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What we're reading
— Maine added about 60,000 new voters since the last gubernatorial election in 2018, but there are 10,000 fewer independents in a stark sign of polarization.
— The state is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and a landmark Supreme Court decision by over-institutionalizing children with mental health and developmental disabilities, the Justice Department said Wednesday.
— Out-of-staters bought a higher share of Bangor homes than Portland ones so far this year in an example of their broad effect on the market. Read our coverage of Maine real estate and housing.
— Collins and Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, released their long-awaited bill to cap insulin costs on Wednesday. It is backed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, but it is still unclear how much Republican support the bill can win in the Senate.
— Former Gov. Paul LePage's 2022 campaign was fined $3,000 for a late campaign finance report on Wednesday by the Maine Ethics Commission. |
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News and notes
— A House panel advanced a defense spending bill early Thursday including a $37 billion budget increase led by Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine's 2nd District. It was opposed by Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, the chair of the House Armed Services Committee, but Golden's amendment still passed with bipartisan support. It includes funding for an additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and $250 million for shipyard upgrades. It now goes to the House floor and will have to be reconciled with a Senate version.
— The Supreme Court added said it would release decisions on Friday of this week, adding an extra day to its schedule with a dozen cases left to rule on before a planned summer recess. Among them is the landmark case that could end federal abortion rights. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England is planning a Portland rally and march on decision day.
— Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, sent a letter to Mills on Tuesday asking her to call a special legislative session to suspend Maine's 30-cent gas tax after President Joe Biden called for a suspension of the federal tax. The Democratic governor has resisted the idea, with her administration noting savings would be scant relative to $850 relief checks that began going out this month. Both Libby and LePage, who is Mills' 2022 opponent, put forward different gas tax cut plans in the spring that went nowhere in the Democratic-led Legislature. |
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| Gov. Janet Mills speaks at the return of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce's annual award ceremony at the Maine Savings Amphitheater in Bangor on Monday. (BDN photo by Sawyer Loftus) |
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| 📷 Lead photo: Sportsman's Alliance of Maine Executive Director David Trahan listens to election returns on Maine's last bear-baiting referendum on Nov. 4, 2014, in Orono.(File photo by Michael C. York) |
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