Panel recommends $474M heating aid package after hearing
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A hastily assembled legislative panel has voted unanimously to recommend a $474 million heating assistance package to lawmakers when they meet in two weeks. Senate Republicans previously rejected Gov. Janet Mills’ proposal calling for $450 relief payments to 880,000 Mainers. The hearing stretched for more than five hours on Wednesday. If approved by lawmakers on Jan 4, then the state could begin mailing out the first of the checks before the end of the month.
Benefits of federal law to remain out of Maine tribes’ reach
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Congress has halted a bill that would have allowed Native American tribes in Maine to get the same benefits of future federal laws that tribes across the rest of the U.S. do. The U.S. House approved the proposal earlier but it was not included in the $1.7 trillion spending bill that must be approved before midnight Friday. Native American leaders in Maine blamed Sen. Angus King for blocking the proposal. King said he had “serious concerns” about the proposal. Tribes in Maine are treated differently from all other 570 federally recognized tribes under terms of a 1980 land claims settlement act.
2 more lawsuits allege abuse by priest, nun in Maine
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Two more people have filed lawsuits against a Roman Catholic clergy member and a nun — both long since deceased. One of the plaintiffs contended he was sexually abused by a minister and then spanked as punishment by a nun who interrupted one of their encounters in Bangor, while another said that a nun regularly spanked boys’ bare bottoms in class, and that she sexually abused him in private. The priest died in 1997 while the nun died in 1973. Both were affiliated with parishes and churches in Bangor. Changes to state law last summer made it possible for Mainers to seek legal action for claims that were previously expired. There have been more than a dozen lawsuits since then.
Mills vs LePage was most expensive governor’s race in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The high-profile governor’s race in which incumbent Democratic Gov. Janet Mills defeated former GOP Gov. Paul LePage was the most expensive in state history. Campaign disclosure reports this week about $28.5 million was spent by candidates, party committees and outside groups to influence the race. That included just over $8.3 million spent by the candidates. The race was won by Mills, who collected 55% of the vote to LePage’s 42%.