Inside Augusta
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Redistricting commission in agreement on three of four new district maps, final meeting upcoming
Maine’s Apportionment Commission voted to approve new district maps for Maine’s House of...
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Legislative Council votes to reinstate face mask policy at State House, file brief in lobster lawsuit
Maine’s Legislative Council voted to reinstate its COVID-19 Prevention Policy, which requires face...
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Redistricting commission approves county commissioner maps, more votes to come with deadline looming
The Apportionment Commission held a public hearing on September 20 to hear public...
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DMR briefs legislature on impact of NOAA’s new lobstering rules, options for appeal
On September 14, the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Marine Resources met and discussed...
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Redistricting commission preparing to release maps, hold public hearing
The Apportionment Commission, which is responsible for using the 2020 census data to...
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Legal and legislative challenges to Gov. Mills’ vaccine mandate are piling up
There are a growing number of legal challenges to Gov. Janet Mills’ requirement...
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Maine’s redistricting committee off to a slow start
Maine’s Apportionment Commission, which is responsible for using the 2020 census data to...
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Lawmakers pen letter in opposition to Gov. Mills’ vaccine mandate
Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced a new vaccine requirement for healthcare workers on...
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Government Oversight Committee endorses report to clean up Maine ballot initiatives
During its August 11 meeting, the Government Oversight Committee (GOC) voted unanimously to...
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Matt Dunlap ‘confident’ he’ll meet state auditor requirements by statutory deadline
When former Secretary of State Matt Dunlap was sworn in as the state...
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Maine’s ARPA spending package becomes law without legislative compromise
On July 19, the Maine Legislature voted to approve a plan for spending...
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Legislature sustains Gov. Mills’ veto of CMP takeover bill
Though the bill is dead, voters may still see the question LD 1708...
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Mills signs packaging bill, vetoes state takeover of private utilities
Gov. Janet Mills just missed the mark on two controversial and misguided pieces...
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Civil asset forfeiture reform bill becomes law without Mills’ signature
A bill that would strengthen protections against civil asset forfeiture, sponsored by Rep....
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Governor Mills’ steady stream of vetoes continues
Gov. Mills recently issued vetoes for seven pieces of legislation approved by the...
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Governor Mills issues her first vetoes of the 130th Legislature
The governor’s office recently posted veto messages for seven bills rejected by Gov....
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Governor Mills signs bills on energy, telemedicine and remote meetings into law
Bills passed by the Maine Legislature during its recently convened special session have...
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Healthcare group asks Gov. Mills to veto prescription drug price control bill
The Maine Legislature recently passed LD 1117, a bill that would prohibit excessive...
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Gov. Mills announces ‘Vaccinationland’ lottery sweepstakes
On June 16, Gov. Mills announced the creation of a sweepstakes for Mainers...
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Battle over consumer-owned utility pits Gov. Mills against her legislative allies
If a bill recently approved by the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Energy, Utilities...
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State legislatures returning to in-person sessions
After more than a year away, the Maine Legislature returned to the State...
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The dizzying pace of Governor Mills’ executive orders
Maine Gov. Janet Mills is on pace to exercise her executive authority almost...
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Seven lawmakers stripped of committee assignments after entering State House without masks
Seven Maine lawmakers were stripped of their committee assignments on Monday by House...
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Democrats oppose emergency power reform bills along party line votes
Governor Janet Mills’ reign over Maine people doesn’t appear to be ending anytime...
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Protect Mainers’ privacy by ending the MIAC
“Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge...
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Will Maine make it easier for skilled professionals to relocate here?
On Tuesday, lawmakers on Maine’s Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement, and Business Committee held...
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Reisman: Poking the green hornets’ nest
Last week I poked the green hornets’ nest by testifying in support of...
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Potential budget deal reached in Senate, House rejects terminating Mills’ state of emergency
The Maine Legislature convened in person on Wednesday at the Augusta Civic Center...
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Lawmakers convening Wednesday to debate supplemental budget, state of emergency
Maine lawmakers will convene in-person in Augusta this week for the first time...
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Teachers don’t need to be vaccinated for Maine schools to reopen safely
Governor Janet Mills updated Maine’s statewide vaccination plan Wednesday to make teachers and...
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Bangor area residents launch ballot initiative to reform governor’s emergency powers
A new citizens initiative was approved for circulation in Maine on January 25,...
