Gov. Janet Mills has vetoed three of the 40 bills she held from the last session of the legislature. One of the vetoes targets a measure allowing sports betting in Maine, which she says raises lots of unanswered questions and believes would not generate significant revenue for the state.
She also vetoed a bill that would allow candidates to be listed on the ballot by their nickname, which she says could turn the ballot into a campaign tool.
Mills also vetoed a measure that provides a tax credit to large commercial forestry operations based on the percentage of U.S. citizens the company employed. Mills says that runs afoul of the constitution.
It takes a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to override a veto.
The governor allowed 27 bills to become law without her signature, but sent lawmakers letters suggesting that three measures could be fixed during the new session. One taxes opioid makers, another protects cost of living increases for state retirees and one limits lobbyist campaign contributions.
Originally published 4:54 p.m. Jan. 10, 2020
