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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Catch up on the latest state budget decisions in the Maine Legislature
Entrance to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee room in the Maine State House in Augusta. (Photo by Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) A budget plan is taking shape and the clock is ticking. Maine Morning Star will have regular updates as the committee tasked with setting that plan, the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, takes straw votes on what to include ahead of a final vote on the budget proposal to be sent to the Maine Senate and House of Representatives for consideration. Legislative leaders have said the intention is to complete all work by June 18, what had been the statutory adjournment date for the first regular session. Though, the Legislature is now in a special session, without a formal deadline. In March, the Democratic majority pushed through a roughly $11.3 billion, two-year budget plan without Republican support and formally adjourned in order to start the clock for those funds to become available in 90 days. Senate Republicans refused to back an alternative short-term plan that would have immediately filled the current deficit for MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program, because it did not include structural reform to the program. The budget that did pass continued funding for state services at the same level while also providing one-time funding for MaineCare and other urgent needs. But it didn't include any of the policy changes Gov. Janet Mills proposed, such as tax increases and program cuts, to address the deficit and flattening revenues. These proposals and others from lawmakers are now being weighed by the appropriations committee as it crafts the next iteration of the budget. Follow along below: 8 mins ago 10 mins ago 8 mins ago Monday morning at the State House began with more talk about taxes as the Appropriations Committee continued its line-by-lines votes on what to include in the budget. The majority of the committee voted to remove Mills' proposed tax on ambulance services, which is one of several tax increases the governor proposed as a means to address the deficit and flattening revenues. The tax on non-municipal ambulance service providers would have been equal to 6% of their net operating revenue, which the Mills administration said it would have used to leverage additional federal dollars and eventually increase MaineCare reimbursements. While Republicans on the committee said they supported removing the tax — as the minority party has made clear it will not support tax increases of any kind — they questioned how the state will deal with those shortfalls and pay for additional spending the committee has approved. One example from Monday was reallocating the cost of an emergency coordinator position that is partially funded through federal expenditures to being completely supported by the general fund. 'We're moving positions and costs into the general fund, and my only question is, where is that money coming from?' Sen. Sue Bernard (R-Aroostook) asked. 'Is it coming from more tax increases? Is it coming from cutting other programs that we haven't gotten to yet, or what?' Sen. Peggy Rotundo (D-Androscoggin), who co-chairs the committee, responded, 'As we build this budget, we will take care of that in one way or another so that the budget will balance at the end.' It is not yet clear whether the committee will support some of Mills' other proposed taxes or the cuts she proposed to health and child care programs. So far, the committee also voted out a proposed pharmacy tax. Implications from federal funding cuts were also top of mind. The coordinator position was one of several that the committee readjusted to be more reliant on state funding, though Mills made those recommendations before President Donald Trump's administration began rescinding congressionally appropriated funds. 'We have talked about the fact that if federal funds disappear, positions disappear,' Rotundo said. But some concerns about federal funding predated Trump's second term. During the public hearing for the budget bill, the Maine Emergency Management Agency said budget deficits related to federal funding had already resulted in the agency leaving two positions vacant. The committee voted to fund two positions fully with the general fund, after they'd previously been supported solely by federal dollars. 'It was important to make sure that these positions were preserved and that it was worth the investment in additional general fund dollars,' said Rep. Drew Gattie (D-Westbrook), the other co-chair of the committee. 10 mins ago During the committee's last meeting on Thursday, the majority of its members rejected a tax on Maine pharmacies the governor had proposed, while voting in favor of additional funding and rate reform for nursing homes. The pharmacy tax would have imposed a 70-cent tax on every outpatient prescription filled by Maine pharmacies, the revenue from which the Mills administration said it would use to leverage additional federal dollars and eventually increase MaineCare reimbursements. 'I haven't voted for any items,' said Republican budget lead Jack Ducharme of Madison on Thursday. 'Yet, this will be my first, because I believe that we already collect too much taxes.' With a 10-2 vote, other Republicans backed removing the tax too, though the holdouts noted that their opposition was because of a lack of clarity about the overall budget plan. 'I applaud the work of the majority in terms of removing this,' Rep. Ken Fredette (R-Newport) said. 'However, I will be consistent in reviewing the overall global budget in determining whether or not I will support it.' That sentiment was also shared ahead of the committee voting 9-3 in favor of $20 million in additional funding for nursing homes over the biennium. This includes a $6.5 million investment for rate reform to support the direct care workforce and incentivize permanent staff, which would in turn unlock $12.2 million in funding from the federal government. 'Nursing home rate reform is very important to us, however at this particular time we have not had a discussion about where additional general funds come from that we're going to need,' Ducharme said. 'In order for me to support this, even though I would historically support something like this, I want to know where the money's coming from.' Other Republicans had a different take. While Rep. Amy Bradstreet Arata of New Gloucester would also like to know where the funds are coming from, 'I feel right about supporting this,' she said. 'I might not support the entire package, but I feel better knowing that this is in there, ultimately.' Read more here.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed constitutional amendment to protect paid leave fund one step closer to ballot