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After trying to oust Maine Capitol Police chief, Senate Democrats defend free speech on social media
More than 70 elected Maine Democrats, including 13 of 21 Democratic senators, signed...
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How would banning flavored tobacco products impact Maine’s budget?
This week, the anti-tobacco organization “Flavors Hook Kids” held an online news conference...
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Mills unveils new compromise on PPP issue, tax conformity
Maine Governor Janet Mills issued a press release Tuesday outlining a proposed path...
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Adding insult to injury: Governor Mills and the PPP
The Paycheck Protection Program, part of the federal CARES Act passed last year,...
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Fake concept drafts don’t belong in a virtual legislative session
Much of the Maine Legislature’s regular business looks different this year. The Clerk...
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New letter defends Chief Gauvin’s free speech rights
After Maine Democrats sent a letter to the state’s top public safety official...
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First bills of the 130th Legislature released for public consumption
Last week our team offered a preview of the First Session of the...
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Gov. Mills’ business relief package too little, too late for many small businesses
Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday the creation of a new small business...
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Committee proposes turning state takeover of CMP into study
On Friday, Maine’s Energy, Utilities, and Technology committee voted 8-1 to amend a...
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Economic Recovery Committee urges Gov. Mills to spend $1.1 billion to revive Maine’s economy
Last week, Governor Janet Mills’ Economic Recovery Committee released recommendations urging the administration...
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Gideon and Jackson’s failure to define scope of work puts special session in jeopardy
Senate President Troy Jackson and Speaker of the House Sara Gideon began polling...
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Coronavirus, Governor Mills, and the Constitution
Governors and bureaucrats are picking and choosing which parts of the Constitution they...
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Pressure mounts on Speaker Gideon, President Jackson to reconvene the Maine Legislature
The Maine Legislature may soon reconvene three months after lawmakers adjourned the 2020...
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Lawmakers express bipartisan frustration over labor commissioner’s absence
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle voiced frustration last Thursday after Department...
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Governor Mills and selective science
This piece was originally published in the Portland Press Herald Businesses throughout Maine...
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Maine Senate Republicans ask the presiding officers to convene the Legislative Council
The leaders of the minority Republicans in the Maine Senate on Wednesday sent...
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The governor is shifting COVID-19 costs to counties
On May 15, Governor Mills issued an executive order delegating authority to the Commissioner of...
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The governor shouldn’t be acting alone
Maine citizens are becoming increasingly divided. It didn’t have to be this way....
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New legislative proposal would curb emergency powers of Maine’s chief executive
In a press statement released late Monday afternoon, House Minority Leader Rep. Kathleen...
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Gov. Mills announces changes to her plan to reopen Maine
Governor Janet Mills announced changes to her plan to reopen Maine’s economy Friday...
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For how long will Maine be under a civil state of emergency?
On March 15, Maine Governor Janet Mills declared a civil state of emergency enabling her...
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Governor Mills signals changes are coming to her plan to reopen Maine’s economy
Governor Janet Mills alluded to forthcoming changes to her plan to reopen Maine’s...
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The Legislature must reconvene to rein in the governor’s emergency powers
On Saturday evening, the Republican leaders in the House and Senate, with the...
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Governor Mills issues order to stop evictions, foreclosures during coronavirus shutdown
Maine Governor Janet Mills signed an executive order Thursday that effectively prevents the...
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Gov. Mills announces plan to open two alternative care sites, floats postponement of June primary election
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Maine grew by 20 overnight to...
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Governor Mills extends state tax filing deadline, deems firearm retailers ‘non-essential’ businesses
Governor Janet Mills announced Thursday she is extending the state of Maine’s income...
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Gov. Mills issues new mandate for nonessential businesses to close for two weeks
Maine Governor Janet Mills and Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center...
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Maine Legislature acts on COVID-19, gives Gov. Mills broad authority to respond
The Maine Legislature adjourned Tuesday evening after a marathon session where the body...
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Maine Legislature to adjourn Tuesday due to coronavirus
The Maine Legislature will prematurely adjourn Tuesday in response to the coronavirus, Maine’s...
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Proposed bill would boost salaries of Maine’s governor, lawmakers and judges
Lawmakers on Maine’s State and Local Government Committee held a public hearing Monday...
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Focus shifts to Governor Mills on TCI gas tax
The pressure is on Janet Mills as the public comment period on the...
