This morning, Rep. Jeff Pierce of Dresden sent a letter to Beth Ashcroft, the Director of the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability requesting an investigation into possible abuses of Maine’s citizens’ referendum process and whether or not it still meets its original intent. The Maine Legislature continues to work on changes to the current referendum process and Rep Pierce’s request comes on the heels of the Government Oversight Committee giving… Read More

Quebec – Rep Ken Fredette of Newport led a contingent of Maine legislators on a tour to James River Bay, Quebec, to see first-hand the Provinces’ use of hydro power to develop clean, renewable energy sources that may be sold to New England.   New England states are currently planning on shutting down nuclear power plants and other energy generating sources requiring the demand for a new base load for the six… Read More

Below is a joint statement from House Republican Leaders Rep. Ken Fredette of Newport and Rep. Ellie Espling of New Gloucester on the sudden and tragic loss of the Honorable Rep. Gina Mason of Lisbon. “We are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Rep. Gina Mason. She was a wonderful mother, a leader and a friend to us all. Our prayers are with the Mason and Crafts family during this… Read More

House GOP plan seeks to solve the problems in education not simply throw money at it Maine House Republicans have put forward a 2-year budget that is a reasonable compromise in hopes that all parties can agree. The new proposal includes $125 million in new education funding along with significant education and economic reforms we believe will move Maine forward. House Republicans have been consistent in their position that they would only… Read More

Monday, Maine House Democrats voted against a pair of bills that would have better protected our law enforcement officers and first responder, opting instead to side with criminals. The following bills were struck down by Maine House Democrats: LD 1512 “An Act To Protect the Health and Safety of First Responders” which makes it a crime for a person, knowing the person is infected with an aggressive blood-borne pathogen, to intentionally, knowingly… Read More

Plan would reduce top rate to 6.99 and drop corporate tax rate to 8.33% House Republicans laid out their budget report in the Appropriations Committee that not only eliminates the disastrous 3 percent surcharge, but also reduces the income tax for working Maine families and Maine businesses.   The House Republican budget report would do the following:   Repeal the 3 percent surcharge entirely.   Reduce the top income tax rate from… Read More

House Republicans renewed their call for a voluntary statewide teacher contract, insisting that the bill be part of the education reforms included in any budget proposal that House Republicans will support.   Currently, Maine teacher contracts are negotiated with officials from each individual school district. This bill would authorize the State of Maine to bargain for a statewide educator contract that chooses to opt-in for standard salary and benefits in Maine’s public… Read More

Wednesday, House Democrats argued in opposition to LD 250 “An Act To Increase the Penalty for Aggravated Sex Trafficking” sponsored by Rep. Trey Stewart of Presque Isle. This bill seeks to increase the crime of aggravated sex trafficking to a Class A crime allowing a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Current law only classifies it as a Class B crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.   On… Read More

Senate President and House Republican Leader Say Budget Cannot Include Highest in the Nation Tax Bracket April 27, 2017 AUGUSTA – With the state budget deadline approaching, Maine Senate President Michael Thibodeau (R-Waldo) and House Republican Leader Ken Fredette (R-Newport) today announced any two-year budget agreement cannot include an onerous three-percent surcharge that will give Maine the dubious distinction of having the highest tax bracket in the nation. Republican leadership has been… Read More

Maine now has the least amount of government workers and highest private sector workforce ever Maine’s unemployment rate continues to be headed in the right direction and Friday, the Maine Department of Labor released the latest numbers showing it has now reached a new historic low. According to the Maine DOL: “The preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.0 percent for March was the lowest on record since the current estimation methodology… Read More