Stateline Headlines

Ignore LePage politics, get to root of DHHS funding needs

LePage hopes to eliminate income tax by end of second term

LePage veto: Ban tobacco in Maine entirely, or not at all

Maine Senate approves bill that links Medicaid expansion to hospital debt repayment

Maine protects a woman’s right to choose

With legal fight far from over, embattled Blue Hill raw milk producer will file for bankruptcy

Democrats kill bills that would have given rights to fetuses, changed abortion requirements

LePage: State will run out of money for DHHS bills June 10

LePage vetoes bill calling for Internet sales tax study

Will a new class of dental professionals improve oral care in Maine? Dentists, lawmakers disagree

Silenced by legislators at budget talks, LePage says Mainers are being played for ‘patsies’

Problems at the threshold of Maine energy reform

Liquor, hospital debt and Medicaid expansion headed for vote — all in one bill

Committee shoots down bill that would allow school staff to be armed

Abortion rights debate reignites at State House with introduction of three bills

Avoiding a self-fulfilling state shutdown

Lawmakers snuff out plan for raising tobacco taxes

LePage vetoes bill to let school districts change how they pass budgets

Republicans express surprise as lawmakers link Medicaid expansion to hospital payback

Panhandlers must abide by general assistance rules

LePage to Maine mayors: I made tough choices, so can you

Bill requiring food producers to label products containing genetically modified organisms passes state committee test

Bill to legalize marijuana fails, but support emerges for statewide vote

Energy bill seeks compromise between lower costs sought by LePage, efficiency sought by Dems

Lawmakers ask: Are business tax breaks working to create jobs in Maine?

Redirecting Maine’s wind energy policy

Lawmakers stand squarely behind measure to audit Maine military sex assault laws

State panel rejects tar sands moratorium, opts for study instead

Portland leaders call out LePage, state government as local school budget vote looms

LePage accuses union of lying, ‘manufacturing a crisis’ over shutdown planning

A fair deal for raw milk

Democrats stall teacher evaluation rules until LePage reveals education agenda

Is 2013 the year for tax reform in Maine?

Did LePage just endorse part of Obamacare? It matters for Medicaid

Should Maine allow teachers to carry guns in school?

Northern New England seeing surge in heroin use

LePage’s education credibility problem

Maine’s Legislative Council approves $30,000 to help victims of Lewiston fires

LePage wants wind energy goals out of Maine law

LePage bill lifts cap on charter schools, lets public money go to religious schools

Committee rejects food stamp junk food ban

A sticking point: Reject ‘vaccinations disclosure’ bill

Regulating a proposed resurgence in mining under debate in Augusta

Lawmakers vote to ban ethanol in Maine

LePage: ‘Gang of 11’ tax reform a ‘bad deal’

Raw milk, poultry and produce: Bills easing small-farm oversight clear big legislative hurdle

LePage’s budget changes use bond delay, one-time revenue gain to fill $60 million gap

What you can do for Lewiston

State employees union drops complaint that LePage illegally contracted work

Senate chairman of committee working on hospital debt, liquor contract deal does not want Medicaid expansion as part of package

LePage issues fourth veto on same day Maine House fails to override his third

Education committee stalls charter school funding proposal that was made at their request

State union, governor’s office at odds over whether government shutdown is ‘inevitable’

Transportation Committee votes to kill east-west highway feasibility study

After Expanding Coverage, Health Care Pioneer Seeks to Tame Costs

The Affordable Care Act will extend health care coverage to almost everybody. Now states are moving on to the next frontier in health care reform: containing costs. Once again, Massachusetts is taking the lead by putting its health care industry on an annual budget and requiring all insurers and medical providers to make detailed price lists available to the public.

Tanning-Bed Bills Burn With Controversy

Republican governors take different sides on teen tanning.

Northeastern States To Drastically Cut Emissions Cap

Nine Northeastern states will drastically cut the region’s carbon cap under proposed changes to the region’s cap-and- trade program, they announced Thursday.

Maine State of the State Address 2013

AUGUSTA, Maine Feb 5 Following is the prepared text for Gov. Paul LePage's 2013 State of the State Address

America’s Capital of Divided Government

As most states turn redder or bluer, Maine goes bright purple.

