state Archives - Centralmaine.com

Bill Nemitz: Feeling good about legal pot

Democrats and Libertarians are creating an unlikely coalition, which could finally make marijuana legal in our beloved state.

The committee voted 12-2 Thursday in favor of a bill that would allow school boards to decide whether superintendents must live in their towns.

Similar propositions have been defeated before in Maine, but now two other states have legalized it, demonstrating a wider acceptance.

The Legislature passes the bill with two-thirds support, enough to override a LePage veto.

Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall says the governor’s plan to take over the function paints too rosy a picture.

The proposed law would bar members of the current and future Legislatures from serving as lobbyists until one year after their terms end.

The rule is too narrow and causes problems in classrooms, they say.

by The Associated Press February 20, 2013

The bill would allow statewide voting by absentee ballot for reasons other than the voter is absent or physically incapacitated.

by JOHN CHRISTIE and NAOMI SCHALIT Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting February 20, 2013

Reducing or eliminating what critics call corporate welfare has proved difficult because of the political clout of businesses, experts say.

Backers say the current reluctance to intervene is leading to property damage and staff injuries.