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| 📷 Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-Eliot, reviews papers in the Senate chamber at the State House on April 12, 2022, in Augusta. (AP photo by Robert F. Bukaty) |
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☀️ A Democratic solar bill bogged down, leaving next steps uncertain.
◉ In an unexpected move on Monday, the House reversed itself to oppose a bill from Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-Eliot, that would provide a shave to Maine's generous solar incentives. It has been a priority for the solar industry, which faces bigger benefit cuts under a Republican bill that may be gaining steam.
◉ Both legislative chambers had agreed to advance the measure last week. The rival bill, which comes from Rep. Steven Foster, R-Dexter, and would allow the Maine Public Utilities Commission to propose subsidy adjustments, has not come up for a vote in the House yet.
◉ Lawmakers are unlikely to do nothing on this topic after the subsidies drove another big electric rate hike earlier this month. One bill or the other should move forward at this point, but it is hard to see for now which one will. The House is up in the air, but the Senate clearly favors Lawrence's bill.
👩🍳 We don't know when a budget is coming, but here's what to expect.
◉ Democrats on the Legislature's budget committee began bypassing Republicans over the weekend in the strongest public sign so far that they are going to move yet another state spending proposal by a simple majority.
◉ We expected to see the panel come back out on Monday to finalize a version of Mills' $900 million plan and send it to the floors for a vote, but lawmakers never emerged. They could do so on Tuesday or later this week.
◉ Key items are up in the air, but expect Democrats to eschew the normal process of leaving pools of money available for lawmakers to fund bills and simply roll big priorities into the package. Those include a child care overhaul from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, and start-up funding for a paid family and medical leave program that Mills looks ready to sign. |
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What we're reading
📄 Police are investigating anti-abortion flyers and messages near Talbot Ross' home.
🖊️ The governor's first veto of 2023 prompts a confrontation with labor.
⭕ Democrats in the Maine House passed a major MaineCare expansion for more undocumented immigrants.
📁 Mills somewhat surprisingly signed a bill partially decriminalizing prostitution.
🛡️ The alleged leader of a Maine marijuana ring claims federal law protects him.
❓ A new town manager has agreed to donate his salary back to Limestone. |
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