The Democrat-controlled Maine House of Representatives has passed a joint order designed to force the release of $15 million in bonds intended to help provide affordable housing for Maine seniors.
Maine voters overwhelmingly passed to bonds in November which, at the time, Gov. Paul LePage said was a mistake that could hurt the state’s credit rating.
On Monday morning advocates held a press conference demanding that LePage release the bonds.
State retiree Rena Heath from Hallowell says that since she retired 12 years ago, everything has gone up except her income.
“And I have friends that say to me, ‘What is going to happen when I can’t afford my house?’” she says. “I can’t afford it anymore. I have a friend that I hear this from every night when I call her in Freeport.”
The joint order passed by the House of Representatives now goes on to the GOP-controlled Senate. The press conference was organized by AARP.
This story will be updated.
