By Alanna Durkin, The Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Maine - A Maine judge says Republican Gov. Paul LePage's administration doesn't have to reimburse cities and towns for welfare provided to some immigrants who can't prove they're living in the U.S. legally.
But Superior Court Justice Thomas Warren also ruled Tuesday that LePage can't penalize municipalities for providing those payments because the Department of Health and Human Services didn't go through the proper rule-making process before issuing a directive last year.
LePage had threatened to withhold all general assistance payments for cities that don't comply.
The Maine Municipal Association and the cities of Portland and Westbrook sued the administration over the policy last July.
The judge stopped short of issuing an injunction. Instead, he released a declaratory decision, laying out his view of the law.