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Author Archives: Michael Shepherd

Susan Collins casts 7,000th consecutive Senate roll-call vote

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins cast her 7,000th consecutive vote on Tuesday, continuing a streak that began when she took office in 1997 and becoming the third senator to reach that roll-call mark.

Unpacking a late behind-the-scenes deal that made a new Maine budget possible

Maine got a two-year budget that came in at a spending level of just under $8 billion on Friday and key to that bipartisan deal was a low-key compromise on one of the most contentious issues of the 2019 session.

Janet Mills will host a meal for Muslim leaders at the Blaine House

Gov. Janet Mills will hold a traditional Muslim meal at the Blaine House for the first time in Maine history, according to an organizer.

What Janet Mills’ proposed budget changes tell us about her governing strategy

Gov. Janet Mills took another conservative budgetary stance relative to many other Democrats this week, advocating for putting $20 million into Maine’s rainy day fund in a change package to her two-year budget proposal.

Old Town senator changes vote, clearing the way for stricter Maine vaccine mandate

The Maine Senate reversed itself on Tuesday to support the repeal of a religious exemption to school vaccine requirements by a single vote, putting the controversial priority of Democrats who lead the Legislature back on track for passage.

As Maine Democrats pile up legislative victories, Republicans look for points of influence

It could be a stalemate day in the Maine Legislature on Tuesday, when lawmakers are scheduled to vote on bills including an equal-rights amendment, as well as proposals to expand and reduce the use of ranked-choice voting.

Presidential primary wins OK from Maine legislative panel but cost remains a sticking point

Democrats on a legislative committee endorsed a bill Friday that would have Maine switch from nominating caucuses to a state-run primary for the 2020 presidential election in a national transition away from the few remaining caucuses.

Most Maine House Democrats flip to sustain Janet Mills’ first veto

Most Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives reversed themselves on Thursday to uphold the first veto from Gov. Janet Mills, spiking a proposed ban on the sale of a blend of gasoline with more than 10 percent ethanol.

Maine Senate endorses modified paid leave mandate

A first-in-the-nation compromise bill that would mandate paid leave in 85 percent of Maine’s workforce is sailing for passage through the Democratic-led Legislature after easily gaining initial approval in a Senate vote on Tuesday.

Why some students and educators aren’t happy with how Maine dumped an online learning program

The administration of Gov. Janet Mills recently said it will end a small program that provides free, universal access to online Advanced Placement classes particularly valuable for high school students who want to attend out-of-state colleges.

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