Opponents raise moral objections, while proponents say the effort – supported by Democrats and independents – would improve access for low-income women.
maine legislature
Mayors ask lawmakers to let cities and towns raise revenue with local sales taxes
Bills considered Wednesday would allow municipalities to increase the sales tax within their borders. Opponents say the new taxes would hurt businesses.
Maine Compass: Maine values mean that MaineCare needs to cover abortion care
Access to the full range of reproductive health options is vital to a woman’s ability to decide her own future.
Lawmakers advocate for improvements to Maine’s lead testing program
Bills before the Health and Human Services Committee would mandate testing for all of Maine’s 1- and 2-year-olds.
Bill would create office to aid Mainers with student debt, rein in loan servicers
Mainers have more than $6 billion in student debt, exacerbated by predatory practices of the student loan industry.
Cumberland state representative resigning for health reasons
Rep. Dale Denno, a Democrat, was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and says it is ‘no longer realistic for me to continue in my current role.’
Fleeing scene of dog attack could become a crime in Maine
Spurred by a mauling in Gardiner last summer, legislators consider creating a new law to keep owners on the scene when their dogs assault someone.
Bill would ban use of Indian mascots in Maine public schools
Lawmakers will take public testimony Monday, less than a week after Skowhegan residents called on their school board to restore ‘Indians’ as the school mascot.
Bill would set aside $2.5 million for pensions for volunteer firefighters
Supporters say it’s needed to retain and recruit firefighters in rural parts of the state, where volunteers have been increasingly difficult to recruit.
Bill seeks to expand Maine’s ranked-choice voting to presidential elections
The legislation would extend the balloting system to the primaries, if political parties choose to adopt them, and presidential general elections.