College Enrollment Expected to Slip

Maine has struggled to maintain enrollment for years. It could soon have company.

Maine Tax Cuts May Outlive Republican Rule

Democrats won legislative victories campaigning against tax cuts, but may not have the power or inclination to repeal them.

Best of #StateReads: Why New Jersey’s Trains Flooded but New York’s Stayed Dry

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

States Challenge ‘Secret’ Campaign Money

With the rise in undisclosed political spending by non-profit groups, officials in several states are trying to figure where the money is coming from.

Unions Make Strong Showing at the Polls

Labor won big contests in Indiana, California and New Hampshire, while results were mixed in Michigan.

As Funds Dwindle, Governors Ask for Heating Help

Rising heating costs coupled with increased austerity in Congress could leave many low-income Americans out in the cold this winter, 13 state governors warned this week.

Democrats Seeking Comeback in State Legislatures

Republicans won landslide victories in legislative chambers two years ago. Democrats hope to reverse some of the results in November. In many states, though, it won’t be easy.

As States Debate Medicaid Expansion, Maine Governor Looks to Cut Rolls

Maine Governor Paul LePage appears poised for a head-on collision with the Obama Administration over the issue of Medicaid eligibility. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s health care ruling last month — the federal government cannot take away existing Medicaid funds to penalize states that refuse to expan

States Loosen Up on Fireworks Laws

In amateur hands, fireworks are as dangerous as ever. But states have a hard time passing up the revenue they bring in.

Battle Against Stalking Escalates

Concerns over in-person and online stalking have led lawmakers to create new orders of protection. But enforcement is often up to the victims and most don’t pursue it.

Public School Alternatives Gather Steam in States

Louisiana gave advocates of charter schools, vouchers and other publicly funded education alternatives everything they could have asked for, but opposition remained fierce elsewhere.

Governor Battles Unions in Maine

Governor Paul LePage recently called Maine’s state workers “about as corrupt as you can be.” They’re not pleased with him, either.

Infographic: A Turning Point for Gay Marriage?

Gay marriage supporters have won big victories in state courts and state capitals in recent years. Now, they’re hoping to extend that success to the ballot box.

AAA Criticizes Higher Fees for Out-of-State E-ZPass Drivers

The national drivers’ group wants tolling agencies to treat E-ZPass users the same, regardless of where they bought their transponders.

Maine Governor LePage Backs Nation's Toughest Medicaid Cuts

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Medicaid program in Maine is short of money, and conservative Governor Paul LePage has a blunt proposal for solving the problem - drop people from the rolls.

Maine State of the State Address 2012

AUGUSTA, Maine - Jan. 24 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Paul LePage's (R) 2012 state of the state and budget address: President Raye, Speaker Nutting, Chief Justice Saufley, members of the 125th Legislature, distinguished guests, and my fellow citizens. I am here t

Proposed Medicaid Cuts Draw Big Protests in Maine

TODAY'S TAKE: Hundreds of protesters packed the State House in Augusta, Maine, to voice their disapproval of a plan by Governor Paul LePage to eliminate Medicaid coverage for 65,000 residents. LePage says the program has grown so much that it has "cannibalized" money meant for other state priorities.

Motorists Face an 'Avalanche' of Higher Tolls

Toll rates are climbing on highways, bridges and tunnels across the country, but it is not just because of the economy. Many big toll hikes are helping to pay for new construction.

As Michigan Passes Pension Tax, Maine Considers Repealing One

Does a pension tax harm a state's economy? It depends on which governor you ask.

Maine Redistricting Could Sway Presidential Race

TODAY'S TAKE: When Maine redraws the line between its two congressional districts this fall, it might help determine whether President Obama is reelected.

Conservative Budget Becomes Law in All-GOP Maine

TODAY'S TAKE: Maine Governor Paul LePage signed a budget on Monday (June 20) that includes tax cuts, the phasing out of a statewide health care plan and spending cuts in pensions and welfare.

Maine Moves to Loosen Teen Labor Laws

TODAY'S TAKE: The Maine House of Representatives voted largely along party lines to loosen the state's laws governing how much teens can work, which are currently the strictest in New England.