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Lawmakers exploring a $23 million ‘pack tax’
On Wednesday, lawmakers on Maine’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee held a public...
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Public control isn’t the answer to concerns about Maine’s power utilities
This item was originally published in the Portland Press Herald. Maine consumers –...
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Lawmakers wasting time on cage-free egg bill
Maine has a $232 million annual transportation funding shortfall. Nursing homes that care...
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Whoops, we forgot to fix the roads
A little over one year into her tenure as governor, Janet Mills is...
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The nanny state wants to take away your vape
Lawmakers on Maine’s Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing Wednesday...
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Bill seeks to limit Mainers’ free speech within 60 days of an election
Maine’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee is holding a public hearing Wednesday on...
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Gov. Mills attempts to appease critics, stretches the truth in first State of the State address
Maine Gov. Janet Mills delivered her first State of the State address Tuesday...
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Southern Maine lawmakers want to build a taxpayer-funded convention center in Portland
The Maine Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee is holding a public hearing...
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Pay attention to looming gas tax increase
Progressive lawmakers are in pursuit of an ever-expanding state government in Augusta. Their...
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Lawmakers to address the grave emergency of electric school buses
Lawmakers on Maine’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee are holding a public hearing...
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The new year brings changes to state and local laws
In addition to resolutions, 2020 brings new changes to state and local laws....
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Understanding Governor Mills’ 10-year economic plan
Governor Janet Mills earlier this month released her 10-Year Economic Development Strategy for the state,...
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Governor Mills finally resolves inauguration debt and receives $2,000 fine
On Wednesday, the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices fined Governor Janet...
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TCI would raise gas prices by up to 17 cents per gallon, do little to curb emissions
The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a regional collaboration of 12 Northeast and...
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Maine must fund waitlists for people with intellectual disabilities
On October 8, 2019, the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) released...
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Plan for universal health care in Maine calls for massive tax increases
The 129th Maine Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee met Monday...
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Like others that preceded it, Governor Mills’ economic plan will be a bust
Governor Mills on Wednesday released her 10-year economic development plan for Maine, the...
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Lawmakers approve more fake emergencies for consideration in upcoming session
Maine’s Legislative Council convened last Friday to consider appeals made by lawmakers regarding...
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Leg Council rejects crucial workforce development bill, denies public employees their First Amendment rights
The majority members of Maine’s Legislative Council voted Friday to kill along party...
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How to fix Maine’s transportation funding shortfall
In June, Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 945, a resolve that created the Blue...
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Should a prescription be necessary to purchase vape products?
Last month, Maine’s Legislative Council allowed LR 2765, “An Act To Enact Restrictions...
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Is it feasible to provide a universal basic income in Maine?
Earlier this year the legislature passed LD 1324, a bill that creates an 11-person...
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Video: Understanding the Transportation & Climate Initiative
Governor Janet Mills is considering entering Maine into the Transportation & Climate Initiative,...
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Leg Council rejects universal recognition, undermines public employees’ First Amendment rights
The Legislative Council on Wednesday met to vote on nearly 400 bills submitted...
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Legislative Council approves dozens of non-emergencies
The Legislative Council convened Wednesday to consider roughly 400 bill requests submitted by...
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Here are some of the ’emergencies’ lawmakers want to debate in the Second Session
It is everyone’s favorite time of the legislative cycle – preparing for the...
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People’s Veto effort to repeal vaccine mandate qualifies for March 2020 ballot
Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap confirmed Thursday his office had certified the...
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Maine lawmakers are moving in the wrong direction on vaping
Following a national trend, Maine lawmakers decided in June to raise taxes on...
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Lawmakers submit nearly 400 bills for consideration in Second Session
They’re at it again. On September 27th, lawmakers were required to submit all...
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Should ballot questions be reserved for general elections?
When the legislature adjourns from session, all non-emergency legislation that was passed becomes...
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Unaccommodating regulation threatens the future of tiny homes in Maine
Tiny houses are a relatively new phenomenon and are becoming a modern lifestyle...
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Does Maine have 500 problems that only government can solve?
The Constitution of Maine explicitly states all bills passed by the legislature become law 90...
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After years of resistance, Maine is rolling out new rules for autocycles
Hundreds of new Maine laws will take effect later this week. Among them...
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New hands-free driving law takes effect on Thursday
On September 19th, many bills passed during the First Regular Session of the...
