The House voted 92-52 to support allowing unenrolled voters to vote in a party’s primary without having to register in that party.
maine politics
Mills submits plan to Legislature for spending $1 billion in federal relief
Lawmakers are under the gun to review the Mills administration’s plan for spending $997.5 million from the American Rescue Plan, with less than two weeks left in the session.
Sen. Collins says colleagues missed an opportunity to get to the bottom of Jan. 6 insurrection
Republicans in the U.S. Senate blocked passage of a bill that would have set up a nonpartisan commission to investigate the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol spurred on by former President Donald Trump.
Legislative panel votes down bill to penalize drug companies for price gouging
The pharmaceutical industry has made it clear that it will sue Maine if the state approves the ‘excessive pricing’ bill, which now goes to the full Legislature.
Jim Fossel: Maine should limit all PAC contributions
A cap and tax on business, nonprofit and union contributions would do more than a corporate donation ban to reduce the influence of big money in politics.
Coalition pushes for $115 million in bonds to buy Maine lands, maintain parks
The effort has drawn together groups that include farmland preservationists, fishermen, real estate agents and an economic development organization.
Advocates of consumer-owned power utility unveil plan to oust CMP, Versant
A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and advocates is touting a proposal to revoke the monopoly status of the state’s 2 largest power distribution companies and force them to sell their assets to a consumer-owned nonprofit.
Proposed ballot initiative to block non-citizens from voting falls short
The Maine Secretary of State’s Office says the initiative, inspired by debate in Portland about allowing non-citizens to vote in city elections, did not have enough valid signatures.
Maine Senate rejects attempt to end COVID-19 state of emergency
Republicans have been pushing since last spring to rein in Gov. Janet Mills’ emergency powers during the pandemic, arguing lawmakers should have a seat at the table.
State validates more than 80,000 signatures for new CMP corridor referendum
The Secretary of State’s Office finds 80,506 valid signatures, more than enough to put the issue on the November ballot.