A committee of lawmakers was sharply divided on the election system that voters approved in November and the state’s top court recently ruled unconstitutional.
Scott Thistle
Scott Thistle is the State House reporter for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He has covered politics and government in Maine since 2006. Prior to that he served as the State House reporter for the Duluth News Tribune in Duluth, Minnesota. A Maine native, Thistle has worked in journalism since 1990, when he got his start at a weekly newspaper in rural Oxford County, Maine. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and an active volunteer with the National Ski Patrol. He resides with his wife, Amy and his two sons Finn and Kai, in Auburn, Maine.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Senate overrides LePage veto on senior housing bonds
Sen. Roger Katz’s bill forces the governor to sign off on voter-approved money to build affordable elderly housing.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Maine Senate votes to change voter-approved wage law by restoring tip credit
The move takes a step toward undoing a portion of the minimum wage law passed by voters in November.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Mary Mayhew begins run for governor vowing to continue LePage’s reforms
The Republican takes a jab at Sen. Collins, a potential rival in 2018, and touts welfare changes she made at DHHS. Critics say the cutbacks caused suffering among the poor.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine lawmakers hear passionate debate on ranked-choice voting
Two bills, including one to repeal the voter-approved law, go before a legislative committee.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Supporters of ranked-choice voting call on legislators to adopt parts of law
Their rally comes a day before the Legislature holds hearings on two ranked-choice bills prompted by a Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruling that the system violates the state constitution.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics, Schools and Education
Senate Republicans offer $100 million for schools if voter-approved tax surcharge is repealed
The proposal by Senate President Mike Thibodeau, an opening move in budget negotiations, receives a cool reception from Democrats, and is rejected by Republican leaders in the House.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
LePage names DHHS administrator Ricker Hamilton as acting commissioner
The longtime manager in the state’s largest department succeeds Mary Mayhew, who announced her resignation this week.
Posted inNews, Politics
State House leaders allow opposing bills to address ranked-choice voting
One would repeal the law passed by voters in November; the other would ask voters to amend the state constitution to make ranked-choice voting legal.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Attorney general asks court to dismiss LePage’s lawsuit against her
Gov. Paul LePage’s complaint accuses Janet Mills of abusing power by refusing to represent him in certain legal actions, but she argues that previous court rulings support her authority.