Supporters of paid family and medical leave policy rallied on the steps of the Maine State House in June 2023. One month later the policy became law. (Courtesy of Maine Women's Lobby) The entire Maine Legislature is so far taking the recommendations of the Labor Committee to reject significant changes to the state's paid family and medical leave program. On Monday, the Senate voted 20-14 to back a proposal (LD 894) to tweak the program, but rejected other bills by the same margin, including one to exempt agricultural employees from the program and another to suspend remittance for companies that plan to use private plans. That bill now advances to the House of Representatives. Both chambers also followed the lead of the committee by backing a proposal for a constitutional amendment prohibiting the Legislature from using the program funds for any other purpose. Though LD 1221 was passed under the hammer by the House and Senate, it will require a two-thirds vote from each chamber for the next round of enactment votes. If secured, it would then be sent to the voters to ultimately decide on the November 2025 ballot. LD 894, which was also endorsed by the committee, proposes a series of amendments to the current law to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) introduced the bill on behalf of the Labor Department to make specific refinements to the policy that were noticed during the rulemaking process. 'This is a bill that does the quiet, but essential work of ensuring that Maine's paid family and medical leave program is implemented successfully,' said Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) on the Senate floor. Though it isn't expected to be available until May 2026, the paid family and medical leave program will allow eligible public and private sector workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for reasons such as illness, to care for a loved one or the birth of a new child. Tipping said LD 894 is the only bill that 'strengthens the program without destabilizing it.' Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec) urged his colleagues to support a different version of the bill that he argued would help small businesses. While Sen. Cameron Reny (D-Lincoln) said while some of those suggestions are reasonable, they seem too substantial to make for a program that hasn't been fully implemented yet. 'Making major structural changes at this stage before a single benefit has been paid and without knowing what's working or not working, it's like you're trying to redesign a plane while we're on the runway,' Reny said. Across the State House, lawmakers rejected bills to repeal the program (LD 406), make it voluntary (LD 1273) and make a series of other structural changes (LD 1333 and LD 1712). SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labor committee opts to keep paid family and medical leave program in tact, for now
Advocates and lawmakers in May 2023 rallied outside the Maine State House in support of Paid Family and Medical Leave, which was signed into law later that spring. (via Maine Center for Economic Policy) Heeding the advice from the Maine Legislature's Democratic leadership, the Labor Committee is not endorsing proposals that would make substantial changes to the state's new paid family and medical leave program. While voting on a series of bills related to the new benefit program Wednesday afternoon, the majority of the committee threw its support behind just two of them. Though a proposal intended to safeguard the future of the program's trust fund drew bipartisan support, Democrats voted down any new exemptions to the program, as well as an effort to make the benefit voluntary. 'If we pull at the threads now, we are going to unravel some really hard-earned consensus,' said House co-chair Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor), noting the years-long process that went into developing the program that was made law by the 131st Legislature. On several bills, some Republicans on the committee put forth a sizable amendment backed by a minority of lawmakers with a list of 10 recommendations to update the program at-large. It includes clarifications to the undue hardship provision, capping the cost of private plan applications and modifying return-to-work requirements, among other provisions. While some members, including some Republicans, were hopeful that LD 1712 brought by Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick) could be a compromise to address issues raised with the program, Democrats ultimately voted it down. The paid family and medical leave program will allow eligible public and private sector workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for reasons such as illness, to care for a loved one or the birth of a new child. At the start of the year, Maine employers began withholding a portion of wages to pay into the program's fund. Employees are expected to be able to access the benefit starting May 2026. The committee voted 8-1 in favor of an amended version of LD 1221, which was introduced by Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford). While the legislation originally proposed a constitutional amendment prohibiting the Legislature from using the program funds for any other purpose, the amendment supported by most members instead directed the Department of Labor to determine ways to further protect the money and report back to the committee early next year. Luke Monahan, director of the paid family and medical leave program for the Department of Labor, told the committee that there is $75 million in the fund as of Wednesday. Additionally, he said more than 900 applications for employers to use private plans have been approved so far. The committee also backed the legislation brought by Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland), on behalf of the department. LD 894 wants to make a series of amendments to the current law to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. Though Daughtry urged her fellow lawmakers to give the program time to be fully implemented before making substantial reforms, she said the changes in her bill are coming from the people who have been working to implement this program that identified specific refinements to the policy. During the public hearing, Daughtry opposed every other bill except her own, but told the committee that if she were to support one, it would be LD 1221. Some of the bills before the committee were duplicative, including two seeking to repeal the program entirely. While all members voted to reject LD 539 for streamlining purposes, three Republicans on the committee voted in favor of one of the repeal bills, LD 406. Multiple bills were unanimously rejected by the committee, including LD 575, which wanted to remove the undue hardship clause and LD 1249, which sought to delay the payment of benefits. However, the committee voted along partisan lines on proposals to make the program voluntary (LD 1273), exempt agricultural workers from the program (LD 952), certain public school district employees (LD 1400), along with two measures seeking to issue refunds to employers who had approved private plans (LD 1169) and (LD 1307). SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maine lawmakers will weigh more than a dozen proposals to modify paid family and medical leave
Supporters of paid family and medical leave policy rallied on the steps of the Maine State House in June 2023. One month later the policy became law. (Courtesy of Maine Women's Lobby) The state's paid family and medical leave program will be center stage later this week as both Republicans and Democrats look to modify the new employee benefit. The Legislature's Labor Committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday afternoon for 13 bills to change the program that has yet to take effect for workers but has prompted some pushback among the business community, which has started making payments into the benefit system. The majority of the proposals seek to repeal or scale back the program, but others are looking to clarify the existing law or make it more accessible for employees. A bill from Rep. Tiffany Roberts (D-South Berwick) is the only one with bipartisan support. LD 1712 hopes to strike a better balance between employee and employer interests by modifying how much an employer is required to contribute, when an employee needs to apply for the benefit and how much is paid out. Though it isn't expected to be available until May 2026, the paid family and medical leave program will allow eligible public and private sector workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for reasons such as illness, to care for a loved one or the birth of a new child. Proponents have described it as a panacea and a way to make certain jobs more accessible, while opponents argued that certain requirements are too burdensome on employers. The Maine Department of Labor finalized the program's rules in December after an outpouring of input from employees and the business community. At the start of the year, Maine employers began withholding a portion of wages to pay into the new paid family and medical leave fund. Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland) and Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston), co-sponsors of the original legislation establishing the program, are introducing LD 894 on behalf of the department that would make a series of amendments to the current law to create certain enforcement mechanisms and penalties, as well as clarify intermittent leave. Daughtry said she plans to testify in 'strong and unequivocal' opposition to the bills that want to delay, weaken, exempt or dismantle the program. Rather than waiting to see how Maine's paid family and medical leave system operates and then making adjustments based on experience, Daughtry said the bills represent a 'reversal of course before the program has had a chance to begin.' 'Maine workers deserve a strong benefits program and I'll be fighting to protect it,' she said. There are two nearly identical proposals to repeal the program entirely. In addition, House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) has two bills to make the benefit voluntary for employers and employees (LD 1273) and delay its start until 2027 (LD 1249). All four pieces of legislation have emergency preambles, which means they would take effect immediately if passed by two-thirds of the Legislature. Another emergency proposal from Sen. Russell Black (R-Franklin)would exempt agricultural workers (LD 952). And though not an emergency measure, LD 1400 seeks to exempt certain public school districts and their employees from the benefit program. Rep. Mike Soboleski (R-Philips) has a bill (LD 1169) that would allow employers to get a refund for any premiums paid into the state's plan if they are approved to use a private substitute plan. Sen. Dick Bradstreet (R-Kennebec) is similarly looking to better accommodate employers wishing to use a substitute private plan with LD 1307. Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford) is proposing an amendment to the state constitution with LD 1221 to prohibit the Legislature from using paid family and medical leave program funds for any other purpose. Labor Committee co-chairs Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) and Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) are introducing LD 575 to remove a provision in the current law that requires leave to be scheduled. While that is meant to prevent undue hardship on an employer, the bill title says its removal would create more equitable access to the program. Rep. Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan) is proposing a series of changes with LD 1333 that would seek to clarify the definition of 'self-employed individual' and prevent employers from having to bargain with unions over the employee's share of the program, among other tweaks. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Epoch Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
We Went to Jared Golden's District. Here's Why Democrats Don't Primary Him.
