A proposal to require parents to consult with doctors before exempting their children gets endorsed, while a measure to end the philosophical exemption for vaccines is rejected uanimously.

Economic and tax benefits were touted on one side of the Augusta debate while drug abuse fears were on the other.

The new Smarter Balanced assessment tests are aligned with the Common Core standards, which have drawn opposition.

An adviser to the governor also wants to start screening for substance abuse, and says the plan avoids constitutional issues that doomed previous bills.

The state has a poor grasp of its tax incentives’ effectiveness, hampering legislative decision-making.

Meanwhile, Maine lawmakers review a competing Democratic measure that seeks to remove disincentives for some welfare recipients to earn more pay.

Republican Sen. Roger Katz, who introduced the bill, says the Legislature will ‘set a terrible precedent’ if it lets the governor withhold the voter-approved bonds.