LePage Sparks a Child Labor Debate in Maine

Governor Paul LePage thinks letting young people ages 16 and over work longer hours is a good idea. Critics accuse him of seeking to undo labor regulations that have been widely accepted for decades.

When a Pension Overhaul Comes Without Social Security

Every state has at least some public employees who are not allowed to receive Social Security benefits. As states ask workers to contribute more toward their pensions, making workers eligible for Social Security would come with pros and cons.

Connecticut Governor Seeks to Avoid Public Employee Layoffs

MANAGEMENT BEAT: The struggle over public employee concessions in Connecticut ... the prospect of salary cuts in Pennsylvania ... arguments about a pro-worker mural in Maine, and other government management news.

Missouri is Toughest on Crack Cocaine

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Missouri punishes crack dealers more severely than those who sell the powder version of the same drug… Police are stretched thin in one of the nation's most dangerous cities… The Colorado probation agency comes under scrutiny, and other public safety news.

Labor Union Discord Reaches New England

TODAY'S TAKE: Maine's Republican Governor Paul LePage wants public employees to work longer and pay more for their retirement benefits, igniting protests in Augusta resembling those recently seen in the Midwest.

Governors Target Rules at Businesses' Behest

Newly elected Republicans - and some Democrats - have made rethinking regulations a top priority. That has environmentalists and consumer advocates nervous.

Maine State of the State Address 2011

AUGUSTA, Maine - Feb. 10 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Paul LePage's (R) 2011 state of the state and budget address: President Raye, Speaker Nutting, members of the 125th Legislature, and citizens of Maine, thank you for the invitation to discuss our budget submission for the 2012 / 2013 Biennium. It ta

LePage's Regulatory Reversals Stir Debate

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT BEAT: Maine's governor seeks to relax environmental rules ... New Mexico's Supreme Court rebuffs that state's governor in a climate dispute ... New Jersey approves power plant subsidies, and other energy and environment news.

Two New Governors Cause Early Political Stirs

TODAY'S TAKE: New governors in Alabama and Maine have found themselves at the center of controversy days after taking office as a result of widely publicized comments that offended minority groups.

Christian Health Co-Ops Cater to 'Obamacare' Opponents

Religious groups that help members pay for medical treatment are exempt from key provisions of the new federal health law. As their popularity grows, some state officials are warning consumers to be wary of these unlicensed operators, while others see them as a welcome alternative to traditional health insurance.

LePage Struggles to Fill Maine Cabinet Due to Salary Concerns

TRANSITION WATCH: Maine's governor-elect says top choices for key roles have turned him down, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell promises a fight with the feds over Medicaid funding, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Maine Republican Legislators Contemplate End to Labor Committee

TRANSITION WATCH: Maine Republicans seek to fold historic panel, Connecticut's pension gap gets bigger, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

GOP Takes the Reins in Maine

TODAY'S TAKE: Maine is one of two states - along with Wisconsin - that flipped from all-Democratic to all-Republican rule on Election Day. On Wednesday (December 1), the state's new GOP-dominant Legislature begins work.

Pat Quinn Rehires His Old Chief of Staff as an Adviser

TRANSITION WATCH: Jerry Stermer returns three months after he resigned in Illinois, charges of nepotism in South Dakota and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Trickle of Democratic Legislators Become Republicans

TRANSITION WATCH: Fewer state-level Democrats are becoming Republicans than in 1994, new Speakers of the House are elected in Montana and Tennessee and other news of the historic shift in power in the states

Maine Republicans Say They Will End 'Dirigo' Health Care Experiment

Governor-elect Paul LePage campaigned on doing away with Maine's first-in-the-nation attempt at creating universal health coverage. With Republicans in charge of the state Legislature, too, there's a good chance he'll get his way.

Despite Debt Fears, Voters OK Most State Bond Measures

Where borrowing was on the ballot Tuesday, voters usually said yes. Meanwhile, Colorado affirmed its ability to issue debt.

Tea Party Could Sway Key Governors' Races

In the Republican gubernatorial primaries, Tea Party supporters played an outsized role in defeating establishment candidates. Can they pull off an upset twice?

Maine Law Set Foreclosure Crisis in Motion

The court case that has exposed a national foreclosure problem came out of a state with one of the toughest foreclosure-control laws.