14, 2019
Rebecca Conley / Maine Public file

A coalition of groups is pushing to significantly overhaul Maine’s drug possession and trafficking laws, saying current criminal penalties are crowding jails and prisons while exacerbating the opioid crisis.

Maine Senate Narrowly Endorses Joining Compact Aimed At Overhauling Electoral College System

By • May 14, 2019

Maine inched closer Tuesday toward joining other states that want to elect presidents by popular vote.  The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 19-16 to join an interstate compact that overhauls the Electoral College system currently used to elect U.S. presidents.

Latest Effort To Add Equal Rights Amendment To Maine Constitution Falters

By Michael Shepherd - Bangor Daily News • May 14, 2019
Ashley L. Conti / Bangor Daily News

AUGUSTA, Maine — Republicans in the House of Representatives voted Tuesday to turn back a measure for the second time in just over two years that would have Maine follow more than 20 other states to pass a constitutional ban on sex-based discrimination.

Maine Bill Aims To Restore Tribal Sovereignty In Certain Crimes Committed By Non-Natives

By • May 14, 2019

Maine’s federally recognized Indian tribes are seeking to restore their ability to prosecute non-Indians in domestic violence and certain other crimes committed on tribal land.

Vermont Renames Columbus Day

By • May 13, 2019

MONTPELIER, Vt. - Vermont has joined a handful of states in renaming Columbus Day to honor Native Americans.

Alternative Health Act Scaled Back After Nurses Sound Alarm

By • May 13, 2019

PORTLAND, Maine - A Maine bill designed to guarantee the right to practice alternative medicine has been amended after a nurses' group raised concerns it could create a class of unlicensed health care workers with broad practice rights.

Transfers Of Hundreds Of US-Canada Border Agents Raise Fear Of Delayed Northern Crossings

By Wilson Ring - Associated Press • May 13, 2019
Wilson Ring / Associated Press

DERBY LINE, Vt. — Hundreds of border agents from across the U.S. are being temporarily transferred south ahead of the busy summer tourism season, worrying those along the northern border who rely on cross-border commerce — including U.S. innkeepers, shop owners and restaurateurs who fear their Canadian customers could be caught in backups at border crossings.

Senators Renew Push To Award Gold Medal To World War II Ghost Army

By • May 13, 2019

BOSTON - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators are renewing an effort to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Ghost Army of World War II.

Legal Pot Hearing Expected To Draw Huge Crowd In Maine

By • May 13, 2019

PORTLAND, Maine - The rules that could govern Maine's legal marijuana program will be up for a hearing this month that is certain to be well attended.

Numerous Gun Control Bills Draw Support And Pushback From Mainers

By • May 13, 2019
Mal Leary / Maine Public

More than 100 activists on both sides of the gun control debate were at the State House Friday to testify on nearly a dozen bills being considered this session by the legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. The proposals range from requiring home gun safes to mandating trigger locks, as well as imposing background checks for private gun sales or exchanges.

Lawmakers Vote Along Party Lines Over Effort To Replace Maine's Presidential Caucuses With Primaries

By • May 11, 2019

The effort to replace Maine's presidential caucuses with a primary system next year could be in trouble, following a party line vote by the Legislature's Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. Democratic lawmakers voted to approve the bill, but Republicans opposed it.

May 10: Bills, Bills, Bills Plus Literal Road Blocks And The Latest On The Mills Administration

By • May 10, 2019
Rebecca Conley

It’s Friday and time to catch up on all things politics with Maine’s Political Pulse. This week:

Mills Signs Bills That Followed CMP Billing Problems

By • May 10, 2019

AUGUSTA, Maine - Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills has signed into law bills requiring electric utilities to provide more information to their customers.

Maine Lawmakers Are Considering A Measure To Ease Student Debt

By • May 9, 2019
Toby Talbot / AP Photo

Maine lawmakers are considering a measure that would ask voters to approve a $250 million bond issue to ease student debt.

Maine House Democrats Sustain Governor's First Veto, Allow Sale Of Ethanol-Blended Gas To Continue

By • May 9, 2019
Charlie Riedel / AP Photo

Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives have sustained Gov. Janet Mills' first veto, flipping their previous support for a ban on the sale of gasoline containing more than 10 percent ethanol and killing the proposal altogether.

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