This is part two in a two-part series on the congressmen who broke with their parties over the recent funding bill. Part one on Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who faced calls for a primary challenger from President Donald Trump after voting against the continuing resolution to fund the government. BANGOR, Maine—Last month, in the south wing of the U.S. Capitol, two men formed a loose parallel: While Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the only Republican who opposed a six-month government funding patch, citing concerns over its deficit impact, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) was the lone Democrat who defied party pressure to support it, saying that 'a shutdown would be worse.' From afar, the two might look as if they mirror each other. Yet, a closer look at Golden's record and district reveals deep contrasts. The worlds of Massie and Golden illustrate how politics works across America and why Golden's seat in a pro-Trump district is likely to remain safe from other Democrats. Emerging opposition to Golden from fellow Democrats may have been lessened when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) backed the Republican bill. Because of his vote, Schumer resisted calls to step down from his leadership position. But Golden's uniqueness, and the uniqueness of Maine's Second Congressional District, are key to understanding why he will likely prevail against any Democrats inclined to challenge him. In Maine, about 30 percent of registered voters (312,444) are not 'Mainers are notoriously ticket splitters and fiercely independent—and that goes double for the Second District,' Republican state Rep. David Boyer, who represents a small chunk of Golden's territory, told The Epoch Times in the halls of the Maine State House in Augusta. Dave Clark told The Epoch Times he was one of those notorious ticket splitters. Clark, an Augusta local who was visiting the state house with his grandson, said he supported both Golden and President Donald Trump in last year's election. He thinks the congressman is somewhat inconsistent on the issues. But on the whole, Clark likes the job Golden has done. Tiffany Bond, an independent who lost to Golden in 2018 and 2022, told The Epoch Times that politically independent Mainers are 'tied together differently' than by parties or ideologies. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican who lost his seat to Golden in 2018 and unsuccessfully challenged him in 2022, had a similar read. He told The Epoch Times that 'there is a significant vein of independence that runs in Maine' and that candidates who appeal to that instinct—in earnest or otherwise—can succeed. One of the state's U.S. senators, Angus King, is independent but overwhelmingly votes with Democrats. The other, Susan Collins, is a centrist Republican known to break with her party. Dave Clark and his grandson, Ashton, in the Maine State House on March 20, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times In Maine's Second Congressional District, the electorate has repeatedly demonstrated its independence by choosing both Golden and Trump, a Republican. Yet, unlike Trump's victories, Golden's have sometimes been narrower. In 2024, Trump beat former Vice President Kamala Harris in the district by almost 36,000 votes. In that same election, Golden defeated his Republican opponent, former NASCAR driver Austin Theriault, by a little more than 2,700 votes. Theriault conceded to Golden as a recount was underway. The state's ranked-choice voting system, introduced in 2018, has also factored in the district, though Golden received more first-choice votes than Theriault in 2024. In 2018, Golden's first go at the seat, Poliquin garnered more first-choice votes, but Golden ultimately prevailed in the ranked-choice runoff. A month later, Poliquin ended his legal battle against the system, which at that time was novel in the state. Boyer believes that Golden has moved to the right since his days in Augusta, where he was once the Assistant House Majority Leader. The congressman served as a state representative for four years before being elected to the U.S. House. In 2023, Golden In addition to voting with Republicans, Golden on April 2 defended Trump's sweeping tariff announcements. Boyer thinks the state's many independents have made a difference for Golden because of that bipartisanship and relative centrism. 'I think they appreciate that he's willing to work with other people, even if they don't agree with the specific issue maybe,' he said. 'The hardcore Republicans don't like him,' he added. State Rep. Robert Foley, another Republican from Golden territory who was at the state house, had a different take. He told The Epoch Times that Golden 'only votes with Republicans when it doesn't matter.' The Epoch Times reached out to Golden for comment. Poliquin had a similar assessment, citing Golden's Then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks alongside fellow Republicans after the House passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, at the U.S. Capitol on May 11, 2023. The GOP-backed bill calls for more Border Patrol agents, technology upgrades, and resumed construction of the southern border Versus Massie Golden's record and territory contrast starkly with those of Massie, the other lawmaker who went against the partisan grain on the stopgap funding bill. Although Massie is known for his independent streak, consistently