Sen. Rick Bennett said closed-door party caucuses at the State House are increasingly being used to make legislative decisions, and that his bill would provide more transparency into how lawmakers are conducting business.
Politics
Local, statewide and national political news from the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Sen. Collins meets with other lawmakers critical of Elon Musk’s moves to cut agencies, workforce
Meanwhile, Sen. Angus King and 7 colleagues sent a letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles raising national security concerns about Musk and his team accessing classified and sensitive information.
Maine delegation rejects Trump’s plan to take over Gaza as dangerous, unserious
Sen. Susan Collins doubts the plan would work and says it might be a negotiating tactic, Sen. Angus King says it’s dangerous and Rep. Chellie Pingree calls it sickening and reckless.
Maine attorney general dismisses Trump effort to restrict gender-affirming care
Aaron Frey and 14 other state attorneys general said the president’s executive order is ‘is wrong on the science and the law.’
Maine nonprofit’s humanitarian work in Africa jeopardized by Trump’s dismantling of USAID
Hallowell-based MCD Global Health said the White House’s effort to eliminate USAID has halted its work to combat malaria in Mozambique, Uganda and Niger.
Some of Maine’s bail violation charges could be eliminated by proposed bill
Maine is one of a handful of states that treat bail violation as a new criminal charge, even when the alleged misconduct isn’t inherently criminal.
Amid a deluge of constituent calls, Maine’s delegation challenges Elon Musk’s authority
Rep. Chellie Pingree says the tech billionaire’s access to sensitive personal information and aggressive efforts to cut federal spending have caused a flood of calls to her office from ‘panic-stricken’ Mainers.
Maine members of Congress pushing to eliminate trade penalty on PFAS-free outerwear
Because of a loophole, water-resistant clothing made with harmful ‘forever chemicals’ qualifies for a lower import tax. New legislation seeks to change that.
Maine’s maple syrup industry could get boost from federal legislation
Sens. Collins and King are supporting the MAPLE and SAP acts to promote U.S. maple syrup producers.
Lawmaker and secretary of state clash over constitutional amendment on voting by noncitizens
Rep. Laurel Libby told fellow lawmakers that her proposal would boost the integrity of Maine’s elections, though opponents, including the Maine secretary of state, say it’s unnecessary and could foster anti-immigrant sentiment.