Maine Democrats Pushing for Taxpayer Funded Abortions 81 Democrats sign bill to require that Maine taxpayers pay for abortion services denied under federal law STATEHOUSE – Eighty-one (81) Maine legislative Democrats have introduced a bill to require that Maine taxpayers to pay for abortion services denied under federal law. L.D. 820 “An Act To Prevent Discrimination in Public and Private Insurance Coverage for Pregnant Women in Maine.” The bill’s introduction comes after… Read More

J“UNSUSTAINABLE” “This afternoon Senate and House Republicans received a budget briefing from the Governor’s staff. We await the official budget document and the details that it will contain. From what little information we have at this part in the process, it is our concern  that the budget she is proposing is unsustainable. Initial thoughts The current baseline budget is $7.215 billion The Governor is proposing a $8.04 billion budget Reaching that number… Read More

House Republicans urge Governor to make welfare fraud unit a priority to ensure scarce resources are spent on Maine’s most vulnerable citizens STATEHOUSE – Maine House Republicans are urging Governor Mills to make the Welfare Fraud Unit a priority after a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) report showed that Seventy percent (70%) of calls and allegations made to the Fraud Investigations and Recovery Unit (FIRU) were found to be legitimate…. Read More

Bill to have Maine taxpayers pay for abortions withdrawn House allows L.D. 20- An Act To Provide Coverage for Abortion Services for MaineCare Members to be withdrawn STATEHOUSE – The Maine House of Representatives today received word from the Committee on Health and Human Services that it has approved a request for “Leave to Withdraw” by the sponsor for L.D. 20- An Act To Provide Coverage for Abortion Services for MaineCare Members…. Read More

Without objection from House Republicans or Democrats, LD 410 is defeated STATEHOUSE – Maine House Republicans and House Democrats joined forces today to defeat LD 410 – An Act To Eliminate the Subminimum Wage for Workers with Disabilities and Agricultural and Tipped Workers. The bill would have eliminated the tip credit reinstated two years ago at the behest of restaurant servers and their Republican allies. The tip credit allows tipped workers, who… Read More

Governor’s “One Maine” pledge loses in Committee Legislative Committee votes to confirm Michael J. Sauschuck over Republican objections STATEHOUSE – Republicans on the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety today voted unanimously against Governor Mills’ nominee for Commissioner of Public Safety, Michael J. Sauschuck. The Committee voted 8-5 to recommend confirmation by the Maine Senate. Committee Republicans noted that the nomination is not in keeping with the Governor’s… Read More

First-Term Rep. Josh Morris (R-Turner) delivers weekly Radio Republican Address. Morris, a member of the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, says “now is not the time to take more money from taxpayers or take resources away from those in need.” Greetings, this is State Representative Joshua Morris, State Representative from Turner The new Legislature inherited the strongest economy in decades and a more affordable government. Sound Republican fiscal policies moved… Read More

Transparency Suffers Defeat in the Maine House House Republicans unanimously oppose rule change limiting public access to the “People’s House” STATEHOUSE – Maine House Republicans today unanimously opposed an amendment to House Rules that prohibits members from photographing or videotaping the transaction of public business in the House. The proposed amendment passed 91-53 with House Democrats uniformly supported the restriction. Two House Independents joined with Republicans in opposing the measure. “House Republicans… Read More

House Republicans oppose chilling rule change – support transparency in the conduct of public business STATEHOUSE – Maine House Republicans plan to oppose a move to amend House Rules that currently allow members to be photographed or videotaped during public session debate on the House floor. The proposed amendment would prohibit members from photographing or videotaping other members of the House during deliberations. The House Committee on House Rules voted 3-2 on… Read More

  Greetings, this is Rich Cebra, State Representative from Naples. The last time I gave the Republican Radio Address response was December 18, 2010. Governor John Baldacci was days away from leaving office and a new Governor, Paul LePage was about to be sworn in. Maine voters had also elected Republican majorities to both the House and Senate for the first time in nearly 50 years. Today Maine has a new Governor,… Read More