opposing measures he says would increase the deficit, that does not always translate to reaching across the aisle. The Lugar Center's bipartisanship index ranks Massie 353 out of 436 lawmakers. Golden, on the other hand, chairs the dwindling Blue Dog Political Action Committee, a group of centrist and center-right Democrats. Massie, known for a 2021 Christmas family photo in which they were holding firearms, created the Second Amendment Caucus, which has included fairly conservative and libertarian members of Congress, such as Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.). Their districts broadly align with those ideological postures. According to the 2023 Cook Partisan Voting Index, Golden's district is moderately Republican, while Massie's territory is solidly Republican. Notably, while Golden's district has favored Trump every time he has run, Obama won it in 2008 and 2012. By contrast, Obama lost Kentucky's 4th by decisive margins in both 2008 and 2012. Bond said that while she was collecting signatures, she spoke to many voters who chose both Obama and Trump. She said many told her they were disappointed in Obama's 'hope and change' pitch, as they did not benefit from the economic benefits that many Americans projected onto that slogan. She compared it to Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan—like 'hope and change,' somewhat intangible—predicting that many Trump voters would be similarly disappointed as a result of cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies. Kentucky also has fewer independents to tip the scales. Compared with Maine's roughly 30 percent, in Kentucky, fewer than 5 percent of registered Some of that may come down to primaries; while Maine's are now semi-open, Kentucky's are restricted to registered party members. Though Trump defeated Harris by more than 30 percent in Kentucky in 2024, there are just 5.6 percent more registered Republicans than Democrats in the commonwealth. Once a stronghold for Democrats, it last backed their presidential candidate in 1996. Bond predicted that the semi-open primaries would drive more Mainers to go independent. The different landscapes help account for different 2026 primary outlooks. People dine in at She Doesnt Like Guthries restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, on March 20, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times Massie's district has thrown up multiple primary challengers in recent cycles, though the congressman has taken all comers. Trump publicly called for another Republican to take aim at Massie after the congressman opposed the funding resolution. Golden, on the other hand, has not faced a primary opponent since his first election in 2018. Related Stories 3/28/2025 3/31/2025 Most Mainers who spoke with The Epoch Times thought the prospects of a primary challenge to Golden were unlikely—including a progressive who was excited about an upcoming opportunity for locals to voice their concerns about Golden. Retired teacher Joni Zavez was at the Bangor Public Library on March 21. The next day, amid outcry over Golden's continuing resolution vote, the library hosted a town hall led by the local Indivisible chapter with an empty chair for the lawmaker. Indivisible, an anti-Trump nonprofit, billed it as an opportunity to 'tell him what you think!' A self-described registered independent, Zavez said she voted for Golden and Harris and has never voted for Republicans. While one of her pro-Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) relatives would like to see a primary challenger go up against Golden, Zavez does not. 'Not in this area,' she said. 'There are a lot of conservatives.' Boyer does not expect Democrats to challenge Golden. Even if that occurs, he said, Golden 'would win his primary.' Poliquin, a repeat contender against Golden, did not rule out the possibility of intra-party competition. 'Could he have a primary? Sure, especially in this environment. The Democrats don't trust him, and the Republicans don't trust him,' he said. In Belfast, a seaport city south of Bangor, a Canadian-born woman who would not give her name out of concern of reprisals, said she voted for Golden but was very disappointed in his support for the funding bill. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine) speaks in Washington on Sept. 12, Make Room USA Name Recognition At a restaurant bar in Belfast, Australian-born Nate Milne, a conservative voter, said the congressman was okay 'on some things' but not the Second Amendment. 'He does seem very centrist,' he said. Milne's more liberal wife, Sarah, described herself as neutral on Golden. Asked how Golden keeps winning even as Trump takes the district, she said, 'I think it's just name recognition.' Golden has had the resources to get his name out there. Poliquin noted that Golden outraised him significantly in 2018—$5.7 million to $3.9 million, A similar scenario Although a primary may not be out of the question, in Golden's district—unlike Massie's—party logic suggests that any electoral drama is more likely to play out in the general election. Poliquin thinks a Trump appearance in Maine could have made the difference in 2024 when Theriault narrowly lost. For now, an independent-minded electorate that votes for Trump seems comfortable with a Blue Dog Democrat who sometimes backs the Republican president. Golden's office did not respond to interview requests from The Epoch Times by publication time.
